Right now
Live from National Weather Service.
What to tie on now
- Flies
- Chironomid #14-16, balanced leech, small jig; ice gear when it freezes
- Rig
- Indicator rig near the bottom; watch for early ice and only fish it when it's 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 reservoir right off I-70 in Georgetown
- Drive from Denver
- About 50 minutes on I-70
- Access
- Gravel lots and a shoreline trail, plus fishing piers
- Best for
- Year-round trout, fall browns at the inlet, ice fishing
- Season
- Open all year; ice fishing in winter
- Fees
- None to park
- Dogs
- Leashed dogs allowed
Where to park
West-side lots on Argentine St
- Gravel lots right off Argentine Street, by the restrooms and the bighorn viewing area. The middle lot fits a couple dozen cars and puts you on the shoreline trail.
- More parking on the south side near 22nd St and the boat launch. That's the start of the 2-mile walk to the inlet.
Lots, fees and hours change. Check posted signs when you arrive.
Overview
Georgetown Lake is the closest real mountain lake on I-70. It's stocked with rainbows through the year and has wild browns too. In fall, browns and kokanee push up toward the inlet on the west end. In winter it's one of the busiest ice fishing spots near Denver. Look up: bighorn sheep are often on the slopes right above the lake.
Where to fish
- The west-side lots along Argentine Street put you on the shoreline trail and the piers.
- The inlet on the west end is the fall spot. From the boat launch on the south side, it's about a 2-mile walk west along the trail.
- In winter, set up off the points once the ice is safe.
How to fish it
From shore, a spoon or spinner for stocked rainbows, or a worm under a bobber. Fly anglers do well with a balanced leech or a nymph under an indicator. In fall at the inlet, streamers and egg patterns.
Questions anglers ask
- Is Georgetown Lake good for ice fishing?
- Yes. It's one of the most popular ice fishing lakes near Denver once the ice is safe.
- Can you see bighorn sheep at Georgetown Lake?
- Often. There's a wildlife viewing area at the north end of the lake.
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