Watson Lake Fishing in Larimer County, Colorado

• Overview

  You will find Watson Lake in Larimer County, Colorado. The bank is 5,118 feet above sea level. The water covers some 44 acres, so pick a bank rather than trying to cover it all. With about 1.2 miles of edge, you can try several depths in one session. By elevation it sits in the lower part of our Colorado listings. Laporte at 1.8 miles is the nearest place to stop. Then Fort Collins, 5.8 miles, and Wellington, 9.7 miles. The nearest edge is a long way off, so local rules apply throughout.

• Where to Fish on Watson Lake

  Depth went unrecorded, which puts the reading back on 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. Reported across Larimer County: black-spotted cutthroat trout, brook trout, white sucker, rainbow trout and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. On Watson Lake the first feature you find is usually worth a session.

• Seasonal Patterns

  Long-term averages put July at about 68°F and January near 29°F. Some winters cap it and some do not. It is not guaranteed even in a cold spell, so check yourself. February into May fishes hardest as the water warms. On Watson Lake the same rules apply, with local timing. Early and late in the day beat the middle for most of the year.

• Tackle & Baits

  The rules here are undocumented as far as public sources go. Records list it as a natural water body rather than an impoundment. Recorded parking is half a mile off, far enough to travel light. There are toilets mapped about half a mile away. Trout here take small spinners, spoons and, where fly water allows, a nymph or dry. Take the rules with you rather than trusting memory. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Claymore Lake sits 1.8 miles off and takes the overflow. Confirm access to Watson Lake locally before you travel.