Rifle Gap Reservoir Fishing Report, Week of September 20, 2026

This is a dated note, not today's gage and not a bite forecast. The homepage water list is the later reading. Use this page for the bank, the access, and the safety. Weather lines in it are that week's weather.

Rifle Gap Reservoir, September 20, 2026

Pool is sitting near 1527 acre-ft / about 5908.7 ft elevation this check, and September air is doing the usual Rifle shuffle: mornings in the 40s, sunny highs in the mid-70s, light wind until afternoon. Trout and warmwater fish are both in play, work the banks early, then adjust once the sun clears the ridge.

First light through mid-morning is the window. Along shore, crawl a small soft plastic on a light jig through points and drop-offs, or run a willow / pulse-style spinner blade parallel to the bank. Trout will still take a clean retrieve across deeper water off the points; when the sun climbs, slow down, fish shade and steeper structure, and save a second pass for evening if the reservoir stays off the whitecaps. Cancel early if afternoon chop exceeds your craft or shore plan.

Park shore, ramps, and ANS rules live on the Rifle Gap State Park page, no cut-throughs, and Clean / Drain / Dry if you move boats or kayaks between waters.