James Peak Lake in Clear Creek County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  The Clear Creek County entry here is James Peak Lake, in Colorado. This is lake country bush ground. This is a pocket water of some 7 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. 9.7 miles away sits Fraser, the nearest town. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 24 miles away. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on James Peak Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Species logged across Clear Creek County include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and lake trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. James Peak Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 52°F and January near 17°F on the long-run figures. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. At James Peak Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Should this one be busy, Little Echo Lake is 0.4 miles off. Treat access at James Peak Lake as something to verify.