Nichols Reservoir Fishing near Cascade-Chipita Park, Colorado

• Overview

  Nichols Reservoir stands in El Paso County, Colorado. The ground around here is lake country bush. At 21 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The closest town, Cascade-Chipita Park, is 3.4 miles distant. Beyond it, Air Force Academy at 5 miles and Woodland Park at 5.9 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Nichols Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Across El Paso County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, common carp, brook trout, green sunfish and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Nichols Reservoir the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 58°F and January near 22°F on the long-run figures. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late April. Climate averages put the opening at about late April and the closing near late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Time your trip to Nichols Reservoir by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Northfield Reservoir sits 0.5 miles off and takes the overflow. For Nichols Reservoir, the notice at the access point is the final word.