Thomas Reservoir in Boulder County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Boulder County, Colorado, is where Thomas Reservoir sits. Elevation runs to 5,161 feet. About 19 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Start from Erie, 1.7 miles down the road. For a city, Boulder is 11 miles off. Other water nearby: Marfell Lake Number 1 roughly 1.1 miles, Prince Reservoir Number 2 some 1.2 miles off, Erie Lake roughly 1.7 miles, Mountain View Lakes some 2.3 miles off and Waneka Reservoir roughly 3.4 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Thomas Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Species logged across Boulder County include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and brown trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Thomas Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 28°F in January to roughly 73°F in July. Mild ends to the year keep the season long. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. It sets the rhythm of the year at Thomas Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Marfell Lake Number 1 at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the position at Thomas Reservoir before loading the car.