Fishing Emerald Lake in Larimer County, Colorado

• Overview

  Larimer County, Colorado, is where Emerald Lake sits. The surroundings are mixed forest. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Larimer County list holds plenty of bigger water. Estes Park sits 9 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Granby is 21 miles and Lyons 22 miles. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Emerald Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Reported across Larimer County: black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker, rainbow trout and brown trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Treat Emerald Lake as a water to read rather than to cover.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 51°F and January reads 17°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near late May. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Expect Emerald Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. If the gate is shut, Lake Haiyaha at 0.5 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at Emerald Lake are worth checking on the day.