Fishing South McCabe Lake in Crowley County, Colorado

• Overview

  Colorado holds South McCabe Lake, in Crowley County. The country here is open dry country. About 12 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Most waters listed here for Crowley County are larger. Head to Ordway, 18 miles away, for anything you forgot. Further out sit Fowler (29 miles) and Rocky Ford (29 miles). No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on South McCabe Lake

  Our records carry no depth, so judge it from the bank. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Reported across Crowley County: common carp, largemouth bass and bluegill. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. On South McCabe Lake the quiet end is the one worth the extra effort.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Typical July readings run about 76°F; by January the average is down near 29°F. The freeze here is occasional rather than annual. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. Late winter often fishes better here than midsummer does. The season on South McCabe Lake rarely departs from it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access is not recorded for this water. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. A small crankbait along the drop and a worm in the thick stuff cover the bass. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. The nearest alternative is Reservoir Number 1, 0.6 miles out. Check the position at South McCabe Lake before loading the car.