Paxton Reservoir Fishing in San Miguel County, Colorado

• Overview

  Paxton Reservoir is a San Miguel County water, in Colorado. It lies 9,249 feet above sea level. With some 28 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. About 1.2 miles of bank, so nothing stays unexplored for long. Few waters listed in San Miguel County are bigger. Supplies mean a trip to Montrose, 18 miles off. Mountain Village is 21 miles and Ouray 21 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Paxton Reservoir

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Survey and observation records for San Miguel County include rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout and brook trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Paxton Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 18°F in January to roughly 60°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Count the season from break-up, usually late April. On average, late April opens the water and late November closes it again. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Paxton Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. No made access appears within a short radius, so plan to park on a verge and walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Hofmann Reservoir at 2.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Nothing here settles the position at Paxton Reservoir for certain.