Fishing at Upper Cogdill Lake, Routt County, Colorado

• Overview

  Upper Cogdill Lake stands in Routt County, Colorado. Height above sea level is 7,480 feet. Surface area runs to about 7 acres — small enough to read in one session. You are 33 miles from Hayden. The big place round here is Fort Collins, 121 miles distant. In the same area: Lower Cogdill Lake lies 0.3 miles on, Butter Lake at about 3.1 miles, OVO Reservoir lies 8.9 miles on, Lake Fork Reservoir at about 9.6 miles and Boyer Reservoir lies 10 miles on. Two sets of local rules meet not far from this water.

• Where to Fish on Upper Cogdill Lake

  No chart reached our records; the first cast is your sounding. Points where the flooded channel swings in are the reliable ones. Look for where the old bank line still shows under the surface. Survey and observation records for Routt County include brook trout, cutthroat trout and rainbow trout. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. The near bank of Upper Cogdill Lake is often the one people ignore.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 64°F and January reads 21°F. Winter closes the water for a while, and the reopening is worth catching. The lid usually sets by midwinter and gives way around mid April. On average, mid April opens the water and late November closes it again. Spring is short and heavy here; autumn is longer and steadier. It holds true on Upper Cogdill Lake more years than not.

• Tackle & Baits

  No access rule appears in what we hold. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Check whether a boat is allowed before you tow one. Some water is controlled locally without a sign saying so. Lower Cogdill Lake sits 0.3 miles off and takes the overflow. Ask locally about Upper Cogdill Lake if anything is unclear.