Fishing at Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir, Teller County, Colorado

• Overview

  Out in Teller County, Colorado, sits Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir. Height above sea level is 8,182 feet. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Woodland Park is the closest place, 15 miles off. Further out sit Cripple Creek (16 miles) and Cascade-Chipita Park (17 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Teller County include brook trout, rainbow trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. On Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 60°F; the cold one sits at 19°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Time your trip to Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Lake George, 3.2 miles away. Check the current arrangement for Joe Wilson Recreation Reservoir.