Fourth Lake Fishing Guide, Grand County, Colorado

• Overview

  Grand County, Colorado, is where Fourth Lake sits. Beyond the shoreline you have rolling bush. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest place of any size is Estes Park, 14 miles away. Granby is 16 miles away, with Nederland at 20 miles. Water in the same corner: Spirit Lake 0.5 miles off, Fifth Lake at 0.7 miles, Lake of Many Winds 1.1 miles off, Lake Verna at 1.2 miles and Frigid Lake 1.4 miles off. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Fourth Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Reported across Grand County: black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fourth Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 51°F, while January sits near 16°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Ice-out usually falls in late May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near early November: that is the shape of an average year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. That shapes the year on Fourth Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. No built facilities appear in mapping around this water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Should this one be busy, Spirit Lake is 0.5 miles off. Rules at Fourth Lake are worth checking on the day.