Fishing Owen-Carrigan Reservoir in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

• Overview

  Look for Owen-Carrigan Reservoir in the Rio Blanco County part of Colorado. The bank is 8,379 feet above sea level. A pocket of water where every cast reaches cover. Our Rio Blanco County list holds plenty of bigger water. Meeker sits 21 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 122 miles to Boulder, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Owen-Carrigan Reservoir

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and bluehead sucker. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. At Owen-Carrigan Reservoir the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 59°F; the cold one sits at 20°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Open water usually runs from early May until about late November. Fishing peaks soon after break-up and again before the cold returns. It sets the rhythm of the year at Owen-Carrigan Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Cove Reservoir sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. None of that is settled for Owen-Carrigan Reservoir in what we hold.