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Colorado · Fishing
Twin Lakes sits at the base of Independence Pass in Lake County, Colorado, and the two reservoirs here are among the larger bodies of water on the Western Slope side of the Sawatch Range.
10 spotsUpdated dailyFree to access
View on mapFishing · 10 spots
Twin Lakes sits at the base of Independence Pass in Lake County, Colorado, and the two reservoirs here are among the larger bodies of water on the Western Slope side of the Sawatch Range. Both lakes are managed for fishing, and the access points are spread out enough that you can usually find a spot without much competition, even on summer weekends. The lower lake has several named fishing sites along its shoreline, including Twin Lakes Lower, Sunnyside Fishing Site, Moache Fishing Site, and Deception Point Fishing Site, while the upper lake is served by spots like Whistler Point, Mountain View Fishing Site, White Star, and Dexter Point Boating Site. Red Rooster Boating Site and Lakeview Campground round out the access options, making it practical to fish from shore or launch a small boat depending on what you're after. The lakes sit at high elevation, which keeps water temperatures cold well into summer and means ice-out timing matters if you're planning an early-season trip. Shore fishing is genuinely productive here, not just a fallback for people without a boat, and the variety of access points means you can move around until you find fish that are actively feeding.
Twin Lakes is known primarily for lake trout and rainbow trout, along with brown trout. The cold, deep water of the reservoirs suits lake trout particularly well. Check the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations for bag and size limits before you go, as they can vary by species and change between seasons.
Sunnyside Fishing Site, Moache Fishing Site, Deception Point Fishing Site, and Twin Lakes Lower are all set up with shore fishing in mind and offer reasonable bank access. Dexter Point Boating Site and Red Rooster Boating Site are the better choices if you're launching a boat, giving you access to deeper water where lake trout tend to hold.
White Star
~1 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
May Queen
~24 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Lakeview Campground
~2 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Collegiate Peaks
~33 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Dawson Cabin
~10 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Crystal Lake Fishing Site
~12 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Crescent Mining Camp
~13 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Arkansas River #3b
~32 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Silver Dollar
~20 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Weller Lake
~34 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Molly Brown
~21 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Fancy Creek
~37 min drive
A worthwhile stop near CO.
Late spring through early fall is the main window, with ice-out typically happening sometime in April or May depending on the winter. Early summer and early fall tend to be the most productive periods, as fish are more active in cooler water temperatures. Midsummer midday fishing slows down; early morning and evening are your best bets when the sun is high.
Yes, a valid Colorado fishing license is required for anyone 16 and older. Twin Lakes reservoirs may have specific regulations around gear type or catch limits, so pull up the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulation booklet for Lake County waters before your trip rather than relying on general statewide rules.
It is a reasonable destination for beginners, especially at the dedicated fishing sites like Mountain View Fishing Site and Whistler Point where bank access is straightforward. That said, lake trout fishing specifically can have a steeper learning curve since fish often hold deep. If you're new to fishing, targeting rainbow or brown trout from shore with standard spinning gear is a more approachable starting point.
