Fishing at Saint Louis Lake, Grand County, Colorado

• Overview

  Saint Louis Lake is a Grand County water, Colorado side. It stands 11,562 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 4 acres — small enough to read in one session. Most waters listed here for Grand County are larger. Fraser sits 11 miles from the bank. The big place round here is Boulder, 39 miles distant. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Saint Louis Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Species logged across Grand County include black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout and cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. Fish Saint Louis Lake where the bottom changes rather than where it looks deep.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 52°F, with January the cold end at about 17°F. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Ice is part of the season here, ending near late May. In an average year the thaw lands around late May and the freeze near early November. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Anyone fishing Saint Louis Lake regularly works to that calendar.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Nothing is mapped in the way of a ramp or car park within a short radius. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. Should this one be busy, Horseshoe Lake is 2.5 miles off. Treat access at Saint Louis Lake as something to verify.