Lily Lake Fishing near Cedaredge, Colorado

• Overview

  Lily Lake is one of the Delta County listings for Colorado. It lies 10,236 feet above sea level. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. The closest town, Cedaredge, is 12 miles away. The big place round here is Boulder, 157 miles distant. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules. It is a working water rather than a showpiece.

• Where to Fish on Lily Lake

  Our records hold no depth for this water. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Species logged across Delta County include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker and bluehead sucker. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Lily Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The seasonal spread runs 17°F to 56°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Winter locks it down, and mid May brings it back. Averages suggest open water from about mid May through to roughly mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. Expect Lily Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. 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. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Cottonwood Lake Number Four, 0.4 miles out. Confirm before you fish Lily Lake.