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Ridgway Reservoir 37 mi
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Blue Mesa Reservoir 41 mi
Photo: Mshuang2, CC0 1.0 
Rio Grande 42 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Vallecito Reservoir 37 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Continental Reservoir Fishing
A 375-acre Colorado reservoir in Hinsdale County at 10,272 feet.
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Hinsdale County
Continental Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Continental Reservoir spreads over roughly 375 acres of Hinsdale County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 10,272 feet above sea level. Rio Grande National Forest manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Lake City, near 11 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and splake in this water. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access medium; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as limited.
375acres
10,272feet elevation
0boat ramps
3species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Fish CPW lists for Continental Reservoir
Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from Continental Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Launching a boat at Continental Reservoir
CPW maps no boat ramp right on Continental Reservoir; the nearest ones follow.
Atlas fishing locations at Continental Reservoir
- Continental Reservoir fishing access near Lake Citymedium access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 10,272 ft
When the Continental Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Rito Hondo Reservoir SWARito Hondo Lake, 3 miles northeast
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake LowerBrown Lake Lower, 4 miles southeast
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake UpperBrown Lake Upper, 4 miles southeast
- Road Canyon Reservoir SWARoad Canyon Reservoir, 8 miles south
- Creede SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CPW, 17 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply
Water supply gauge at Continental Reservoir
16,979 acre-feetstorage, Continental Reservoir Near Creede
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Continental Reservoir Near Creede (station CONRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Colorado reservoirs rise with runoff and drop through irrigation season, so ramps at Continental Reservoir can change by the week.
Limits
Harvest rules for Continental 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Continental Reservoir sits east of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Continental Reservoir.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Compare
How Continental Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Continental Reservoir | 375 | 10,272 | 0 | ||
| Rito Hondo Lake | 3 miles northeast | 39 | 10,236 | 1 | |
| Brown Lake Upper | 4 miles south | 140 | 9,799 | 1 | |
| Lake San Cristobal | 7 miles northwest | 327 | 9,001 | 0 | yes |
| Road Canyon Reservoir | 8 miles south | 151 | 9,278 | 1 | yes |
| Rio Grande Reservoir | 11 miles southwest | 1,078 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
The ground surrounding Continental Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Continental Reservoir
- Rito Hondo Lake3 miles northeast
- Brown Lake Upper4 miles south
- Lake San Cristobal7 miles northwest
- Road Canyon Reservoir8 miles south
- Rio Grande Reservoir11 miles southwest
Where to buy line and lures near Continental Reservoir
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 16 miles
Outfitters who fish Continental Reservoir
- Sport Fish Colorado LLCfishing guide, Lake City
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
- Telluride Fly Fishers LLCfly fishing guide, Telluride
- Telluride Fly Fishing Company, Incfly fishing guide, Telluride
Beds and gas close to Continental Reservoir
- Telluride33 miles
- Mountain Village35 miles
- Ridgway35 miles
County guides that cover Continental Reservoir
- Hinsdale Countyseat: Lake City
Piscifun
Piscifun tackle sized for Continental Reservoir
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In photos
Reservoirs and creeks near Continental Reservoir in photos
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mshuang2, CC0 1.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
Before you drive to Continental Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Continental Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Hinsdale County, CPW Southwest Region, about 11 miles from Lake City.
How many acres does Continental Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 375 acres by the CPW outline, at about 10,272 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Continental Reservoir?
CPW maps none here; try a neighbor.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Continental Reservoir?
CPW lists rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and splake.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Continental Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Continental Reservoir on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list Continental Reservoir for trout?
Not on the stocking report in recent years.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Continental Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Rod & Reel, 16 miles.
What does the latest reading at Continental Reservoir show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at Continental Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as limited; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Continental Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.