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Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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De Weese Reservoir Fishing
A 324-acre Colorado reservoir in Custer County at 7,669 feet.
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Custer County
De Weese Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
De Weese Reservoir spreads over roughly 324 acres of Custer County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 7,669 feet above sea level. DeWeese Reservoir SWA manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Westcliffe, near 5 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southeast Region water.
CPW records brown trout, cutbow, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and tiger muskie in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access easy; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as yes.
324acres
7,669feet elevation
1boat ramps
5species 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 De Weese Reservoir
Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from De Weese Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Launching a boat at De Weese Reservoir
- DeWeese Reservoir SWA on De Weese Reservoirboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
Atlas fishing locations at De Weese Reservoir
- De Weese Reservoir fishing access near Westcliffeeasy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 7,669 ft
When the De Weese Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Fern Leaf river access boat rampboat ramp, CPW, 16 miles northwest
- Lone Pine Boat Rampboat ramp, condition fair, 17 miles northwest
- Pinnacle Rock Boat Ramp near Cotopaxiboat ramp, condition good, 17 miles north
- Salt Lick boat ramp near Cotopaxiboat ramp, condition excellent, CPW, 18 miles north
- Spikebuck Boat Rampboat ramp, condition good, 18 miles north
- Canyon Trading Post Boat Rampboat ramp, condition good, 18 miles northwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply
Water supply gauge at De Weese Reservoir
2,063 acre-feetstorage, Deweese Reservoir
Upper Arkansas Water Conservancy District storage telemetry for Deweese Reservoir (station DEWRESCO), 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 De Weese Reservoir can change by the week.
Limits
Harvest rules for De Weese 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 10, possession 10, 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 20, possession 20, 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; De Weese Reservoir sits in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern De Weese 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 De Weese Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| De Weese Reservoir | 324 | 7,669 | 1 | ||
| Lake Of The Clouds Lower | 11 miles southwest | 5 | 11,461 | 0 | |
| Lake Of The Clouds Middle | 11 miles southwest | 4 | 11,586 | 0 | |
| Lake Of The Clouds Upper | 11 miles southwest | 6 | 11,630 | 0 | |
| Hermit Lake | 12 miles southwest | 10 | 11,319 | 0 | |
| Eureka Lake | 12 miles southwest | 5 | 11,936 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
The ground surrounding De Weese Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of De Weese Reservoir
- Lake Of The Clouds Lower11 miles southwest
- Lake Of The Clouds Middle11 miles southwest
- Lake Of The Clouds Upper11 miles southwest
- Hermit Lake12 miles southwest
- Eureka Lake12 miles southwest
Where to buy line and lures near De Weese Reservoir
- Royal Gorge Anglersfly shop, Canon City, 21 miles
- J P Fly Fishing Specialtiesfly shop, Canon City, 22 miles
Outfitters who fish De Weese Reservoir
- ArkAnglers, LLCfishing guide, Salida
- Rogers' Traditions: Faith, Family, Fishing LLCfishing guide, Pueblo West
- River Sister Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Colorado City
Beds and gas close to De Weese Reservoir
- Lincoln Park21 miles
- Cañon City21 miles
- Florence23 miles
County guides that cover De Weese Reservoir
- Custer Countyseat: Westcliffe
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Piscifun tackle sized for De Weese Reservoir
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In photos
Reservoirs and creeks near De Weese Reservoir in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
Before you drive to De Weese Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is De Weese Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Custer County, CPW Southeast Region, about 5 miles from Westcliffe.
How many acres does De Weese Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 324 acres by the CPW outline, at about 7,669 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at De Weese Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; DeWeese Reservoir SWA on De Weese Reservoir is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to De Weese Reservoir?
CPW lists brown trout, cutbow, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and tiger muskie.
Does the brochure print a special rule for De Weese Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish De Weese Reservoir on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list De Weese Reservoir for trout?
Not on the stocking report in recent years.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to De Weese Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Royal Gorge Anglers, 21 miles.
What does the latest reading at De Weese Reservoir show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at De Weese Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give De Weese Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.