Fishing Troutvale Reservoir Number 1 in Mineral County, Colorado

• Overview

  Troutvale Reservoir Number 1 belongs to Mineral County, Colorado. The bank is 9,787 feet above sea level. Surface area is around 62 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. The bank runs about 1.0 miles all the way round, so one visit can cover most of it. On our Mineral County list it sits near the top for size. Ouray sits 30 miles from the bank. The big place round here is Pueblo, 143 miles distant. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on Troutvale Reservoir Number 1

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Public occurrence data for Mineral County names brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Take this water a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 54°F on average, January about 13°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. The lid tends to go about mid May and return around mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. This water runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping shows a ramp about half a mile from the shore. Parking is mapped about half a mile from the bank. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Failing this one, try Troutvale Reservoir Number 2, 0.8 miles away. For this water, the notice at the access point is the final word.