Whetstone Reservoir Fishing Guide, Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  Whetstone Reservoir lies within the bounds of Routt County, Colorado. Around the bank it is mixed forest. At roughly 5 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. On size it sits at the modest end of our Routt County list. Steamboat Springs lies 9.2 miles from the water. For a city, Boulder is 91 miles off. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Whetstone Reservoir

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. County-wide records name brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Whetstone Reservoir in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 63°F in July and bottoms out near 16°F in January. Winter shuts the surface down for months. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid April. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. That shapes the year on Whetstone Reservoir.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Upper Robinson Reservoir, 2.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the current arrangement for Whetstone Reservoir.