Cushman Lake in San Miguel County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Cushman Lake sits within San Miguel County in Colorado. The surface lies 9,587 feet up. About 6 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Mountain Village sits 3.1 miles from the bank. The big place round here is Colorado Springs, 178 miles distant. Close by you have: Wild Boy Lake about 2.1 miles, Alta Reservoir Number 3 lies 2.4 miles on, Middle Alta Lake about 2.5 miles, Alta Lakes lies 2.7 miles on and Priest Lakes about 4.2 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Cushman Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Reported across San Miguel County: rainbow trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Read Cushman Lake before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 55°F and January near 17°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around mid May. Open water usually runs from mid May until about late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Cushman Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Wild Boy Lake sits 2.1 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat access at Cushman Lake as something to verify.