Fishing - Colorado Outdoors Online

Featured Fishing Video

Featured Fishing Posts

CPW staff release lake trout back into Lake Granby

Fishing Access and Opportunity: Colorado Quality Waters

Joey Livingston

Colorado Parks and Wildlife announces Colorado Quality Waters designation for 53 of the states most productive and quality fisheries

Ray Chen is an avid fly fisherman who loves Euro nymphing, short for European nymphing, where the angler drifts weighted flies below the water’s surface without a strike indicator or dry fly to tell them if there’s a hit. Chen rediscovered his love of fishing after taking a fishing clinic from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, where he’s now a volunteer with the agency’s Angler Outreach program.

Finding the Time, When There’s Time

Forrest Czarnecki

Volunteering with CPW’s Angler Outreach program fits into Ray Chen’s calendar with plenty of flexibility and fish!

Videos

Play

Latest

CPW staff holding larger trout at Lake John

Colorado Quality Waters: Lake John State Wildlife Area (SWA)

After more than a decade of work, Mark Sandersen has developed a deep understanding of northern Colorado’s lakes and streams as an aquatic biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Ryan Jones

Warmer weather, cold waters: CPW shares spring boating safety reminders

Although outdoor temperatures are warm, the water beneath is still very cold, so we encourage you to layer up and put on your life jacket before launching your boat.

Bridget O'Rourke

YY brook trout make a splash in Bobtail and Steelman creeks just one year after release

With fish secured in their backpacks, a group of over 40 crew members set off to take this year’s fish to their new home

Rachael Gonzales

Ryan and Elisa Gleason fishing Colorado's Quality Waters

Fishing Colorado: Gold Medal & Quality Waters Programs

Colorado is famous for its wide variety of world-class fisheries. To help anglers make the most of these abundant waters, Colorado Parks and Wildlife organizes the state’s top fishing destinations into two categories: Gold Medal and Quality Waters. This video provides an overview of both programs, which includes both warm and cold-water fisheries.

Doug Skinner

Colorado Quality Waters: North Fork of the Cache la Poudre

Fishing pressure is high and trout are highly educated, but the stretch supports strong trout densities, including quality fish measuring 14 inches and greater. In addition to great fishing opportunities, Gateway Natural Area offers hiking trails, picnic areas, paddling access, and other family-friendly amenities.

Ryan Jones

Colorado Quality Waters: Frantz Lake

Frantz Lake State Wildlife Area is located in Salida, Colorado. The lake offers a fantastic fishing experience with an ADA-accessible fishing pier.

Doug Skinner

Colorado Quality Waters: South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon

Elisa Gleason explains why the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon has become one of her favorite fishing destinations. Gleason, who also hopes to inspire other women to get involved in the sport, shares how fly fishing went from hobby to an obsession. She also shares some tips for fishing this technical water where trout can be selective.

Jerry L. Neal

(Aquatic biologists conduct a “throw-troding” electrofishing survey on the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. The technique allows crews to sample fish in deeper and more complex sections of water that are difficult to reach with traditional electrofishing.

Colorado Quality Waters: Lake Fork of the Gunnison

This section of the Lake Fork reflects decades of collaborative conservation, including habitat improvements funded by the Bureau of Reclamation and implemented CPW.

Ryan Jones

Finding the Time, When There’s Time

Volunteering with CPW’s Angler Outreach program fits into Ray Chen’s calendar with plenty of flexibility and fish!

Forrest Czarnecki

Colorado Outdoors Magazine

2026 Annual State Parks Issue

The annual state park issue is full of recreation ideas: Bird watch at Barr Lake, go into the backcountry at State Forest, experience whitewater thrills at Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, discover the hidden history of Mancos, and so much more!

Purchase your copy!

$ 13 Year

One-year subscription
Annual Hunting Guide
Annual Fishing Guide