Fishing at Mountain Lake, Huerfano County, Colorado

• Overview

  In Colorado, Mountain Lake falls inside Huerfano County. It stands 8,366 feet above sea level. This is a pocket water of some 5 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Our Huerfano County list holds plenty of bigger water. For supplies, Walsenburg is 21 miles out. The nearest city of size is Pueblo, 62 miles away. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Mountain Lake

  Depth is not on record here, so the bank has to tell you. This is a lake, so the margins and the first drop matter most. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Huerfano County records list cutthroat trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Work Mountain Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 21°F and July at about 59°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Ice-out usually falls in mid April, and the weeks after it fish hardest. From about mid April to around late November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. The season on Mountain Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Mexican Lake, 2.1 miles away. Nothing here settles the position at Mountain Lake for certain.