Fishing at Mountain Home Reservoir, Costilla County, Colorado

• Overview

  In Colorado, Mountain Home Reservoir belongs to Costilla County. What surrounds it is rolling bush. It measures about 131 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. The edge runs 2.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. The town to know is Alamosa East, 26 miles out. Alamosa follows at 27 miles, then Walsenburg at 37 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Home Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name cutthroat trout, white sucker, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brook trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Mountain Home Reservoir fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 63°F in July and bottom out at 19°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter locks it down, and early April brings it back. The open-water window runs from around early April to about late November in an average year. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan any trip to Mountain Home Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. You can launch: the ramp is half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Smith Reservoir sits 7.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Mountain Home Reservoir before loading the car.