Barr Lake Fishing
A 1,725-acre Colorado lake in Adams County at 5,098 feet.
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Arriving at Barr Lake: what it is like
About 1,725 acres of lake water make up Barr Lake, which lies in Adams County. The water lies at about 5,098 feet of elevation. CPW lists Barr Lake State Park as the managing property. Brighton lies about 2 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northeast Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and tiger muskie for it. The ramp layer shows 2 boat ramps. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline w/ limits). Expect easy access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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The roster for Barr Lake joins the CPW species field with record catches and stocking.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Where trailers back in at Barr Lake
- Barr Lake Boat Rampboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW; Barr Lake State Park
- Boat Ramp on Barr Lakeboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Barr Lake State Park
Shore access around Barr Lake
- Barr Lake fishing access near Brightoneasy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 5,098 ft
- ADA Fishing Pier, Barr Lake State Parkfishing access
Ramps a short tow from Barr Lake
- Saint Vrain State Park on St. Vrain State Park Blue HeronSt. Vrain State Park Blue Heron, 20 miles northwest
- Standley Lake boat rampStandley Lake, 20 miles west
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Barr 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 |
| 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Barr Lake lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Barr Lake the chart sets it.
Where Barr Lake breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Barr Lake | Min. size for walleye and saugeye is 15 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. | 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.
When CPW stocked Barr Lake
The stocking report names Barr Lake 8 listings, latest May 1, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 3, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 2, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 25, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| March 28, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| February 20, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 3, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| February 28, 2024 | 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.
Barr Lake and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barr Lake | 1,725 | 5,098 | 2 | yes | |
| Ken Mitchell Lake | 4 miles northwest | 39 | 4,969 | 0 | |
| Public Works Lake | 5 miles west | 29 | 4,997 | 0 | |
| Mann-Nyholt Lake North | 6 miles west | 23 | 5,004 | 0 | |
| Mann-Nyholt Lake South | 6 miles west | 42 | 5,007 | 0 | yes |
| Adams County Fishing Pond, North | 8 miles southwest | 8 | 5,044 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Barr Lake
Colorado lakes in the Barr Lake neighborhood
- Ken Mitchell Lake4 miles northwest
- Public Works Lake5 miles west
- Mann-Nyholt Lake North6 miles west
- Mann-Nyholt Lake South6 miles west
- Adams County Fishing Pond, North8 miles southwest
Fly shops and bait stores around Barr Lake
- Bait-N-Bullet Shopbait and tackle shop, Brighton, 4 miles
- Cabela's Thorntonsporting goods store, Thornton, 12 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Denversporting goods store, Denver, 13 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Thorntonsporting goods store, Thornton, 14 miles
- Bill Live Baitbait and tackle shop, Denver, 15 miles
- Colorado Fly Fishingfly shop, Broomfield, 16 miles
Paid guides within reach of Barr Lake
- JoeFish LLCfishing guide, Broomfield
- Kindred Anglers LLCfishing guide, Dacono
- Sopris Fishing Outfittersfishing guide, Denver
- Native Waters Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Thornton
- The Flyfisher LLC.fly fishing guide, Denver
Communities within reach of Barr Lake
- Brighton2 miles
- Commerce City4 miles
- Lochbuie5 miles
Barr Lake and the counties around it
- Adams Countyseat: Brighton
A Piscifun kit for days on Barr Lake
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A photo lineup of the fish at Barr Lake
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Barr Lake, question by question
How do I find Barr Lake on a Colorado map?
Head for Adams County, CPW Northeast Region, about 2 miles from Brighton.
How large a reservoir or lake is Barr Lake?
Some 1,725 acres, at about 5,098 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Barr Lake?
CPW maps 2 boat ramps, among them Barr Lake Boat Ramp.
What is on the fish list at Barr Lake?
black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, tiger muskie and walleye, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Barr Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. A brochure special regulation also names it; see the table above.
Which CPW license do I buy for Barr 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 Barr Lake on the trout stocking report?
8 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 4 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest May 1, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Barr Lake?
Bait-N-Bullet Shop sits about 4 miles from the water.
Is Barr Lake worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Barr Lake this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.