Fishing at Oak Knolls Reservoir, Montezuma County, Colorado

• Overview

  Oak Knolls Reservoir sits in Montezuma County, out in Colorado. The surface lies 8,642 feet up. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. Most waters listed here for Montezuma County are larger. 19 miles away sits Mancos, the nearest town. Beyond it, Cortez at 22 miles and Towaoc at 35 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Oak Knolls Reservoir

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name bluehead sucker, brook trout, bluegill, walleye and channel catfish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Oak Knolls Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 63°F at the top of summer and 24°F at the bottom of winter. A full turn of seasons, with the strongest sport on either side of summer. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early April. Averages suggest open water from about early April through to roughly early December. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Oak Knolls Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Boggy Draw Reservoir, 1.9 miles out. Confirm access to Oak Knolls Reservoir locally before you travel.