Fishing at Hay Press Lake, Mineral County, Colorado

• Overview

  Hay Press Lake is one of the Mineral County waters in Colorado. The water sits 9,114 feet up. The water measures roughly 24 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Del Norte is the closest town at 27 miles. Further out sit Pagosa Springs (30 miles) and Monte Vista (39 miles). Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Hay Press Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Across Mineral County, recorded fish include brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout and rainbow trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. On Hay Press Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 53°F for July and 14°F for January. The year runs cold to warm and back, with clear transitions. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from mid May. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and mid November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. On Hay Press Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  We have no record of the rules that apply on this bank. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. A toilet block sits half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Lake Humphreys is 0.4 miles distant. The position on Hay Press Lake is worth confirming on the day.