Colorado’s Quality Waters — Something for Everyone
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited to announce a new category of fishable waters that our talented team of fish management biologists has identified and nominated based on their fish sampling records, creel surveys, and professional biological assessments. The list is called Colorado Quality Waters.
CPW’s List of Quality Waters includes lakes and streams that contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species. View a list of featured waters below, and we encourage anglers to use the Colorado Quality Waters map to plan a trip to hook into their next big fish!
Featured Colorado Quality Waters
- St. Vrain’s Ponds
- Lake Granby
- Taylor Park Reservoir
- Lake Fork of the Gunnison
- South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon
- Frantz Lake
- North Fork of the Cache la Poudre
Colorado Fishing Licenses
Annual fishing licenses are valid March 1 through March 31 (13 months). Annual licenses go on sale March 1 each year. Youth aged 15 and under fish for free. Don’t forget to get your fishing license for the upcoming season!
Qualifying License Options for Colorado Residents who Hunt and Fish
All applicants must first purchase (online, by phone or in person at sales agents) or hold a qualifying hunting license for the current license year before applying for either the primary or secondary draws. Hunters who wish to purchase a leftover limited or over-the-counter license do not need to have a qualifying license. Draw applications will not be accessible until you purchase your qualifying license. Licenses must be valid for the current 2026 license year. A 2026 Habitat Stamp will be automatically added when purchasing your qualifying license, if applicable. For more information, see page 4 of the Colorado Big Game Hunting Brochure.
License Options
| Resident License | Fee |
| Small game/fishing combo | $64.02 |
| Senior small game/fishing combo | $38.03 |
| Annual small-game license for resident senior lifetime fishing license holders (Senior Columbine or Centennial lifetime fishing license holders only) | $27.82 |
| Veteran lifetime combo small game/fishing (50% disabled or Purple Heart recipient) | free |
| First responder lifetime combo small game/fishing (permanent occupational disability) | free |
Volunteer Opportunities
Has fishing enriched your life and you would like to introduce others to the joys of fishing?
Meet Eeland Stribling.
Eeland is a fly fishing guide, environmental educator, and cookie nerd with around 12 years of fly fishing experience. His passion for pursuing fish, learning about their behaviors, understanding the ecology of their habitats, and working to protect them has been a lifelong commitment. Volunteering is a great fit for Eeland.
Growing up with a grandfather who was a wildlife biologist, Eeland developed a deep understanding and love for nature, and he hopes to share this passion in the same way his grandparents introduced it to him. He aims to ensure that everyone has access to nature while providing a friendly face for those who may feel intimidated about where to start. Eeland believes that when you volunteer, you become the welcoming smile people associate with acquiring new skills or exploring new hobbies.
If you’re like Eeland and you’re looking for a way to positively impact other people and our environment, Colorado Parks and Wildlife would love your help. Visit CPW Connect and sign up to volunteer today!
Visit a Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fish Hatchery
Since 1881, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) fish hatcheries have been dedicated to improving Colorado’s fish populations. Currently, CPW operates 19 fish hatcheries, where over 90 million fish per year are bred, hatched, reared and stocked. This includes over 30 different species of fish as well as the boreal toad.
Some hatchery fish enhance angling opportunities, which is an important part of the state’s economy, contributing $1.9 billion per year. Others are critical to native species recovery efforts. Hatcheries that hold and spawn domesticated fish are called ”brood units.” The hatcheries that hatch eggs and raise fish that come from other units are called “rearing units.”
Most hatcheries welcome visitors. Some hatcheries offer self-guided tours, while others may have tour guides available during certain times of the year. Call ahead to find out what is offered at the hatchery you will be visiting. To enhance your experience, educational materials are available at all hatcheries.
Thank You!
Thank you for your support! Your license purchase helps support a diversity of recreational fishing opportunities in Colorado’s rivers, streams and lakes, while also providing for the needs of native, non-game aquatic species.
