Dry Lakes Fishing in Custer County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Custer County entry here is Dry Lakes, in Colorado. The water sits 11,909 feet up. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It is a small entry by Custer County standards. For supplies, Cañon City is 34 miles out. For a city, Pueblo is 55 miles off. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Dry Lakes

  Open data we checked carries no depth for this water. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. County-wide records name rainbow trout, brook trout, brown trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and rudd. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Dry Lakes repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 14°F in January and 50°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. On Dry Lakes the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, North Crestone Lake is 1.4 miles off. The position on Dry Lakes is worth confirming on the day.