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Common Carp
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Green Sunfish
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain 
Rainbow Trout
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain 
Brook Trout
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Highline Lake Fishing
A 167-acre Colorado lake in Mesa County at 4,693 feet.
Pick for black crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Mesa County
Arriving at Highline Lake: what it is like
About 167 acres of lake water make up Highline Lake, which lies in Mesa County. The water lies at about 4,693 feet of elevation. CPW lists Highline Lake State Park as the managing property. Loma lies about 5 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish and largemouth bass for it. The ramp layer shows 5 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.
167acres
4,693feet elevation
5boat ramps
10species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Species swimming in Highline Lake
The roster for Highline Lake joins the CPW species field with record catches and stocking.
Black crappie Bluegill Channel catfish Common carp Green sunfish Largemouth bass Rainbow trout Smallmouth bass Yellow perch Trout
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Where trailers back in at Highline Lake
- East Boat Ramp on Highline Lakeboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW; Highline Lake SP
- East Ramp on Highline Lakeboat ramp, State Parks
- Highline Lake State Parkboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW; Highline Lake SP
- West Boat Ramp on Highline Lakeboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW; Highline Lake SP
- West Ramp on Highline Lakeboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
Shore access around Highline Lake
- Highline Lake fishing access near Loma, Highline Lake State Park 2easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 4,693 ft
- Highline Lake fishing access near Loma, Highline Lake State Parkfishing access
Ramps a short tow from Highline Lake
- Hand Launch only access on Mack Mesa LakeMack Mesa Lake, under a mile northwest
- Loma Boat Launch SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW, 7 miles south
- Fruita Section boat ramp on Colorado RiverColorado River, 10 miles southeast
- Connected Lakes Section boat ramp on Colorado RiverColorado River, 18 miles southeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
The keep-or-release rules at Highline 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 |
| 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, Highline Lake lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Highline Lake the chart sets it.
Where Highline Lake breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Highline Reservoir | Bag, possession and min. size for largemouth bass is 2, 15 inches long. | p. 25 |
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.
Stocking
When CPW stocked Highline Lake
The stocking report names Highline Lake 3 listings, latest October 23, 2026.
1listings in 2026
2listings in 2025
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| October 23, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| September 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| May 16, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest 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.
Compare
Highline Lake and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Highline Lake | 167 | 4,693 | 5 | yes | |
| Mack Mesa Lake | under a mile northwest | 20 | 4,733 | 1 | yes |
| Snooks Bottom Lake | 10 miles southeast | 15 | 4,473 | 0 | yes |
| Fruita+Hwy 340 Brdg N #1 | 10 miles southeast | 18 | 4,473 | 0 | |
| Connected Lakes | 18 miles southeast | 38 | 4,533 | 0 | |
| Duke Lake | 18 miles southeast | 7 | 4,537 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Neighbors of Highline Lake
Colorado lakes in the Highline Lake neighborhood
- Mack Mesa Lakeunder a mile northwest
- Snooks Bottom Lake10 miles southeast
- Fruita+Hwy 340 Brdg N #110 miles southeast
- Connected Lakes18 miles southeast
- Duke Lake18 miles southeast
Fly shops and bait stores around Highline Lake
- Pepper Custom Baitsbait and tackle shop, Grand Junction, 14 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Grand Junctionsporting goods store, Grand Junction, 18 miles
- Western Anglersfly shop, Grand Junction, 21 miles
- Gearhead Outfitters, 461 Main Streetsporting goods store, Grand Junction, 21 miles
Paid guides within reach of Highline Lake
- Western Anglers Guide Service LLCfishing guide, Grand Junction
- Colorado West Slope Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Grand Junction
Communities within reach of Highline Lake
- Fruita10 miles
- Redlands16 miles
- Grand Junction19 miles
Highline Lake and the counties around it
- Mesa Countyseat: Grand Junction
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for days on Highline Lake
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Know your fish
A photo lineup of the fish at Highline Lake
Photo: Dezidor, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_Gavins_Point.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Answers
Highline Lake, question by question
How do I find Highline Lake on a Colorado map?
Head for Mesa County, CPW Northwest Region, about 5 miles from Loma.
How large a reservoir or lake is Highline Lake?
Some 167 acres, at about 4,693 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Highline Lake?
CPW maps 5 boat ramps, among them East Ramp on Highline Lake.
What is on the fish list at Highline Lake?
black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Highline Lake?
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 Highline Lake?
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.
Is Highline Lake on the trout stocking report?
3 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026, 2 in 2025); latest October 23, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Highline Lake?
Pepper Custom Baits sits about 14 miles from the water.
Is Highline Lake worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Highline Lake this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.