Island Lake in Gunnison County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Island Lake stands in Gunnison County, Colorado. The water sits 7,808 feet up. About 3 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Our Gunnison County list holds plenty of bigger water. Start from Snowmass Village, 18 miles down the road. It is 122 miles to Lakewood, the nearest city. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Island Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Gunnison County include rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On Island Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  In an average year July sits at 56°F and January at 14°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough mid May. Averages place the thaw at mid May and the freeze at mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. That is the shape of the year on Island Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Expect a half a mile walk in from where the car goes. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Lily Lake sits 1.6 miles off and takes the overflow. Treat Island Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.