Monroe and Barnes Reservoir Fishing in Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Mesa County entry here is Monroe and Barnes Reservoir, in Colorado. The bank gives way to pine and birch. The water measures roughly 12 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Supplies mean a trip to Cedaredge, 13 miles off. It is 162 miles to Boulder, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Monroe and Barnes Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Open biodiversity records for Mesa County list flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, green sunfish and white sucker. The county list is broader than any single water. Take Monroe and Barnes Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 56°F, the coldest about 17°F. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Plan around that when you fish Monroe and Barnes Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. For a change of water, Griffith Number 1 Coon Creek 1 Reservoir is 0.3 miles distant. Rules at Monroe and Barnes Reservoir are worth checking on the day.