Agua Fria Lake Fishing Guide, Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  Agua Fria Lake lies within the bounds of Jackson County, Colorado. It lies 10,023 feet above sea level. Roughly 28 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Shoreline comes to about 1.0 miles, small enough to learn in a day. Steamboat Springs is the closest place, 14 miles off. Hayden is 34 miles and Kremmling 42 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Agua Fria Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Fish documented in Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Agua Fria Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 54°F, with February the cold end at about 19°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On Agua Fria Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. No dam controls it, and the level follows the season. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Rainbow Lake, 1.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position at Agua Fria Lake before loading the car.