Barker Reservoir Fishing
A 199-acre Colorado reservoir in Boulder County at 8,187 feet.
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Barker Reservoir at a glance
Barker Reservoir holds around 199 surface acres within Boulder County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 8,187 feet. Access runs through Barker Reservoir Rec. Area. For gas and groceries, Nederland sits under a mile off. It falls inside the Northeast Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for trout, by the CPW list. Boating allowed: None. Reaching it is easy; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The fishery at Barker Reservoir
Every chip for Barker Reservoir comes from a CPW list, a state record or the trout stocking report.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Putting in at Barker Reservoir
Bring a float tube or use a ramp nearby: Barker Reservoir has none mapped.
Walk-up spots at Barker Reservoir
- Barker Reservoir fishing access near Nederlandeasy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 8,187 ft
Other CPW ramps around Barker Reservoir
- Boulder City Reservoir boat rampBoulder City Reservoir, 16 miles northeast
- Arvada Reservoir boat rampArvada Reservoir, 18 miles southeast
- Arapaho Bay Ramp on Lake GranbyLake Granby, 19 miles northwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Bag limits at Barker Reservoir
| 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
CPW splits some limits by drainage, and Barker Reservoir falls east of the Continental Divide. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at Barker Reservoir unless a special rule says otherwise.
The special regulation entry for Barker Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Barker Reservoir | Ice fishing prohibited. Snagging kokanee permitted Oct. 1–Dec. 1. | p. 11 |
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.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Recent trout releases at Barker Reservoir
Catchable trout reached Barker Reservoir often enough to earn 1 listing on the CPW report; the last is June 19, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast 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.
Measuring Barker Reservoir against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barker Reservoir | 199 | 8,187 | 0 | yes | |
| Lost Lake, Boulder County | 7 miles west | 5 | 9,784 | 0 | |
| Gross Reservoir | 7 miles east | 421 | 7,290 | 0 | |
| Left Hand Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 97 | 10,650 | 0 | |
| Red Rock Lake | 8 miles north | 6 | 10,157 | 0 | |
| Diamond Lake Lower | 9 miles west | 14 | 10,945 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near Barker Reservoir
Lakes to pair with Barker Reservoir
- Lost Lake, Boulder County7 miles west
- Gross Reservoir7 miles east
- Left Hand Reservoir8 miles northwest
- Red Rock Lake8 miles north
- Diamond Lake Lower9 miles west
Bait and flies near Barker Reservoir
- Stoney River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Boulder, 11 miles
- Rocky Mountain Anglersfly shop, Boulder, 12 miles
- Front Range Anglersfly shop, Boulder, 13 miles
- Fly shopfly shop, Boulder, 13 miles
- Angler's Productsfly shop, Boulder, 15 miles
- Devil's Thumb Fly Fishing Centerfly shop, Tabernash, 15 miles
Registered outfitters around Barker Reservoir
- Arbor Anglersfishing guide, Lafayette, (303) 562-7202
- Front Range Anglersfishing guide, Boulder, (303) 494-1375
- Flatirons Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Boulder
- Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Longmont
Mountain and plains towns near Barker Reservoir
- Nederlandunder a mile
- Boulder13 miles
- Idaho Springs15 miles
Counties holding part of Barker Reservoir
- Boulder Countyseat: Boulder
What Piscifun makes for Barker Reservoir anglers
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Species photos for anglers bound for Barker Reservoir
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Engbretson, Eric, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: Cliff from Arlington, Virginia, USA, CC BY 2.0
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Planning notes for Barker Reservoir in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for Barker Reservoir?
It lies in Boulder County, CPW Northeast Region, under a mile from Nederland.
How much surface does Barker Reservoir spread across when full?
The outline measures about 199 acres, at about 8,187 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at Barker Reservoir?
No boat ramp appears for it.
Which species does CPW list for Barker Reservoir?
The CPW roster names trout.
How many trout can I keep at Barker Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Special rules for it sit in the table above.
How much is a one-day license for Barker Reservoir?
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.
How often does CPW stock Barker Reservoir?
Yes: 1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026); latest June 19, 2026.
Where do anglers at Barker Reservoir get supplies?
Stoney River Outfitters, 11 miles out.
What does CPW say about ice at Barker Reservoir?
ice fishing listed as no, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at Barker Reservoir
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.