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Rainbow Trout
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain 
Brook Trout
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0 
Wiper
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 
Channel Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Joe Wright Reservoir Fishing
A 151-acre Colorado reservoir in Larimer County at 9,920 feet.
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Lake Estes: Sarbjit Bahga, CC BY-SA 4.0
Larimer County
Arriving at Joe Wright Reservoir: what it is like
About 151 acres of reservoir water make up Joe Wright Reservoir, which lies in Larimer County. The water lies at about 9,920 feet of elevation. CPW lists Roosevelt National Forest as the managing property. Grand Lake lies about 21 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northeast Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists grayling, tiger muskie and tiger trout for it. For boats, CPW lists Non-motorized. Expect medium access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
151acres
9,920feet elevation
0boat ramps
3species 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 Joe Wright Reservoir
The roster for Joe Wright 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.
Access
Where trailers back in at Joe Wright Reservoir
No ramp at Joe Wright Reservoir shows on the CPW layer, so try a neighbor below.
Shore access around Joe Wright Reservoir
- Joe Wright Reservoir fishing access near Grand Lakemedium access, stocked: sub-catchables and warmwater, 9,920 ft
Ramps a short tow from Joe Wright Reservoir
- State Forest State Park on N Fk Michigan R LakeN Fk Michigan R Lake, 6 miles west
- North Michigan boat ramp on N Fk Michigan R LakeN Fk Michigan R Lake, 7 miles west
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
The keep-or-release rules at Joe Wright 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, Joe Wright Reservoir lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Joe Wright Reservoir the chart sets it.
Where Joe Wright Reservoir breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Joe Wright Reservoir | Artificial flies and lures only. | 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.
Compare
Joe Wright Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Wright Reservoir | 151 | 9,920 | 0 | ||
| Trap Lake | 3 miles east | 10 | 9,959 | 0 | yes |
| Chambers Lake | 4 miles north | 243 | 9,156 | 0 | yes |
| Barnes Meadow Reservoir | 4 miles northeast | 99 | 9,079 | 0 | |
| Lost Lake near Red Feather Lakes, Larimer County, 19 acres | 4 miles north | 19 | 9,293 | 0 | yes |
| Laramie Lake | 5 miles north | 34 | 9,330 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Neighbors of Joe Wright Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Joe Wright Reservoir neighborhood
- Trap Lake3 miles east
- Chambers Lake4 miles north
- Barnes Meadow Reservoir4 miles northeast
- Lost Lake near Red Feather Lakes, Larimer County, 19 acres4 miles north
- Laramie Lake5 miles north
Fly shops and bait stores around Joe Wright Reservoir
- Grand Lake Marinamarina, Grand Lake, 21 miles
- Trail Ridge Marinamarina, Grand Lake, 23 miles
- Beacon Landing Marinabait and tackle shop, Grand Lake, 25 miles
- Highland Marinamarina, Grand, 26 miles
- Indian Peaks Marinamarina, Granby, 27 miles
Paid guides within reach of Joe Wright Reservoir
- 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
Communities within reach of Joe Wright Reservoir
- Estes Park22 miles
- Granby34 miles
- Lyons39 miles
Joe Wright Reservoir and the counties around it
- Larimer Countyseat: Fort Collins
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for days on Joe Wright Reservoir
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Know your fish
A photo lineup of the fish at Joe Wright Reservoir
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0
Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
Answers
Joe Wright Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Joe Wright Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Larimer County, CPW Northeast Region, about 21 miles from Grand Lake.
How large a reservoir or lake is Joe Wright Reservoir?
Some 151 acres, at about 9,920 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Joe Wright Reservoir?
The ramp layer is empty for this water.
What is on the fish list at Joe Wright Reservoir?
grayling, tiger muskie and tiger trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Joe Wright 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 Joe Wright 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.
Is Joe Wright Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
The report shows no entry for it.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Joe Wright Reservoir?
Grand Lake Marina sits about 21 miles from the water.
Is Joe Wright Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Joe Wright Reservoir this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.