Right now
Live from National Weather Service.
What to tie on now
- Flies
- Small jig, chironomid #16, balanced leech; ice fishing once the lake is posted safe
- Rig
- Indicator rig near the inlet and the dam. Never walk on ice until it's posted safe.
Flies checked against local shop reports on Nov 15. Ask at the local fly shop for what hatched this morning. They know before we do.
- Water
- Mountain lake in downtown Evergreen with a trail around the shore
- Drive from Denver
- About 40 minutes via I-70 or US-285 and CO-74
- Access
- Walk the shoreline trail; no fishing around the Lake House
- Hours
- Sunrise to sunset
- Best for
- Easy trout fishing, families, winter ice fishing
- Fees
- No fee to fish with a Colorado license
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs allowed
Where to park
Evergreen Lake parking lot
- Free lot at the lake off Upper Bear Creek Road. It fills on weekends and holidays.
- On busy summer days and events there's a free shuttle from Stagecoach Park.
Lots, fees and hours change. Check posted signs when you arrive.
Overview
Evergreen Lake is the easiest mountain trout fishing near Denver. It's stocked with rainbows, it sits right in town on CO-74, and a trail goes all the way around it, so you can walk and cast wherever there's room. In winter it usually freezes over and turns into an ice fishing spot.
The rules that matter
- Fishing is sunrise to sunset.
- No fishing around the Lake House, except from the accessible pier.
- No fishing off the boat docks in summer, and watch for paddlers.
- Check the signs at the lake for current bait and hook rules before you rig up.
How to fish it
From shore, a small spinner or a fly under an indicator covers it. Fish the inlet end and anywhere you see a drop-off. Mornings are best before the paddle traffic starts. In winter, small jigs through the ice.
Questions anglers ask
- Do you need a permit to fish Evergreen Lake?
- Just a Colorado fishing license for anglers 18 and over. There's no extra fee.
- Can you ice fish Evergreen Lake?
- Yes, once the ice is safe. The lake usually freezes in winter. Check local ice reports before you go out.
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