Haviland Lake

About Haviland Lake

Haviland Lake is about 20 miles north of Durango, Colorado, sitting at an elevation over 8,000 feet. This high-country reservoir is surrounded by pine forests and offers a classic stillwater fishery. The lake is roughly 60 acres, providing plenty of room to spread out. Shoreline access is good, especially near the campground, with trails extending around the perimeter and connecting into the San Juan National Forest. You'll find inlets and some drop-offs, but much of the fishing will be in the open water or along the vegetated banks. The campground is right on the water, making it easy to get an early start or fish late into the evening. Visually, Haviland Lake is a clear, cold mountain lake, and on calm mornings, you can often see cruising trout. This lake is primarily a trout fishery, with good numbers of rainbow trout and some cutthroat trout. During certain times of the year, you can expect hatches of callibaetis, midges, and some caddis. When these insects are active, the trout will be looking up. Try small, imitative patterns like a size 18-20 BWO parachute or a midge larva fished deep. If the fish are keyed in on callibaetis, a small spinner pattern can be deadly. For larger trout, especially those holding deeper or cruising the edges, streamers like a black woolly bugger or a sculpin pattern can draw aggressive strikes. Fishing a sinking line or a long leader with a few nymphs under a strike indicator is also a reliable method, particularly during midday. Work the weed beds and any visible structure. Early mornings and late evenings tend to be the most productive periods, especially when the sun is lower and fish are more willing to move into shallower water. Be mindful of other anglers and share the prime spots.