Trout Lake Fishing in Mineral County, Colorado

• Overview

  Trout Lake stands in Mineral County, Colorado. Rolling bush runs right down to the water. At about 25 acres, a day is enough to walk the shoreline properly. It sits higher than most water we list in Colorado. Nearest town is Pagosa Springs, 27 miles off. Bayfield is 38 miles away, with Ouray at 38 miles. One jurisdiction covers this water end to end.

• Where to Fish on Trout Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. A natural lake fishes on cover, and cover here means weed and timber. Still water like this holds fish on the edges rather than out in the open. Species logged across Mineral County include brook trout, black-spotted cutthroat trout, brown trout, rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Trout Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Averages here run 51°F at the top of summer and 14°F at the bottom of winter. The season turns properly here, and fish follow it closely. Count on hard cover from midwinter, and open water from late May. The water is typically free of ice between late May and mid November. The shoulder weeks of the open season are the productive ones. The season on Trout Lake follows the weather closely.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. Mapping is blank for access, so scout the approach before committing the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Gates get locked out of season on water like this. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. If the gate is shut, Cherokee Lake at 1.6 miles is the nearest alternative. Treat access at Trout Lake as something to verify.