Left Hand Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Within Boulder County, Colorado, you have Left Hand Reservoir. It sits at 10,659 feet above sea level. Around 89 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. Around 1.6 miles of margin, front to back. It ranks high for size among our Boulder County listings. For supplies, Nederland is 7.8 miles out. Then Coal Creek, 15 miles, and Boulder, 16 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Left Hand Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Open biodiversity records for Boulder County list black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill and rainbow trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Left Hand Reservoir that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 55°F; the cold one sits at 22°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. Break-up near mid May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Plan around that when you fish Left Hand Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. There is a campsite 0.9 miles from the water. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Brainard Lake, 1 mile away, makes the obvious fallback. For Left Hand Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.