Local guide from The Big Mack
Ice Fishing Twin Lakes & Turquoise Lake: Season, Ice Safety, Rules and Mackinaw Tips
When the ice is safe, Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake near Leadville are prime ice fishing for lake trout. Here is the season timing, CPW ice-thickness guidance, license rules, lake trout limits and gear.
Ice fishing at Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake near Leadville is a midwinter pursuit built around big lake trout, the mackinaw that give The Big Mack its name. There is no official opening day: the season starts only when the ice is thick enough, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife says four inches of good, clear ice is the minimum to support a person walking. The best-known dates on the local calendar are the Twin Lakes Ice Fishing Derby, held February 14–15 in 2026 and February 15–16 in 2025.
Quick answer: ice fishing Twin Lakes and Turquoise Lake
- When: midwinter, once ice is safe. The derby has landed in mid-February the past two years; 2027 dates had not been posted as of September 27, 2026.
- Ice minimums (CPW): 4 inches of good ice for a person on foot, 6 inches for a snowmobile or ATV, 8–12 inches for a car or small pickup, 12–15 inches for a medium pickup.
- License: required at age 16 and up. Youth 15 and under fish free in Colorado.
- Twin Lakes lake trout rule: bag and possession limit of 1, and any lake trout 22–34 inches long must be released immediately.
- Turquoise Lake lake trout rule: bag and possession limit of 2.
- Species: lake trout (mackinaw), rainbow and brown trout at Twin Lakes; mackinaw, rainbow and brook trout at Turquoise.
When is the ice fishing season at Twin Lakes?
Ice forms and thickens on its own schedule, and it differs from lake to lake and even across one lake. Treat any calendar date as a guess and the ice itself as the only answer. CPW notes that shallow lakes freeze faster than deep ones, so the big reservoirs can lag smaller waters. Twin Lakes and Turquoise are both large, deep reservoirs.
The clearest public marker of prime season is the Twin Lakes Ice Fishing Derby, hosted by the Leadville Rod and Gun Club. The Leadville Herald reported that the 2025 derby, on February 15–16, drew 148 registered anglers plus free entries for kids 12 and under. Categories covered lake trout, brown trout and rainbow trout, and the longest lake trout measured 38 inches. The 2026 derby ran February 14–15, with tournament sign-up handled through the FishDonkey app. Watch the Visit Leadville Twin Lakes events calendar for the 2027 date.
How to tell if the ice is safe
Never assume the ice is safe, even when you see other anglers out. CPW's ice-fishing guidance is the standard to follow:
- The strongest ice is clear and blue. White or gray ice is much weaker, and CPW advises traveling only on clear, blue ice.
- New ice is stronger than old ice.
- Ice is thinner around submerged trees, brush, embankments and structures, and where sunlight warms the water.
- Snow on top insulates thin ice and can hide cracks and open water.
- Stay away from cracks, slushy or darker areas, and pressure ridges; CPW says ice can be unstable up to 20 feet from a ridge.
- Drill test holes or use an ice chisel as you go, at intervals of no more than 30 feet.
These are big reservoirs with changing conditions, so check thickness yourself every trip, and keep vehicles off the ice unless you have measured well past CPW's vehicle thresholds and local rules allow it.
What to carry for ice safety
CPW recommends a safety kit before anyone steps onto the ice:
- Ice picks, or two screwdrivers, that float and are joined by a 24–30 inch nylon cord you can reach quickly.
- About 50 feet of nylon rope with a large loop tied at each end.
- A portable flotation cushion, which doubles as a seat and something to throw.
- A wool blanket and a thermos of hot drinks.
- A charged phone, plus a plan left with someone on shore.
- Crampons or ice cleats. CPW notes that Colorado's wind often polishes the ice to a slick, snow-free surface.
If someone goes through, CPW's advice is to turn back toward the direction you came from, get your arms onto unbroken ice, kick and pull with the picks, then roll away rather than stand. Rescuers should reach or throw, not walk out.
Colorado fishing license and rules
Anyone 16 or older needs a Colorado fishing license. Annual licenses run for 13 months, from March 1 through March 31 of the next year, so a license bought for 2026 covers you through March 31, 2027. CPW also sells one-day and additional-day licenses, which suit a visiting group. Anglers aged 18–64 pay a habitat stamp, though one-day buyers are exempt on their first two such licenses. To fish a second line or tip-up, you need a second-rod stamp. It does not raise your bag limit. Buy online through CPW before you drive up.
Special regulations matter here. Twin Lakes allows only 1 lake trout, and any lake trout from 22 to 34 inches has to go back right away. Turquoise Reservoir allows 2 lake trout. Statewide rules cover everything else, so read CPW's current brochure before you go, because rules change.
Twin Lakes vs. Turquoise Lake for ice fishing
Twin Lakes sits below Mount Elbert, just across the road from the house, and it is the derby lake. Anglers target lake trout along with rainbows and browns. Remember the 22–34 inch lake trout slot: many of the fish you hope to hook will have to be released.
Turquoise Lake, on Leadville's west side, holds mackinaw, rainbow and brook trout, according to the local tourism board, and it is a popular ice spot. In winter the road around the lake is groomed for winter travel, and the tourism board says you may see dogsled teams in the woods. See our winter at Twin Lakes guide for snowshoeing routes and other road notes beyond fishing. The 2026 Willow Fire closed parts of the south side of Turquoise Lake during the summer; check the Know Before You Go page for current closures. Our Turquoise Lake guide covers access in more detail.
For quieter water, the tourism board also points to Clear Creek Reservoir, Hayden Meadows and Crystal Lakes. Crystal Lakes sit about six miles south of Leadville on Highway 24 and are stocked with rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout.
Gear checklist and local shops
A basic day needs an auger, a skimmer, short ice rods or tip-ups, and a sled to haul it all. Add a shelter or windbreak, a bucket to sit on, and layers suited to 9,000-plus feet: insulated boots, a wind shell, spare gloves and sunglasses for the glare. See our Leadville weather by month guide for the temperatures and snow to expect before you pack. CPW calls ice fishing one of the most user-friendly and inexpensive kinds of fishing, and says anglers with basic equipment can hold their own against fully geared-up crews.
In town, Colorado Fly Fishing Guides at 504 Harrison Ave in Leadville sells licenses, flies, tackle and accessories. In winter, its tourism listing sends visitors to its sister business, Alpine Ski & Sport. Call ahead to see what ice gear is in stock. If you need a specific auger or shelter, it is safer to bring it with you.
Plan the rest of your stay
Ice fishing mornings pair well with afternoon snowshoeing or a drive into Leadville. For open-water season on the same lakes, see our Twin Lakes fishing guide. Our things to do in Twin Lakes and Leadville guide has more ideas for the non-anglers in your group. Snowmobiling near Leadville is another good pairing for the same winter trip.
Where to stay for an ice fishing trip
The Big Mack is across the road from Twin Lakes at about 9,200 feet, so you can check the ice at first light without a long drive. The house sleeps 12 in four bedrooms, with a downstairs bunk room that suits a fishing crew, plus a washer and dryer for wet layers, a fireplace, a hot tub after a cold day on the ice, a grill and a full kitchen for cooking the fish you are allowed to keep. There's parking for trucks and gear.
