Star Lake in Eagle County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Eagle County in Colorado is where Star Lake sits. Beyond the shoreline you have lake country bush. About 5 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. Nearest town is Gypsum, 18 miles off. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 98 miles away. Other water within reach: Crater Lake roughly 0.2 miles, Buck Lake at about 0.3 miles, Bull Lake roughly 1.2 miles, Still Waters at about 1.7 miles and Emerald Lake roughly 2.1 miles. No county line comes close, which keeps the paperwork simple.

• Where to Fish on Star Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Eagle County records list brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. The county list is broader than any single water. Star Lake gives up more to patience than to distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The year swings from about 16°F in January to roughly 53°F in July. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. After late May the shallows warm and the fish move up. Open water usually runs from late May until about early November. The middle of summer slows a little, with dawn and dusk carrying it. It sets the rhythm of the year at Star Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Crater Lake at 0.2 miles is the sensible second choice. The position on Star Lake is worth confirming on the day.