Fishing Schrader Reservoir in Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Schrader Reservoir in Mesa County, Colorado. This is mixed forest ground. About 21 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Redlands is the closest place, 13 miles off. Beyond it, Orchard Mesa at 14 miles and Grand Junction at 14 miles. No border sits close enough to matter. The shoreline runs longer than it looks on a map.

• Where to Fish on Schrader Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker, green sunfish, white sucker and common carp. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Treat Schrader Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 22°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near mid April. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid April until roughly early December. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. On Schrader Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, King Reservoir is 0.7 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for Schrader Reservoir.