Timberline Lake Fishing Guide, Pitkin County, Colorado

• Overview

  Timberline Lake is listed under Pitkin County, Colorado. The setting is pine and birch on every side. The water covers some 27 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. It ranks high for size among our Pitkin County listings. Leadville North at 9.8 miles is the nearest place to stop. It is 80 miles to Lakewood, the nearest city. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Timberline Lake

  The records we hold are silent on depth, so plan to find it yourself. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Open biodiversity records for Pitkin County list cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. What holds for the county may not hold for this water. At Timberline Lake the water rewards a slow, careful approach.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 51°F for July and 14°F for January. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. The lid usually goes in late May, which opens the strongest weeks of the year. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. It sets the rhythm of the year at Timberline Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Public mapping records no formal access here, so plan for a walk and soft ground. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Season dates differ by species, so read the table. Signs go up and come down, so check on the day. For a change of water, Lonesome Lake is 1.1 miles distant. Check the position at Timberline Lake before loading the car.