Shagwa Lake Fishing Guide, Larimer County, Colorado

• Overview

  Shagwa Lake sits within Larimer County in Colorado. The water sits 8,402 feet up. Surface area runs to about 9 acres — small enough to read in one session. Nearest place of any size is Laporte, 27 miles away. The nearest city of size is Fort Collins, 31 miles away. Within a short run: Hiawatha Lake (0.4 miles), Apache Lake after 0.5 miles, Lake Ramona (0.8 miles), Red Feather Lake after 0.9 miles and Lake Nokomis (1.1 miles). It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Shagwa Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Records held for Larimer County cover black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker and rainbow trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. Take Shagwa Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Temperature averages peak at 57°F in July and bottom out at 24°F in February. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly late November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. At Shagwa Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  There is no clear statement anywhere on who can fish it. A carry of half a mile from the nearest parking is the price of fishing here. Toilets are half a mile away, which matters on a long session. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Parking is often the real limit rather than the bank itself. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Hiawatha Lake at 0.4 miles is the sensible second choice. Treat Shagwa Lake as unsettled until someone local tells you otherwise.