Molas Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Set in San Juan County, Colorado, this is Molas Lake. It sits in mixed forest country. Small at around 23 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Telluride lies 15 miles from the water. After that come Mountain Village at 16 miles and Ouray at 19 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Molas Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Draw-down through summer strips the margins, so follow the water out. Rip-rap along the wall holds fish that the open bank never does. San Juan County records list black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout among the fish reported. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Work Molas Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 53°F at the top of summer and 15°F at the bottom of winter. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late May until roughly mid November. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. That shapes the year on Molas Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. There is a car park 130 yards from the bank. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. If the gate is shut, Little Molas Lake at 1.4 miles is the nearest alternative. For Molas Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.