Little Bauer Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Colorado, Little Bauer Reservoir falls inside Montezuma County. It lies 7,690 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 13 acres — small enough to read in one session. Mancos lies 4.8 miles from the water. Further out sit Cortez (16 miles) and Durango (25 miles). There is no boundary nearby to worry about. It sits away from the main road, which keeps the noise down.

• Where to Fish on Little Bauer Reservoir

  We hold no depth figure for this one. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Montezuma County cover bluehead sucker, brook trout and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Little Bauer Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 67°F, with January the cold end at about 25°F. Conditions shift steadily rather than sharply. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Little Bauer Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. 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. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Sellers and McClane Reservoir sits 0.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Little Bauer Reservoir for certain.