McFarland Reservoir Number 1 in Pueblo County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Pueblo County end of Colorado holds McFarland Reservoir Number 1. The water sits 4,711 feet up. A splashy cast here empties the swim; a quiet one owns it. Most waters listed here for Pueblo County are larger. Pueblo sits 17 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Pueblo is the closest city, 17 miles away. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on McFarland Reservoir Number 1

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Across Pueblo County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, white sucker, bluegill, green sunfish and walleye. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish this water where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 77°F, while January sits near 30°F. The year turns gently, without extremes at either end. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. McFarland Reservoir Number 2 sits 0.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at this water for certain.