Youngs Lake in Delta County: How and When to Fish It

• Overview

  Youngs Lake belongs to Delta County, Colorado. Elevation runs to 10,217 feet. For a base, Cedaredge sits 16 miles out. Paonia is 21 miles and Orchard City 22 miles. More in the same country: Anderson Brothers Reservoir (0.4 miles), Rock Lake roughly 0.8 miles, Kenney Creek Reservoir (1.1 miles), Anderson Reservoir roughly 1.2 miles and Dawson Reservoir (1.3 miles). It lies deep inside the county rather than near an edge.

• Where to Fish on Youngs Lake

  Without a survey to go on, judge depth from how the bank falls away. Inflow corners move water, and moving water gathers fish. The old creek line under the surface is the feature worth finding. Fish documented in Delta County include rainbow trout, white sucker, flannelmouth sucker, bluehead sucker and brown trout. It is the county picture; the agency list is water-specific. Youngs Lake fishes better once you know its edges.

• Seasonal Patterns

  The range across the year is 16°F to 56°F. The freeze arrives properly here and holds. Break-up comes around mid May, and the run that follows is short and strong. The water is typically free of ice between mid May and mid November. From the thaw to midsummer the fishing improves week by week. Plan any trip to Youngs Lake around it.

• Tackle & Baits

  Whether you may fish here is not something records settle. We find no slipway, car park or made path within a short radius, so treat access as rough. Light line and small metal for the trout; a fly rod earns its place on calm evenings. Check locally before you travel, because a wasted drive is a long one. Keep proof of licence with you rather than in the car. For a change of water, Anderson Brothers Reservoir is 0.4 miles distant. The position on Youngs Lake is worth confirming on the day.