Banjo Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Banjo Lake falls in Fremont County, part of Colorado. The land about it is lake country bush. It covers about 3 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. Salida at 29 miles is the nearest place to stop. Beyond it, Cañon City at 31 miles and Lincoln Park at 31 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Banjo Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. County-wide records name brown trout, rainbow trout and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Banjo Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 51°F; the cold one sits at 15°F. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Banjo Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. South Branch Lake sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing on Banjo Lake should be assumed from this page alone.