Paulson Reservoir Fishing Guide, Delta County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Delta County, Colorado, this is Paulson Reservoir. It stands 6,352 feet above sea level. At roughly 9 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Start from Cedaredge, 5.5 miles down the road. Orchard City lies 6.6 miles off, Delta another 14 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Paulson Reservoir

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Delta County records list rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Fish Paulson Reservoir to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 72°F; the cold one sits at 26°F. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. It sets the rhythm of the year at Paulson Reservoir. The first warm week of the year changes everything here.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Saint George Reservoir at 3.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Paulson Reservoir for certain.