Haviland Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Haviland Lake in La Plata County, Colorado. The bank is 8,133 feet above sea level. Around 63 acres of surface means several distinct areas to work. With about 1.4 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. Few waters listed in La Plata County are bigger. The town to know is Durango, 18 miles out. Bayfield lies 24 miles off, Mountain Village another 27 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Haviland Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Across La Plata County, recorded fish include rainbow trout, brook trout, bluehead sucker, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Haviland Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 60°F; by January the average is down near 22°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid April. The open-water window runs from around mid April to about early December in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Haviland Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Park at Haviland Lake Trailhead, half a mile from the water. There is camping recorded roughly half a mile off. The water borders Haviland Lake SWA, so reserve rules are likely to apply. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Forebay Lake, 1.2 miles out. The position on Haviland Lake is worth confirming on the day.