Vallecito Lake, Colorado: Fishing Spots and Seasons

• Overview

  Look for Vallecito Lake in the San Juan County part of Colorado. Land around it is mixed forest. Small at around 16 acres: two anglers spread out cover most of it. It sits higher than most water we list in Colorado. You are 22 miles from Telluride. It is 164 miles to Pueblo, the nearest city. There is no boundary nearby to worry about.

• Where to Fish on Vallecito Lake

  No published figure covers depth, so learn it as you fish. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. San Juan County records list black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout and brook trout among the fish reported. The county figures include rivers and lakes alike. At Vallecito Lake the first feature you find is worth twenty minutes.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Climate records put July near 49°F and January near 12°F. The middle months are generous; the ends are demanding. Once it clears, about early June, the fishing comes on quickly. Ice usually gives way near early June, and forms again about early November. The strongest runs come at either end of the open season. On Vallecito Lake the same rules apply, with local timing.

• Tackle & Baits

  Access status is simply unknown for this water. Mapping shows an empty shoreline: no ramp, no jetty, no marked entry. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Where tickets apply, they are sold in the nearest town rather than on the bank. Kite Lake at 1.1 miles is the sensible second choice. Signs at Vallecito Lake carry more weight than any list.