Navajo Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Dolores County, Colorado, is where Navajo Lake sits. The setting is mixed forest. At roughly 8 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. The town to know is Mountain Village, 11 miles out. Telluride is 13 miles away, with Ouray at 23 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Navajo Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Fish documented in Dolores County include black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Navajo Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 18°F and July at about 54°F, the water has a wide range to work through. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about mid May until roughly mid November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On Navajo Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing formal is recorded here: no ramp, no car park, no marked path. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Woods Lake sits 3 miles off and takes the overflow. For Navajo Lake in particular, ask before you travel.