Porphyry Lake Fishing Guide, San Juan County, Colorado

• Overview

  The San Juan County end of Colorado holds Porphyry Lake. Land around it is lake country bush. Small even by pond standards, it rewards one careful line. It is a small entry by San Juan County standards. Telluride lies 4.8 miles from the water. Mountain Village is 6.5 miles away, with Ouray at 10 miles. The line between counties passes nearby, which can change who manages the water.

• Where to Fish on Porphyry Lake

  We hold no survey for this water; read the slope of the shoreline instead. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for San Juan County cover black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and white sucker. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. The near bank of Porphyry Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Seasonal averages run from 13°F in January up to 51°F in July. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. Ice fishing carries the winter, and the water opens about early June. From about early June to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. That is the shape of the year on Porphyry Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The nearest car park we can see is half a mile out, so expect a walk with your gear. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Should this one be busy, Bullion King Lake is 0.4 miles off. For Porphyry Lake in particular, ask before you travel.