Pagosa Reservoir near Pagosa Springs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Pagosa Reservoir lies in Archuleta County, in Colorado. This is lake country bush ground. You can fish the entire water from one spot if you pick it well. Our Archuleta County list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest place of any size is Pagosa Springs, 3 miles away. The nearest city of size is Pueblo, 145 miles away. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Pagosa Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Archuleta County cover brook trout, rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. The near bank of Pagosa Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 63°F and January about 20°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early April. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly early December. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Pagosa Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Stevens Reservoir, 4.7 miles out. None of that is settled for Pagosa Reservoir in what we hold.