Crystal Reservoir Fishing
A 254-acre Colorado reservoir in Montrose County at 6,756 feet.
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Crystal Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Crystal Reservoir spreads over roughly 254 acres of Montrose County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 6,756 feet above sea level. Curecanti National Recreation Area manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Colona, near 15 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records brown trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout and brook trout in this water. The boating entry reads Non-motorized (gasoline). CPW calls access difficult; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from Crystal Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Crystal Reservoir
CPW maps no boat ramp right on Crystal Reservoir; the nearest ones follow.
Atlas fishing locations at Crystal Reservoir
- Crystal Reservoir fishing access near Montrosedifficult access, stocked: sub-catchables, 6,756 ft
When the Crystal Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Iron Creek boat ramp on Crawford ReservoirCrawford Reservoir, 14 miles north
- Lake Fork boat ramp on Blue Mesa ReservoirBlue Mesa Reservoir, 14 miles east
- Peninsula Day-Use boat ramp on Crawford ReservoirCrawford Reservoir, 14 miles north
- Ponderosa boat ramp on Blue Mesa ReservoirBlue Mesa Reservoir, 15 miles east
- Dutch Charlie boat ramp on Ridgway ReservoirRidgway Reservoir, 20 miles southwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Harvest rules for Crystal 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Crystal Reservoir sits west of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Crystal Reservoir.
Brochure rules for Crystal Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Crystal Reservoir | Snagging kokanee permitted Sept. 1–Dec. 31. | 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.
State record fish from Crystal Reservoir
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | heritage length (to 2019) | 26 inches in | Garrett McBride |
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.
How Crystal Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crystal Reservoir | 254 | 6,756 | 0 | ||
| Morrow Point Reservoir | 8 miles east | 755 | 7,165 | 0 | |
| Buckhorn Lake Big | 11 miles south | 18 | 9,725 | 0 | |
| Buckhorn Lake Little | 11 miles south | 10 | 9,749 | 0 | |
| Crawford Reservoir | 14 miles north | 324 | 6,557 | 2 | yes |
| Blue Mesa Reservoir | 14 miles east | 9,087 | 7,523 | 5 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Crystal Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Crystal Reservoir
- Morrow Point Reservoir8 miles east
- Buckhorn Lake Big11 miles south
- Buckhorn Lake Little11 miles south
- Crawford Reservoir14 miles north
- Blue Mesa Reservoir14 miles east
Where to buy line and lures near Crystal Reservoir
- Lake Forkmarina, Gunnison, 14 miles
- Eik Creek Marinamarina, Gunnison, 14 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Montrosesporting goods store, Montrose, 16 miles
- Ed's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 16 miles
- Cj's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 16 miles
- Ridgeway Marinamarina, Ouray, 20 miles
Outfitters who fish Crystal Reservoir
- Colorado Fishing Company LLCfishing guide, Montrose
- Uncompahgre Valley Anglersfishing guide, Uncompahgre River, Montrose
Beds and gas close to Crystal Reservoir
- Montrose15 miles
- Olathe24 miles
- Ridgway24 miles
County guides that cover Crystal Reservoir
- Montrose Countyseat: Montrose
Piscifun tackle sized for Crystal Reservoir
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Reservoirs and creeks near Crystal Reservoir in photos
Photo: Victoria Stauffenberg, Public domain
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Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Nexus65, CC BY-SA 4.0
Before you drive to Crystal Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Crystal Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Montrose County, CPW Southwest Region, about 15 miles from Colona.
How many acres does Crystal Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 254 acres by the CPW outline, at about 6,756 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Crystal Reservoir?
CPW maps none here; try a neighbor.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Crystal Reservoir?
CPW lists brown trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout and brook trout.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Crystal Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Extra rules from the brochure apply; they are above.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Crystal 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 Crystal Reservoir for trout?
Not on the stocking report in recent years.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Crystal Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Lake Fork, 14 miles.
Is Crystal Reservoir in the CPW record book?
Brook Trout, heritage length (to 2019) 26 inches in, by Garrett McBride in an unprinted year.
Can I drill holes at Crystal Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as no; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Crystal Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.