Smith Pond, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Otero County in Colorado is where Smith Pond sits. Elevation runs to 5,062 feet. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Colorado listings. The town to know is La Junta, 29 miles out. Pueblo sits 59 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. More in the same country: Kennedy Ponds some 1.3 miles off, Rourke Reservoir 1.7 miles, Newby Reservoir some 3.8 miles off, Government Pond 3.8 miles and Big Reservoir some 6.9 miles off. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Smith Pond

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Species logged across Otero County include green sunfish, channel catfish and white sucker. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Smith Pond gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 76°F; the cold one sits at 31°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. It holds true on Smith Pond more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Kennedy Ponds at 1.3 miles is the sensible second choice. For Smith Pond, the notice at the access point is the final word.