Fishing Smith Reservoir in Jefferson County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Smith Reservoir in Jefferson County, Colorado. It sits in rolling hill. The water covers some 49 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. There is roughly 1.1 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Some 2.2 miles away sits Lakewood, the nearest settlement. Further out sit West Pleasant View (4.7 miles) and Dakota Ridge (4.9 miles). The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Smith Reservoir

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Records held for Jefferson County cover rainbow trout, brown trout, common carp, green sunfish and longnose sucker. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. Smith Reservoir gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 72°F and January near 31°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. It is not guaranteed from one year to the next. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Smith Reservoir runs to its own calendar within the local pattern. Settled weather over several days beats a single fine one.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. A pier or jetty stands half a mile away, which helps on a crowded bank. A picnic area is mapped about half a mile away. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. State or provincial rules still apply whatever the bank status. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Kendrick Reservoir is 0.4 miles off. Confirm before you fish Smith Reservoir.