Fishing at Lion Lake Number 1, Boulder County, Colorado

• Overview

  Lion Lake Number 1 is listed under Boulder County, Colorado. The surface lies 11,083 feet up. Small at around 5 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is one of the smaller waters we list in Boulder County. You are 12 miles from Estes Park. Boulder is the closest city, 25 miles away. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Lion Lake Number 1

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Across Boulder County, recorded fish include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout and bluegill. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. Take this water a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 51°F, while February sits near 18°F. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. The lid arrives early and lasts until roughly late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near early November. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. Anyone fishing this water regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a campsite half a mile from the water. Facilities include toilets around half a mile from here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Castle Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Check the current arrangement for this water.