Spruce Reservoir near Mancos: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Montezuma County in Colorado is where Spruce Reservoir sits. Everything around it is rolling bush. Small enough that any disturbance crosses the whole surface. Our Montezuma County list holds plenty of bigger water. Some 13 miles away sits Mancos, the nearest settlement. The nearest city of size is Albuquerque, 193 miles away. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Spruce Reservoir

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. 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. Fish documented in Montezuma County include bluehead sucker, brook trout, bluegill, walleye and channel catfish. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Read Spruce Reservoir before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 62°F in July and bottom out at 23°F in January. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Count the season from break-up, usually mid April. The season between ice runs from about mid April to early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Spruce Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Little Mud Reservoir sits 2.2 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Spruce Reservoir as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.