Fishing in Pueblo County, Colorado
Seat: Pueblo. CPW Southeast Region.
- 12lake pages
- 2ramp sites
- 2stream pages
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Fishing Pueblo County, the overview
CPW counts Pueblo County among the counties of its Southeast Region, and the courthouse sits in Pueblo. The 2020 count was 168,162 people; the Census Gazetteer lists 2,387 square miles of land and 11.2 of water. CPW rates Arkansas River as Gold Medal water (108.4 mi of stream).
Of the 12 lake pages in the county, Pueblo Reservoir spreads widest, and together they hold 3,642 acres. The highest lake page sits at 8,479 feet (San Isabel Lake), so ice and snowmelt shape the season. The ramp list for the county counts 2 ramp sites. CPW maps 28 places to fish from land here, 19 with accessible piers or platforms. Ice fishing is listed for 1 lake with pages here.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer land and water area; CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, ramps and fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
The Pueblo County angling 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.
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| Lake | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo Reservoir | 3,363 | 4,825 | gas motors, trout stocked | black crappie, blue catfish, bluegill |
| Minnequa Lake #1 | 89 | 4,798 | no boats | |
| Beckwith Reservoir | 54 | 6,081 | electric motors only, trout stocked | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| San Isabel Lake | 36 | 8,479 | ice fishing, no motors, trout stocked | brown trout, cutbow, kokanee salmon |
| Runyon Lake | 34 | 4,642 | no motors, trout stocked | black bullhead, black crappie, bluegill |
| Valco Pond #1 | 20 | 4,724 | float tubes | |
| Valco Pond #3 | 15 | 4,724 | float tubes | |
| Valco Pond #4 | 9 | 4,719 | no boats | |
| Valco Pond #2 | 7 | 4,725 | float tubes | |
| Fountain Lake | 7 | 4,640 | no motors, trout stocked | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Anticline Lake | 6 | 4,742 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Pueblo West Pond | 3 | 5,134 | no boats, trout stocked |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbody outlines (acres from the outline), elevation and boating notes; species from CPW Boatable Waters. Retrieved October 2026.
Lesser reservoirs of Pueblo County
This table holds 12 named waters of Pueblo County that lack enough facts for their own page.
| Water | Acres | Elevation ft | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Evraz #3 | 539 | Salt Creek | |
| Evraz #2 | 258 | Salt Creek | |
| Huerfano Lake | 253 | Avondale | |
| Chicosa Reservoir Number 5 | 151 | Boone | |
| Dotson and Enlargement Reservoir | 130 | Boone | |
| Hungerford Lake | 108 | Fowler | |
| Red Top Reservoir | 100 | Fowler | |
| Teller Reservoir | 96 | Pueblo West | |
| Dry Lake | 89 | Fowler | |
| Stauder Reservoir | 88 | Fowler | |
| Valco Pond #5 | 8 | Pueblo | |
| Pueblo City Park Lake | 2 | 4,757 | Pueblo |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, retrieved October 2026.
Stream pages for Pueblo County
- Arkansas Riverriver, Gold Medal 108.4 mi; 2 reaches with special rules (12.3 mi); 43 public access properties; on the stocking report
- Graneros Creekstream, 1 reach with special rules (4.5 mi)
Cold water inside Pueblo County
Special trout rules apply on 4 streams across Pueblo County, Gold Medal on 1.
Statewide, the Gold Medal waters page lists each reach.
- North Apache Creek1 reach with special rules (3.4 mi), near Rye
- South Apache Creek1 reach with special rules (5.6 mi), near Rye
USGS stations inside Pueblo County
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Arkansas River Near Avondale, Co. | 745 cfs, 3.75 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:15 pm |
| Arkansas River At Moffat Street At Pueblo, Co | 466 cfs, 9.29 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:45 pm |
| Fountain Creek At Pueblo, Co. | 157 cfs | Nov 1 3:00 am Not updated since Nov 1, 2024. |
| Arkansas River Above Pueblo, Co | 107 cfs | Sep 21 1:30 am Not updated since Sep 21, 2006. |
| Fountain Creek At 8th Street At Pueblo, Co | 104 cfs, 7.62 ft gage height | Nov 11 8:30 pm |
| Fountain Creek Near Pinon, Co | 99 cfs, 3.19 ft gage height | Nov 11 9:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Nov 11, 2026 9:33 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.
Water stored behind Pueblo County dams
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Stonewall Springs South Reservoir (station 1403593A), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Lake Minnequa (station LAKMINCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
U.S. Forest Service (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for San Isabel Lake (station LKISBLCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Put-in spots spread across Pueblo County
- Northshore Ramp on Pueblo ReservoirPueblo Reservoir, boat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
- Southshore Ramp on Pueblo ReservoirPueblo Reservoir, boat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
Pueblo County shore and pier access (28)
- Anticline Fishing PondAnticline Lake, fishing access
- Anticline Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Lake Pueblo State ParkAnticline Lake, accessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 4,742 ft
- Anticline Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Lake Pueblo State Park 2Anticline Lake, accessible fishing area
- Arkansas River fishing access near Pueblo West, Lake Pueblo State ParkArkansas River, accessible pier, medium access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 4,742 ft
- Arkansas River fishing access near Pueblo West, Lake Pueblo State Park 2Arkansas River, accessible fishing area
- Beckwith Reservoir fishing access near Colorado CityBeckwith Reservoir, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 6,081 ft
- Fountain Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWAFountain Lake, accessible pier, medium access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 4,640 ft
- Fountain Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA 2Fountain Lake, accessible fishing area
- Fountain Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA 3Fountain Lake, fishing access
- Lake MinnequaMinnequa Lake #1, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 4,798 ft
- Pueblo City Park Lake fishing access near PuebloPueblo City Park Lake, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, 4,757 ft
- Pueblo Reservoir fishing access near Pueblo West, Lake Pueblo State ParkPueblo Reservoir, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 4,825 ft
- Pueblo Reservoir fishing access near Pueblo West, Pueblo Reservoir SWAPueblo Reservoir, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 4,825 ft
- Pueblo West Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Cattail CrossingPueblo West Pond, accessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 5,134 ft
- Pueblo West Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Cattail Crossing 2Pueblo West Pond, accessible fishing area
- Pueblo West Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Cattail Crossing 3Pueblo West Pond, accessible fishing area
- Pueblo West Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Cattail Crossing 4Pueblo West Pond, accessible fishing area
- Pueblo West Pond fishing access near Pueblo West, Cattail Crossing 5Pueblo West Pond, accessible fishing area
- Runyon Lake fishing access near Pueblo, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWARunyon Lake, accessible fishing area
- Runyon Lake fishing access near Pueblo, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA 2Runyon Lake, fishing access
- Runyon Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWARunyon Lake, accessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 4,642 ft
- Runyon Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA 2Runyon Lake, accessible fishing area
- Runyon Lake fishing access near Salt Creek, Runyon/Fountain Lakes SWA 3Runyon Lake, fishing access
- South Fishing fishing access near Pueblo WestPueblo Reservoir, fishing access
- Valco Pond #1 fishing access near PuebloValco Pond #1, medium access, stocked: warmwater, 4,724 ft
- Valco Pond #3 fishing access near PuebloValco Pond #3, medium access, stocked: warmwater, 4,724 ft
- Valco Pond #4 fishing access near PuebloValco Pond #4, medium access, stocked: warmwater, 4,719 ft
- Valco PondsValco Pond #2, medium access, stocked: warmwater, 4,725 ft
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers (ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu), retrieved October 2026.
Records and stocked water of Pueblo County
Pueblo County shows up on the trout report through 8 waters and 120 listings since 2024.
Pueblo County waters on the trout report
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo Reservoir | 8 | 2026: 4, 2025: 2, 2024: 2 | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| San Isabel Lake | 6 | 2026: 4, 2025: 2 | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| Runyon Lake | 28 | 2026: 8, 2025: 10, 2024: 10 | Oct. 9, 2026 |
| Fountain Lake | 20 | 2026: 4, 2025: 9, 2024: 7 | Oct. 9, 2026 |
| Anticline Lake | 21 | 2026: 6, 2025: 9, 2024: 6 | Oct. 9, 2026 |
| Beckwith Reservoir | 4 | 2026: 2, 2025: 1, 2024: 1 | May 8, 2026 |
| Pueblo West Pond | 10 | 2026: 2, 2025: 4, 2024: 4 | May 1, 2026 |
| Arkansas River | 23 | 2026: 4, 2025: 10, 2024: 9 | April 10, 2026 |
Record fish with a Pueblo County address
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Catfish | 33-8.48 (lbs.-ozs.) | Pueblo Res. | 2023 |
| Wiper (hybrid striped bass) | 26-15.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Pueblo Res. | 2004 |
| Spotted Bass | 4-7.9 (lbs.-ozs.) | Valco Ponds | 2005 |
| Blue Catfish | 38.75 in | Pueblo Reservoir | 2025 |
| Channel Catfish | 40.00 in | Pueblo Reservoir | 2025 |
| Common Carp | 36.00 in | Valco Pond #2 | 2025 |
| Flathead Catfish | 36.50 in | Pueblo Reservoir | 2024 |
| Smallmouth Bass | 22.00 in | Valco Ponds | 2024 |
| White Crappie | 15.75 in | Pueblo Reservoir | 2023 |
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).
Local rules across Pueblo County
Start with the Arkansas and South Republican drainage rows below, then check the named Pueblo County waters with special regulations.
| 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 |
Pueblo County waters in the brochure special regulations (6)
| Water and section | Rules | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Within the Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area: | Bag, possession and min. size for walleye and saugeye is 5 in the aggregate, 18 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. | p. 11 |
| From the bridge at Valco Ponds downstream to Pueblo Blvd. (except at Pueblo Nature Center, as posted): | Artificial flies and lures only. Trout longer than 16 inches must be returned to water immediately. | p. 11 |
| From the headwaters downstream to the usfs boundary: | Fishing prohibited. | p. 23 |
| Pueblo Reservoir | Min. size for largemouth, smallmouth, and spotted bass is 15 inches long. Bag, possession, min. size for walleye and saugeye is 5 in the aggregate, 18 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. Bag, possession, min. size for crappie is 10 fish, 10 inches long. Ba | p. 32 |
| Runyon/Fountain Lakes State Wildlife Area | Ice fishing prohibited. | p. 33 |
| Valco Ponds 4 & 5 | Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass must be returned to water immediately. Bag, possession limit for channel catfish is 1. | p. 38 |
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.
Organized fishing in Pueblo County
The calendar holds 1 event for Pueblo County, 0 upcoming.
| Dates | Event | Water | Organizer |
|---|---|---|---|
| April 26, 2026 | Colorado High School State Championship (2026) | Pueblo Reservoir | Student Angler Federation (highschoolfishing.org) |
Organizer, CPW news and event pages (CPW publishes no tournament permit list), checked October 2026.
Fishing help inside Pueblo County
Pueblo County worms, lures and flies
- Blue Heron Flies & Suppliesbait and tackle shop, Pueblo
- The Drift Fly Shopfly shop, Pueblo
- South Shore Marinamarina, Pueblo
- Sportsman's Warehouse Pueblosporting goods store, Pueblo
Pueblo County guide businesses on the DORA roster
- Colorado Adrenaline Fishingfishing guide, Pueblo, (719) 696-1089
- Rogers' Traditions: Faith, Family, Fishing LLCfishing guide, Pueblo West
- Steel City Anglersfishing guide, Pueblo, (719) 778-3059
- River Sister Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Colorado City
- The Drift Fly Shop LLCfly fishing guide, Pueblo, (719) 543-3900
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.
Within a short drive of Pueblo County
Communities of Pueblo County
- Pueblopop. 111,876
- Pueblo Westpop. 33,086
Around the edges of Pueblo County
- Crowley County40 miles east
- Huerfano County42 miles southwest
- Otero County46 miles southeast
- El Paso County46 miles north
Piscifun reels and grips for Pueblo County
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Species photos for anglers bound for Pueblo County
Photo: California Department of Fish and Wildlife from Sacramento, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Hunting in Pueblo County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Pueblo County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Fishing inside Pueblo County: questions and replies
Which ramps serve boaters in Pueblo County?
The access list above names 2 ramp sites.
Which lake leads Pueblo County by surface area?
Pueblo Reservoir, about 3,363 acres by its CPW outline.
Is there Gold Medal trout fishing in Pueblo County?
Yes: Arkansas River (108.4 mi).
When is fishing season in Pueblo County?
All year, day or night, apart from waters with a special closure.
Is a fly shop open in Pueblo County?
Blue Heron Flies & Supplies is one of 4 listed shops.
How many guide businesses list Pueblo County?
The DORA outfitter roster places 5 guide businesses in the county.
Which CPW office handles fish in Pueblo County?
Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Southeast Region.
Which town governs Pueblo County?
Pueblo hosts the county government.
What does CPW charge to fish Pueblo County for a year?
A Colorado license year costs $44.87 for a resident adult and $124.01 for a visitor; seniors living in the state pay $12.96. Out-of-state day trippers pay $21.90; Colorado residents pay $18.07 per day. Adding a second line takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp.
How many listed events use Pueblo County water?
1 event listed, all of them already fished.
Is any lake in Pueblo County under its own rule?
The brochure prints 6 special regulation entries for the county, starting with Within the Pueblo Reservoir State Wildlife Area:; all are in the regulations table above.
Is Pueblo County on the stocking report?
Yes; 8 Pueblo County waters appeared on the catchable trout report since 2024, 120 times in all.
Pick a Pueblo County stream
Lake pages print the stocking report dates.