Bowl of Tears Fishing near Minturn, Colorado

• Overview

  Bowl of Tears is set in Eagle County, Colorado. It lies 12,021 feet above sea level. At roughly 20 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is among the larger waters listed here for Eagle County. Minturn is the closest place, 8.7 miles off. After that come Avon at 12 miles and Vail at 13 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Bowl of Tears

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Eagle County records list brook trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout among the fish reported. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Bowl of Tears fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 15°F and July at about 51°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. Ice clears near late May and comes back about early November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. On Bowl of Tears the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. Should this one be busy, Lake Patricia is 1 mile off. Treat Bowl of Tears as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.