Harper Lake Fishing in Boulder County, Colorado

• Overview

  Harper Lake is one of the Boulder County waters in Colorado. Country round the bank runs to open valley. Roughly 27 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. The nearest place of any size is Louisville, 1.7 miles away. The big place round here is Boulder, 6.2 miles distant. The county edge is within a short distance of the bank.

• Where to Fish on Harper Lake

  No depth figure has reached our records, which makes a plummet useful. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Across Boulder County, recorded fish include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and bluegill. The county list is broader than any single water. Harper Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 73°F on average, January about 31°F. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. Cover comes and goes, so treat it with suspicion rather than trust. March through May is the strongest run, with October and November a second stretch. Plan any trip to Harper Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is somewhere to leave the car, half a mile off. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Leon Wurl Wildlife Sanctuary covers ground next to the water; its rules will apply on that side. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Louisville Reservoir, 0.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm before you fish Harper Lake.