Fishing at Mancos Reservoir Number 2, Moffat County, Colorado

• Overview

  Mancos Reservoir Number 2 is a Moffat County water, in Colorado. The bank is 5,909 feet above sea level. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Rangely, is 21 miles away. It is 164 miles to Provo, the nearest city. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge. It holds up in poor weather better than open water does.

• Where to Fish on Mancos Reservoir Number 2

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Species logged across Moffat County include flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and white sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. This water responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 70°F in July and bottom out at 18°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late March. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Mancos Reservoir Number 1 at 0.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at this water for certain.