Smith Reservoir Fishing Guide, Larimer County, Colorado

• Overview

  Smith Reservoir sits in Larimer County, out in Colorado. It stands 4,961 feet above sea level. At roughly 20 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Colorado listings. For a base, Severance sits 4.8 miles out. Further out sit Windsor (5.9 miles) and Fort Collins (8.3 miles). The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Smith Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Open biodiversity records for Larimer County list black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker, rainbow trout and brown trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Treat Smith Reservoir as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 71°F; by January the average is down near 26°F. The year gives four workable seasons without severe ends. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. November and March are the quiet, comfortable months to be out. Smith Reservoir runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. For a change of water, Lee Lake is 0.9 miles distant. Ask locally about Smith Reservoir if anything is unclear.