Cottonwood Lake #1 Fishing
A 96-acre Colorado lake in Mesa County at 10,053 feet.
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The short version on Cottonwood Lake #1
The CPW outline of Cottonwood Lake #1 encloses about 96 acres in Mesa County. Elevation on the Fishing Atlas reads 10,053 feet. On the Fishing Atlas, the property is Grand Mesa National Forest. Around 12 miles separates the water from Collbran. CPW manages it out of the Northwest Region.
Expect brook trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, splake, tiger trout and brown trout, according to CPW. Boat use on file: Motor boats (gasoline). Access is easy, pressure high, per the atlas. Winter note: ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Quality Waters: Although this 12-mile segment is not as well-known and does not contain as large of a trout size structure as the Gold Medal segment of the Taylor River downstream, the Taylor River above Taylor Park Reservoir does provide good opportunities for anglers to catch quality wild brown trout.
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 Cottonwood Lake #1; others may swim there too.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Boat ramps at Cottonwood Lake #1
Boat access at Cottonwood Lake #1 is not on the CPW ramp layer.
Where to fish from the bank at Cottonwood Lake #1
- Cottonwood Lake #1 fishing access near Collbraneasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 10,053 ft
More places to launch near Cottonwood Lake #1
- Early Settlers Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 13 miles northeast
- Island Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 14 miles northeast
- Oak Point Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 15 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado limits that apply at Cottonwood Lake #1
| 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 Cottonwood Lake #1. The chart above is the baseline at Cottonwood Lake #1; 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 Cottonwood Lake #1
Trout report entries for Cottonwood Lake #1: 3 listings, ending June 5, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| June 5, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 20, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 6, 2025 | 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 Cottonwood Lake #1 up against the reservoirs nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cottonwood Lake #1 | 96 | 10,053 | 0 | yes | |
| De Camp Reservoir | under a mile northeast | 6 | 9,792 | 0 | |
| Cottonwood Lake #2 | under a mile northwest | 12 | 10,016 | 0 | |
| Lily Lake, Mesa County | under a mile east | 4 | 10,215 | 0 | |
| Cottonwood Lake #4 | 1 mile east | 38 | 10,207 | 0 | yes |
| Kitson Reservoir | 1 mile east | 18 | 10,016 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Close to Cottonwood Lake #1
Backup lakes when Cottonwood Lake #1 is slow
- De Camp Reservoirunder a mile northeast
- Cottonwood Lake #2under a mile northwest
- Lily Lake, Mesa Countyunder a mile east
- Cottonwood Lake #41 mile east
- Kitson Reservoir1 mile east
Shops worth the stop before Cottonwood Lake #1
- Walker's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Whitewater, 22 miles
Guide businesses near Cottonwood Lake #1
- Western Anglers Guide Service LLCfishing guide, Grand Junction
- Colorado West Slope Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Grand Junction
Towns that work as a base camp for Cottonwood Lake #1
- Cedaredge13 miles
- Orchard City18 miles
- Palisade21 miles
County pages touching Cottonwood Lake #1
- Mesa Countyseat: Grand Junction
Reels from Piscifun that suit Cottonwood Lake #1
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Telling the species of Cottonwood Lake #1 apart by photo
Photo: Engbretson, Eric, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: Fabricio Cardenas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Cottonwood Lake #1: the questions Colorado anglers bring
Which Colorado county holds Cottonwood Lake #1?
Look in Mesa County, CPW Northwest Region, about 12 miles from Collbran.
What size is Cottonwood Lake #1 on CPW maps?
Roughly 96 acres, at about 10,053 feet.
Which ramp is closest at Cottonwood Lake #1?
CPW maps no ramp on it; the nearby ramp list above has the closest.
What might a Colorado angler hook at Cottonwood Lake #1?
CPW records show brook trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, splake, tiger trout, brown trout and trout.
Which limits apply at Cottonwood Lake #1?
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 Cottonwood Lake #1?
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 Cottonwood Lake #1?
CPW records 3 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026, 2 in 2025); latest June 5, 2026.
How far is the nearest tackle shop from Cottonwood Lake #1?
Walker's Bait & Tackle is roughly 22 miles off.
Does Cottonwood Lake #1 freeze for anglers?
The Fishing Atlas shows ice fishing listed as no; check ice yourself before stepping out.
Hitch the boat and head for Cottonwood Lake #1
Read the limits above, then pick a ramp.