Horseshoe Reservoir (Lathrop SP), Walsenburg Colorado - Horseshoe Reservoir located in the Lathrop State Park provides opportunities to catch trout, sauger, black bass, catfish, and tiger muskie.
Horseshoe Lake is one of two lakes in Colorado’s first state park, Lathrop. Sitting in the shadow of the Spanish Peaks this 1,594 acre park offers its visitors far more than just excellent fishing opportunities. The area’s mild climate provides for year round camping, scenic mountain views, hiking, picnicking, camping, and even golf in addition to the water sports such as swimming, and boating. Horse is limited to wakeless boating, making it any ideal place for canoes, kayaks, and sailboats.
There is significant structure in Horseshoe such as weed beds, rock islands, and man-made piers for fishers to seek out the numerous thriving species. This water offers anglers a rare opportunity to fish for sauger, rather than its cousins, saugeye and walleye. Bluegill, smallmouth, and largemouth bass, as well as heavily stocked rainbow trout are frequently caught. For the fisher looking for larger quarry, muskies of giant proportions are known for prowl this reservoir, as well as some very large channel catfish. Other species fisher’s may encounter, include green sunfish, carp, suckers, and crappie. It should be noted gizzard shad is a primary forage fish.
Testing has determined that mercury levels in some sizes of sauger and smallmouth bass in the reservoir exceed the State’s human health standard. Please see the fish consumption advisory posted at the reservoir or refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website.
2010 CDOW Fishing Forecast
Water levels are very good in Horseshoe Reservoir. Much like Martin Reservoir, this is a small lake, but the fish are doing pretty well. There are good populations of bass and bluegill as well as sauger, tiger muskie, catfish and trout. Largemouth and smallmouth bass populations are exceptionally good in the lake and catch rates should be high, with chances for some very high quality fish to include some 18 " smallmouth. Catfish are present in much lower numbers, but show some quality-sized individuals. Sauger populations are on the increase and there is an opportunity to catch a new state record. Anglers can still catch some quality tiger muskie in excess of 20 pounds, but muskie numbers appear to be somewhat low. Trout stocking is high and trout growth is good which results in some very good quality trout fishing. Testing has determined that mercury levels in some sizes of sauger and smallmouth bass in the reservoir exceed the State's human health standard. Please see the fish consumption advisory posted at the reservoir or refer to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment website at http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/wq/fishcon for more details. Eurasian milfoil has been found in the lake and anglers need to be careful to clean their boats well after being on the lake to assure that this noxious weed is not spread to other waters.
Getting there: Three miles west of Walsenburg on U.S. Highway 160 Fees: Colorado State Parks Pass. Daily - $6 Boating: Wakeless. Wakeless boating only. Ice Fishing: Allowed, but not recommended
Pinon Campground has pull-through paved sites, electrical hookups, flush toilets, laundry facilities, a shower house, a playground and access to the amphitheater. Pinon Campground Loop D has electric sites and is open throughout winter months.
Yucca# of Sites: 21 Fees: n/a
Yucca Campground has 21 campsites plus two group camping areas, which provides a basic camping experience with gravel pull-in spaces and vault toilets. This area can accommodate tents, pop-up campers, small camper vans and pickup trucks with camper tops.
