Pass Lake near Keystone: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Clear Creek County, Colorado, is where Pass Lake sits. The water sits 11,857 feet up. Surface area runs to about 5 acres — small enough to read in one session. It is high ground by Colorado standards. Keystone is the closest place, 6.9 miles off. Further out sit Georgetown (10 miles) and Silverthorne (11 miles). A border sits close enough to be relevant to the paperwork.

• Where to Fish on Pass Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Clear Creek County records list black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout among the fish reported. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Pass Lake the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warmest month averages 51°F, the coldest about 15°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around late May. Ice clears near late May and comes back about early November in a typical year. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Pass Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. Mapping shows parking within 90 yards. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Herman Lake, 4.8 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Nothing on Pass Lake should be assumed from this page alone.