Fishing at Road Canyon Reservoir Number 1, Mineral County, Colorado

• Overview

  Road Canyon Reservoir Number 1 is listed under Mineral County, Colorado. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. At about 153 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. The whole outline is near 2.9 miles, and most of it is walkable. It ranks high for size among our Mineral County listings. Ouray is the closest town at 32 miles. Pagosa Springs is 36 miles away, with Telluride at 36 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Road Canyon Reservoir Number 1

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. This water fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 54°F in July and bottom out at 13°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about mid May through to roughly mid November. Just after the ice goes and just before it returns, the fishing lifts. Plan around that when you fish this water.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Road Canyon Reservoir Number 2 sits 1.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for this water.