Fishing at Forest Lakes, Grand County, Colorado

• Overview

  Forest Lakes belongs to Grand County, Colorado. Height above sea level is 10,712 feet. Nearest place of any size is Fraser, 8.1 miles away. Boulder is the closest city, 22 miles away. If this one is busy: Arapaho Lakes out at 1.1 miles, Jenny Lake a touch under 1.1 miles, Pumphouse Lake out at 1.3 miles, Deadman Lake a touch under 1.3 miles and Crater Lakes out at 1.5 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Forest Lakes

  We hold no depth figure for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Open biodiversity records for Grand County list black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Forest Lakes the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 53°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly mid May. Climate averages put the opening at about mid May and the closing near mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. It holds true on Forest Lakes more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. The nearest mapped parking is half a mile away, so the last stretch is on foot. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Arapaho Lakes at 1.1 miles is the nearest alternative. None of that is settled for Forest Lakes in what we hold.