Crater Lake near Paonia: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Crater Lake is a Gunnison County water, Colorado side. It stands 10,180 feet above sea level. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Most waters listed here for Gunnison County are larger. Nearest town is Paonia, 15 miles off. Boulder is the closest city, 144 miles away. This one is safely inside the county line.

• Where to Fish on Crater Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Fish documented in Gunnison County include rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Take Crater Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 54°F and January near 16°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Firm cover through the cold months, then open water from mid May. The season between ice runs from about mid May to mid November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. The season on Crater Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Nothing is listed nearby for parking or launching a boat. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Overland Reservoir, 1.7 miles out. Ask locally about Crater Lake if anything is unclear.