Willow Lakes Fishing near Silverthorne, Colorado

• Overview

  Willow Lakes is set in Summit County, Colorado. Elevation runs to 11,404 feet. At roughly 6 acres, the whole thing is within casting reach of a single walk. By elevation it is in the upper part of our Colorado listings. The town to know is Silverthorne, 5.2 miles out. The big place round here is Boulder, 54 miles distant. You are close to a county edge here; who manages the access can change within a short drive.

• Where to Fish on Willow Lakes

  Depth is unmeasured here, so let the shoreline guide you. Weed, then depth: that is the order to fish a water of this kind. On a natural lake the weed line and the shelf beyond it do the work. Open biodiversity records for Summit County list brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout. Several of these carry legal protection or closed seasons; the rulebook comes before the rod. On Willow Lakes the obvious spot is not always the productive one.

• Seasonal Patterns

  On the long-term average, July reads 51°F and January reads 15°F. Seasons are distinct, and each one fishes differently. Ice-out usually falls in late May, and the weeks after it fish hardest. Averages suggest open water from about late May through to roughly early November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Keep it in mind when planning a trip to Willow Lakes.

• Tackle & Baits

  We hold no note on access for this one. Access is unmapped, which usually means a farm track and a walk. For the trout, small spinners and a box of nymphs cover both approaches. Parking space is the usual limit rather than the bank itself. Where the way in crosses private ground, ask first. Salmon Lake at 0.7 miles is the sensible second choice. Nothing here settles the position at Willow Lakes for certain.