Fishing at Colorado State Parks

Tie your flies, sharpen your hooks and organize your lures—get ready to catch some fish at Colorado State Parks. With fishing available at 38 of our 42 parks, it is one of the most popular activities. From shore, by boat, or on top of the ice, fishing and ice fishing are great pastimes for all ages! In fact, many state park waters hold records for the largest catches in Colorado. 

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has named 11 state park waters as fishing ‘hot spots,’ so grab your fishing gear and valid license and head out to a State Park today!

Fishing hot spots include:

• Eleven Mile State Park: Known for great catches of pike, rainbow trout, brown trout and carp, Eleven Mile is the place to be for great fishing. Bring your boat out during the summer months to make a great catch, or join us on the ice in the winter for exciting ice fishing. Feeling more competitive? 11 Mile Marina hosts year-round fishing tournaments. Visit the Parks Calendar for more tournament information.

• Spinney Mountain State Park:  Nestled in prime fishing country, Spinney Mountain offers World class Gold Medal trout fishing.  Open seasonally, Spinney Mountain is a great place to beat the heat in the summer and make your big catch!

• Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area: The AHRA offers something for every type of angler. Whether you love to fish on land or prefer to cast a line from the river, Arkansas Headwaters is the place for you. Various access points provide prime fishing locations, as well as great picnic areas for family fishing outings.

• Lake Pueblo State Park: Filled with walleyes, saugeyes, and various types of bass, Lake Pueblo offers relaxing fishing year-round.  There is always a fishing spot available with over 60 miles of shoreline open, and 4500 surface acres of water to fish!

• Chatfield State Park: A great fishing getaway that is close to the Denver area, Chatfield is always full of trout, bass, walleye, catfish, and crappie, and carp.  The colder months provide great fishing opportunities as the lake freezes over, and the trout move from the depths to the shallow waters.

• Rifle Gap State Park: Surrounded by beautiful Rocky Mountain scenery, Rifle Gap is one of the premier places to ice fish in Colorado. Rainbow, German brown trout, yellow perch, walleye, pike and bass are caught by anglers year round.

• Stagecoach State Park: Record-breaking pike makes this state park a renowned fishing spot in Colorado. Ice fishing is a popular activity as the snow falls and the lake freezes. While the park is quieter in the winter months, Stagecoach is an ideal and serene ice fishing location.

Remember Your License
A valid fishing license is required year round for all anglers ages 16 and up. Click here to learn about the fees, regulations and to find a licensing agent near you.  

Park Pass & Reservations
A valid daily or annual pass is required for entrance at all state parks. Annual passes are a great value allowing entrance to all 42 state parks - and 38 with fishable waters - for a full 12 months! Extend your fishing excursion by reserving a campsite, cabin or yurt online or by calling 303-470-1144 (in Denver) or 1-800-678-2267.

More on Fishing
Find additional fishing opportunities by visiting our Park Search page. Click on the Activities tab and search either “fishing” or “ice fishing.”