Estes Lake Fishing
A 156-acre Colorado lake in Larimer County at 7,470 feet.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Sarbjit Bahga, CC BY-SA 4.0
Estes Lake at a glance
Estes Lake holds around 156 surface acres within Larimer County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 7,470 feet. Access runs through Lake Estes. For gas and groceries, Estes Park sits roughly 2 miles off. It falls inside the Northeast Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for brown trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskie, yellow perch and trout, by the CPW list. Boating allowed: Motor boats (gasoline). Reaching it is easy; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the brown trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The fishery at Estes Lake
Every chip for Estes Lake comes from a CPW list, a state record or the trout stocking report.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Putting in at Estes Lake
Bring a float tube or use a ramp nearby: Estes Lake has none mapped.
Walk-up spots at Estes Lake
- Lake Estes fishing access near Estes Park, Larimer County 2accessible fishing area
- Lake Estes fishing access near Estes Park, Larimer Countyaccessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, sub-catchables and warmwater, 7,470 ft
Other CPW ramps around Estes Lake
- Marina on Carter ReservoirCarter Reservoir, 15 miles east
- Lon Hagler boat ramp near LovelandLon Hagler Reservoir, 18 miles east
- Boedecker Reservoir boat rampBoedecker Reservoir, 19 miles east
- Lonetree Reservoir boat ramp near LovelandLonetree Reservoir, 19 miles east
- Hilltop Ramp on Shadow Mountain ReservoirShadow Mountain Reservoir, 20 miles southwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Reservoir storage at Estes Lake
NCWCD/Bureau of Reclamation (Station Cooperators) storage telemetry for Olympus Dam At Lake Estes (station OLYDAMCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Spring runoff fills Estes Lake; summer releases draw it down.
Bag limits at Estes Lake
| 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 |
CPW splits some limits by drainage, and Estes Lake falls east of the Continental Divide. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at Estes Lake unless a special rule says otherwise.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Recent trout releases at Estes Lake
Catchable trout reached Estes Lake often enough to earn 10 listings on the CPW report; the last is September 4, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| June 5, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| June 27, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 23, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| March 14, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| September 12, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 23, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| May 3, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast Region |
| April 5, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast 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.
Measuring Estes Lake against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estes Lake | 156 | 7,470 | 0 | yes | |
| Marys Lake | 3 miles southwest | 36 | 8,046 | 0 | |
| Lily Lake, Larimer County | 5 miles southwest | 16 | 8,926 | 0 | |
| Sprague Lake | 7 miles southwest | 11 | 8,686 | 0 | |
| Pinewood Reservoir | 11 miles east | 92 | 6,580 | 0 | yes |
| Button Rock Reservoir | 13 miles southeast | 222 | 6,403 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near Estes Lake
Lakes to pair with Estes Lake
- Marys Lake3 miles southwest
- Lily Lake, Larimer County5 miles southwest
- Sprague Lake7 miles southwest
- Pinewood Reservoir11 miles east
- Button Rock Reservoir13 miles southeast
Bait and flies near Estes Lake
- Carter Lake Marina Incmarina, Loveland, 15 miles
- Lyons Anglerfly shop, Lyons, 16 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Lovelandsporting goods store, Loveland, 19 miles
- Grand Lake Marinamarina, Grand Lake, 19 miles
- Elkhorn Fly Shopfly shop, Loveland, 20 miles
- Inlet Bay Marinamarina, Fort Collins, 20 miles
Registered outfitters around Estes Lake
- Natural Drift Anglers LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountainsfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (417) 860-4175
- Sasquatch Fly Fishinfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (970) 586-3341
Mountain and plains towns near Estes Lake
- Estes Park2 miles
- Lyons16 miles
- Loveland23 miles
Counties holding part of Estes Lake
- Larimer Countyseat: Fort Collins
What Piscifun makes for Estes Lake anglers
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Species photos for anglers bound for Estes Lake
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: Zitsman Carl, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
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Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Planning notes for Estes Lake in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for Estes Lake?
It lies in Larimer County, CPW Northeast Region, about 2 miles from Estes Park.
How much surface does Estes Lake spread across when full?
The outline measures about 156 acres, at about 7,470 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at Estes Lake?
No boat ramp appears for it.
Which species does CPW list for Estes Lake?
The CPW roster names brown trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, tiger muskie, yellow perch and trout.
How many trout can I keep at Estes Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
How much is a one-day license for Estes Lake?
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.
How often does CPW stock Estes Lake?
Yes: 10 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (3 in 2026, 3 in 2025, 4 in 2024); latest September 4, 2026.
Where do anglers at Estes Lake get supplies?
Carter Lake Marina Inc, 15 miles out.
Where can I check storage at Estes Lake?
Check Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry above.
What does CPW say about ice at Estes Lake?
ice fishing listed as no, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at Estes Lake
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.