Fishing John Martin Reservoir

AKA: John Martin Reservoir State Park

Popular Fish Species
John Martin Reservoir Fishing Video
Available Fish Species
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John Martin Reservoir, CO

Popular Fish Species John Martin Reservoir, CO

John Martin Reservoir Popular Fish - Black Crappie

Black Crappie Fishing

John Martin Reservoir is home to a healthy population of black crappie, which are fat and healthy this year. Crappie fishing is easy and requires simple, basic gear. Any fishing pole, reasonably small line and crappie jigs or small hooks baited with live bait, creates the ideal setup. Add a bobber and you can set the depth you prefer the bait to maintain. The best time to catch crappie tends to be at dawn and dusk. Live bait and small jigs are the most common method for crappie here. Because crappie always like cover and structure, so locate brush and vegetation. Using a fish finder can help locate schools of crappie, which tend to stack vertically around cover. In spring and fall focus on the 8 to 12 foot range. As the crappie move deep in summer and winter, follow points out deep, as well as find ledges near channels in deeper water.

John Martin Reservoir Popular Fish - Hybrid Striped Bass

Hybrid Striped Bass Fishing

Hybrid striped bass, also known as wipers, are a favorite of many locals and fishing guides at John Martin Reservoir, as they are plentiful and grow to bragging size. As a hybrid of striped bass and white bass, they have great potential for spawning massive numbers and growing to large sizes. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife has done a great job of balancing many species within the lake to create an ideal fishery for anglers. Fishing for hybrid stripers is a matter of locating schools of bait, and schools of hybrid striped bass are likely to be in the area. Mornings, during Fall, hybrids can be caught on topwater or shallow running lures, as they are feeding on baitfish at the surface. When they move deeper, fish finders improve your odds of locating both bait and schools of wipers. Live bait, spoons and jigs are very very effective here, and these hungry fish can be caught year round.

John Martin Reservoir Popular Fish - White Bass

White Bass Fishing

After several very successful spawn years, white bass are flourishing in John Martin Reservoir and anglers should expect some great fishing this year. White bass are aggressive, hard-fighting and just plain fun to catch. When fishing for white bass, the average fish is typically in the one- to two-pound range. These schooling fish tend to roam around the lake looking for ideal water conditions and baitfish. Look for them to generally be in 15 to 35 feet of water, whether they are hovering around the bottom or swimming in open water. Fish finders are the best way to locate big schools of white bass. Fish near the bottom at night with live bait. In spring, once the water temperature rises into the mid sixties, they move shallow into the backs of coves and creek channels to spawn. When white bass chase schools of bait near the surface, spinners, spoons and small crank baits work well. At this time anglers can fish from shore and often do quite well. Use lures that imitate baitfish, including small crankbaits, small jerkbaits, jigs and spoons.

John Martin Reservoir Fishing Video

Fish species to fish for...

Guide to fishing for largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, channel catfish, blue catfish, flathead catfish, black crappie, walleye, bluegill, white bass, saugeye, striped bass and wipers at John Martin Reservoir in Colorado.

John Martin Reservoir State Park features excellent boating and fishing at John Martin Reservoir. Come and enjoy a day of fishing, or an extended stay at this 11,600-acre lake in southeastern corner of the state. Find your favorite section of its 22 miles of shoreline and fish for a host of warm-water fish species. Favorites include crappie, saugeye, bass, wiper and striped bass, but the lake also offers fishing for sunfish, walleye and white bass. Local fishing tournaments held here regularly speak to the quality of the fishing.

Primary fish species residing in John Martin Reservoir

Click images for fishing tips and details about each species.

John Martin Reservoir Amenities

Marina: NO
Boat Rental: NO
Boat Launch Ramp: YES
Campgrounds: YES
RV Hookups: YES
Lodging: NEARBY
Convenience Store: YES
Bait & Tackle: YES
Restaurant: YES

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Public Boat Launch Ramps & Landings

John Martin Reservoir Boat Ramp
This is a two-lane, concrete ramp with docks, and paved parking. It is located in the northwest corner of the lake, off Highway 24.