Clear Lake Fishing near Telluride, Colorado

• Overview

  Look for Clear Lake in the San Miguel County part of Colorado. Elevation runs to 11,975 feet. Surface area is around 33 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. It is among the larger waters listed here for San Miguel County. 7.8 miles away sits Telluride, the nearest town. Beyond it, Mountain Village at 8.2 miles and Ouray at 15 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in San Miguel County include rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Clear Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 50°F, the coldest about 13°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early June. Break-up sits around early June on average, with the water closing again about early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. That shapes the year on Clear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. A car park sits roughly half a mile away. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Island Lake, 1 mile away. Rules at Clear Lake are worth checking on the day.