🏔 South-Central Colorado — South Park
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
South Park — Colorado's Gold Medal stillwater with the largest brown trout in the state
2,500 acres
Surface Area
60 ft
Max Depth
8,673 ft
Elevation
Late April – May
Ice-Out
Apr, May, Sep, Oct
Prime Season
About Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Spinney Mountain Reservoir is Colorado's only Gold Medal designated stillwater fishery — a 2,500-acre high-elevation reservoir in South Park at 8,673 feet that produces some of the largest brown and rainbow trout in the state. The Gold Medal designation reflects extraordinary fish quality: the average brown trout in Spinney exceeds 18 inches, and fish over 24 inches are encountered regularly by skilled float tube anglers.
The reservoir is fed by the South Platte River and sits adjacent to the famous Eleven Mile Reservoir, together forming what is arguably the finest trophy stillwater corridor in Colorado. The combination of cold water, abundant scuds and chironomids, and the productive submerged vegetation creates growth conditions that allow Colorado's largest brown trout to reach sizes more typical of British Columbia or Montana trophy fisheries.
Access is limited to walk-in shore fishing and non-motorized watercraft — no motorized boats are permitted in the Gold Medal section, which creates a quality experience that is increasingly rare on Colorado's accessible waters. Float tube anglers who work the submerged weed edges and point areas with large leech patterns consistently encounter the reservoir's most impressive fish.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife strictly enforces the Gold Medal regulations — catch-and-release with artificial lures and flies only. The regulations exist specifically to maintain the exceptional fish quality, and the fishing community's compliance has created one of Colorado's most remarkable stillwater success stories.
Fishing Techniques
Float Tube / Pontoon
The only practical approach for the Gold Medal section — no motorized boats permitted. Work leech patterns along submerged weed edges.
Shore Wading
Shore fishing permitted throughout. Best at the inlet area near the South Platte in early season when fish stage in shallower water.
Hatch Chart
| Chironomid/Midge | |
| Callibaetis | |
| Damselfly | |
| Scud (year-round) | |
| Leech |
Peak
Active
Absent
Fly Patterns
Chironomid/Midge
Red Chironomid #12-16 · Black Chironomid #12-16 · Zebra Midge #14-18
Callibaetis
Callibaetis Nymph #12-14 · Sparkle Dun #12-14 · CDC Callibaetis #12-14
Damselfly
Olive Damsel Nymph #8-10
Scud
Olive Scud #12-14 · Gray Scud #12-14 · Pink Scud #12-14
Leech
Woolly Bugger #4-8 (olive/black) · Mohair Leech #6-8 · Marabou Leech #4-8
Species
Brown Trout
The reservoir's signature fish. Colorado's largest wild browns average 18–24 inches throughout. Some fish over 28 inches documented annually. Most active during fall pre-spawn.
Rainbow Trout
Present throughout. Averaging 16–20 inches. More active surface feeders than browns. Best during Callibaetis and chironomid hatches.
Access Points
📍 Spinney Mountain State Wildlife Area
Primary access point. Colorado Parks and Wildlife area fee. Walk-in access to shore. Float tube launch areas maintained.
📍 South Platte Inlet
North end inlet area. Best spring fishing when fish stage near the inlet. Walk-in from the wildlife area parking.
Pro Tips
- →Spinney's brown trout are the largest in Colorado — treat them with appropriate care and use barbless hooks.
- →Fall (September–October) is the prime season as pre-spawn browns become aggressive and move into accessible shallows.
- →The South Platte inlet area in April and May concentrates fish as the reservoir opens — some of the year's finest fishing in accessible water.
- →Combine with Eleven Mile Reservoir and the South Platte River for a complete South Park fly fishing itinerary.
Regulations
Colorado fishing license required. GOLD MEDAL WATER: catch and release only, artificial lures and flies only, non-motorized watercraft only. Colorado Parks and Wildlife area fee. Strictly enforced.