Murphy Lake near Estes Park: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  In Colorado, Murphy Lake belongs to Grand County. Around the bank it is pine and birch. It covers about 6 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. The nearest town is Estes Park, 13 miles away. Boulder is the closest city, 32 miles away. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it. It repays a second visit more than a first.

• Where to Fish on Murphy Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. County-wide records name black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. At Murphy Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 51°F for July and 17°F for January. Expect a real winter and a strong spring after it. Count the season from break-up, usually late May. On the long-run averages the water opens up around late May and starts locking again about early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. That is the shape of the year on Murphy Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. There is a campsite 0.9 miles from the water. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Snowdrift Lake at 0.9 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Murphy Lake for certain.