Bonham Reservoir Fishing
A 75-acre Colorado reservoir in Mesa County at 9,776 feet.
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Arriving at Bonham Reservoir: what it is like
About 75 acres of reservoir water make up Bonham Reservoir, which lies in Mesa County. The water lies at about 9,776 feet of elevation. CPW lists Grand Mesa National Forest as the managing property. Collbran lies about 10 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists grayling, brown trout, native cutthroat trout and rainbow trout for it. For boats, CPW lists Non-motorized. Expect easy access and high pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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The roster for Bonham Reservoir 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 Bonham Reservoir
No ramp at Bonham Reservoir shows on the CPW layer, so try a neighbor below.
Shore access around Bonham Reservoir
- Bonham Reservoir fishing access near Collbraneasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 9,776 ft
Ramps a short tow from Bonham Reservoir
- Early Settlers Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 9 miles northeast
- Island Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 11 miles northeast
- Oak Point Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 11 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Bonham 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 |
| 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, Bonham Reservoir lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Bonham Reservoir 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.
Bonham Reservoir in the Colorado record book
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grayling (Arctic) | catch and release length | 17.25 in | Theodore Spence | 2025 |
CPW state records by weight and catch-and-release length, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado records.
Bonham Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bonham Reservoir | 75 | 9,776 | 0 | ||
| Atkinson Reservoir | 1 mile east | 75 | 10,090 | 0 | |
| Big Creek Reservoir #1 | 2 miles southeast | 64 | 10,090 | 0 | |
| Silver Lake, Mesa County | 2 miles southwest | 9 | 10,204 | 0 | |
| Forty Acre Lake | 2 miles southwest | 19 | 10,166 | 0 | |
| Neversweat Reservoir | 2 miles west | 23 | 10,068 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Bonham Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Bonham Reservoir neighborhood
- Atkinson Reservoir1 mile east
- Big Creek Reservoir #12 miles southeast
- Silver Lake, Mesa County2 miles southwest
- Forty Acre Lake2 miles southwest
- Neversweat Reservoir2 miles west
Fly shops and bait stores around Bonham Reservoir
- Walker's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Whitewater, 26 miles
Paid guides within reach of Bonham Reservoir
- Western Anglers Guide Service LLCfishing guide, Grand Junction
- Colorado West Slope Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Grand Junction
Communities within reach of Bonham Reservoir
- Cedaredge14 miles
- Orchard City20 miles
- Paonia23 miles
Bonham Reservoir and the counties around it
- Mesa Countyseat: Grand Junction
A Piscifun kit for days on Bonham Reservoir
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A photo lineup of the fish at Bonham Reservoir
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain
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Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Bonham Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Bonham Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Mesa County, CPW Northwest Region, about 10 miles from Collbran.
How large a reservoir or lake is Bonham Reservoir?
Some 75 acres, at about 9,776 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Bonham Reservoir?
The ramp layer is empty for this water.
What is on the fish list at Bonham Reservoir?
grayling, brown trout, native cutthroat trout and rainbow trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Bonham Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Which CPW license do I buy for Bonham Reservoir?
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 Bonham Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
The report shows no entry for it.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Bonham Reservoir?
Walker's Bait & Tackle sits about 26 miles from the water.
What record does Bonham Reservoir hold?
Grayling (Arctic), catch and release length 17.25 in, by Theodore Spence in 2025.
Is Bonham Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as no. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Bonham Reservoir this season
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