Fishing at Upper Turquoise Lake, Eagle County, Colorado

• Overview

  Upper Turquoise Lake sits in Eagle County, out in Colorado. It sits at 11,316 feet above sea level. Small at around 7 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. Compared with other Colorado water on our list, it sits high. For supplies, Minturn is 7.6 miles out. It is 76 miles to Boulder, the nearest city. Rules here are straightforward: one county, one set of rules.

• Where to Fish on Upper Turquoise Lake

  No figure exists for depth, so let the water show you. A soft bed grows weed late into autumn, which keeps fish shallow. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. Eagle County records list brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout among the fish reported. Records at this level tell you what is in the area. Upper Turquoise Lake gives up its fish to patience rather than distance.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Expect July to average close to 53°F, with January the cold end at about 16°F. Cold locks it up for a good stretch each year. Winter fishing happens on the ice here, with open water back around late May. The season between ice runs from about late May to early November. May into June fishes hardest, and September gives a second good stretch before the lid returns. Plan any trip to Upper Turquoise Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Who may fish here is not settled in anything we hold. The map shows no ramp or car park nearby, so this is a walk-in water. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Local rules can differ across the county line, so check where you stand. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Failing this one, try Lower Turquoise Lake, 0.4 miles away. Ask locally about Upper Turquoise Lake if anything is unclear.