Whites Lake in Pitkin County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Whites Lake sits within Pitkin County in Colorado. The bank is 9,298 feet above sea level. At roughly 2 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. It is a small entry by Pitkin County standards. Nearest place of any size is Snowmass Village, 3 miles away. Aspen lies 4.2 miles off, Basalt another 15 miles. No boundary runs near, so the county rules hold throughout.

• Where to Fish on Whites Lake

  Depth here is unknown, so count the lead down before committing. Where the bottom changes texture, fish gather; find that line. Look for the band where the shallows give up and the bottom falls away. Reported across Pitkin County: cutthroat trout, brook trout, rainbow trout and black-spotted cutthroat trout. County records show the wider picture rather than this one place. On Whites Lake that means starting tight and working out.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The warm month here averages 59°F; the cold one sits at 16°F. Winter puts a hard lid on this one. Hard water holds through the cold months, breaking up near early May. On average, early May opens the water and late November closes it again. September and October fish steadily right up to the freeze. Whites Lake fishes to that pattern most years.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether the bank is open is not something our records settle. No car park, ramp or path is recorded within easy reach of the shore. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Fishing rules and camping rules are set separately here. Should this one be busy, Marolt Reservoir is 1 mile off. What applies at Whites Lake may have changed since it was mapped.