Fishing at Rock Lake, San Juan County, Colorado

• Overview

  San Juan County, Colorado, is where Rock Lake sits. The setting is rolling bush. Roughly 28 acres: a morning covers one end, an afternoon the other. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. Nearest town is Bayfield, 28 miles off. Telluride follows at 29 miles, then Ouray at 30 miles. The nearest boundary is a fair way off.

• Where to Fish on Rock Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Across San Juan County, recorded fish include black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brook trout. The county list is broader than any single water. Anyone new to Rock Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 50°F; by January the average is down near 13°F. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. The lid usually goes in early June, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. Rock Lake runs to its own calendar within the local pattern.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Half Moon Lake, 0.4 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Rock Lake, the notice at the access point is the final word.