Fishing at Long Park Reservoir, Montezuma County, Colorado

• Overview

  Within Montezuma County, Colorado, you have Long Park Reservoir. Beyond the shoreline you have mixed woodland. At roughly 3 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The nearest place of any size is Cortez, 24 miles away. Mancos follows at 29 miles, then Towaoc at 35 miles. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Long Park Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name bluehead sucker, brook trout, bluegill and walleye. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. On Long Park Reservoir the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 25°F in January up to 64°F in July. Some winters cap it and some do not. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on Long Park Reservoir rarely departs from it. A settled week fishes better than a changeable one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Hosea Reservoir, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. What applies at Long Park Reservoir may have changed since it was mapped.