George Lake in Routt County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  George Lake falls in Routt County, part of Colorado. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. It covers about 2 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Routt County. Steamboat Springs is the closest town at 8.9 miles. The big place round here is Boulder, 83 miles distant. It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on George Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Routt County, recorded fish include brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. Read George Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 53°F and January near 18°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about late May, the fishing comes on quickly. On average, late May opens the water and early November closes it again. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. At George Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Some banks are open only from a marked point. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. The nearest alternative is Martha Lake, 0.4 miles out. Check the position at George Lake before loading the car.