Spout Lake Fishing in Gunnison County, Colorado

• Overview

  Spout Lake sits in Gunnison County, out in Colorado. It lies 11,850 feet above sea level. The water measures roughly 5 acres, so nothing here is far from anything else. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. The nearest place of any size is Buena Vista, 15 miles away. Salida follows at 28 miles, then Crested Butte at 32 miles. A county line runs close by, so local bylaws can differ within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Spout Lake

  No depth figure appears in our records, so the bank has to tell you. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. Survey and observation records for Gunnison County include rainbow trout, brown trout, brook trout, cutthroat trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On Spout Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 50°F, with January the cold end at about 12°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from early June. The season between ice runs from about early June to early November. Reckon on open water from spring through to late autumn, with May and June the strongest. Spout Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Public data does not answer the access question here. 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 locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Check whether bait restrictions apply before you buy any. Ptarmigan Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. For Spout Lake in particular, ask before you travel.