Stambaugh Reservoir, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Stambaugh Reservoir sits within Jackson County in Colorado. The ground around here is pine and birch. The water measures roughly 9 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Nearest town is Steamboat Springs, 12 miles off. After that come Kremmling at 33 miles and Hayden at 34 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Stambaugh Reservoir

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Jackson County records list brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. On Stambaugh Reservoir the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 19°F and July at about 55°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. The season between ice runs from about mid May to mid November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. Stambaugh Reservoir fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Failing this one, try Ross Reservoir, 0.8 miles away. Rules at Stambaugh Reservoir are worth checking on the day.