Fishing at Redtail Lake, Arapahoe County, Colorado

• Overview

  Redtail Lake lies in Arapahoe County, in Colorado. The setting is open valley. It covers about 12 acres, so this is small water you can walk round in under an hour. Columbine sits 1.9 miles from here and is the nearest stop. It is 8.7 miles to Centennial, the nearest city. Rules can differ a short way off, since the county line is near.

• Where to Fish on Redtail Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. County-wide records name common carp, white sucker, walleye, green sunfish and bluegill. Records at county level tell you what is around, not what is stocked here. Work Redtail Lake in sections rather than trying to cover it.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 72°F at the top of summer and 30°F at the bottom of winter. The swings are modest, so patterns change slowly. In milder years the edges alone go, and the middle never sets. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. Plan any trip to Redtail Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public sources are silent on who controls the bank. You will be walking about half a mile from the nearest car park. A platform or pier sits within half a mile. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. Rules differ from one water to the next round here. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Eaglewatch Lake, 0.2 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. Treat access at Redtail Lake as something to verify.