Fishing at Threemile Reservoir, Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Threemile Reservoir is one of the Jackson County listings for Colorado. It sits in rolling bush country. At roughly 7 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Jackson County standards. Steamboat Springs sits 39 miles from the bank. It is 75 miles to Fort Collins, the nearest city. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Threemile Reservoir

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Public occurrence data for Jackson County names brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, Arctic grayling and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Threemile Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 57°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from early May. Climate averages put the opening at about early May and the closing near mid November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Plan any trip to Threemile Reservoir around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. If the gate is shut, Campbell Reservoir at 1.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Check the position on Threemile Reservoir before loading the car.