Jackson Gulch Reservoir Fishing
A 225-acre Colorado reservoir in Montezuma County at 7,829 feet.
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Jackson Gulch Reservoir at a glance
Jackson Gulch Reservoir holds around 225 surface acres within Montezuma County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 7,829 feet. Access runs through Mancos State Park. For gas and groceries, Mancos sits roughly 4 miles off. It falls inside the Southwest Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for rainbow trout, splake, yellow perch and trout, by the CPW list. Trailers back in at 1 boat ramp. Boating allowed: Motor boats (gasoline w/ limits). Reaching it is easy; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Every chip for Jackson Gulch Reservoir comes from a CPW list, a state record or the trout stocking report.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Putting in at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Mancos State Park on Jackson Gulch Reservoirboat ramp, State Parks
Walk-up spots at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Jackson Gulch Reservoir fishing access near Mancoseasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 7,829 ft
Other CPW ramps around Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Joe Moore Reservoir SWAJoe Moore Reservoir, 3 miles northwest
- Summit Reservoir SWASummit Reservoir, 6 miles west
- Puett Reservoir SWAPuett Reservoir, 8 miles west
- Totten Reservoir SWATotten Reservoir, 14 miles west
- House Creek Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 17 miles northwest
- McPhee Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 17 miles northwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Reservoir storage at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Bureau of Reclamation (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for Jackson Gulch Reservoir (station JACRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Spring runoff fills Jackson Gulch Reservoir; summer releases draw it down.
Bag limits at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
| Species | Bag and possession | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
CPW splits some limits by drainage, and Jackson Gulch Reservoir falls west of the Continental Divide. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at Jackson Gulch Reservoir unless a special rule says otherwise.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Recent trout releases at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Catchable trout reached Jackson Gulch Reservoir often enough to earn 9 listings on the CPW report; the last is June 19, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 15, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 4, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 11, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 30, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 24, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 15, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 3, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Colorado stocking.
Measuring Jackson Gulch Reservoir against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Gulch Reservoir | 225 | 7,829 | 1 | yes | |
| Joe Moore Reservoir | 3 miles northwest | 36 | 7,699 | 1 | yes |
| Summit Reservoir | 6 miles west | 279 | 7,389 | 1 | yes |
| Puett Reservoir | 7 miles west | 155 | 7,272 | 1 | |
| Twin Spruce Ponds | 12 miles northwest | 35 | 7,292 | 0 | yes |
| Totten Reservoir | 14 miles west | 225 | 6,153 | 1 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Lakes to pair with Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Joe Moore Reservoir3 miles northwest
- Summit Reservoir6 miles west
- Puett Reservoir7 miles west
- Twin Spruce Ponds12 miles northwest
- Totten Reservoir14 miles west
Bait and flies near Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Doc's Marina McPheemarina, Dolores, 15 miles
- On the Hook Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cortez, 18 miles
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 19 miles
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, 23 miles
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, 23 miles
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, 24 miles
Registered outfitters around Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Duranglers, Inc.fishing guide, Durango
- Cole Glenn Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Durango
- Durango Fly Fishing LLC.fly fishing guide, Durango, (970) 799-5246
- Heads Up Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Ignacio, (970) 984-8433
Mountain and plains towns near Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Mancos4 miles
- Cortez17 miles
- Durango24 miles
Counties holding part of Jackson Gulch Reservoir
- Montezuma Countyseat: Cortez
What Piscifun makes for Jackson Gulch Reservoir anglers
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Species photos for anglers bound for Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Planning notes for Jackson Gulch Reservoir in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
It lies in Montezuma County, CPW Southwest Region, about 4 miles from Mancos.
How much surface does Jackson Gulch Reservoir spread across when full?
The outline measures about 225 acres, at about 7,829 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
1 boat ramp on the CPW layer, Mancos State Park on Jackson Gulch Reservoir included.
Which species does CPW list for Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
The CPW roster names rainbow trout, splake, yellow perch and trout.
How many trout can I keep at Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
How much is a one-day license for Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
How often does CPW stock Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
Yes: 9 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (3 in 2026, 2 in 2025, 4 in 2024); latest June 19, 2026.
Where do anglers at Jackson Gulch Reservoir get supplies?
Doc's Marina McPhee, 15 miles out.
Where can I check storage at Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
Check Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry above.
What does CPW say about ice at Jackson Gulch Reservoir?
ice fishing listed as yes, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at Jackson Gulch Reservoir
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.