Fishing at Cataract Lake, San Juan County, Colorado

• Overview

  Cataract Lake lies within the bounds of San Juan County, Colorado. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. It covers about 16 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It sits higher than most water we list in Colorado. For a base, Ouray sits 17 miles out. It is 157 miles to Pueblo, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Cataract Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Public occurrence data for San Juan County names black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and white sucker. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Fish Cataract Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 50°F, the coldest about 11°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early June. Break-up near early June, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Cataract Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. The nearest alternative is Sloan Lake, 5.4 miles out. The position on Cataract Lake is worth confirming on the day.