Richards Reservoir near Fort Collins: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Look for Richards Reservoir in Larimer County, Colorado. Everything around it is mixed woodland. Surface area is around 54 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. Roughly 1.4 miles of bank means you can walk to a fresh area when one goes quiet. It is low-lying compared with other Colorado water we list. Supplies mean a trip to Fort Collins, 3.4 miles off. Laporte lies 4.5 miles off, Wellington another 5.7 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Richards Reservoir

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Larimer County cover black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and white sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The near bank of Richards Reservoir is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 28°F. Ice comes and goes from one year to the next. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Richards Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The closest car park is 0.9 miles away, so pack accordingly. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. For a change of water, Long Pond Reservoir is 0.4 miles distant. None of that is settled for Richards Reservoir in what we hold.