Fishing Clear Lake in Jackson County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Clear Lake in Jackson County, Colorado. Elevation runs to 10,597 feet. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. The nearest town is Estes Park, 30 miles away. Further out sit Granby (39 miles) and Laporte (43 miles). The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish. Regulars know where the fish sit; visitors have to find out.

• Where to Fish on Clear Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Fish documented in Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and Arctic grayling. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. The shape of Clear Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 18°F in January up to 51°F in July. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Expect a solid lid for months and a thaw around late May. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Clear Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. No launch point is recorded nearby, so this is a bank water unless you carry a boat in. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Rawah Lake Number 4 at 1.3 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Clear Lake as something to verify.