Fishing in Colorado is extremely magical, no matter the time of year you want to go. You can go fishing in Colorado throughout the entire year, as long as you have a fishing license. But there are seasons—summer is certainly the most popular time to go. If you want less crowds but your best chances, fall may be a good time to book your fishing trip. When you’re going fishing in Colorado, you want to make sure that you are not going to a waterway that has been overfished, as fishing has become more popular in the state in recent years. Always do your research before hand—such as using the list below!—to make sure that the waters will be full. You may want to avoid very popular waterways in order to increase your chances of catching the big one.
The cold mountain waters flow through streams into clear lakes and rivers where large trout and bass are waiting to be hooked onto your line. No matter if you want to fish from a boat or from the shore, you will have plenty of successes fishing in Colorado!
Types of Fish you can Fish for
The official state fish of Colorado is the cutthroat trout. With a crimson marking on either side of the trout and down its jaw, these fish are easy to identify and it is the only native trout to Colorado! But there are many other species in the state as well, including rainbow, brown, lake, and brook, which helps make trout the most popular fish for being to go fishing for when they come to Colorado. And even though many people consider Colorado to be the best place for trout fishing, there is so many other types of fish across rivers and lakes in Colorado.
Colorado hatcheries produce many walleye fish. So much so, that walleyes are often traded with other states for different stocking fish since Colorado is the leader in walleye farming. These fish are produced in a manner that make them the perfect size to geta good dinner off of, and many lakes have them swimming about. Walleyes are very easy to catch from the shorelines, particularly in the spring.
And of course, there is bass! The most popular sportfish in the United States, these are the third most popular fish in Colorado, behind trout and walleye. Bass is so populous across the state, that you can simply walk down to your local pond and easily catch bass right from the shore. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has recently started to manage the largemouth bass population, in order to make sure there are plenty of options in the waters for anglers in the years to come.
Best Fishing Spots in Colorado
Fishing is a year round activity in Colorado. No matter where you fish in Colorado, you will have to purchase a fishing license, that is valid from April 1st to March 31st. Daily licenses are also available if you are only planning on trying these waters out once. Although, you will quickly realize that this is definitely the place you need to be to catch some big ones!
Gunnison County
This county is home to the Taylor Reservoir, Blue Mesa Lake, and the rivers Gunnison, East, and Taylor. You will have no shortage of fish in the hundreds of miles of jaw-droppingly beautiful waterways. Thousands of fish are released every year from the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery, which makes these waters a top place for anglers around the country to come to. Garrison County holds record for the largest rainbow, brown, and lake trout, and you can also go from salmon!
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Not only will you have some amazing views as you’re fishing, but you will be fishing in some of the best waters in Colorado. The best time to fish here is during the warming summer month of June. Fishers come here for belly boating, trolling, and fly fishing. Many trophy trout, salmon, and walleyes have been caught in these waters.
Animas River
This river was named by the Spanish explorer Juan Rivera, with the full name El Rio de las Animas Perdida en Purgatorio meaning the river of lost souls in hell. But don’t think that this is going to be a bad day on the water—the Animas River is known for be stunningly beautiful. A wide river, the best access point is from the city of Durango.
Glenwood Springs
Glenwood Springs is one of the top places in the United States to go fly fishing. With two rivers—the Roaring Fork and the Colorado—you can go fishing year round, although those that know this area well love coming during the winter months. But don’t worry, the spring and fall also have great fishing too!
Rio Grande River
This windy river starts in southwest Colorado in the San Juan Mountains and ends all the way down in the Gulf of Mexico. The best fishing spots are between South Fork and Del Norte, where you will be able to catch the biggest fish. The best time of year to come to the Rio Grande River is from June to July, when the fish are hatching at quick rates.
South Platte River
The South Platte Rivers starts in South Park and ends in Denver. The best part of the river to fish is from the Spinney Mountain Area meadows to the Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir. The best time of year to come here is during the spring migration. If you are staying in Denver, this is one of the best rivers to go to if you want to get some fishing in after exploring the city for a while! This is also a great river to go to if you are traveling with a large group of people.
Lake City
You can go fishing year round in Lake City. The best time of year to go is during the summer months, when the warmer temperatures bring out the trout across the streams and lakes that flow through Lake City. This is a great time of year to bring children who want to try their luck at reeling in smaller trout. During the springtime, fly fishers will enjoy an abundance of trout in the lake in deeper waters, since the fish are still hiding from the cold above. As the temperature warms up in May, you can find 10-to-30-pound mackinaw and lake trout closer to the shores. In the fall, you will be able to find larger trout when the streams have a low tide and crystal clear waters. And during the winter, many will come to Lake City to try their hand at ice fishing.
Gore Creek
This is a smaller stream but don’t be confused—there are a ton of large trout just waiting in here to be caught. The Gore Creek is known to be one of the best fishing spots in all of Colorado. You will find many different trout species—rainbow, brown, brooks, cutthroat, and brooks. You can try your luck in any spot along the creek, as it heads to Eagle River. You will notice that the Upper Gore Creek and the Lower Gore Creek are the most popular spots to cast out for the day.
Fryingpan River
The Fryingpan River has international fame for fly fishing and fishing by lure. Colorado Parks and Wildlife fills this river, so you will be able to easily catch decent sized trout when you come here. Between Ruedi Reservoir and the Roaring Fork River, you will have your best chances for fish. This section of the Fryingpan River is known for being clear and full of fish. And the best part—there is amazing mountain views surrounding the river that you can be amazed at all day.
North Platte River
A legendary fishing spot in Colorado, the North Platte River begins in the North Park meadows and flows upwards to Wyoming. Some parts of this river can only be accessed by kayak or raft, which makes your time fishing even more adventurous. You will catch some of the most impressive trout in this river.
Meeker
Located in the White River Valley, there are tons of public and private fishing spots where you can go fishing for rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout, as well as whitefish. If you want to try fishing in the private lands, you can pay a small fee and access these waters. These fees are used by the owners for conservation efforts of both the lands and the fishing populations. Many owners invest in fish habitats and spawning beds. The public lands are fed by cool mountain water, where you can catch some of the biggest trout the state has to offer.
Fishing in Colorado is a lot of fun for both serious anglers and those trying for the first time, and the trout fishing is great for children! With stunning views all around you and you reel in the big ones, you will absolutely make yearly returns to the Colorado waters and continue to make countless memories as you do!
