Fishing Bar-Bel Lake in Rio Blanco County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Rio Blanco County end of Colorado holds Bar-Bel Lake. Around the bank it is lake country bush. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The closest town, Meeker, is 21 miles away. For a city, Boulder is 121 miles off. Nearest other option: Bailey Lake within 2.5 miles, Dobbs Reservoir 4.1 miles away, Shadow Lake within 4.7 miles, Cabin Lake 4.7 miles away and Gilley Lake within 4.8 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Bar-Bel Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. County-wide records name flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Bar-Bel Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-run averages give July about 58°F and January about 20°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly late November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. That is the shape of the year on Bar-Bel Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. There is no mapped parking or launch nearby, which keeps numbers down. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Bailey Lake sits 2.5 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the position on Bar-Bel Lake before loading the car.