Buckeye Reservoir Fishing
A 126-acre Colorado reservoir in Montrose County at 7,614 feet.
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The short version on Buckeye Reservoir
The CPW outline of Buckeye Reservoir encloses about 126 acres in Montrose County. Elevation on the Fishing Atlas reads 7,614 feet. On the Fishing Atlas, the property is Manti-La Sal National Forest. Around 29 miles separates the water from Nucla. CPW manages it out of the Southwest Region.
Expect brown trout, cutbow, rainbow trout and trout, according to CPW. Boat use on file: Motor boats (gasoline). Access is easy, pressure medium, per the atlas. Winter note: 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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CPW sources tie these fish to Buckeye Reservoir; others may swim there too.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Boat ramps at Buckeye Reservoir
Boat access at Buckeye Reservoir is not on the CPW ramp layer.
Where to fish from the bank at Buckeye Reservoir
- Buckeye Reservoir fishing access near Nuclaeasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 7,614 ft
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Storage and elevation readings for Buckeye Reservoir
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Buckeye Reservoir (station BKIRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
A reading well below normal can close ramps at Buckeye Reservoir.
Colorado limits that apply at Buckeye 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 |
Read the west of the Continental Divide rows of the statewide chart for Buckeye Reservoir. The chart above is the baseline at Buckeye Reservoir; a brochure entry can override 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.
CPW stocking report entries for Buckeye Reservoir
Trout report entries for Buckeye Reservoir: 1 listing, ending May 28, 2024.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| May 28, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest 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.
Sizing Buckeye Reservoir up against the reservoirs nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buckeye Reservoir | 126 | 7,614 | 0 | yes | |
| Fruita Reservoir #1 | 32 miles northeast | 10 | 9,146 | 0 | yes |
| Enochs Lake | 34 miles northeast | 18 | 8,905 | 0 | |
| Duke Lake | 50 miles northeast | 7 | 4,537 | 0 | |
| Connected Lakes | 50 miles northeast | 38 | 4,533 | 0 | |
| Miramonte Reservoir | 50 miles southeast | 429 | 7,701 | 2 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Close to Buckeye Reservoir
Backup lakes when Buckeye Reservoir is slow
- Fruita Reservoir #132 miles northeast
- Enochs Lake34 miles northeast
- Duke Lake50 miles northeast
- Connected Lakes50 miles northeast
- Miramonte Reservoir50 miles southeast
Guide businesses near Buckeye Reservoir
- Colorado Fishing Company LLCfishing guide, Montrose
- Uncompahgre Valley Anglersfishing guide, Uncompahgre River, Montrose
County pages touching Buckeye Reservoir
- Montrose Countyseat: Montrose
Reels from Piscifun that suit Buckeye Reservoir
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Telling the species of Buckeye Reservoir apart by photo
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Buckeye Reservoir: the questions Colorado anglers bring
Which Colorado county holds Buckeye Reservoir?
Look in Montrose County, CPW Southwest Region, about 29 miles from Nucla.
What size is Buckeye Reservoir on CPW maps?
Roughly 126 acres, at about 7,614 feet.
Which ramp is closest at Buckeye Reservoir?
CPW maps no ramp on it; the nearby ramp list above has the closest.
What might a Colorado angler hook at Buckeye Reservoir?
CPW records show brown trout, cutbow, rainbow trout and trout.
Which limits apply at Buckeye Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
What does a CPW license cost for a trip to Buckeye 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.
Does CPW stock Buckeye Reservoir?
CPW records 1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2024); latest May 28, 2024.
How far is the nearest tackle shop from Buckeye Reservoir?
Our Colorado shop list has nothing inside 30 miles.
Is Buckeye Reservoir low this year?
The water supply band above prints Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry.
Does Buckeye Reservoir freeze for anglers?
The Fishing Atlas shows ice fishing listed as yes; check ice yourself before stepping out.
Hitch the boat and head for Buckeye Reservoir
Read the limits above, then pick a ramp.