Johnson Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  The Saguache County end of Colorado holds Johnson Lake. The surface lies 7,595 feet up. At roughly 21 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The closest town, Center, is 13 miles away. Del Norte follows at 21 miles, then Monte Vista at 25 miles. Near neighbours: Kimmel Lake at 0.3 miles, Trites Lake 0.6 miles away, Harrence Lake at 1.2 miles, Davey Lake 1.4 miles away and Island Lake at 1.4 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Johnson Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Fish documented in Saguache County include brown trout, white sucker, brook trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. At Johnson Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 64°F, the coldest about 17°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late March. On average, late March opens the water and late November closes it again. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Anyone fishing Johnson Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. Parking within half a mile means no long carry with tackle. Toilets show in mapping about half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A phone call first saves an afternoon. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Kimmel Lake, 0.3 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Check the position on Johnson Lake before loading the car.