Bear Creek Lake near Dakota Ridge: Fishing Spots, Seasons and Access

• Overview

  Bear Creek Lake is one of the Jefferson County listings for Colorado. The bank gives way to farm and woodlot. Surface area is around 103 acres, which gives you real water without needing a boat. A shoreline of some 1.6 miles keeps the choices simple. Size puts it in the front rank of our Jefferson County list. Dakota Ridge at 2.4 miles is the nearest place to stop. The nearest city of size is Lakewood, 5 miles away.

• Where to Fish on Bear Creek Lake

  Depth is on record at 34 ft. Levels move with the draw rather than the rain on water like this. A reservoir gives you a hard edge, a shelf, and not much else. Records held for Jefferson County cover rainbow trout, brown trout, common carp and green sunfish. These are county-wide records, so not all of them will be in this water. Bear Creek Lake repays a walk before the first cast.

• Seasonal Patterns

  July is the warm end of the year here, averaging about 71°F, while January sits near 31°F. The season stretches long at both ends here. It should never be assumed safe, whatever the month says. April and May are the settled weeks, with October close behind. Bear Creek Lake runs to that rhythm year in and year out.

• Tackle & Baits

  The ground here is public, which usually keeps access simple. There is a launch about half a mile from the bank. A parking area is marked roughly half a mile out. There is a jetty half a mile off, worth knowing on a busy day. There are picnic tables recorded roughly half a mile off. There are toilets half a mile off. Ask in the nearest town if you are unsure. Access can change hands, so last year's answer may not hold. Where Bear Creek Lake is concerned, a local answer beats a written one.