Fishing South Lake in Las Animas County, Colorado

• Overview

  South Lake stands in Las Animas County, Colorado. Everything around it is mixed woodland. This is a pocket water of some 11 acres, and every part of it is reachable from the bank. Trinidad is the closest town at 30 miles. Pueblo sits 80 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on South Lake

  There is no published depth for this one, so start shallow and work out. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Reported across Las Animas County: rainbow trout, white sucker, brook trout, common carp and walleye. Species recorded across the county may be limited to a few waters. Read South Lake for ten minutes before the first cast goes out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 61°F, with January the cold end at about 26°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. Some winters give nothing at all, so plan for open water. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on South Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing on record says whether the bank is open or closed. Nothing in the way of made access shows up nearby: no ramp, no car park, no path. Bass water: a Texas-rigged worm near cover, a spinnerbait when you need to cover ground. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. Russell Reservoir at 1.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Confirm before you fish South Lake.