Rio Blanco Lake near Meeker: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. The surroundings are mixed forest. The water covers some 119 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. The edge runs 1.6 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. On our Rio Blanco County list it sits near the top for size. Meeker sits 16 miles from here and is the nearest stop. For a city, Boulder is 155 miles off. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Rio Blanco Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Public occurrence data for Rio Blanco County names flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. At Rio Blanco Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 69°F; the cold one sits at 20°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice-out usually falls in late March, and the weeks after it fish hardest. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late March and starts locking again about early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Rio Blanco Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is recorded parking some half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Sort the permit out before you load the car. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Divide Creek Reservoir Number 2 at 20 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Rio Blanco Lake before loading the car.