Patterson Reservoir near Cedaredge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Patterson Reservoir lies in Delta County, in Colorado. The water sits 8,248 feet up. It measures about 30 acres, which is a comfortable size for bank fishing. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Size puts it in the front rank of our Delta County list. Cedaredge is the closest place, 10 miles off. It is 151 miles to Boulder, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Patterson Reservoir

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Across Delta County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, white sucker and flannelmouth sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. The shape of Patterson Reservoir decides where the fish sit.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 59°F and January reads 18°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Ice-out usually falls in early May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Ice usually gives way near early May, and forms again about late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Patterson Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. Parking is not close: half a mile from the bank, and no nearer option is mapped. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Barrow Reservoir, 2.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Patterson Reservoir carry more weight than any list.