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Brook Trout
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0 
Cutbow
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Splake
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Gross Reservoir Fishing
A 421-acre Colorado reservoir in Boulder County at 7,290 feet.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: SOTMUS, CC BY-SA 4.0
Boulder County
Gross Reservoir at a glance
Gross Reservoir holds around 421 surface acres within Boulder County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 7,290 feet. Access runs through Gross Reservoir. For gas and groceries, Coal Creek sits roughly 3 miles off. It falls inside the Northeast Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for brook trout, brown trout, cutbow, kokanee salmon, lake trout and rainbow trout, by the CPW list. Boating allowed: Non-motorized. Reaching it is medium; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: ice fishing listed as no.
421acres
7,290feet elevation
0boat ramps
9species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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The fishery at Gross Reservoir
Every chip for Gross Reservoir comes from a CPW list, a state record or the trout stocking report.
Brook trout Brown trout Cutbow Kokanee salmon Lake trout Rainbow trout Snake river cutthroat trout Splake Tiger muskie
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Putting in at Gross Reservoir
Bring a float tube or use a ramp nearby: Gross Reservoir has none mapped.
Walk-up spots at Gross Reservoir
- Gross Reservoir fishing access near Coal Creekmedium access, stocked: sub-catchables and warmwater, 7,290 ft
Other CPW ramps around Gross Reservoir
- Boulder City Reservoir boat rampBoulder City Reservoir, 12 miles northeast
- Arvada Reservoir boat rampArvada Reservoir, 12 miles southeast
- Standley Lake boat rampStandley Lake, 14 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Bag limits at Gross 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 |
| 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 Gross Reservoir falls east of the Continental Divide. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at Gross Reservoir unless a special rule says otherwise.
The special regulation entry for Gross Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Reservoir | Fishing prohibited from sunset to sunrise. Snagging kokanee permitted Oct. 1–Dec. 1. | p. 23 |
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.
Compare
Measuring Gross Reservoir against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Reservoir | 421 | 7,290 | 0 | ||
| Viele Lake | 7 miles east | 11 | 5,498 | 0 | yes |
| Barker Reservoir | 7 miles west | 199 | 8,187 | 0 | yes |
| Kriley Pond | 8 miles southwest | 4 | 8,349 | 0 | yes |
| Wonderland Lake | 8 miles northeast | 20 | 5,538 | 0 | |
| Boulder Ponds | 8 miles east | 5 | 5,314 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
What sits near Gross Reservoir
Lakes to pair with Gross Reservoir
- Viele Lake7 miles east
- Barker Reservoir7 miles west
- Kriley Pond8 miles southwest
- Wonderland Lake8 miles northeast
- Boulder Ponds8 miles east
Bait and flies near Gross Reservoir
- Stoney River Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Boulder, 6 miles
- Rocky Mountain Anglersfly shop, Boulder, 7 miles
- Front Range Anglersfly shop, Boulder, 8 miles
- Fly shopfly shop, Boulder, 8 miles
- Angler's Productsfly shop, Boulder, 9 miles
- Rise Form Fliesbait and tackle shop, Boulder, 11 miles
Registered outfitters around Gross Reservoir
- Arbor Anglersfishing guide, Lafayette, (303) 562-7202
- Front Range Anglersfishing guide, Boulder, (303) 494-1375
- Flatirons Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Boulder
- Laughing Grizzly Fly Shop, Inc.fly fishing guide, Longmont
Mountain and plains towns near Gross Reservoir
- Nederland7 miles
- Boulder8 miles
- Superior11 miles
Counties holding part of Gross Reservoir
- Boulder Countyseat: Boulder
Piscifun
What Piscifun makes for Gross Reservoir anglers
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Know your fish
Species photos for anglers bound for Gross Reservoir
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
_2.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Answers
Planning notes for Gross Reservoir in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for Gross Reservoir?
It lies in Boulder County, CPW Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Coal Creek.
How much surface does Gross Reservoir spread across when full?
The outline measures about 421 acres, at about 7,290 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at Gross Reservoir?
No boat ramp appears for it.
Which species does CPW list for Gross Reservoir?
The CPW roster names brook trout, brown trout, cutbow, kokanee salmon, lake trout, rainbow trout and snake river cutthroat trout.
How many trout can I keep at Gross Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Special rules for it sit in the table above.
How much is a one-day license for Gross Reservoir?
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.
How often does CPW stock Gross Reservoir?
It is not on the 2024 to 2026 catchable trout report.
Where do anglers at Gross Reservoir get supplies?
Stoney River Outfitters, 6 miles out.
What does CPW say about ice at Gross Reservoir?
ice fishing listed as no, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at Gross Reservoir
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.