Thorn Lake Fishing near Coal Creek, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Thorn Lake in Gilpin County, Colorado. The bank is 9,045 feet above sea level. At 8 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Coal Creek lies 4.7 miles from the water. The nearest city of size is Boulder, 14 miles away. Other water nearby: Braecher Lake just 1.6 miles, Dory Lake 2.3 miles away, Snowline Lake just 2.7 miles, Kriley Pond 3.5 miles away and Manchester Lake just 3.7 miles. It sits near the edge of the county, so check which rules apply.

• Where to Fish on Thorn Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Bays and points beat straight shoreline every time on water like this. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Records held for Gilpin County cover brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. County records show what lives in the area; the local agency holds the water-by-water list. Take Thorn Lake a stretch at a time.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 58°F at the top of summer and 24°F at the bottom of winter. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around early May. Going by climate averages, expect open water from about early May until roughly late November. The weeks after the thaw and the ones before the freeze are the strongest. Expect Thorn Lake to follow that timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  The access position is unclear from public sources. The closest car park is half a mile away, so pack accordingly. A camping area sits within half a mile of here. A toilet block sits half a mile away. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. A landowner's word beats anything printed elsewhere. Barbless rules turn up on managed water more often than not. Braecher Lake at 1.6 miles is the sensible second choice. Ask locally about Thorn Lake if anything is unclear.