Island Lake Fishing near Cedaredge, Colorado

• Overview

  Out in Delta County, Colorado, sits Island Lake. Beyond the shoreline you have pine and birch. With some 164 acres of water, there is room for a boat but no need of one. The whole outline is near 2.6 miles, and most of it is walkable. On our Delta County list it sits near the top for size. The town to know is Cedaredge, 10 miles out. Then Orchard City, 15 miles, and Palisade, 20 miles. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Open biodiversity records for Delta County list rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Island Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 56°F and January at 17°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. On Island Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. There is a slipway on the shore, half a mile from the water we list. Mapping shows parking within half a mile. Overnight stays are possible about half a mile out, where camping is mapped. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Little Gem Reservoir, 0.7 miles away. Treat Island Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.