Fishing in Bent County, Colorado
Seat: Las Animas. CPW Southeast Region.
- 5lake pages
- 9ramp sites
- 10access points
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of John Martin Reservoir: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Getting to know the water of Bent County
Anglers in Bent County deal with the CPW Southeast Region; local government works out of Las Animas. About 28.2 square miles of water sit inside its borders, next to 1,513 square miles of land and 5,650 residents (2020).
Lake pages here: 5, adding up to 18,748 acres, with John Martin Reservoir the largest sheet of water. Boaters have 9 ramp sites CPW-mapped ramp sites in the county. Fishing Atlas coverage: 10 locations in the county, 8 accessible ones.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer land and water area; CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, ramps and fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Ramps, lakes and streams of Bent County on one map
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas locations; lake pins are CPW waterbody points, stream pins the midpoint of the CPW reach. Checked October 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Ponds and reservoirs across Bent County
| Lake | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Martin Reservoir | 11,712 | 3,853 | gas motors, trout stocked | black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill |
| Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water) | 4,782 | |||
| Horse Creek Reservoir, Otero County | 2,174 | |||
| Hasty Lake | 60 | 3,759 | no motors, trout stocked | bluegill, channel catfish, crappie |
| Dawn Pond | 20 | 3,950 | electric motors only | black bullhead, bluegill, channel catfish |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbody outlines (acres from the outline), elevation and boating notes; species from CPW Boatable Waters. Retrieved October 2026.
Additional still water in Bent County
Another 2 named lakes and ponds sit in Bent County without a page of their own.
| Water | Acres | Elevation ft | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| G W Verhoeff Reservoir | 68 | McClave | |
| Las Animas Pond | 2 | 3,891 | Las Animas |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, retrieved October 2026.
Creeks and forks across Bent County
Stream gauges in Bent County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River At Las Animas, Co. | 105 cfs, 7.67 ft gage height | Nov 11 5:45 pm |
| Purgatoire River Near Las Animas, Co | 53 cfs, 2.88 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:15 pm |
| Arkansas River Below John Martin Reservoir, Co. | 3 cfs, 0.76 ft gage height | Nov 11 6:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 6:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
CPW special-regulation, Gold Medal and Quality Waters stream layers (miles from CPW line geometry); USGS gauges. Retrieved October 2026.
Storage gauges across Bent County
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Arf Farm 201 Recharge Facility Pond 3 (station 6704823D), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Arf Farm 201 Recharge Facility Pond 4 (station 6704823E), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Arf Farm 201 Recharge Facility Pond 6East (station 6704823G), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Arf Farm 205 East Combined Pond (station 6704824C), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Boat access in Bent County
- CR Road 19 Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- East Boat Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, boat ramp, CPW
- East Ramp #1 on Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water)Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- East Ramp #2 on Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water)Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- East Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, boat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
- West Bost Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, boat ramp, CPW
- West Ramp #1 on Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water)Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- West Ramp #2 on Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water)Adobe Creek Reservoir (Low Water), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- West Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, boat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
Bank access mapped in Bent County (10)
- Dawn Pond fishing access near Las AnimasDawn Pond, easy access, stocked: warmwater, 3,950 ft
- Fishing AreaHasty Lake, fishing access
- Fishing PierHasty Lake, fishing access
- Fishing fishing access near Hasty, John Martin Reservoir State ParkJohn Martin Reservoir, fishing access
- Fishing fishing access near Hasty, John Martin Reservoir State Park 2John Martin Reservoir, fishing access
- Fishing fishing access near Hasty, John Martin Reservoir State Park 3John Martin Reservoir, fishing access
- Hasty Lake fishing access near HastyHasty Lake, accessible fishing area
- John Martin Reservoir fishing access near HastyJohn Martin Reservoir, easy access, stocked: warmwater, 3,853 ft
- Las Animas Pond fishing access near Las Animas, Leonard Hudnall ParkLas Animas Pond, accessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 3,891 ft
- Las Animas Pond fishing access near Las Animas, Leonard Hudnall Park 2Las Animas Pond, accessible fishing area
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers (ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu), retrieved October 2026.
What CPW stocks in Bent County, and the records
The CPW stocking report lists 2 waters in Bent County, 5 weekly listings since 2024.
Trout report listings for Bent County
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| John Martin Reservoir | 1 | 2026: 1 | June 12, 2026 |
| Hasty Lake | 4 | 2026: 2, 2025: 2 | April 10, 2026 |
State records from Bent County
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flathead Catfish | 33-13.6 (lbs.-ozs.) | John Martin Res. | 2023 |
| Striped Bass | 29-5.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Arkansas River | 2017 |
| Saugeye | 10-14.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | John Martin Res. | 2001 |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout, about 10 inches; each listing is a week the water appeared on the report, 2024 to October 2026); CPW publishes no numbers or sizes per water. Retrieved October 2026. State records from the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
Special regulations in Bent County
Colorado waters stay open year round; in Bent County the Arkansas and South Republican drainage limits apply except where a special regulation steps in.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
Bent County exceptions to the statewide chart (3)
| Water and section | Rules | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) | Trot-lines and jugs permitted. | p. 11 |
| Horse Creek Reservoir (Timber Lake) | Trot-lines and jugs permitted. | p. 25 |
| John Martin Reservoir | Trot-lines and jugs permitted. | p. 26 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Bait counters and fly shops in Bent County
Gear stores serving Bent County anglers
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Hasty
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA Office of Outfitters Registration roster (active business registrations with a fishing word in the name, placed by business city). Retrieved October 2026.
Around Bent County on the map
Where people stay in Bent County
- Las Animaspop. 2,300
Past the Bent County line
- Otero County35 miles west
- Kiowa County36 miles northeast
- Prowers County37 miles east
- Crowley County46 miles northwest
Piscifun gear to pack for Bent County
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species photos for anglers bound for Bent County
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Colorado anglers ask this about Bent County
What boat launching is there in Bent County?
The CPW ramp layer shows 9 ramp sites, all listed above.
Which Bent County lake should a first-timer try?
John Martin Reservoir, about 11,712 acres by its CPW outline.
Can I fish a Gold Medal reach in Bent County?
No Gold Medal miles are mapped in the county.
Is night fishing legal on Bent County water?
Statewide rules keep water open year round; only special regulations close a water.
Does any Bent County storefront carry fishing tackle?
The county list has 1, including The Tackle Box.
Do any outfitters on the state roster work from Bent County?
No registered guide business is based in the county.
Under which CPW region does Bent County fall?
CPW Southeast Region.
Which community serves as seat for Bent County?
Las Animas.
Is a second-rod stamp worth buying for Bent County?
Anglers 16 and over carry a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, $12.96 for resident seniors. A single day of fishing costs $18.07 with residency and $21.90 without. The second-rod stamp costs $14.24 for anyone fishing two lines.
Are there flies-and-lures waters in Bent County?
The brochure prints 3 special regulation entries for the county, starting with Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake); all are in the regulations table above.
Which Bent County lake is stocked most often?
Yes; 2 Bent County waters appeared on the catchable trout report since 2024, 5 times in all.
Plan a day in Bent County
Every lake page lists species, ramps and limits.