Papoose Lake Fishing in La Plata County, Colorado

• Overview

  Set in La Plata County, Colorado, this is Papoose Lake. The water sits 8,543 feet up. Small at around 2 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for La Plata County are larger. Durango lies 22 miles from the water. Mountain Village is 24 miles and Telluride 24 miles. The boundary is near enough that local access rules are worth double-checking.

• Where to Fish on Papoose Lake

  Depth is unknown to us, and the shoreline is the better guide. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for La Plata County cover rainbow trout, brook trout, bluehead sucker, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout. Some of the species recorded here are protected or tightly regulated, so check what may be targeted before you fish. On Papoose Lake a short move beats a long cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 20°F to 58°F. A hard winter is normal, and the thaw brings a strong few weeks. Once it clears, about late April, the fishing comes on quickly. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about late April until roughly late November. Right after break-up, and again as the nights sharpen, is when to go. Anyone fishing Papoose Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. A polite question at the farm gate opens more banks than anything else. The nearest alternative is Ignacio Lake, 0.2 miles out. For Papoose Lake in particular, ask before you travel.