Carter Reservoir Fishing
A 1,122-acre Colorado reservoir in Larimer County at 5,762 feet.
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Carter Reservoir at a glance
Carter Reservoir holds around 1,122 surface acres within Larimer County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 5,762 feet. Access runs through Carter Lake. For gas and groceries, Lyons sits roughly 8 miles off. It falls inside the Northeast Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for bluegill, cutbow, green sunfish, lake trout, largemouth bass and rainbow trout, by the CPW list. Trailers back in at 1 boat ramp. Boating allowed: Motor boats (gasoline). Reaching it is easy; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: ice fishing listed as no.
Before eating fish from Carter Reservoir, read the state advisory: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Every chip for Carter 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 Carter Reservoir
- Marina on Carter Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection
Walk-up spots at Carter Reservoir
- Carter Lake fishing access near Lyonseasy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 5,762 ft
Other CPW ramps around Carter Reservoir
- Lon Hagler boat ramp near LovelandLon Hagler Reservoir, 4 miles northeast
- Lonetree Reservoir boat ramp near LovelandLonetree Reservoir, 5 miles east
- Boedecker Reservoir boat rampBoedecker Reservoir, 6 miles northeast
- Main Boat Ramp on Boyd LakeBoyd Lake, 12 miles northeast
- Heron Cove on Boyd LakeBoyd Lake, 12 miles northeast
- South Bay Ramp #2 on Horsetooth ReservoirHorsetooth Reservoir, 13 miles north
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Reservoir storage at Carter Reservoir
NCWCD/Bureau of Reclamation (Station Cooperators) storage telemetry for Carter Reservoir (station CARTERCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Spring runoff fills Carter Reservoir; summer releases draw it down.
Bag limits at Carter 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 Carter Reservoir falls east of the Continental Divide. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at Carter Reservoir unless a special rule says otherwise.
The special regulation entry for Carter Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Carter Lake | All walleye exceeding 21 inches must be returned to water immediately. Daily bag limit for walleye is 3 fish less than 21 inches long. It is unlawful to possess filleted or cleaned fish in boat on lake. | p. 14 |
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 Carter Reservoir
Catchable trout reached Carter Reservoir often enough to earn 19 listings on the CPW report; the last is May 8, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| May 8, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 3, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| March 20, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| March 13, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| March 5, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| October 24, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| October 17, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| July 11, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| July 4, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 2, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 11, 2025 | 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.
CPW record entries naming Carter Reservoir
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Splake | catch and release length | 20.50 in | Leslie Allee | 2024 |
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.
Measuring Carter Reservoir against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carter Reservoir | 1,122 | 5,762 | 1 | yes | |
| Flatiron Reservoir | 3 miles north | 41 | 5,461 | 0 | yes |
| Pinewood Reservoir | 4 miles northwest | 92 | 6,580 | 0 | yes |
| Lon Hagler Reservoir | 4 miles northeast | 175 | 5,147 | 2 | yes |
| Boedecker Reservoir | 6 miles northeast | 376 | 5,065 | 1 | |
| Loveland Service Center Pond | 7 miles northeast | 8 | 4,984 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near Carter Reservoir
Lakes to pair with Carter Reservoir
- Flatiron Reservoir3 miles north
- Pinewood Reservoir4 miles northwest
- Lon Hagler Reservoir4 miles northeast
- Boedecker Reservoir6 miles northeast
- Loveland Service Center Pond7 miles northeast
Bait and flies near Carter Reservoir
- Carter Lake Marina Incmarina, Loveland, 1 mile
- Elkhorn Fly Shopfly shop, Loveland, 7 miles
- Backcut Fly Shopfly shop, Berthoud, 8 miles
- Bennetts Tacklebait and tackle shop, Berthoud, 8 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Lovelandsporting goods store, Loveland, 8 miles
- Lyons Anglerfly shop, Lyons, 9 miles
Registered outfitters around Carter Reservoir
- Natural Drift Anglers LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountainsfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (417) 860-4175
- Sasquatch Fly Fishinfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (970) 586-3341
Counties holding part of Carter Reservoir
- Larimer Countyseat: Fort Collins
What Piscifun makes for Carter Reservoir anglers
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Species photos for anglers bound for Carter Reservoir
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Engbretson, Eric, Public domain
Planning notes for Carter Reservoir in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for Carter Reservoir?
It lies in Larimer County, CPW Northeast Region, about 8 miles from Lyons.
How much surface does Carter Reservoir spread across when full?
The outline measures about 1,122 acres, at about 5,762 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at Carter Reservoir?
1 boat ramp on the CPW layer, Marina on Carter Reservoir included.
Which species does CPW list for Carter Reservoir?
The CPW roster names bluegill, cutbow, green sunfish, lake trout, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and snake river cutthroat trout.
How many trout can I keep at Carter 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 Carter 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 Carter Reservoir?
Yes: 19 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (6 in 2026, 7 in 2025, 6 in 2024); latest May 8, 2026.
Where do anglers at Carter Reservoir get supplies?
Carter Lake Marina Inc, 1 mile out.
Where can I check storage at Carter Reservoir?
Check Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry above.
Which CPW record belongs to Carter Reservoir?
Splake, catch and release length 20.50 in, by Leslie Allee in 2024.
What does CPW say about ice at Carter Reservoir?
ice fishing listed as no, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at Carter Reservoir
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.