Jackson Reservoir Fishing in Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Jackson Reservoir lies within the bounds of Jackson County, Colorado. The bank is 8,114 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 21 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Steamboat Springs lies 35 miles from the water. Estes Park is 46 miles away, with Kremmling at 47 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Jackson Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Open biodiversity records for Jackson County list brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Jackson Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 59°F for July and 17°F for January. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Break-up comes around late April, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up sits around late April on average, with the water closing again about mid November. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Time your trip to Jackson Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. If the gate is shut, Fischer Lake at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Jackson Reservoir are worth checking on the day.