Fishing Crane Lake in Mesa County, Colorado

• Overview

  Crane Lake is a Mesa County water, Colorado side. The surface lies 10,167 feet up. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. For supplies, Cedaredge is 11 miles out. Boulder is the closest city, 168 miles away. Within a short drive: Flowing Park Reservoir near enough 1.4 miles, Carson Lake sits 1.4 miles out, Deep Creek Reservoir Number 2 near enough 2.3 miles and Grand Mesa Reservoir Number 1 sits 2.4 miles out. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Crane Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Mesa County: flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and green sunfish. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. At Crane Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 60°F and January near 19°F on the long-run figures. Hard water is a season in its own right here. Once it clears, about early May, the fishing comes on quickly. Average temperatures cross freezing around early May in spring and again near late November in autumn. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Crane Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Read any posted signs at the access point rather than assuming. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. Flowing Park Reservoir sits 1.4 miles off and takes the overflow. The position on Crane Lake is worth confirming on the day.