College Lake Fishing near Laporte, Colorado

• Overview

  Look for College Lake in the Larimer County part of Colorado. It sits in open valley. It runs to roughly 66 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. The edge runs 1.2 miles or so, easy to work in an afternoon. Laporte at 3.2 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 3.7 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on College Lake

  Depth is not on record here, which means reading the ground instead. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. County-wide records name black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and white sucker. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. The near bank of College Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 71°F in July and bottoms out near 28°F in January. The calendar is generous: something works in nearly every month. Hard water here is never dependable, so check for yourself before stepping out. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. Plan around that when you fish College Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. BugLife Fly Fishing is mapped as a fishing spot about half a mile away. A picnic site half a mile off makes this workable with family in tow. Public toilets are recorded roughly half a mile off. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Horsetooth Reservoir is 1.6 miles distant. Check the current arrangement for College Lake.