Montez Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Out in Huerfano County, Colorado, sits Montez Reservoir. Elevation runs to 10,430 feet. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. Our Huerfano County list holds plenty of bigger water. Supplies mean a trip to Alamosa East, 24 miles off. Pueblo is the closest city, 63 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Montez Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Reported across Huerfano County: cutthroat trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Fish Montez Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 51°F and January reads 15°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Anyone fishing Montez Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Failing this one, try Middle Zapata Creek Lake, 2.7 miles away. The position on Montez Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.