Spencer Lake in Rio Grande County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Set in Rio Grande County, Colorado, this is Spencer Lake. It stands 9,829 feet above sea level. Small at around 9 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Nearest place of any size is Monte Vista, 20 miles away. Del Norte follows at 22 miles, then Alamosa at 30 miles. The county line is nowhere near, so one local authority covers the water.

• Where to Fish on Spencer Lake

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Across Rio Grande County, recorded fish include white sucker, brown trout and rainbow trout. Read it as a county summary, not a water-by-water list. The shape of Spencer Lake rewards a slow walk along one bank.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Average temperature peaks around 54°F in July and bottoms out near 17°F in January. Winter shuts things down for a spell, then spring reopens them fast. Ice is part of the season here, ending near mid May. Open water usually runs from mid May until about mid November. The strong weeks are the first after break-up and the last before the freeze. It sets the rhythm of the year at Spencer Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Big Lake, 0.9 miles away, makes the obvious fallback. For Spencer Lake in particular, ask before you travel.