Fishing at North Side Reservoir, El Paso County, Colorado

• Overview

  El Paso County, Colorado, is where North Side Reservoir sits. The water sits 5,682 feet up. It covers about 11 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Supplies mean a trip to Fountain, 3.4 miles off. Colorado Springs sits 12 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on North Side Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. El Paso County records list rainbow trout, common carp and brook trout among the fish reported. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On North Side Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 30°F in January to roughly 70°F in July. Whether it freezes depends on the year. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. The hot months push the fishing to dawn and dusk. On North Side Reservoir that shapes the whole year. Autumn feeding runs harder as the light drops away.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Parking sits half a mile out, which makes for a walk with tackle. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Haymes Reservoir at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on North Side Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.