Ward Reservoir Number 1 in Denver County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Look for Ward Reservoir Number 1 in the Denver County part of Colorado. Everything around it is open valley. It runs to roughly 59 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. Around 1.2 miles of margin, front to back. It ranks high for size among our Denver County listings. Lakewood lies 2.1 miles from the water. It is 1.9 miles to Lakewood, the nearest city. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Ward Reservoir Number 1

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Denver County records list common carp, white sucker, bluegill, green sunfish and longnose sucker among the fish reported. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read this water before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 31°F and July at about 73°F, the water has a wide range to work through. In milder years the surface never sets. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Expect this water to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. Largemouth respond to soft plastics tight to cover; go weedless where the growth is heavy. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Ward Reservoir Number 2 at 0.5 miles is the sensible second choice. Where this water is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.