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Colorado
Colorado's fishing waters range from high alpine lakes above 11,000 feet to tailwater rivers that flow year-round below dam releases. The state holds trout in nearly every drainage—cutthroat, brown, rainbow, and brook trout occupy different elevations and water types. Mountain streams run cold and clear, while lower-elevation reservoirs warm enough for walleye and pike. Access varies sharply: some of the best water sits on public land, while other productive sections require permission or paid access.
These articles cover where to fish across Colorado's regions, what species you'll find in each location, seasonal timing that matters for your trip, and how to navigate regulations and access. You'll learn which waters suit different skill levels, what gear works best for local conditions, and how weather and water temperature shift your options through the year.
73 guides
- Fishing the Arkansas River in Colorado: Seasons, Access, and What to ExpectLearn about Fishing the Arkansas River in Colorado: Seasons, Access, and What to Expect
- Fishing Aurora Reservoir: Walleye, Pike, and Catfish in Metro DenverLearn about Fishing Aurora Reservoir: Walleye, Pike, and Catfish in Metro Denver
- Fishing Barker Reservoir: What to Expect in the Colorado High CountryLearn about Fishing Barker Reservoir: What to Expect in the Colorado High Country
- Fishing Betasso Preserve: Boulder's Small-Water Trout StreamLearn about Fishing Betasso Preserve: Boulder's Small-Water Trout Stream
- Big Thompson River: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in Colorado's Front RangeLearn about Big Thompson River: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in Colorado's Front Range
- Fishing Blue Mesa Reservoir: What to Expect and Where to GoLearn about Fishing Blue Mesa Reservoir: What to Expect and Where to Go
- Boulder Reservoir: Cold-Water Walleye and Pike in the Colorado FoothillsLearn about Boulder Reservoir: Cold-Water Walleye and Pike in the Colorado Foothills
- Fishing Boyd Lake State Park Near Loveland, ColoradoLearn about Fishing Boyd Lake State Park Near Loveland, Colorado
- Fishing Clear Creek Reservoir in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Clear Creek Reservoir in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing the Colorado River: Access Points, Species, and Seasonal ConditionsLearn about Fishing the Colorado River: Access Points, Species, and Seasonal Conditions
- Fishing Curecanti National Recreation Area: Three Reservoirs in the Colorado RockiesLearn about Fishing Curecanti National Recreation Area: Three Reservoirs in the Colorado Rockies
- Fishing Dillon Reservoir: What to Expect and How to Plan Your TripLearn about Fishing Dillon Reservoir: What to Expect and How to Plan Your Trip
- Fishing Dixon Reservoir in Colorado: Walleye, Pike, and Practical AccessLearn about Fishing Dixon Reservoir in Colorado: Walleye, Pike, and Practical Access
- Fishing Echo Canyon Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and Where to GoLearn about Fishing Echo Canyon Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and Where to Go
- Elk River, Colorado: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in High Mountain WaterLearn about Elk River, Colorado: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in High Mountain Water
- Fish Creek, Colorado: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in High Mountain WaterLearn about Fish Creek, Colorado: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in High Mountain Water
- Fishing the Fraser River: Salmon, Steelhead, and Access from ColoradoLearn about Fishing the Fraser River: Salmon, Steelhead, and Access from Colorado
- Fryingpan River: Gold Medal Trout Water Near Basalt, ColoradoLearn about Fryingpan River: Gold Medal Trout Water Near Basalt, Colorado
- Fishing Golden Ponds Park in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Golden Ponds Park in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Granby Ranch Ponds Near Winter Park, ColoradoLearn about Fishing Granby Ranch Ponds Near Winter Park, Colorado
- Fishing Gross Reservoir: What to Expect at Colorado's High-Country Walleye LakeLearn about Fishing Gross Reservoir: What to Expect at Colorado's High-Country Walleye Lake
- Fishing the Gunnison River: A Guide to Colorado's Premier Trout WaterLearn about Fishing the Gunnison River: A Guide to Colorado's Premier Trout Water
- Fishing Hatcher Reservoir in Colorado — Walleye, Pike, and Mountain ViewsLearn about Fishing Hatcher Reservoir in Colorado — Walleye, Pike, and Mountain Views
- Fishing Horsetooth Reservoir: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Horsetooth Reservoir: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Lagerman Reservoir: What to Expect from Colorado's Shallow Walleye LakeLearn about Fishing Lagerman Reservoir: What to Expect from Colorado's Shallow Walleye Lake
- Lake Capote, Colorado — High-Altitude Cutthroat and Mountain ViewsLearn about Lake Capote, Colorado — High-Altitude Cutthroat and Mountain Views
- Lake Estes Park: Trout Fishing in the Colorado Front RangeLearn about Lake Estes Park: Trout Fishing in the Colorado Front Range
- Lake Fork Marina: Access, Services, and What to ExpectLearn about Lake Fork Marina: Access, Services, and What to Expect
- Lake Granby: Cold-Water Fishing in Colorado's High CountryLearn about Lake Granby: Cold-Water Fishing in Colorado's High Country
- Lake Loveland Fishing Guide: What to Catch and When to GoLearn about Lake Loveland Fishing Guide: What to Catch and When to Go
- Fishing Lake Pueblo State Park: Walleye, Bass, and Catfish in South-Central ColoradoLearn about Fishing Lake Pueblo State Park: Walleye, Bass, and Catfish in South-Central Colorado
- Fishing Lily Lake in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Lily Lake in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Lon Hagler Reservoir: A Small Colorado Lake for Trout and PikeLearn about Lon Hagler Reservoir: A Small Colorado Lake for Trout and Pike
- Marys Lake, Colorado — Trout Fishing in the Estes Park FoothillsLearn about Marys Lake, Colorado — Trout Fishing in the Estes Park Foothills
- McIntosh Lake, Colorado — Cutthroat and Brook Trout in the High CountryLearn about McIntosh Lake, Colorado — Cutthroat and Brook Trout in the High Country
- Mt. Elbert Forebay Reservoir: Cold-Water Trout Fishing in the High CountryLearn about Mt. Elbert Forebay Reservoir: Cold-Water Trout Fishing in the High Country
- Fishing Navajo State Park: Walleye, Pike, and Perch on Colorado's High Desert ReservoirLearn about Fishing Navajo State Park: Walleye, Pike, and Perch on Colorado's High Desert Reservoir
- Neversink Trail: A Colorado Mountain Stream for Wading and Small TroutLearn about Neversink Trail: A Colorado Mountain Stream for Wading and Small Trout
- Fishing Pagosa Springs Town Reservoir: Seasons, Access, and What to ExpectLearn about Fishing Pagosa Springs Town Reservoir: Seasons, Access, and What to Expect
- Fishing Pearl Lake, Colorado: High-Country Cutthroat and Alpine AccessLearn about Fishing Pearl Lake, Colorado: High-Country Cutthroat and Alpine Access
- Pikes Peak Highway: A Scenic Drive to Colorado's Most Iconic MountainLearn about Pikes Peak Highway: A Scenic Drive to Colorado's Most Iconic Mountain
- Pike's Point: Pike and Walleye in Colorado's Mountain ReservoirLearn about Pike's Point: Pike and Walleye in Colorado's Mountain Reservoir
- Fishing the Poudre River at Lee Martinez Park — What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing the Poudre River at Lee Martinez Park — What to Expect and How to Get There
- Poudre River Trail: A Complete Guide to Colorado's Premier Riverside PathLearn about Poudre River Trail: A Complete Guide to Colorado's Premier Riverside Path
- Fishing Prospect Lake, Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Prospect Lake, Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Prospect Ponds Natural Area in ColoradoLearn about Fishing Prospect Ponds Natural Area in Colorado
- Fishing Quail Lake in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Quail Lake in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Quincy Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Quincy Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Reservoir Hill Park in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Reservoir Hill Park in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Ridgway Reservoir — What to Expect at Colorado's Mountain TailwaterLearn about Fishing Ridgway Reservoir — What to Expect at Colorado's Mountain Tailwater
- Fishing River Bluffs Open Space: What to Expect on the South PlatteLearn about Fishing River Bluffs Open Space: What to Expect on the South Platte
- Fishing Riverbend Ponds Natural Area Near Fort CollinsLearn about Fishing Riverbend Ponds Natural Area Near Fort Collins
- Fishing Rivers Edge Natural Area in Colorado: Access, Species, and What to ExpectLearn about Fishing Rivers Edge Natural Area in Colorado: Access, Species, and What to Expect
- Roaring Fork River: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in the Aspen ValleyLearn about Roaring Fork River: Cutthroat and Brown Trout in the Aspen Valley
- Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery: What to Expect When You VisitLearn about Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery: What to Expect When You Visit
- Ruedi Reservoir: A High-Altitude Colorado Fishery for Kokanee and Lake TroutLearn about Ruedi Reservoir: A High-Altitude Colorado Fishery for Kokanee and Lake Trout
- San Juan River Fishing Guide: New Mexico's Premier TailwaterLearn about San Juan River Fishing Guide: New Mexico's Premier Tailwater
- Fishing Sawhill Ponds Open Space Near Boulder, ColoradoLearn about Fishing Sawhill Ponds Open Space Near Boulder, Colorado
- Sheldon Lake, Colorado: Cutthroat Trout and High-Country AccessLearn about Sheldon Lake, Colorado: Cutthroat Trout and High-Country Access
- Fishing Soap Creek in Colorado: A Small-Stream Guide to Cutthroat and Brown TroutLearn about Fishing Soap Creek in Colorado: A Small-Stream Guide to Cutthroat and Brown Trout
- South Boulder Creek: A Small-Water Cutthroat Fishery in the Front RangeLearn about South Boulder Creek: A Small-Water Cutthroat Fishery in the Front Range
- Sprague Lake: A Rocky Mountain National Park Destination for Calm-Water FishingLearn about Sprague Lake: A Rocky Mountain National Park Destination for Calm-Water Fishing
- St. Vrain State Park: Fishing, Camping, and Water Access Near LongmontLearn about St. Vrain State Park: Fishing, Camping, and Water Access Near Longmont
- Fishing Stagecoach Reservoir in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Stagecoach Reservoir in Colorado: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Steamboat Lake: What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Steamboat Lake: What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Stevens Creek in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to StartLearn about Fishing Stevens Creek in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to Start
- Fishing the Taylor River in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to GoLearn about Fishing the Taylor River in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to Go
- Turquoise Lake, Colorado: High-Altitude Fishing for Cutthroat and KokaneeLearn about Turquoise Lake, Colorado: High-Altitude Fishing for Cutthroat and Kokanee
- Fishing Twin Lakes Reservoir in Colorado's High CountryLearn about Fishing Twin Lakes Reservoir in Colorado's High Country
- Fishing Williams Creek Reservoir in Colorado — Access, Species, and Seasonal ConditionsLearn about Fishing Williams Creek Reservoir in Colorado — Access, Species, and Seasonal Conditions
- Fishing Willow Creek Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and How to Get ThereLearn about Fishing Willow Creek Reservoir in Colorado — What to Expect and How to Get There
- Fishing Windsor Lake, Colorado — Trout and Pike in the FoothillsLearn about Fishing Windsor Lake, Colorado — Trout and Pike in the Foothills
- Fishing the Yampa River in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to GoLearn about Fishing the Yampa River in Colorado: What to Expect and Where to Go