Lake Emma in Park County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Within Park County, Colorado, you have Lake Emma. It lies 12,638 feet above sea level. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Park County. 9.9 miles away sits Leadville, the nearest town. Leadville North is 10 miles and Breckenridge 12 miles. The boundary is close enough to be worth checking before you fish.

• Where to Fish on Lake Emma

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Park County records list brown trout, rainbow trout, longnose sucker, brook trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout among the fish reported. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. Read Lake Emma before you fish it and the day goes better.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 15°F to 50°F. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Break-up comes around early June, and the run that follows is short and strong. The season between ice runs from about early June to early November. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Lake Emma fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. Mapping records toilets within half a mile. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Where access is informal, keep it that way by behaving. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. For a change of water, Kite Lake is 0.6 miles distant. Where Lake Emma is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.