Russell Reservoir in Las Animas County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Russell Reservoir sits within Las Animas County in Colorado. What surrounds it is open valley. At 18 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. You are 29 miles from Trinidad. Walsenburg lies 35 miles off, Raton another 37 miles. Within easy reach: South Lake at 1.7 miles, Monument Lake a touch under 4 miles, North Lake at 5.7 miles, Lost Lake a touch under 7.5 miles and Strawberry Lake at 7.6 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Russell 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. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Reported across Las Animas County: rainbow trout, white sucker and brook trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Russell Reservoir responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 61°F and January at 26°F. In milder years the surface never sets. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. Spring and autumn carry the year; summer squeezes it into the ends of the day. The season on Russell Reservoir follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the bass here, soft plastics worked slow along cover and a spinnerbait for searching do most of the work. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Should this one be busy, South Lake is 1.7 miles off. Treat Russell Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.