South Branch Lake in Fremont County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Colorado holds South Branch Lake, in Fremont County. Elevation runs to 11,549 feet. The water measures roughly 3 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. The closest town, Salida, is 28 miles distant. Beyond it, Cañon City at 30 miles and Lincoln Park at 31 miles. It sits well inside the county, so one set of rules covers it.

• Where to Fish on South Branch Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Fremont County records list brown trout, rainbow trout, white sucker and brook trout among the fish reported. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At South Branch Lake light and wind decide more than tackle does.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July runs about 51°F on average, January about 15°F. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Break-up comes around late May, and the run that follows is short and strong. From about late May to around early November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Early summer and early autumn carry the open-water season. Time your trip to South Branch Lake by conditions rather than dates.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. No made access is recorded, so a short walk in is the likely arrangement. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. The nearest alternative is Banjo Lake, 1.4 miles out. Treat access at South Branch Lake as something to verify.