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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 more productive stillwater fisheries on the Western Slope side of the Sawatch Range.
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View on mapFishing · 7 spots
Twin Lakes sits at the base of Independence Pass in Lake County, Colorado, and the two reservoirs here are among the more productive stillwater fisheries on the Western Slope side of the Sawatch Range. Both lakes are managed for lake trout, rainbow trout, and brown trout, and the sheer size of the water means you can find fish whether you're casting from shore or running a boat out to deeper structure. The listings on this page cover the full spread of access points: Twin Lakes Lower and the boating sites at Red Rooster and Dexter Point are your best bets if you're launching a vessel, while Whistler Point, Moache, and the area around Lakeview Campground give shore anglers room to spread out without crowding each other. White Star rounds out the access on the upper end. Elevation here is just over 9,200 feet, so even a July afternoon can turn cold fast — layer up and keep rain gear in the truck. Colorado Parks and Wildlife regulations apply, and you'll need a valid Colorado fishing license before you wet a line. The season runs year-round on the reservoirs, including ice fishing through winter when conditions allow.
Shore fishing is genuinely productive here. Moache, Whistler Point, and the Lakeview Campground area all give you bank access with enough casting room to reach decent water. That said, a boat or kayak opens up the deeper mid-lake structure where lake trout tend to hold, so if you're specifically targeting lakers, launching from Red Rooster or Dexter Point Boating Site is worth the effort.
Early morning and the last two hours before sunset are consistently the most active windows, especially for rainbow and brown trout working the shallower margins. Midday can slow down in summer when surface temperatures climb, though lake trout stay active deeper regardless of time. On overcast days the midday lull is less pronounced.
For shore fishing, a medium-action spinning rod in the 7- to 8-foot range handles most situations well. Spoons, inline spinners, and PowerBait rigs all produce. If you're targeting lake trout from a boat, add heavier jigging gear and lead-core or downrigger capability for reaching the deeper water column. Fly anglers working the shallower flats near Whistler Point or Moache can do well with streamer patterns early and late.
Red Rooster Boating Site and Dexter Point Boating Site both provide boat launch access. Motorized boats are permitted on Twin Lakes, so trailered boats, pontoons, and kayaks are all workable. Check current Colorado Parks and Wildlife postings for any horsepower restrictions or seasonal closures before you load up the trailer.
Ice fishing typically becomes possible in December and can run through February or into early March depending on the winter. The reservoirs sit above 9,200 feet, so they freeze reliably in most years. Always check ice thickness yourself before venturing out — there's no official ice-condition reporting service for these lakes, and conditions vary across the surface.
