Fishing at Lost Lake, Boulder County, Colorado

• Overview

  Lost Lake lies within the bounds of Boulder County, Colorado. The country round it is pine and birch from end to end. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Nederland sits 5.7 miles from the bank. Fraser is 11 miles away, with Coal Creek at 13 miles. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Lost Lake

  There is no recorded depth, so work from what you can see. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Across Boulder County, recorded fish include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, brown trout, bluegill and rainbow trout. The county list is broader than any single water. On Lost Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 54°F and January reads 20°F. Spring and autumn carry the fishing; summer and winter test it. Count the season from break-up, usually mid May. The open-water window runs from around mid May to about mid November in an average year. The first weeks of open water and the last are the ones to plan for. That shapes the year on Lost Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. You can camp about 30 yards away, going by the mapping. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. The nearest alternative is Yankee Doodle Lake, 2.2 miles out. Treat access at Lost Lake as something to verify.