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Fishing Shadow Mountain Reservoir: what the data says
1,315-acre reservoir near Grand County. The lake tops out around 24 ft. The contours are modeled from the water's real shoreline and maximum depth. Treat them as a rough guide, and never use them for navigation. Here is how the season plays out for each species, straight from the data behind the map.
Kokanee fishing at Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: kokanee sit in 7 to 24 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 ft that scores prime in spring. Plan around early morning in the warm months. A dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger or a kokanee bug + corn covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 7 to 24 ft | dawn | Small dodger + squid (pink), Wedding-ring spinner + corn |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn | Dodger + pink/orange squid on downrigger, Kokanee bug + corn |
| Fall | 3 to 24 ft | dawn | Dodger + squid (deeper red/purple), Small spoon |
| Winter | 6 to 24 ft | dawn | Small glow jig + corn or maggot, Tiny spoon |
Brown Trout fishing at Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: brown trout sit in 3 to 24 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish hold in 3 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 11 ft that scores prime in summer. Plan around after dark and early morning in the warm months. A spoon at the thermocline or a deep stickbait (night) covers the summer program.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Stickbait off planer boards (shallow), Small spoon along mud lines |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | night & dawn | Spoon at the thermocline, Deep stickbait (night) |
| Fall | 4 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Jerkbait over gravel, Casting spoon |
| Winter | 3 to 24 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Small stickbait (slow) |
Cutthroat Trout fishing at Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: cutthroat trout sit in 3 to 15 ft that time of year. Summer pushes them deeper, 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish settle into 6 to 24 ft. The spot to know is Break off the point, a drop-off in about 11 ft of water that rates prime for cutthroat trout in summer. In summer the feeding windows fall in early morning and the evening. Summer baits: a trolled spoon (small) or a inline spinner gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 3 to 15 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver/gold), Small spoon |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Trolled spoon (small), Inline spinner |
| Fall | 5 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Inline spinner |
| Winter | 6 to 24 ft | dawn | Small jigging spoon, Marabou jig |
Lake Trout fishing at Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: lake trout sit in 6 to 24 ft that time of year. Summer fish stay in 7 to 24 ft, and winter fish hold in 6 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Deep basin: a deep basin around 20 ft that scores prime in summer. Best bite is early morning. Summer baits: a white tube jig (deep) or a magnum spoon on downrigger gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 6 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon over shoals, Jerkbait (shallow) |
| Summer | 7 to 24 ft | dawn | White tube jig (deep), Magnum spoon on downrigger |
| Fall | 5 to 24 ft | dusk & dawn | Heavy casting spoon, Jigging rap over reefs |
| Winter | 6 to 24 ft | dawn | White tube jig, Airplane jig |
Rainbow Trout fishing at Shadow Mountain Reservoir
Start shallow in spring: rainbow trout sit in 5 to 20 ft that time of year. By summer they slide out to 6 to 24 ft, and by winter most fish are in 5 to 24 ft. If you only fish one area, make it Break off the point: a drop-off around 11 ft that scores prime in winter. Plan around early morning and the evening in the warm months. Summer baits: a dodger + spoon (deep troll) or a flutter spoon gets it done.
| Season | Depth | Best window | Go-to baits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | 5 to 20 ft | dawn & dusk | Inline spinner (silver), Small spoon |
| Summer | 6 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Dodger + spoon (deep troll), Flutter spoon |
| Fall | 7 to 24 ft | dawn & dusk | Casting spoon, Jerkbait over shoals |
| Winter | 5 to 24 ft | dawn | Jigging spoon, Tube jig (white) |
Notable structure
- Deep basin: deep basin, around 20 ft
- Break off the point: drop-off, around 11 ft
- Main-lake point: point, around 8 ft
- Secondary point: point, around 8 ft
- Shallow bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
- Back-bay flat: weed flat, around 3 ft
Common questions
How deep is Shadow Mountain Reservoir?
Shadow Mountain Reservoir is about 24 ft 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.
What fish are in Shadow Mountain Reservoir?
Anglers target rainbow trout, lake trout, brown trout, kokanee, cutthroat trout on Shadow Mountain Reservoir.
Where is the best fishing spot on Shadow Mountain Reservoir?
Deep basin is the top-rated area: a deep basin in about 20 ft of water that rates prime for kokanee in spring. Open the map above to see every rated spot for each species and season.
When is the best time to fish Shadow Mountain Reservoir?
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.
Nearby waters
Grand Lake · Granby Reservoir · Willow Creek Reservoir · Monarch Lake · Meadow Creek Reservoir · Diamond Lake Upper
See how Shadow Mountain 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
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