Shaefermeyer Reservoir Number 1 Fishing in Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Routt County, Shaefermeyer Reservoir Number 1 is a Colorado water. The bank is 7,198 feet above sea level. The whole thing is a single swim; walk it in a minute. It is a small entry by Routt County standards. The closest town, Hayden, is 7.5 miles distant. Further out sit Steamboat Springs (19 miles) and Craig (20 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Shaefermeyer Reservoir Number 1

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Records held for Routt County cover brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Read this water for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 63°F and January reads 19°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. It holds true on this water more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. The nearest alternative is Morgan Creek Reservoir Number 1, 1.7 miles out. Ask locally about this water if anything is unclear.