Fishing at Kelly Reservoir, Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  Kelly Reservoir sits within Routt County in Colorado. The land about it is mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 19 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Kremmling sits 25 miles from the bank. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 85 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Kelly Reservoir

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Survey and observation records for Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, mountain whitefish and mountain sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Fish Kelly Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 17°F in January to roughly 58°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough early May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around early May and starts locking again about mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Expect Kelly Reservoir to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Roberta Reservoir is 1.2 miles off. The position on Kelly Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.