Lake Dunraven in Larimer County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Lake Dunraven falls in Larimer County, part of Colorado. Everything around it is rolling bush. The water measures roughly 9 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. It sits higher than most water we list in Colorado. Estes Park is the closest town at 10 miles. Lyons lies 27 miles off, Laporte another 27 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Lake Dunraven

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Records held for Larimer County cover black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker, rainbow trout and brown trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. At Lake Dunraven light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 51°F and February reads 19°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late May. Average temperatures cross freezing around late May in spring and again near early November in autumn. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. At Lake Dunraven the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Lake Louise sits 0.4 miles off and takes the overflow. Nothing here settles the position at Lake Dunraven for certain.