Leon Lake Fishing
A 94-acre Colorado lake in Mesa County at 10,337 feet.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Paonia Reservoir: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Arriving at Leon Lake: what it is like
About 94 acres of lake water make up Leon Lake, which lies in Mesa County. The water lies at about 10,337 feet of elevation. CPW lists Grand Mesa National Forest as the managing property. Cedaredge lies about 14 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists brook trout and native cutthroat trout for it. For boats, CPW lists Electric. Expect difficult access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species swimming in Leon Lake
The roster for Leon Lake 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 Leon Lake
No ramp at Leon Lake shows on the CPW layer, so try a neighbor below.
Shore access around Leon Lake
- Leon Lake fishing access near Cedaredgedifficult access, 10,337 ft
Ramps a short tow from Leon Lake
- Early Settlers Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 10 miles north
- Island Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 11 miles north
- Oak Point Ramp on Vega ReservoirVega Reservoir, 11 miles north
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Leon 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, Leon Lake lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Leon Lake the chart sets it.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Leon Lake and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Leon Lake | 94 | 10,337 | 0 | ||
| Weir & Johnson Reservoir | under a mile southwest | 30 | 10,466 | 0 | yes |
| Finney Cut Lake #1 | 1 mile northwest | 3 | 10,423 | 0 | |
| Y & S Reservoir | 1 mile south | 11 | 10,225 | 0 | |
| Colby Horse Park Reservoir | 1 mile northeast | 49 | 10,127 | 0 | |
| Cole Reservoir #1 | 1 mile southwest | 4 | 10,417 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Leon Lake
Colorado lakes in the Leon Lake neighborhood
- Weir & Johnson Reservoirunder a mile southwest
- Finney Cut Lake #11 mile northwest
- Y & S Reservoir1 mile south
- Colby Horse Park Reservoir1 mile northeast
- Cole Reservoir #11 mile southwest
Fly shops and bait stores around Leon Lake
- Walker's Bait & Tacklebait and tackle shop, Whitewater, 30 miles
Paid guides within reach of Leon Lake
- Western Anglers Guide Service LLCfishing guide, Grand Junction
- Colorado West Slope Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Grand Junction
Communities within reach of Leon Lake
- Cedaredge14 miles
- Paonia18 miles
- Orchard City19 miles
Leon Lake and the counties around it
- Mesa Countyseat: Grand Junction
A Piscifun kit for days on Leon Lake
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo lineup of the fish at Leon Lake
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: California Department of Fish and Wildlife from Sacramento, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Leon Lake, question by question
How do I find Leon Lake on a Colorado map?
Head for Mesa County, CPW Northwest Region, about 14 miles from Cedaredge.
How large a reservoir or lake is Leon Lake?
Some 94 acres, at about 10,337 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Leon Lake?
The ramp layer is empty for this water.
What is on the fish list at Leon Lake?
brook trout and native cutthroat trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Leon Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Which CPW license do I buy for Leon 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.
Is Leon Lake on the trout stocking report?
The report shows no entry for it.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Leon Lake?
Walker's Bait & Tackle sits about 30 miles from the water.
Is Leon Lake worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as no. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Leon Lake this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.