Spinney Mountain · Eleven Mile · Antero Reservoir
Colorado Reservoir TroutFrom an Angler on the Water Every Week
Real fishing reports, honest gear reviews, and proven techniques for South Park’s trophy trout water — written by Paul, retired and fishing 4–5 days a week.
No sponsored picks. No generic advice. Just what actually works at Spinney, Eleven Mile, and Antero.
On the water 4–5 days/week
Not reading forums — actually fishing Spinney and Eleven Mile
Paul's real gear only
Every pick is what he uses, not what pays a commission
Zero sponsored placements
Amazon affiliate links only — what I'd tell my fishing buddy
Weekly reservoir reports
South Park conditions updated weekly from the boat
Latest report
Buffalo Bay rewarded the walk.
Paul hiked away from easier water and found the bite tight to a wind-blown bank. The report breaks down the lane, lure changes, and shoreline cast that produced 11 trout.
June 2, 2026 · Buffalo Bay
The Buffalo Bay Hike Paid Off
- Trout landed
- 11
- Best trout
- About 20 in
- Pike active
- 20-24 in fish
- Key depth
- 5-6 ft from bank
Field guides
Start with the setup, then pick the gear.
The newest field guide is built for Colorado creek pull-offs: a compact tenkara rod, a short list of flies, and a kit that stays useful when the truck is already packed.
Field card
12 ft rod
Field card
5X and 6X tippet
Field card
Small creek fly box
Fixed-line creek kit.
The fly stays in view before the loop resets.
Guide library
Reservoir rigs, electronics, knots, and creek setups in one place.
Paul's 4-Rod Trolling System for Colorado Reservoirs
The 4-rod trolling spread Paul uses weekly at Spinney and Eleven Mile: rod roles, reel choices, line system, and target depths all mapped out.
ElectronicsBest Fish Finders for Colorado Reservoir Fishing
Tested on Colorado reservoirs: which fish finder handles 80ft trout depth best, from live sonar rigs to affordable first units.
Knot guideAlberto Knot for Trout Fishing — Braid to Fluorocarbon the Right Way
Sufix Revolve braid meets 8lb fluorocarbon with the Alberto knot. The exact setup Paul runs for Colorado reservoir trout, tied correctly every time.
Our Top 3
The gear picks we’d actually buy.
Three picks Paul reaches for first on Colorado trout water, sorted by review score.
Thomas Buoyant Spoon 1/4oz Trout Lure
Thomas
This is the lure. Gold at Spinney, silver at Eleven Mile, 1.5–2.0mph trolling speed — Paul has caught more trophy trout on this spoon than everything else combined. Buy a handful in different finishes.
St. Croix Avid 8ft Medium-Light Spinning Rod
St. Croix
Paul's 'reach' rod — the one 8-footer he runs on the outside of his spread. The SCIII+ graphite makes a real difference in sensitivity when trolling 80ft down. Worth the upgrade for your primary rod.
St. Croix Triumph 7ft Medium-Light Spinning Rod
St. Croix
The backbone of Paul's trolling setup. At $110, it's the best rod in this price range for Colorado reservoir trout — and having 3 of the same rod makes swapping rigs fast on the water.
On Amazon
Browse our curated picks in one place.
We keep an up-to-date list of our top recommendations directly on Amazon, easy to save and share.
All Fishing Gears
From our sister brand
For the next generation on the water.
Little Angler trout-pattern baby gear from Ridge Notch — the same fly-fishing sensibility, sized for the nursery.
Free Newsletter
The South Park trout report. Free.
Paul's reservoir bite updates, the gear he'd buy this week, and water-level alerts before the drawdowns hit. No spam. Unsubscribe in one click.
Generative Biology
Rainbow Trout — Chromatophore Portrait
A real-time biological simulation of Oncorhynchus mykiss skin: Gray-Scott reaction-diffusion melanophore spots, Bragg thin-film iridescence, and astaxanthin erythrophore stripe — the same fish Paul chases every week at Spinney Mountain. Move your cursor across the canvas.
Why trust Colorado Trophy Trout
Real angler. Real water. Honest gear.
Paul fishes South Park reservoirs 4–5 days a week, retired and obsessive about it. Every recommendation is what’s on his boat right now.
Real angler, fishing 4–5 days a week
Paul is retired and on the water constantly. Every report, gear pick, and technique comes from actual time at Spinney Mountain, Eleven Mile, and Antero — not from reading other fishing blogs.
Only gear Paul actually uses
The 4-rod trolling setup, the Lowrance Active Target 2, the Thomas Spoons — these are on Paul's boat right now. No spec-sheet recommendations, no products he hasn't put on the water.
Zero sponsored placements
Amazon affiliate links only. No fishing brands pay for coverage, no gear is gifted in exchange for a positive review. What you read is what Paul would tell you standing on the shore.