Lake John, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Lake John belongs to Jackson County, Colorado. It lies 8,068 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to roughly 728 acres, so plan for one area rather than the whole. The margin runs to about 5.1 miles in total. It is among the larger waters listed here for Jackson County. Some 28 miles away sits Steamboat Springs, the nearest settlement. It is 74 miles to Fort Collins, the nearest city. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Lake John

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Species logged across Jackson County include brown trout, brook trout and rainbow trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Anyone new to Lake John should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 59°F, the coldest about 17°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late April. On average, late April opens the water and mid November closes it again. The open run goes from the thaw to the freeze, and April through October covers most of it. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Lake John.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. Mapping shows a ramp about 0.9 miles from the shore. There is a mapped landing stage 0.9 miles away. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Brands Reservoir at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Rules at Lake John are worth checking on the day.