Fishing Vestal Lake in San Juan County, Colorado

• Overview

  Colorado holds Vestal Lake, in San Juan County. It sits at 12,234 feet above sea level. At 4 acres it is the sort of place you fish for an evening rather than a day. On size it sits at the modest end of our San Juan County list. You are 21 miles from Telluride. The big place round here is Pueblo, 167 miles distant. It sits well inside its county, with no border complications.

• Where to Fish on Vestal Lake

  Nothing in our records gives a depth for this one. Read the surface for the wind lane, then fish the edge of it. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Public occurrence data for San Juan County names black-spotted cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, brook trout and cutthroat trout. County data is a starting point rather than a guarantee. Anyone new to Vestal Lake should walk it once before setting up.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Between January at about 14°F and July at about 52°F, the water has a wide range to work through. The year splits cleanly: hard water, then open water. The freeze runs deep into the year, with break-up near late May. From about late May to around mid November, expect open water on the long-run figures. Late spring and early autumn carry the year between them. Plan around that when you fish Vestal Lake.

• Tackle & Baits

  Nothing we hold confirms whether access is permitted. A campsite lies half a mile away for anyone staying over. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Close seasons apply to some species and not others. Arrow Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing on Vestal Lake should be assumed from this page alone.