Lake San Cristobal Fishing in Hinsdale County, Colorado

• Overview

  Lake San Cristobal is a Hinsdale County water, Colorado side. Land around it is mixed forest. At some 308 acres it is far too large to cover on foot in a day. You are looking at roughly 4.2 miles of shoreline, with plenty of water between access points. On our Hinsdale County list it sits near the top for size. Ouray lies 21 miles from the water. Telluride lies 28 miles off, Mountain Village another 31 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Lake San Cristobal

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Species logged across Hinsdale County include brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, cutthroat trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. At Lake San Cristobal the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July near 53°F and January near 13°F on the long-run figures. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about mid May, the fishing comes on quickly. On the long-run averages the water opens up around mid May and starts locking again about mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. Time your trip to Lake San Cristobal by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Public data records a pier about half a mile out. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where the road in crosses private land, ask first. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Waterdog Lake sits 5.2 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at Lake San Cristobal may have changed since it was mapped.