Fishing at Swale Lake, Rio Grande County, Colorado

• Overview

  The Rio Grande County entry here is Swale Lake, in Colorado. Country round the bank runs to rolling bush. Small at around 3 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Most waters listed here for Rio Grande County are larger. 22 miles away sits Del Norte, the nearest town. Pagosa Springs is 24 miles and Monte Vista 30 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Swale Lake

  A salt basin rather than a fishing lake: treat this page as orientation, not an invitation. The basin is ephemeral: it can stand empty for years between fills. Check the nearby waters on this page for the realistic fishing options in the area. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Take Swale Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 52°F and January near 16°F. Winter shuts the surface down for months. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late May. Break-up near late May, freeze-up near mid November: that is the shape of an average year. June through September is the settled part of the year, with the shoulders busier for fish. On Swale Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  No public source sets out the position on this bank. It is recorded as intermittent, which means the basin empties in dry spells. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Look for a notice board at the entrance. Some ground is open by custom rather than by right, so tread carefully. Failing this one, try Poage Lake, 2.4 miles away. Nothing on Swale Lake should be assumed from this page alone.