Where to Go Spinney Reservoir
Current Reports
Open 9 am to 6 pm Daily
Report Date: 11/7/2026
Spinney Boat Ramp Closure - The North Boat Ramp is closed to trailered launching due to low water levels. Spinney Mountain Reservoir remains open to hand-launched, motorized vessels.
Conditions:
Spinney Mountain Reservoir is operating under late-fall off-season conditions with low water levels. Shore access along grassy points, gravel bars, and weedbed drop-offs remains open. Water clarity is clear, with subsurface temperatures dropping into the low 40s. Resident rainbow, brown, and cutbow trout, along with northern pike, are actively foraging along shallow weedlines and shelf drop-offs to feed before ice-up.
Weather:
Short-Term -
The forecast for South Park brings sub-freezing morning temperatures in the 20s followed by sunny afternoons reaching the upper 40s. Wind remains a major factor, with afternoon breezes frequently gusting between 13 and 20 mph across open water. This wind creates wave chop on windward shores, pushing forage toward the banks and giving fish cover to feed aggressively near the edges.
Long-Term -
As November progresses, freezing overnight temperatures plunging into the teens will produce early morning skim ice in shallow, protected coves like North Bay. Shorter daylight hours and cold winds will steadily push water temperatures toward freezing, compressing active shoreline fishing into a 3- to 4-hour afternoon window until capped ice closes open-water angling for the season.
Hatches:
Insect activity is heavily centered on midges, with continuous subsurface drifts of midge pupae and chironomids in shallow silt and weeded zones. Beyond midges, trout are actively foraging on scuds, damselfly nymphs, aquatic worms, and small forage fish along muddy bottom drop-offs and weed pockets.
Tactics:
Shoreline anglers should target windward points, shallow weedbed edges, and drop-offs near the inlet and dam. Suspending leech or chironomid patterns beneath an indicator at depths between 4 and 9 feet are effective for intercepting cruising trout along depth breaks.
Tips:
Pay attention to wind direction; fishing the shoreline that the wind blows directly into often produces the best action, as wave turbulence dislodges food. Start fishing later in the morning once sunlight warms the shallow flats. Dress in heavy windproof layers and wear sturdy boots for traction on slick, icy shoreline rocks.
Photo by Josh Heney
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Recommended Fly Patterns
Dry Fly Patterns
- Parachute Callibaetis, sizes #16-18
- Sprout Midge, sizes #18-22
- Parachute Hopper, sizes #10-12
- Hippy Stomper, Tan or Purple, sizes #12-14
- Stimulator, sizes #10-16
Nymph Patterns
- Balanced Leech, Black, Olive, or Blood Red, sizes #10-12
- Ice Cream Cone Chironomid, Black/Red or Olive, sizes #16-20
- Epoxy Back Scud, Tan, Olive, or Orange, sizes #14-16
- Callibaetis Nymph / Mercer's Poxyback, sizes #16-18
Streamer Patterns
- Baby Gonga, Black
- Flatliner, White
- Slump Buster, Olive
Anglers Covey Bug Of The MOnth:
See below for the Spinney Mountain Reservoir Map, or CLICK HERE for a downloadable PDF.
Reservoir Details
Spinney Reservoir is one of the best stillwater fisheries in the entire western US. The regulations are flies and lures only, and you can harvest one trout over 20 inches. Fish species include: Rainbow Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Brown Trout, Cutbow Trout, Yellow Perch, and Northern Pike. There are two boat ramps and several parking areas around the reservoir. It is a $9.00 daily pass fee to get in. Anglers bringing a boat should make sure to clean it thoroughly because they are now inspecting for Zebra Mussels.
This is an area we specialize and are permitted to guide in, so give us a shot if you have any question or if you interested in allowing one of our Orvis-Endorsed guides to show you how to conquer Spinney Reservoir.