Peterson Draw Reservoir Fishing near Rangely, Colorado

• Overview

  Peterson Draw Reservoir sits within Moffat County in Colorado. The ground round it is open dry country. The far bank is a conversation away, so keep low and quiet. Supplies mean a trip to Rangely, 19 miles off. Further out sit Meeker (40 miles) and Naples (49 miles). One jurisdiction covers this water end to end. Rangely is off to the northeast.

• Where to Fish on Peterson Draw Reservoir

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and white sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. Fish Peterson Draw Reservoir where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 70°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late March. Expect the water usable from around late March until roughly early December. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Peterson Draw Reservoir that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Peterson Draw Reservoir Number 2 sits 1.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position at Peterson Draw Reservoir before loading the car.