Fishing at Sagebrush Reservoir Number 1, Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  Sagebrush Reservoir Number 1 belongs to Routt County, Colorado. The country here is lake country bush. Surface area runs to about 3 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Routt County. Hayden is the closest town at 17 miles. After that come Craig at 18 miles and Meeker at 32 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Sagebrush Reservoir Number 1

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Public occurrence data for Routt County names brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, mountain whitefish and mountain sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. This water gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 62°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter locks it down, and mid April brings it back. Ice usually gives way near mid April, and forms again about late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. The season on this water follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Saddle Reservoir, 1.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for this water.