Fishing at Gilley Lake, Rio Blanco County, Colorado

• Overview

  Gilley Lake is a Rio Blanco County water, in Colorado. Elevation runs to 8,343 feet. Small at around 6 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The nearest town is Meeker, 17 miles away. New Castle is 24 miles and Silt 25 miles. Within a short drive: 0.2 miles out stands Stump Lake, Shadow Lake some 0.2 miles off, 0.3 miles out stands Cabin Lake, Beaver Lake Reservoir some 0.5 miles off and 0.7 miles out stands Seventh Lake. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Gilley Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Fish documented in Rio Blanco County include flannelmouth sucker, cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and bluehead sucker. Those are county-wide records, so not every one of them will be in this water. The near bank of Gilley Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 58°F and January near 20°F on the long-run figures. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. After early May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Expect the water usable from around early May until roughly late November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Gilley Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. For a change of water, Stump Lake is 0.2 miles distant. Confirm access to Gilley Lake locally before you travel.