Mount Elbert Forebay Fishing
A 276-acre Colorado lake in Lake County at 9,639 feet.
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Getting to know Mount Elbert Forebay
Its mapped shoreline gives Mount Elbert Forebay close to 276 acres, all charted in Lake County. At around 9,639 feet, it is high-country water. CPW files it under San Isabel National Forest. The closest town on the Census list is Twin Lakes, some 2 miles away. It belongs to the CPW Southeast Region.
Its fish on the CPW roster: brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout. CPW sets the boating rule as Motor boats (gasoline). The Fishing Atlas rates access as medium and fishing pressure as medium. Through the ice season: 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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These Mount Elbert Forebay species rest on CPW listings and records, not a full net survey.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Ramps CPW maps at Mount Elbert Forebay
There is no mapped ramp on Mount Elbert Forebay; see the list of close ones.
Fishing access points at Mount Elbert Forebay
- Mt. Elbert Forebay fishing access near Twin Lakesmedium access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 9,639 ft
Backup boat ramps near Mount Elbert Forebay
- East Ramp on Twin Lakes LowerTwin Lakes Lower, 2 miles southeast
- Clear Creek Reservoir SWAClear Creek Reservoir, 8 miles southeast
- Matchless Ramp on Turquoise LakeTurquoise Lake, 10 miles north
- Railroad Bridge Boat Rampboat ramp, condition good, 16 miles southeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Fish legal to carry home from Mount Elbert Forebay
| 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 10, possession 10, 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 20, possession 20, 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 |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts Mount Elbert Forebay in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Waters stay open day and night all year in Colorado; the chart rows set the bag at Mount Elbert Forebay.
Special regulations written for Mount Elbert Forebay
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Mount Elbert Forebay Reservoir | Bag and possession limit for lake trout is 1. Lake trout 22–34 inches long must be returned to the water immediately. | p. 29 |
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.
The stocking record for Mount Elbert Forebay
CPW logged Mount Elbert Forebay 5 listings on its stocking list, the newest dated August 7, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 7, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| September 5, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 1, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| April 25, 2025 | 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.
Mount Elbert Forebay beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Elbert Forebay | 276 | 9,639 | 0 | yes | |
| Hallenbeck Ponds | 1 mile west | 7 | 10,394 | 0 | |
| Twin Lakes Upper | 2 miles south | 764 | 9,185 | 0 | yes |
| Twin Lakes Lower | 2 miles southeast | 1,708 | 9,204 | 1 | yes |
| Emerald Lake, Lake County | 4 miles northwest | 4 | 9,996 | 0 | |
| Hayden Meadows Reservoir | 4 miles northeast | 6 | 9,305 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Around Mount Elbert Forebay on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near Mount Elbert Forebay
- Hallenbeck Ponds1 mile west
- Twin Lakes Upper2 miles south
- Twin Lakes Lower2 miles southeast
- Emerald Lake, Lake County4 miles northwest
- Hayden Meadows Reservoir4 miles northeast
Stores that stock up Mount Elbert Forebay trips
- UpRiver Fly Fishingfly shop, Buena Vista, 22 miles
- Ark Anglersfly shop, Buena Vista, 22 miles
- Taylor Park Marinamarina, Almont, 23 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
- Wild Willow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
Hiring a guide for Mount Elbert Forebay
- Aspen Trout Guides, Inc.fishing guide, Aspen
- Elk Mountain Expeditions LLC / Elk Mountain Anglingfishing guide, Aspen
- Aspen Flyfishing Guide Service Incfly fishing guide, Aspen
- Colorado Fly Fishing Guidesfly fishing guide, Leadville, (866) 908-7547
- Salida Fly LLCfly fishing guide, Buena Vista
Nearest towns to Mount Elbert Forebay
- Leadville10 miles
- Buena Vista22 miles
- Aspen26 miles
Mount Elbert Forebay on the county pages
- Lake Countyseat: Leadville
Piscifun gear to pack for Mount Elbert Forebay
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Photo views of fishing water near Mount Elbert Forebay
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jpmcmahon1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado anglers ask this about Mount Elbert Forebay
In what part of the state is Mount Elbert Forebay?
Lake County, CPW Southeast Region, about 2 miles from Twin Lakes.
Is Mount Elbert Forebay a big reservoir?
About 276 acres, at about 9,639 feet.
Can a trailered boat get onto Mount Elbert Forebay from a mapped ramp?
Not mapped; carry in or use a nearby ramp.
Are trout part of the fishery at Mount Elbert Forebay?
Expect brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout.
What bag limit does the CPW chart set at Mount Elbert Forebay?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Check the special regulation rows above as well.
Is a CPW license required to fish Mount Elbert Forebay?
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.
Has CPW listed Mount Elbert Forebay for stocking recently?
It shows 5 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026, 4 in 2025); latest August 7, 2026.
Which store on the list is nearest Mount Elbert Forebay?
UpRiver Fly Fishing, about 22 miles away.
Is Mount Elbert Forebay an ice fishing spot?
Its winter entry reads ice fishing listed as yes; drill test holes first.
Put Mount Elbert Forebay on this season's list
License prices and the full limits chart are on one page.