Pastorius Reservoir in La Plata County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Pastorius Reservoir in the La Plata County part of Colorado. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. Roughly 47 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The full circuit measures close to 1.1 miles on foot. It is among the larger waters listed here for La Plata County. Head to Durango, 6.4 miles away, for anything you forgot. For a city, Albuquerque is 160 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Pastorius Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Reported across La Plata County: rainbow trout, brook trout and bluehead sucker. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. The near bank of Pastorius Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 68°F and January reads 24°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Once it clears, about mid March, the fishing comes on quickly. Averages place the thaw at mid March and the freeze at mid December. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. That shapes the year on Pastorius Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Chapman Lake sits 9.9 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Pastorius Reservoir as something to verify.