Fishing at Kiowa Creek Watershed 3-A-40 Reservoir, Elbert County, Colorado

• Overview

  Kiowa Creek Watershed 3-A-40 Reservoir sits in Elbert County, out in Colorado. Height above sea level is 6,447 feet. The water measures roughly 3 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. On size it sits at the modest end of our Elbert County list. Nearest town is Elizabeth, 7.6 miles off. After that come Ponderosa Park at 11 miles and The Pinery at 17 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Kiowa Creek Watershed 3-A-40 Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Records held for Elbert County cover green sunfish, bluegill and fathead minnow. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Treat this water as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 69°F, with January the cold end at about 27°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to this water around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. For the panfish, a small hook, a float and a piece of worm outfish everything fancy. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Kiowa Creek Watershed 3-B-20 Reservoir sits 4.3 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at this water may have changed since it was mapped.