Knox Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Delta County end of Colorado holds Knox Reservoir. It sits at 10,023 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 14 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. The closest town, Cedaredge, is 10 miles away. For a city, Boulder is 155 miles off. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Knox Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Reported across Delta County: rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Treat Knox Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 56°F in July and bottom out at 17°F in January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. In an average year the thaw lands around mid May and the freeze near mid November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. It holds true on Knox Reservoir more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is a slipway at Trickle Park Boat Ramp, roughly half a mile off. 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. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. The nearest alternative is Cabin Reservoir, 0.3 miles out. Ask locally about Knox Reservoir if anything is unclear.