Luna Lake near Steamboat Springs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Out in Routt County, Colorado, sits Luna Lake. Elevation runs to 10,515 feet. Surface area is around 38 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. There is roughly 1.4 miles of shoreline here, which is a short walk end to end. Size puts it in the front rank of our Routt County list. Steamboat Springs at 12 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 86 miles away. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Luna Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Survey and observation records for Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Luna Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 52°F at the top of summer and 16°F at the bottom of winter. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Look for the thaw near early June; the fishing lifts straight after. Ice usually gives way near early June, and forms again about early November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. At Luna Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. It formed naturally, so levels move with rainfall rather than with a gate. Access points are not mapped for this water, which suits people who like quiet. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Lake of the Crags, 0.6 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Confirm access to Luna Lake locally before you travel.