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245-acre reservoir near Montrose County. The lake tops out around 280 ft. What you see is a modeled chart: the shoreline is real, the max depth is published, and the contours between are estimated. Plan with it; don't navigate by it. What the data behind the map says about each species, season by season:
Traced from the shoreline, Crystal Reservoir runs 268 acres with 15.3 miles of edge. An index of 6.7 puts the bank firmly in maze territory: point after pocket after cove, every one a casting target. 20% of the surface is littoral (under ~15 ft), per the model — cover, weeds and forage water. Call it 6.3 mi long by 0.8 mi wide at the broadest reach. You'll find it in Montrose County. Closest neighbour on DepthScout: Morrow Point Reservoir, 8 mi east of here.
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 10 to 30 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 30 to 70 ft, and winter fish settle into 20 to 80 ft. The spot to know is Deep basin, a deep basin in about 238 ft of water that rates good for kokanee in spring. Warm-month bites cluster around early morning. Throw a dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 30 ft | dawn | Deep basin (238 ft) | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 30 to 70 ft | dawn | Deep basin (238 ft) | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 5 to 40 ft | dawn | open water | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (238 ft) | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Early season brown trout use the shallows, holding in 3 to 25 ft. Expect a summer slide to 25 to 60 ft, then a winter hold in 5 to 35 ft. Put Break off the point first on the milk run — a drop-off near 126 ft that grades good for summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in after dark and early morning. Tie on a spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) and you're in the game.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 25 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 25 to 60 ft | night & dawn | Break off the point (126 ft) | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 5 to 30 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 5 to 35 ft | dawn | Break off the point (126 ft) | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 10 to 40 ft that time of year. Warm water sends them out to 50 to 120 ft; cold water stacks them in 20 to 80 ft. Top water on the chart: Break off the point, a drop-off in the 126 ft range, prime in summer. Fish it in early morning and you'll meet the bite. Throw a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger until the fish tell you otherwise.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 10 to 40 ft | dawn & dusk | Main-lake point (70 ft) | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 50 to 120 ft | dawn | Break off the point (126 ft) | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 10 to 50 ft | dusk & dawn | open water | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 20 to 80 ft | dawn | Deep basin (238 ft) | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
The spring pattern is a shallow one: rainbow trout in 5 to 20 ft. As the season builds they drop to 8 to 30 ft, wintering in 8 to 40 ft. Top water on the chart: Shallow bay flat, a weed flat in the 6 ft range, good in spring. Time it for early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Start at | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 8 to 30 ft | dawn & dusk | Shallow bay flat (6 ft) | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 10 to 35 ft | dawn & dusk | open water | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 8 to 40 ft | dawn | Break off the point (126 ft) | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Crystal Reservoir carries 6 mapped structure features, topping out (or rather bottoming out) at Deep basin, about 238 ft down.
Season dates, license requirements, and size and bag limits for Colorado waters are set by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife — and special regulations can apply to Crystal Reservoir specifically, so confirm the current rules before you fish.
Check the official Colorado fishing regulations →
Crystal Reservoir is about 280 ft (85 m) deep at its deepest point. The contours here are modeled from the water's real shape and maximum depth, so treat them as a rough guide.
Anglers target kokanee, brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout on Crystal Reservoir.
Break off the point is the top-rated area: a drop-off in about 126 ft of water that rates prime for lake trout in summer. Every other rated spot, per species and season, is on the map above.
For kokanee, the summer bite is best in early morning. Each species page section below lists the seasonal windows, and the map shows a live NOW badge when you're inside one.
Fishing on Crystal Reservoir is regulated by the Colorado Parks & Wildlife. Check the official Colorado regulations for current license requirements, season dates, and size and bag limits — special regulations can apply to this specific water.
Morrow Point Reservoir 8 mi · Silverjack Reservoir 18 mi · Gunnison River (Gorge) 21 mi · Blue Mesa Reservoir 22 mi · San Cristobal Lake 39 mi · Youngs Creek Reservoir #3 43 mi · Reed Reservoir 43 mi · Vela Reservoir 43 mi · Eggleston Lake Big 43 mi · Battlement Reservoir Big 44 mi · Eggleston Lake Little 44 mi · Island Lake 45 mi
See how Crystal Reservoir stacks up: best rainbow trout lakes in Colorado · best lake trout lakes in Colorado · best brown trout lakes in Colorado · best kokanee lakes in Colorado
Browse all Colorado fishing maps or see every water on DepthScout. How we build these maps. Fish here with a sonar unit that logs? Send us your depth data and we'll improve this chart, credited to you. For fishing guidance only, never navigation.