Shortcut Reservoir in Delta County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Shortcut Reservoir sits within Delta County in Colorado. Country round the bank runs to dry open country. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Our Delta County list holds plenty of bigger water. Nearest place of any size is Delta, 9.8 miles away. After that come Olathe at 15 miles and Orchard City at 17 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Shortcut Reservoir

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Delta County include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Read Shortcut Reservoir for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 76°F at the top of summer and 28°F at the bottom of winter. Some winters cap it and some do not. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Shortcut Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Club Gulch Reservoir, 1.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Rules at Shortcut Reservoir are worth checking on the day.