Stratton Lake Fishing Guide, La Plata County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Stratton Lake in La Plata County, Colorado. It lies 7,316 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 11 acres — small enough to read in one session. For supplies, Durango is 15 miles out. Further out sit Bayfield (21 miles) and Mancos (29 miles). The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Stratton Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. La Plata County records list rainbow trout, brook trout, bluehead sucker, black-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout among the fish reported. Protected fish appear in the records for this area, so treat the list as information, not an invitation. Stratton Lake responds to conditions more than to tactics.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 63°F, with January the cold end at about 23°F. Four clear seasons, with a proper winter at one end. Once it clears, about early April, the fishing comes on quickly. Expect the water usable from around early April until roughly early December. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. Stratton Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing in our records says who may fish here. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. If the gate is shut, Keeler Reservoir at 0.4 miles is the nearest alternative. Confirm access to Stratton Lake locally before you travel.