Bench Reservoir

Bench Reservoir is a reservoir in Dolores County, Colorado, and covers about 0.2 acres.

Bench Reservoir is small water, so a careful lap around the bank can show most of the useful cover.

Fish and Baits

At Bench Reservoir, the fish mix here is not confirmed, so check fresh local information before choosing a target or keeping a catch.

At Bench Reservoir, begin with one slow bottom presentation and one moving bait, then let bites show whether fish are holding close to cover or roaming open water.

How to Read the Water

When breaking down this small, open reservoir in Dolores County, start where two things meet: weeds and open water, rock and mud, a point and a drop, or clear water and dirty water; fish that edge at more than one depth before leaving it.

Season by Season

For the first look at this small, open reservoir in Dolores County, early in the year, protected water and the first warm afternoon can be the best clues; as the water heats up, check deeper edges without assuming every fish is on the bottom; cooling fall water often makes points and firm banks useful again.

A Simple Tackle Plan

At Bench Reservoir, a medium spinning rod, 8-pound line, a small box of jigs, a few crankbaits, and a simple bottom rig cover most situations; change depth or speed before changing every piece of tackle.

At Bench Reservoir, record the wind, water color, productive depth, and cover after a bite; those four notes are more useful on the next trip than a long list of spots that did not produce.