Fishing at Williams Creek Reservoir, La Plata County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in La Plata County, Williams Creek Reservoir is a Colorado water. It sits at 8,248 feet above sea level. Roughly 333 acres of surface: treat each bay as a water in its own right. Shoreline length is close to 3.2 miles, and each section fishes a little differently. It ranks high for size among our La Plata County listings. The nearest town is Pagosa Springs, 20 miles away. The nearest city of size is Pueblo, 152 miles away. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Williams Creek Reservoir

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. Built water gives depth close in, which suits a bank angler. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Reported across La Plata County: rainbow trout, brook trout, bluehead sucker and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Williams Creek Reservoir repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 17°F in January up to 55°F in July. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. The open-water window runs from around early May to about mid November in an average year. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Anyone fishing Williams Creek Reservoir regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. You can leave the car about half a mile from the water. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules for this water may differ from the county norm. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Squaw Lake sits 8.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm before you fish Williams Creek Reservoir.