Upper Fourmile Lake near Pagosa Springs: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Upper Fourmile Lake stands in Archuleta County, Colorado. The bank is 11,657 feet above sea level. About 8 acres of surface, which puts the far bank inside easy sight. It is a small entry by Archuleta County standards. Nearest place of any size is Pagosa Springs, 14 miles away. Then Bayfield, 35 miles, and Navajo, 37 miles. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Upper Fourmile Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on you. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. The shallow end warms first and pulls fish in ahead of the rest. Across Archuleta County, recorded fish include brook trout, rainbow trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. Upper Fourmile Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate normals give 52°F for July and 16°F for January. A solid cap is the normal state through winter. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late May. Ice clears near late May and comes back about mid November in a typical year. Fish feed hardest at the start and the close of the open season. It sets the rhythm of the year at Upper Fourmile Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Our records carry no access rule either way. Mapping shows no built access close by; expect to walk in from wherever you can leave the car. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Where a permit is needed, the nearest town usually sells it. Some stretches are reserved and marked as such on the ground. Failing this one, try Fourmile Lake, 0.4 miles away. The position on Upper Fourmile Lake is worth confirming on the day.