The Loch, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  In Colorado, The Loch belongs to Larimer County. It sits at 10,210 feet above sea level. Surface area runs to about 13 acres — small enough to read in one session. The closest town, Estes Park, is 9.3 miles away. For a city, Boulder is 28 miles off. Within easy reach: Mills Lake within 0.9 miles, Lake of Glass near enough 0.9 miles, Lake Haiyaha within 0.9 miles, Jewel Lake near enough 1 mile and Dream Lake within 1.2 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on The Loch

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. The productive water is a rod length or two out, not a hundred. Records held for Larimer County cover black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker and rainbow trout. Take it as the county picture rather than a promise for this water. On The Loch the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 52°F, while February sits near 19°F. Hard water is a season in its own right here. The open season starts with the thaw, near enough late May. Ice clears near late May and comes back about early November in a typical year. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. On The Loch the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The paperwork position is blank for this one. Mapping shows a campsite some half a mile from the water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. If the gate is shut, Mills Lake at 0.9 miles is the nearest alternative. Rules at The Loch are worth checking on the day.