Palisade Reservoir Number 3 Fishing near Palisade, Colorado

• Overview

  Look for Palisade Reservoir Number 3 in the Mesa County part of Colorado. It sits at 8,337 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 2 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. It is a small entry by Mesa County standards. The closest town, Palisade, is 6.3 miles distant. Beyond it, Clifton at 11 miles and Fruitvale at 14 miles. No border sits close enough to matter.

• Where to Fish on Palisade Reservoir Number 3

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Fish this water where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 61°F and January near 19°F on the long-run figures. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It holds true on this water more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Should this one be busy, Palisade Reservoir Number 1 is 0.8 miles off. Check the position at this water before loading the car.