Crawford Reservoir Fishing
A 324-acre Colorado reservoir in Delta County at 6,557 feet.
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Arriving at Crawford Reservoir: what it is like
About 324 acres of reservoir water make up Crawford Reservoir, which lies in Delta County. The water lies at about 6,557 feet of elevation. CPW lists Crawford State Park as the managing property. Crawford lies about 2 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Southwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike and yellow perch for it. The ramp layer shows 2 boat ramps. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect easy access and high pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows 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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The roster for Crawford 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 Crawford Reservoir
- Iron Creek boat ramp on Crawford Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Crawford State Park
- Peninsula Day-Use boat ramp on Crawford Reservoirboat ramp, State Parks; Crawford State Park
Shore access around Crawford Reservoir
- Crawford Reservoir fishing access near Crawford, Crawford State Park 2accessible fishing area
- Crawford Reservoir fishing access near Crawford, Crawford State Parkaccessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 6,557 ft
- Iron Creek Accessible Fishingfishing access
Ramps a short tow from Crawford Reservoir
- Ponderosa boat ramp on Blue Mesa ReservoirBlue Mesa Reservoir, 20 miles southeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The latest reading at Crawford Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford Reservoir Near Crawford, Co | 6,497.06 ft lake elevation | Oct 27 8:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Storage at Crawford Reservoir swings with snowmelt and water calls; check it before towing a boat.
The keep-or-release rules at Crawford 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, Crawford Reservoir lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Crawford Reservoir the chart sets it.
Where Crawford Reservoir breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Crawford Reservoir | Bag, possession limit and min. size for largemouth bass is one fish, 18 inches long. No bag or possession limit for yellow perch. | p. 17 |
| From the fence on top of Crawford Dam downstream to the north boundary fence: | Fishing prohibited in spillway, stilling basin and outlet canal. | p. 17 |
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.
When CPW stocked Crawford Reservoir
The stocking report names Crawford Reservoir 7 listings, latest April 24, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| April 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| September 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 23, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 9, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 12, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 5, 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.
Crawford Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crawford Reservoir | 324 | 6,557 | 2 | yes | |
| Crystal Reservoir | 14 miles south | 254 | 6,756 | 0 | |
| Morrow Point Reservoir | 19 miles southeast | 755 | 7,165 | 0 | |
| Blue Mesa Reservoir | 22 miles southeast | 9,087 | 7,523 | 5 | yes |
| Chipeta Lake | 22 miles southwest | 8 | 5,895 | 0 | yes |
| Sweitzer Lake | 23 miles west | 132 | 5,123 | 1 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Crawford Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Crawford Reservoir neighborhood
- Crystal Reservoir14 miles south
- Morrow Point Reservoir19 miles southeast
- Blue Mesa Reservoir22 miles southeast
- Chipeta Lake22 miles southwest
- Sweitzer Lake23 miles west
Fly shops and bait stores around Crawford Reservoir
- Ed's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 20 miles
- Cj's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 20 miles
- Lake Forkmarina, Gunnison, 22 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Montrosesporting goods store, Montrose, 22 miles
- Eik Creek Marinamarina, Gunnison, 22 miles
- Elk Creek Marinamarina, Gunnison, 28 miles
Paid guides within reach of Crawford Reservoir
- Colorado Fishing Company LLCfishing guide, Montrose
- Crested Butte Angler LLCfishing guide, Crested Butte
- Uncompahgre Valley Anglersfishing guide, Uncompahgre River, Montrose
- Dragonfly Anglers, LLCfly fishing guide, Crested Butte
Communities within reach of Crawford Reservoir
- Paonia13 miles
- Montrose20 miles
- Olathe21 miles
Crawford Reservoir and the counties around it
- Delta Countyseat: Delta
A Piscifun kit for days on Crawford Reservoir
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A photo lineup of the fish at Crawford Reservoir
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Zitsman Carl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Crawford Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Crawford Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Delta County, CPW Southwest Region, about 2 miles from Crawford.
How large a reservoir or lake is Crawford Reservoir?
Some 324 acres, at about 6,557 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Crawford Reservoir?
CPW maps 2 boat ramps, among them Iron Creek boat ramp on Crawford Reservoir.
What is on the fish list at Crawford Reservoir?
black crappie, channel catfish, common carp, largemouth bass, northern pike, yellow perch and trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Crawford Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. A brochure special regulation also names it; see the table above.
Which CPW license do I buy for Crawford 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 Crawford Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
7 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 3 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest April 24, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Crawford Reservoir?
Ed's Fly Shop sits about 20 miles from the water.
How full is Crawford Reservoir by the latest storage telemetry?
Readings come from the USGS gauge.
Is Crawford Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Crawford Reservoir this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.