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

• Overview

  Lee Lake stands in Larimer County, Colorado. This is farm and woodlot country. It runs to roughly 30 acres — big enough to hold fish away from the bank, small enough to learn. It is low-lying compared with other Colorado water we list. Severance sits 4.3 miles from here and is the nearest stop. Fort Collins sits 8.7 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Lee Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Standing timber shows when the level drops, and fish sit against it. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. Reported across Larimer County: black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Lee Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 26°F in January up to 71°F in July. Fishing continues through most of the calendar, with quiet spells rather than closures. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. June to September is hot work, so the first and last hours are what count. Time your trip to Lee Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No slipway, car park or made path shows up nearby in mapping, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. The nearest alternative is Smith Reservoir, 0.9 miles out. Check the current arrangement for Lee Lake.