Colorado Porch

Tag

fishing

64 Porch Notes tagged “fishing,” from counties across Colorado.

Outdoors and wildfire - Bent County

John Martin Reservoir is a state park and a flood-control dam at the same time

John Martin Reservoir in Bent County is a federal flood-control and irrigation reservoir on the Arkansas River that is also a Colorado state park for fishing, boating, and birding.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Logan County

North Sterling is an irrigation reservoir that doubles as a state park

North Sterling State Park sits on a working irrigation reservoir northwest of Sterling, so its water level and boating season follow rules you should know before you go.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Lake County

The Arkansas River starts in Lake County and is Gold Medal water

The Arkansas River begins near Leadville and flows into the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, a long stretch of Colorado Gold Medal trout water co-managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Boulder County

The Boulder Creek Path is the town's front porch on the water

A 5.5-mile creekside path threads downtown Boulder, the library, and city parks, carrying commuters, tubers, and anglers from the canyon mouth out past 55th Street.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Grand County

Around Granby and the Fraser, the fishing rules change water by water

Grand County has many rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, and the fishing rules can differ from one stretch of water to the next.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Custer County

DeWeese Reservoir near Westcliffe is a favorite Wet Mountain Valley fishing spot

DeWeese Reservoir is a beloved Custer County fishing and wildlife-watching spot near Westcliffe, managed as a State Wildlife Area where one easy thing to grab before you go is a license or SWA pass.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Summit County

Fishing rules on the Blue River change from one stretch to the next

The Blue River runs the length of Summit County and carries special fishing rules and quality-water designations that differ by segment, so the regulation for your exact spot is what counts.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Mineral County

Fishing the upper Rio Grande near Creede follows the water's own rules

The upper Rio Grande through Mineral County is a well-known trout fishery, but rules and access change by river segment, so check the regulations for the stretch you plan to fish.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jefferson County

Golden Gate Canyon State Park sits in the hills northwest of Golden

Golden Gate Canyon State Park, northwest of Golden, offers camping, cabins, fishing ponds, and trails, and a state-park pass or day pass is required to enter.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Lincoln County

Hugo State Wildlife Area is for hunting and fishing, not a city park

The Hugo State Wildlife Area south of Hugo is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and visitors 16 or older need a license or a pass to be there.

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Water and land - Huerfano County

Lathrop State Park near Walsenburg has two very different lakes

Lathrop State Park west of Walsenburg holds two lakes, Martin and Horseshoe, that follow different rules for boating and angling.

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Water and land - Montezuma County

McPhee Reservoir is the county's big boating and fishing lake

North of Cortez, McPhee Reservoir offers boat ramps and fishing, and any trailered or motorized boat must pass an aquatic-nuisance-species inspection before it launches.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Washington County

Prewitt Reservoir is a State Wildlife Area, not a state park

Prewitt Reservoir on the Washington County line is a State Wildlife Area, so most visitors age 16 and up need a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass to be there.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Kiowa County

Queens State Wildlife Area near Eads is for hunting and fishing, with its own pass rules

Queens State Wildlife Area and its Great Plains reservoirs in Kiowa County are managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and visitors generally need a license or a State Wildlife Area pass.

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Water and land - Gunnison County

The Gunnison River through Black Canyon has special fishing rules

The Gunnison River through Black Canyon is Gold Medal and Wild Trout water with flies-or-lures-only rules, catch-and-release for rainbow trout, and a no-fishing zone in the first 200 yards below Crystal Dam.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Clear Creek County

Fishing rules in Clear Creek country change by the water

Fishing along Clear Creek and nearby state wildlife areas follows state rules that can differ by stretch of water, so it pays to check before you cast.

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Water and land - Eagle County

On the Eagle River, the fishing rules change from one stretch to the next

The Eagle River is a productive trout fishery on Colorado's Quality Waters list, but limits and rules differ by river segment, so anglers should read the regulations for the exact stretch they fish.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Baca County

Two Buttes is a State Wildlife Area, not a state park

Two Buttes Reservoir near Baca County is a Colorado State Wildlife Area, which means access depends on a license or pass and conditions can change with the water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Archuleta County

Williams Creek Reservoir is a wildlife area, not a state park

Williams Creek Reservoir, reached up the Piedra Road country north of Pagosa Springs, sits just across the line in Hinsdale County and is a State Wildlife Area, so access follows hunting and fishing rules rather than state park rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Prowers County

A State Wildlife Area in Prowers County is not the same as a park

State Wildlife Areas in Prowers County have their own access rules and generally require a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass to enter.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Hinsdale County

Fishing rules around Lake City change from one water to the next

The Lake Fork of the Gunnison, Lake San Cristobal, and the small creeks near Lake City can each carry their own fishing rules, so check by water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - San Miguel County

Fishing rules differ by water: Trout Lake, Woods Lake, and the San Miguel River

San Miguel County's named waters — Trout Lake, Woods Lake, and the San Miguel River — each carry their own fishing rules, and statewide native trout conservation means rules can change.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Alamosa County

Fishing the Rio Grande: the rules change by stretch

The Rio Grande running through the San Luis Valley is a well-known trout fishery, but the bag limits, gear rules, and which fish you keep depend on the specific stretch you are standing on.

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Water and land - Custer County

Grape Creek below DeWeese carries a trout fishery into a rugged canyon

Grape Creek flows out of DeWeese Reservoir and supports brown and rainbow trout as it runs through remote canyon country, where fishing rules can differ by stretch.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Eagle County

Sylvan Lake State Park is up Brush Creek Road, with limits on motors

Sylvan Lake State Park sits south of the town of Eagle up Brush Creek Road, with year-round trout fishing and a lake limited to non-motorized boats and small electric trolling motors.

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Water and land - Gunnison County

Taylor Park Reservoir and the Taylor River below it

Taylor Park Reservoir is a Forest Service reservoir in the upper Taylor River basin, and the Taylor River below the dam is a designated Gold Medal trout fishery.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Dolores County

Forest, state wildlife areas, and a pass: knowing whose land you're on near Dolores County

The high country of eastern Dolores County is national forest, with some lakes and reservoirs that are state wildlife areas needing a simple access pass or license.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Logan County

Prewitt and Jumbo are wildlife areas, not parks — access works differently

Logan County's State Wildlife Areas like Prewitt and Jumbo reservoirs are managed for hunting and fishing, so visitors 16 and older generally need a hunting or fishing license or a Colorado SWA Pass.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Delta County

The Grand Mesa above Cedaredge holds hundreds of small fishing lakes

The Grand Mesa rises north of Cedaredge in Delta County and is dotted with hundreds of small stream-fed lakes stocked with trout, reached by forest roads off Highway 65.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County

Aurora Reservoir trades pavement for a swim beach and a dive flag

Aurora Reservoir is a City of Aurora lake on the metro's east edge with a lifeguarded summer swim beach, its own SCUBA dive area, an 8-mile loop trail, an archery range, and fishing that has produced four Colorado state records.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Sedgwick County

Jumbo Reservoir near Julesburg is a State Wildlife Area, not a park

The plains reservoir west of Julesburg, near Crook, is managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as a State Wildlife Area, which carries its own access and pass rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Arapahoe County

Quincy Reservoir is a quiet, flies-and-lures-only fishing lake

Quincy Reservoir in Arapahoe County is a small City of Aurora lake managed for quality fishing, where only artificial flies and lures are allowed and gas motors are not.

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Water and land - Routt County

The Yampa River runs a trout fishery and a tubing run straight through downtown Steamboat

The Yampa is a designated trout fishery and a wildly popular tube float in the middle of Steamboat Springs, with summer flow-and-temperature closures built into the river's rhythm.

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Water and land - La Plata County

Vallecito Reservoir is a big-fish lake with boat-inspection rules

Vallecito Reservoir northeast of Durango holds trout, walleye, and trophy northern pike, and trailered or motorized boats need a Colorado Parks and Wildlife inspection before launching.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Weld County

Frank SWA marks a small wildlife edge on the Poudre River

Frank State Wildlife Area holds a quiet piece of the Poudre River, with warmwater fishing and wildlife use under site-specific CPW rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Weld County

St. Vrain State Park is a chain of ponds for fishing and birds

St. Vrain State Park in Firestone, in Weld County, is a cluster of ponds known for close-up birding and stocked pond fishing, with camping along the water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Weld County

Brower SWA is a small Weld County wildlife parcel

Brower State Wildlife Area is a small CPW property in Weld County open for hunting, fishing, and camping under current state rules.

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Water and land - Broomfield County

Fishing in Broomfield happens at named ponds, under state rules

Broomfield allows fishing at several named city ponds and reservoirs, with a Colorado fishing license required and state regulations that can differ by water.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Chaffee County

Fishing rules change from one Chaffee County water to the next

Beyond the main Arkansas River, Chaffee County's creeks, high lakes, and the South Arkansas can each carry their own fishing rules, so check the specific water before you cast.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Weld County

Nakagawa SWA adds another rural access point in Weld County

Nakagawa State Wildlife Area is a small CPW-managed Weld County site for hunting, fishing, and camping by its own rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Jackson County

North Park is fishing and hunting country, and the rules change by water and unit

The streams and reservoirs of Jackson County draw anglers and hunters, but fishing and hunting rules vary by water and by game management unit, so check the current ones.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

The Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam runs cold and fast

The tailwater stretch of the Arkansas River just below Pueblo Dam is popular for fishing and tubing, but releases can make it very cold and high, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife sometimes restricts use.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Rio Grande County

The Rio Grande's Gold Medal trout run between South Fork and Del Norte

A long stretch of the Rio Grande between South Fork and Del Norte carries Colorado's Gold Medal designation for trophy trout, fished with flies and lures only.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Prowers County

Two Buttes Reservoir rises and falls with the rain

Two Buttes Reservoir, in the State Wildlife Area south of Lamar, depends on heavy rain to fill, so its water level and fishing can change a lot from year to year.

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Water and land - Routt County

Two North Routt State Parks Under Hahns Peak

Two Colorado state parks sit side by side north of Steamboat Springs, one built for open water and one kept quiet for fishing.

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Water and land - Mineral County

Continental Reservoir is a high lake for boating and trout, with rules at the ramp

Continental Reservoir near Creede has a boat ramp and stocked trout, but motorboats must run wakeless and carry a Colorado registration and aquatic nuisance species stamp, and the lake is usually frozen in winter.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pitkin County

Fishing rules on the Roaring Fork change as you move down the river

The Roaring Fork River carries Gold Medal water and special catch rules that shift by river segment, so the legal way to fish depends on exactly where you stand.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Otero County

John Martin Reservoir is a plains lake with its own rules

John Martin Reservoir, on the Arkansas River east of Otero County, is a state park and a federal reservoir where fishing and access follow posted park and agency rules.

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Water and land - Conejos County

Platoro Reservoir is the county's high mountain lake for fishing and boating

Platoro Reservoir is a high reservoir on the upper Conejos River with a boat ramp and trout fishing, and Colorado boats can face aquatic nuisance species inspection before launching.

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Water and land - Costilla County

Sanchez Reservoir is a warm-water fishing spot, open only for fishing

Sanchez Reservoir State Wildlife Area south of San Luis offers warm-water fishing and a boat ramp, but public access is limited to fishing and needs a license or SWA pass.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Sedgwick County

Sedgwick Bar State Wildlife Area sits right on the South Platte River

This riverside State Wildlife Area in Sedgwick County offers fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing along the South Platte, but it runs on State Wildlife Area rules, not park rules.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Park County

South Park's reservoirs draw anglers, and fishing rules change by water

Park County's South Park reservoirs in the South Platte basin are a well-known fishing destination, and both the rules and access can differ from one water to the next.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Douglas County

The South Platte fishing rules change by stretch of river

The South Platte River corridor in Pike National Forest near Deckers is a noted trout fishery where bag limits and methods change segment by segment under CPW's current fishing regulations.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Adams County

The South Platte runs right through Adams County as an urban river

The South Platte River crosses Adams County as a warmwater urban river with trail and fishing access in places, and fishing rules can change by stretch.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Delta County

Three rivers meet near Delta, and the fishing rules change by water

The Gunnison, Uncompahgre, and North Fork rivers draw anglers to Delta County, but each stretch can have its own rules on species, size, and method.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pitkin County

The Fryingpan below Ruedi Dam is a cold-water trout fishery with its own rules

The Fryingpan River below Ruedi Dam is Gold Medal water famous for big trout, and it carries special flies-and-lures rules you should check before casting.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Pueblo County

Fishing rules on the Arkansas change as you move toward Pueblo

The Arkansas River above Pueblo includes long stretches of Gold Medal water with special rules, and regulations differ by segment, so anglers should check the rules for the exact reach they fish.

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Water and land - San Juan County

Fish San Juan County's high lakes and side creeks, and know the upper Animas

Many tributaries and high lakes around Silverton fish well; the main-stem upper Animas is shaped by old-mine metals, so plan your trout day around the side waters.

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Water and land - Garfield County

Harvey Gap is the quiet, small-boat lake near Silt

Harvey Gap State Park is a smaller, calmer reservoir near Silt where boating is limited to low-horsepower craft, with a swim beach, fishing, and a seasonal boating closure in winter.

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Water and land - Summit County

Green Mountain Reservoir anchors the lower Blue River and its fall kokanee run

Green Mountain Reservoir in northern Summit County is a federal reservoir on the Blue River known for boating and a fall kokanee salmon run that draws anglers.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Teller County

Manitou Lake: fishing yes, swimming no

Manitou Lake north of Woodland Park is a small Pike National Forest reservoir popular for family fishing, but body contact with the water is not allowed and a Colorado fishing license is required.

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Outdoors and wildfire - Mesa County

The Grand Mesa holds hundreds of lakes for fishing and camping

The forested top of the Grand Mesa is dotted with lakes and reservoirs with national-forest campgrounds, where Colorado Parks and Wildlife sets the fishing rules and the Forest Service runs the campsites.

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Water and land - La Plata County

Lemon Reservoir and Haviland Lake are quieter, non-motorized waters

Lemon Reservoir and Haviland Lake north of Durango offer fishing and calm-water paddling without the big-motor crowds, with boating limited mainly to non-motorized or electric craft.

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Water and land - Gilpin County

Fishing the high lakes and creeks above Gilpin County's East Portal

The lakes and streams in the James Peak Wilderness above Gilpin County's East Portal draw hike-in anglers, but fishing them means a license and rules that change by water.

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