Red Mesa Ward Reservoir Fishing near Mancos, Colorado

• Overview

  Red Mesa Ward Reservoir is a La Plata County water, in Colorado. It stands 6,896 feet above sea level. It runs to roughly 44 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The full circuit measures close to 1.4 miles on foot. The town to know is Mancos, 15 miles out. Albuquerque is the closest city, 167 miles away. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Red Mesa Ward Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. 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. Take Red Mesa Ward Reservoir a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 25°F to 67°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Autumn steadies things again once the heat lets go. Red Mesa Ward Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out. The first warm days of the year bring fish shallow quickly.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, Upper Reservoir is 9.9 miles off. Treat access at Red Mesa Ward Reservoir as something to verify.