Knolls Reservoir Fishing near Cortez, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Montezuma County, Colorado, this is Knolls Reservoir. Around the bank it is open valley. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. On size it sits at the modest end of our Montezuma County list. Nearest town is Cortez, 20 miles off. Albuquerque sits 206 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Knolls Reservoir

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Montezuma County, recorded fish include bluehead sucker, brook trout and bluegill. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Read Knolls Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 65°F, with January the cold end at about 25°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. Knolls Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Should this one be busy, Hinchman Reservoir is 0.7 miles off. Where Knolls Reservoir is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.