Moss Lake near Gunnison: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Moss Lake is set in Saguache County, Colorado. The bank is 8,875 feet above sea level. At 10 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. The nearest town is Gunnison, 21 miles away. After that come Crested Butte at 43 miles and Salida at 45 miles. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Moss Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Fish documented in Saguache County include brown trout, white sucker, brook trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Moss Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 57°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Ice is part of the season here, ending near early May. Averages suggest open water from about early May through to roughly mid November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. On Moss Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public data shows nothing built here, so treat the whole approach as informal. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. For a change of water, Lower Dome Reservoir is 4.4 miles distant. Treat Moss Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.