Morgan Creek Reservoir Number 1 Fishing near Hayden, Colorado

• Overview

  Morgan Creek Reservoir Number 1 lies within the bounds of Routt County, Colorado. It sits at 7,126 feet above sea level. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Hayden, is 9 miles distant. After that come Steamboat Springs at 20 miles and Craig at 21 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Morgan Creek Reservoir Number 1

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Across Routt County, recorded fish include brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. This water responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 19°F to 63°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid April. Break-up near mid April, freeze-up near late November: that is the shape of an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It sets the rhythm of the year at this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Shaefermeyer Reservoir Number 1 at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Where this water is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.