Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Lakes ยท Arkansas Basin
Turquoise Lake sits at almost 9,900 feet just west of Leadville, with rainbows, browns, lake trout and mountain views all around.
Looking for the latest Turquoise Lake fishing report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with current conditions, wind, stocking news and the flies working now at Turquoise Lake.
Water level
Wind forecast
Turquoise Lake fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The lake is very cold, and ice is on the way. Fall fishing is slow but can turn up a big brown or lake trout near shore.
Fish streamers off the points at first and last light, or slow chironomids near the inlets.
Stocking report
Recent trout stocking from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's weekly report.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Turquoise Lake, bring: Woolly Bugger #6-10, Chironomid #14-18, Balanced Leech #10-12, Parachute Adams #14-16, Balanced Bou Leech #10-12, Slump Buster #6-8, Egg #12-14, Scud Bomb #12-16, Clouser Minnow #2-6.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Turquoise Lake lake details
| Access | Turquoise Lake Road off Leadville, with day-use areas and boat ramps. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 9,870 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 119 miles, roughly 2 hours 36 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Summer and fall, plus ice fishing |
| Fish | Rainbows, browns, lake trout and cutthroat |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 4X to 5X tippet |
| Ice fishing | Ice usually forms in late fall. Never go out on less than 4 inches of clear ice. |
| Camping | Several national forest campgrounds around the lake (seasonal) |
| Kids | Yes in summer at the day-use areas. |
| Good to know | High and cold. Weather changes fast. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Ice fishing.
Spring
Late ice-off, usually in May or June.
Summer
Trout cruising shorelines.
Fall
Browns and lake trout before ice.
How to get there
Take I-70 to Highway 91 over Fremont Pass to Leadville, then follow Turquoise Lake Road west.