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Carter Reservoir 10 mi
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0 
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Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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McIntosh Lake Fishing
A 243-acre Colorado lake in Boulder County at 5,074 feet.
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Boulder County
A quick portrait of McIntosh Lake
Measured from the CPW water layer, McIntosh Lake is a lake of some 243 acres in Boulder County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 5,074 feet. The surrounding property is McIntosh Lake, per CPW. Longmont is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 3 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Northeast Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish and smallmouth bass. Craft permitted, per CPW: Non-motorized. Atlas notes: easy to reach, medium pressure. On ice: ice fishing listed as no.
243acres
5,074feet elevation
0boat ramps
8species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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What anglers catch at McIntosh Lake
Listed fish for McIntosh Lake, each linked where Colorado has a species page.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Ramp access for McIntosh Lake
For McIntosh Lake, the ramp layer is empty; nearby ramps are listed.
Mapped access at McIntosh Lake
- McIntosh Lake fishing access near Longmonteasy access, stocked: warmwater, 5,074 ft
Boat ramps in reach of McIntosh Lake
- Saint Vrain State Park on St. Vrain State Park Blue HeronSt. Vrain State Park Blue Heron, 9 miles east
- Boulder City Reservoir boat rampBoulder City Reservoir, 9 miles southwest
- Lonetree Reservoir boat ramp near LovelandLonetree Reservoir, 10 miles north
- Marina on Carter ReservoirCarter Reservoir, 11 miles north
- Lon Hagler boat ramp near LovelandLon Hagler Reservoir, 12 miles north
- Boedecker Reservoir boat rampBoedecker Reservoir, 13 miles north
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Limits a warden checks at McIntosh 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 |
| 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 |
For the statewide limits chart, McIntosh Lake counts as east of the Continental Divide water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, McIntosh Lake follows the statewide chart.
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
Nearby water compared with McIntosh Lake
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| McIntosh Lake | 243 | 5,074 | 0 | ||
| Heron Lake – Pella Crossing | 1 mile southwest | 27 | 5,060 | 0 | |
| Sunset Lake – Pella Crossing | 1 mile southwest | 17 | 5,069 | 0 | |
| Golden Gravel Pond #1 | 2 miles south | 12 | 5,010 | 0 | |
| Dragonfly Pond – Belly Boat #1 | 2 miles west | 12 | 5,091 | 0 | |
| Golden Gravel Pond #2 | 2 miles south | 12 | 5,007 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Within a short drive of McIntosh Lake
Further reservoirs a short haul from McIntosh Lake
- Heron Lake – Pella Crossing1 mile southwest
- Sunset Lake – Pella Crossing1 mile southwest
- Golden Gravel Pond #12 miles south
- Dragonfly Pond – Belly Boat #12 miles west
- Golden Gravel Pond #22 miles south
Tackle counters on the way to McIntosh Lake
- Woods and Water Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Longmont, 2 miles
- Laughing Grizzly Fly Shopfly shop, Longmont, 3 miles
- Angles Sportssporting goods store, Longmont, 3 miles
- Lyons Anglerfly shop, Lyons, 7 miles
- Backcut Fly Shopfly shop, Berthoud, 9 miles
- Bennetts Tacklebait and tackle shop, Berthoud, 9 miles
Fishing outfitters by McIntosh Lake
- 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
Where to stay for a McIntosh Lake trip
- Longmont3 miles
- Lyons6 miles
- Niwot7 miles
Which county pages list McIntosh Lake
- Boulder Countyseat: Boulder
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Piscifun reels and grips for McIntosh Lake
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In photos
A camera tour of the water by McIntosh Lake
Photo: KimonBerlin, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Sarbjit Bahga, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Akijione, CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers
Straight answers about McIntosh Lake
Which CPW region covers McIntosh Lake?
The outline falls in Boulder County, CPW Northeast Region, about 3 miles from Longmont.
How many acres does the CPW outline give McIntosh Lake?
Around 243 acres of water, at about 5,074 feet.
Does McIntosh Lake have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
None on file; see the nearby list.
Which fish does CPW list at McIntosh Lake?
Fish on the list: black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, smallmouth bass and walleye.
Are there extra rules at McIntosh Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Is a second-rod stamp needed at McIntosh Lake?
Everyone 16 and older needs a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, or $18.07 for a resident one-day license.
Are catchable trout released into McIntosh Lake?
No catchable trout listing exists for it.
Is there a fly shop near McIntosh Lake?
Drive about 2 miles to Woods and Water Outfitters.
Is McIntosh Lake fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as no; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for McIntosh Lake
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.