South Crestone Lake Fishing in Saguache County, Colorado

• Overview

  South Crestone Lake lies within the bounds of Saguache County, Colorado. It stands 11,818 feet above sea level. Small at around 8 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It is high ground by Colorado standards. The nearest place of any size is Center, 32 miles away. The big place round here is Pueblo, 58 miles distant. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on South Crestone Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. County-wide records name brown trout, white sucker and brook trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Take South Crestone Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 50°F at the top of summer and 14°F at the bottom of winter. Cold winters and warm summers give a wide working range. Hard cover is dependable here; it goes around late May. Climate averages put the opening at about late May and the closing near early November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. At South Crestone Lake the season follows that pattern closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Sort the permit out before you load the car. Rules for boats are stricter than rules for the bank in many places. North Crestone Lake sits 0.9 miles off and takes the overflow. What applies at South Crestone Lake may have changed since it was mapped.