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Brook Trout
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0 
Native Cutthroat Trout
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain 
Rainbow Trout
Photo: Zitsman Carl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain 
Splake
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Avery Lake Fishing
A 229-acre Colorado lake in Rio Blanco County at 6,989 feet.
Pick for black crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Harvey Gap Reservoir: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Rio Blanco County
Arriving at Avery Lake: what it is like
About 229 acres of lake water make up Avery Lake, which lies in Rio Blanco County. The water lies at about 6,989 feet of elevation. CPW lists Oak Ridge SWA – Lake Avery Unit as the managing property. Meeker lies about 14 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists black crappie, brook trout, native cutthroat trout, green sunfish, rainbow trout and snake river cutthroat trout for it. The ramp layer shows 2 boat ramps. For boats, CPW lists (gasoline).
229acres
6,989feet elevation
2boat ramps
8species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Species swimming in Avery Lake
The roster for Avery Lake joins the CPW species field with record catches and stocking.
Black crappie Brook trout Native cutthroat trout Green sunfish Rainbow trout Snake river cutthroat trout Splake Trout
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Where trailers back in at Avery Lake
- Oak Ridge SWA on Avery Lake near Meeker (north)boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- Oak Ridge SWA on Avery Lake near Meeker (south)boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
The keep-or-release rules at Avery Lake
| Species | Bag and possession | 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 5, possession 5, 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 |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, 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 | No bag or possession limit | 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Avery Lake lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Avery Lake the chart sets it.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Stocking
When CPW stocked Avery Lake
The stocking report names Avery Lake 1 listing, latest June 13, 2024.
1listings in 2024
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Colorado stocking.
Compare
Avery Lake and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avery Lake | 229 | 6,989 | 2 | yes | |
| Sleepycat Ponds | 4 miles southwest | 3 | 6,758 | 0 | yes |
| Meadow Lake | 13 miles southeast | 60 | 9,544 | 1 | |
| Lake Of The Woods | 21 miles east | 16 | 9,015 | 0 | |
| Trappers Lake | 22 miles east | 323 | 9,632 | 0 | |
| Heart Lake, Garfield County | 22 miles southeast | 315 | 10,713 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Neighbors of Avery Lake
Colorado lakes in the Avery Lake neighborhood
- Sleepycat Ponds4 miles southwest
- Meadow Lake13 miles southeast
- Lake Of The Woods21 miles east
- Trappers Lake22 miles east
- Heart Lake, Garfield County22 miles southeast
Fly shops and bait stores around Avery Lake
- James Creek Outfitterssporting goods store, Meeker, 19 miles
Paid guides within reach of Avery Lake
- Harcourt Fly Fishing 3G LLCfly fishing guide, New Castle, (970) 404-1339
Communities within reach of Avery Lake
- Meeker14 miles
- New Castle28 miles
- Silt30 miles
Avery Lake and the counties around it
- Rio Blanco Countyseat: Meeker
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for days on Avery Lake
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Know your fish
A photo lineup of the fish at Avery Lake
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
_1.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: Zitsman Carl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Answers
Avery Lake, question by question
How do I find Avery Lake on a Colorado map?
Head for Rio Blanco County, CPW Northwest Region, about 14 miles from Meeker.
How large a reservoir or lake is Avery Lake?
Some 229 acres, at about 6,989 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Avery Lake?
CPW maps 2 boat ramps, among them Oak Ridge SWA on Avery Lake near Meeker (south).
What is on the fish list at Avery Lake?
black crappie, brook trout, native cutthroat trout, green sunfish, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and splake, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Avery Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Which CPW license do I buy for Avery Lake?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
Is Avery Lake on the trout stocking report?
1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2024); latest June 13, 2024.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Avery Lake?
James Creek Outfitters sits about 19 miles from the water.
Aim the truck at Avery Lake this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.