Tunnel Lake near Buena Vista: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Chaffee County in Colorado is where Tunnel Lake sits. The setting is lake country bush on every side. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Buena Vista is 20 miles out. Colorado Springs sits 87 miles out, and it is the nearest city worth the name. The county line runs close by, so rules can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Tunnel Lake

  Depth figures are not published for this one. 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. Chaffee County records list brown trout, rainbow trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout among the fish reported. At least one recorded species is protected in parts of its range; read the local rules before targeting anything. Fish Tunnel Lake to its features, not to its size.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 49°F, with January the cold end at about 11°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near early June. On average, early June opens the water and early November closes it again. Look to early summer and the first cool weeks of autumn. On Tunnel Lake that shapes the whole year.

• Tackle & Baits

  Ownership and access are not documented in what we hold. Nothing built is recorded close to the bank here. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Night access is frequently treated as a separate matter. Should this one be busy, Maid Lake is 3.5 miles off. Nothing here settles the position at Tunnel Lake for certain.