Palmer Reservoir Fishing Guide, El Paso County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Palmer Reservoir in El Paso County, Colorado. Height above sea level is 8,999 feet. It covers about 9 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Start from Cascade-Chipita Park, 2.9 miles down the road. It is 9.9 miles to Colorado Springs, the nearest city. This one sits near enough to a boundary to be worth checking.

• Where to Fish on Palmer Reservoir

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. El Paso County records list rainbow trout, common carp and brook trout among the fish reported. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Fish Palmer Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 22°F to 58°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. The water is typically free of ice between late April and late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. The season on Palmer Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. A jetty or pier is mapped about 110 yards from here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Nichols Reservoir at 2.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Palmer Reservoir are worth checking on the day.