Jackson Reservoir Fishing
A 2,423-acre Colorado reservoir in Morgan County at 4,440 feet.
Pick for black crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Arriving at Jackson Reservoir: what it is like
About 2,423 acres of reservoir water make up Jackson Reservoir, which lies in Morgan County. The water lies at about 4,440 feet of elevation. CPW lists Jackson Lake State Park as the managing property. Jackson Lake lies about 2 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Southeast 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 2 boat ramps. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect medium access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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The roster for Jackson Reservoir joins the CPW species field with record catches and stocking.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Where trailers back in at Jackson Reservoir
- Jackson Lake Boat Rampboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- Jackson Reservoir boat rampboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
Shore access around Jackson Reservoir
- Jackson Reservoir fishing access near Jackson Lakemedium access, stocked: sub-catchables and warmwater, 4,440 ft
- Dike Fishing Areafishing access
- Fishing Jetty fishing access near Jackson Lakefishing access
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Jackson 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Jackson Reservoir lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Jackson Reservoir the chart sets it.
Where Jackson Reservoir breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Lake (Reservoir) | Ice-fishing shelters must be portable. Min. size for wiper is 15 inches long. Min. size for walleye and saugeye is 15 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. Fishing prohibited in outlet ditch below dam around rotary screen. Min. size for crappie is 10 inches | p. 26 |
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.
When CPW stocked Jackson Reservoir
The stocking report names Jackson Reservoir 1 listing, latest October 11, 2024.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| October 11, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast 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.
Jackson Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson Reservoir | 2,423 | 4,440 | 2 | yes | |
| Chartiers Pond | 24 miles east | 7 | 4,187 | 0 | |
| Riverside Park Lake | 33 miles west | 10 | 4,644 | 0 | yes |
| Glenmere Lake | 33 miles west | 3 | 4,759 | 0 | yes |
| Banner Lakes #11 | 34 miles southwest | 14 | 4,955 | 0 | |
| Banner Lakes #8 | 34 miles southwest | 14 | 4,975 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Jackson Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Jackson Reservoir neighborhood
- Chartiers Pond24 miles east
- Riverside Park Lake33 miles west
- Glenmere Lake33 miles west
- Banner Lakes #1134 miles southwest
- Banner Lakes #834 miles southwest
Fly shops and bait stores around Jackson Reservoir
- Shoreline Marinamarina, Orchard, 1 mile
Paid guides within reach of Jackson Reservoir
- The Reel Mission Fishin' Adventuresfishing guide, Greeley
- Estes Park Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Greeley
Communities within reach of Jackson Reservoir
- Wiggins11 miles
- Fort Morgan18 miles
- Brush25 miles
Jackson Reservoir and the counties around it
- Morgan Countyseat: Fort Morgan
A Piscifun kit for days on Jackson Reservoir
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A photo lineup of the fish at Jackson Reservoir
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: -Rorey-, CC BY 4.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: Eric Engbretson, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Public domain
Jackson Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Jackson Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Morgan County, CPW Southeast Region, about 2 miles from Jackson Lake.
How large a reservoir or lake is Jackson Reservoir?
Some 2,423 acres, at about 4,440 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Jackson Reservoir?
CPW maps 2 boat ramps, among them Jackson Reservoir boat ramp.
What is on the fish list at Jackson Reservoir?
black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass and saugeye, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Jackson Reservoir?
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 Jackson Reservoir?
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.
Is Jackson Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2024); latest October 11, 2024.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Jackson Reservoir?
Shoreline Marina sits about 1 mile from the water.
Is Jackson Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Jackson Reservoir this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.