Fishing Dry Lake in Garfield County, Colorado

• Overview

  Dry Lake lies in Garfield County, Colorado. The ground round it is rolling bush. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our Garfield County list. The nearest place of any size is Glenwood Springs, 9.5 miles away. Boulder sits 112 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Dry Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fish documented in Garfield County include cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Treat Dry Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 53°F in July and bottoms out near 14°F in January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late May and starts locking again about early November. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. Plan around that when you fish Dry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. If the gate is shut, Monument Lake at 1 mile is the nearest alternative. Signs at Dry Lake carry more weight than any list.