Nicholson Lake Fishing near Crested Butte, Colorado

• Overview

  Look for Nicholson Lake in the Gunnison County part of Colorado. The bank gives way to mixed forest. At roughly 15 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. Nearest town is Crested Butte, 2.4 miles off. Then Snowmass Village, 22 miles, and Aspen, 22 miles. The nearest boundary is well away, so one set of rules covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Nicholson Lake

  Depth remains unrecorded, so treat the first session as a survey. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Gunnison County list rainbow trout, brown trout and brook trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. The shape of Nicholson Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 54°F; the cold one sits at 12°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. The lid usually goes in mid May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, mid May opens the water and mid November closes it again. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. It sets the rhythm of the year at Nicholson Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Facilities run to toilets half a mile from the water. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Where parking is tight, arriving early solves most problems. Meridian Lake, 0.7 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Signs at Nicholson Lake carry more weight than any list.