Fishing at Whiteley Peak Reservoir, Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in Jackson County, Whiteley Peak Reservoir is a Colorado water. It stands 8,041 feet above sea level. Around 37 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.3 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Nearest town is Steamboat Springs, 20 miles off. Kremmling is 20 miles and Granby 35 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Whiteley Peak Reservoir

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Records held for Jackson County cover brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. On Whiteley Peak Reservoir a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 58°F for July and 15°F for January. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late April. Averages suggest open water from about late April through to roughly mid November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Whiteley Peak Reservoir the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. 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. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Basin Reservoir sits 2.9 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Whiteley Peak Reservoir is worth confirming on the day.