Lake Canal Reservoir Number 1 in Larimer County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  This water sits in Larimer County, Colorado. The bank is 4,823 feet above sea level. The water covers some 38 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. Ground here is low by Colorado standards. The town to know is Windsor, 2.6 miles out. The big place round here is Fort Collins, 9.3 miles distant. Being near a boundary, it pays to know which side you are fishing.

• Where to Fish on Lake Canal Reservoir Number 1

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Survey and observation records for Larimer County include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read this water for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 71°F, with January the cold end at about 26°F. Most months fish reasonably, given the right weather. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Expect this water to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Windsor Lake at 2.3 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for this water.