Big Creek Lake Lower Fishing
A 362-acre Colorado lake in Jackson County at 9,001 feet.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Stagecoach Reservoir: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Arriving at Big Creek Lake Lower: what it is like
About 362 acres of lake water make up Big Creek Lake Lower, which lies in Jackson County. The water lies at about 9,001 feet of elevation. CPW lists Routt National Forest as the managing property. Walden lies about 22 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northeast Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskie and trout for it. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect easy access and high pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
There is a state eating advice notice for Big Creek Lake Lower: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the brown trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species swimming in Big Creek Lake Lower
The roster for Big Creek Lake Lower 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 Big Creek Lake Lower
No ramp at Big Creek Lake Lower shows on the CPW layer, so try a neighbor below.
Shore access around Big Creek Lake Lower
- Big Creek Lakeseasy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 9,001 ft
Ramps a short tow from Big Creek Lake Lower
- Lake John SWA near Walden (north)Lake John, 12 miles southeast
- Lake John SWA near Walden (south)Lake John, 13 miles southeast
- Delaney Butte Lakes SWA on North Delaney Butte LakeNorth Delaney Butte Lake, 17 miles southeast
- Cowdrey Lake SWACowdrey Lake, 17 miles east
- Delaney Butte Lakes SWA on East Delaney Butte LakeEast Delaney Butte Lake, 17 miles southeast
- Delaney Butte Lakes SWA on South Delaney Butte LakeSouth Delaney Butte Lake, 18 miles southeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Big Creek Lake Lower
| 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, Big Creek Lake Lower lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Big Creek Lake Lower the chart sets it.
Where Big Creek Lake Lower breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Lake (Lower) | Bag and possession limit for lake trout and/or splake is 3. Only 1 may be longer than 26 inches. | p. 12 |
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 Big Creek Lake Lower
The stocking report names Big Creek Lake Lower 7 listings, latest September 18, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| September 18, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| July 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| August 29, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| August 8, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| June 6, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| August 28, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| August 6, 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.
Big Creek Lake Lower and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Creek Lake Lower | 362 | 9,001 | 0 | yes | |
| Big Creek Lake Upper | 1 mile south | 111 | 9,013 | 0 | |
| Lake John near Walden, Jackson County, 568 acres | 13 miles southeast | 568 | 8,052 | 2 | |
| North Delaney Butte Lake | 16 miles southeast | 233 | 8,150 | 1 | |
| Cowdrey Lake | 17 miles east | 70 | 7,932 | 1 | yes |
| East Delaney Butte Lake | 17 miles southeast | 67 | 8,117 | 1 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Big Creek Lake Lower
Colorado lakes in the Big Creek Lake Lower neighborhood
- Big Creek Lake Upper1 mile south
- Lake John near Walden, Jackson County, 568 acres13 miles southeast
- North Delaney Butte Lake16 miles southeast
- Cowdrey Lake17 miles east
- East Delaney Butte Lake17 miles southeast
Paid guides within reach of Big Creek Lake Lower
- North Park Fishing Club, LLCfishing guide, Steamboat Springs
- Great Divide Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Steamboat Springs
- Steamboat Flyfisher LLCfly fishing guide, Steamboat Springs
Communities within reach of Big Creek Lake Lower
- Steamboat Springs33 miles
Big Creek Lake Lower and the counties around it
- Jackson Countyseat: Walden
A Piscifun kit for days on Big Creek Lake Lower
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo lineup of the fish at Big Creek Lake Lower
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Big Creek Lake Lower, question by question
How do I find Big Creek Lake Lower on a Colorado map?
Head for Jackson County, CPW Northeast Region, about 22 miles from Walden.
How large a reservoir or lake is Big Creek Lake Lower?
Some 362 acres, at about 9,001 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Big Creek Lake Lower?
The ramp layer is empty for this water.
What is on the fish list at Big Creek Lake Lower?
brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskie and trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Big Creek Lake Lower?
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 Big Creek Lake Lower?
Fishing two lines at once takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp on top of the license; adult residents pay $44.87 for the license and nonresidents $124.01.
Is Big Creek Lake Lower on the trout stocking report?
7 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 3 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest September 18, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Big Creek Lake Lower?
Nothing within 30 miles on our list.
Is Big Creek Lake Lower worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Big Creek Lake Lower this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.