Mill Lake Fishing near Gunnison, Colorado

• Overview

  Colorado holds Mill Lake, in Gunnison County. It sits at 11,506 feet above sea level. At 5 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. Start from Gunnison, 20 miles down the road. Colorado Springs is the closest city, 96 miles away. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Mill Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Public occurrence data for Gunnison County names rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout. The list covers the county rather than this water alone, so treat it as a guide. At Mill Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 12°F in January up to 51°F in July. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about late May. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Mill Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Bank access can be seasonal on ground like this. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lamphier Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Check the current arrangement for Mill Lake.