Mack Mesa Fishing Guide
Topography and landscape
Mack Mesa Lake is the smaller of the two lakes at Highline Lake State Park near Loma, in the high desert at the west end of the Grand Valley. CPW describes the park as an oasis in the desert, with lakes, grass and trees set in desert that runs from the Western Slope of the Rockies to the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada. (CPW)
It is also the older lake. Grand Valley residents built Mack Mesa Lake in 1952; the larger Highline Lake next door came in 1967, fed through the Government Highline Canal. (CPW)
How the land shapes the fishing. A small, quiet desert lake with no gas motors makes this shore and hand launch water. CPW says Mack Mesa is popular with shore anglers for much of the year and is known for early season and fall trout. (CPW)
What you'll find
Fish. The park's fishing includes largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and rainbow trout, and Mack Mesa and Highline are usually stocked in spring and fall. (CPW) Check the CPW Fishing Atlas and brochure for species and rules at this water. (CPW)
Access. Mack Mesa is for hand launched craft only: paddleboards, kayaks and small boats with electric motors. There is an accessible fishing pier at Mack Mesa. Swimming is not allowed at Mack Mesa; the swim beach is on Highline Lake. (CPW)
For families. CPW says the lake's easy access suits families with small children. Kids fishing poles and tackle boxes can be borrowed at the visitor center with an adult's driver's license, and worms, lures and Powerbait are usually for sale there. (CPW)
Wildlife and plants. (CPW)
Next door: Highline Lake guide.
Responsible use
Mussels. Mack Mesa and Highline are both designated infested with zebra mussels. CPW calls zebra, quagga and golden mussels the most serious threat to Colorado waters. (CPW, CPW)
Inspection. No gas or diesel engines may launch on Mack Mesa, even if they are not running. Electric motors must be inspected for aquatic nuisance species before launching and after pulling out. Hand launched, human powered craft are exempt from mandatory inspection; use the self cleaning station near the Mack Mesa vault toilet to clean, drain and dry boats and fishing gear. (CPW, CPW) Our note: clean, drain, dry.
Leave No Trace. Pack in, pack out. Stay on trails, respect closures, keep food from wildlife and leave artifacts, including traces of the old Uintah Railway, where you find them. (CPW, Leave No Trace)
Fire and rules. Seasonal fire restrictions on nearby public land change with conditions. (BLM) Fishing and boating rules come from CPW; read the park page and brochure before you go. (CPW, CPW) See our Colorado fishing laws page.
Kindness to other users
Shore space. Mack Mesa is a shore angler's lake and a family lake. Our shop habit, not a rule: give the next angler a cast or two of room, keep hooks and lines off the path and the pier, and pack out all line. Visit Grand Junction asks anglers to dispose of fishing line properly so it does not harm animals. (Visit Grand Junction)
Paddlers and anglers. Kayaks and paddleboards share the lake with bank anglers. Our shop habit: paddle wide of lines in the water and of the accessible pier.
Quiet. Keep voices low to see more birds, watch from a distance and avoid nests. (CPW)
Pets. Dogs stay leashed and under control, and may not be left unattended in the park. (CPW, CPW)
Hunters in season. CPW recommends fluorescent orange or pink in the field during hunting seasons even for non hunters. (CPW)
Best times to go
Season. Spring and fall: both lakes are usually stocked then, and Mack Mesa is known for early season and fall trout. When Highline Lake closes to boating for the migratory bird season, Mack Mesa stays open to kayaking, paddleboarding and fishing. (CPW, CPWIn cold winters, CPW mentions ice fishing; we don't report ice conditions. Check CPW regulations for your water. Read our cold water checklist.
Time of day. Go early. CPW notes most Grand Valley summer storms build in the afternoon and arrive fast from the west, and wind is the main reason paddlers fall in. (CPW) The park opens at 5 a.m. (CPW)
Why visit
It is the easy lake: short walks from the car, a pier, borrowed kids rods and a quiet surface with no gas engines. CPW calls it a great spot for families with small children. (CPW) The park around it is an Audubon Important Bird Area, so a slow trout morning still comes with ducks and owls. (CPW)
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Trip prep
Cold water. Life jackets are free to borrow at the visitor center with identification. (CPW) Dress for the water, not the air. (NWS)
Weather. Get off the water when you hear thunder; seek shelter in a building or hard-topped vehicle, and wait 30 minutes after the last thunder (NWS).
Heat. Nearby Colorado National Monument reaches the low 100s in summer, and NPS asks for a gallon of water per person per day. (NPS, NPS) Heat stroke is an emergency; call 911. (NWS)
Wildlife. Several kinds of snakes live in the park. (CPW) More: life jackets and cold water and wind go or no go.
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