Little Morrison Creek Fishing near Steamboat Springs, Colorado

• Overview

  The Routt County end of Colorado holds Little Morrison Creek. The bank is 7,205 feet above sea level. 14 miles away sits Steamboat Springs, the nearest town. Hayden is 26 miles away, with Kremmling at 29 miles. Nearby, in order: Martin Creek Reservoir after 2 miles, Overman Reservoir 2.4 miles off, Henderson Reservoir after 2.4 miles, Lake Catamount 5.3 miles off and Whiteley-Nelson Reservoir after 6.2 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Little Morrison Creek

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Slack water behind an obstruction is worth more than open current. The head and tail of a pool beat the body of it. Survey and observation records for Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Little Morrison Creek the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 60°F and January about 19°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The quiet pools cap over in winter, the riffles never quite do, and mid April clears the lot. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Little Morrison Creek runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. A slipway half a mile out gives trailer access. There is a car park half a mile from the bank. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. There are toilets half a mile off. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Martin Creek Reservoir is 2 miles off. For Little Morrison Creek in particular, ask before you travel.