Whetstone Reservoir Number 3 near Hayden: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  This water sits in Routt County, Colorado. The bank is 6,804 feet above sea level. At roughly 4 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Our Routt County list holds plenty of bigger water. Start from Hayden, 6.6 miles down the road. It is 105 miles to Boulder, the nearest city. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Whetstone Reservoir Number 3

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Fish documented in Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and mountain whitefish. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. On this water the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 62°F in July and bottoms out near 20°F in January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. After mid April the shallows warm and the fish move up. In an average year the thaw lands around mid April and the freeze near late November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. The season on this water follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Nofstger Zeigler Reservoir at 1.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at this water are worth checking on the day.