Duke Lake Fishing near Applewood, Colorado

• Overview

  Duke Lake is a Jefferson County water, in Colorado. The surface lies 5,574 feet up. It covers about 10 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. 1.4 miles away sits Applewood, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Arvada, 5 miles away. Near neighbours include: Rolling Reservoir at 1.1 miles, Upper Mount Olivet Reservoir 1.4 miles away, Kelly Lake at 1.9 miles, West Lake 2.1 miles away and Hyatt Lake at 2.2 miles. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Duke Lake

  Nothing we hold settles how deep this runs. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Fish documented in Jefferson County include rainbow trout, brown trout, common carp, green sunfish and longnose sucker. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. On Duke Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 31°F to 71°F. Whether it freezes depends on the year. In a normal year the cover is thin and short-lived. The cooler months are the comfortable ones to fish here. Plan any trip to Duke Lake around it. Fish feed harder before a change in weather than after it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Rolling Reservoir at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat Duke Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.