Henderson Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Henderson Lake is a La Plata County water, in Colorado. Elevation runs to 9,941 feet. At 12 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Head to Durango, 18 miles away, for anything you forgot. Bayfield is 21 miles and Telluride 30 miles. Also within reach: Forebay Lake (3.7 miles), Warner Reservoir Number 5 4 miles off, Stratton Lake (4.4 miles), Smith Lake 4.5 miles off and Keeler Reservoir (4.8 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Henderson Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Held water runs deepest at the wall and shallows back to the inflow. The arms fish better than the open middle whenever the water is up. Records held for La Plata County cover 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. Henderson Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages move between 17°F in January and 53°F in July. Fishing here follows the temperature more than the calendar. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. The open-water window runs from around late May to about mid November in an average year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Henderson Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Forebay Lake at 3.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat access at Henderson Lake as something to verify.