North Lake Fishing
A 105-acre Colorado lake in Las Animas County at 8,562 feet.
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North Lake at a glance
North Lake holds around 105 surface acres within Las Animas County. CPW gives an elevation of roughly 8,562 feet. Access runs through North Lake SWA. For gas and groceries, Stonewall Gap sits roughly 6 miles off. It falls inside the Southeast Region on CPW maps.
Anglers come here for brook trout, brown trout, cutbow, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout and splake, by the CPW list. Trailers back in at 1 boat ramp. Boating allowed: Electric. Reaching it is easy; crowds are medium, CPW says. CPW winter status: 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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Every chip for North Lake comes from a CPW list, a state record or the trout stocking report.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Putting in at North Lake
- North Lake SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
Walk-up spots at North Lake
- North Lake fishing access near Stonewall Gapeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 8,562 ft
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Bag limits at North 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 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 |
CPW splits some limits by drainage, and North Lake falls in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Colorado has no closed season by species, so the chart applies all year at North Lake unless a special rule says otherwise.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Recent trout releases at North Lake
Catchable trout reached North Lake often enough to earn 7 listings on the CPW report; the last is August 21, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 21, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 7, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 26, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 1, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| September 12, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 3, 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.
Measuring North Lake against close lakes
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Lake | 105 | 8,562 | 1 | yes | |
| Monument Reservoir | 2 miles south | 86 | 8,588 | 0 | yes |
| Wahatoya Lake Reservoir | 19 miles north | 27 | 7,093 | 0 | yes |
| Daigre Reservoir | 19 miles north | 14 | 7,058 | 0 | yes |
| Mountain Home Reservoir | 22 miles northwest | 206 | 8,149 | 2 | yes |
| Sanchez Reservoir | 23 miles southwest | 1,457 | 8,272 | 1 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
What sits near North Lake
Lakes to pair with North Lake
- Monument Reservoir2 miles south
- Wahatoya Lake Reservoir19 miles north
- Daigre Reservoir19 miles north
- Mountain Home Reservoir22 miles northwest
- Sanchez Reservoir23 miles southwest
Mountain and plains towns near North Lake
- Walsenburg30 miles
- Trinidad31 miles
Counties holding part of North Lake
- Las Animas Countyseat: Trinidad
What Piscifun makes for North Lake anglers
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Species photos for anglers bound for North Lake
Photo: James St. John, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Planning notes for North Lake in Q and A form
Which Colorado town makes the handiest base for North Lake?
It lies in Las Animas County, CPW Southeast Region, about 6 miles from Stonewall Gap.
How much surface does North Lake spread across when full?
The outline measures about 105 acres, at about 8,562 feet.
How many CPW ramps reach the water at North Lake?
1 boat ramp on the CPW layer, North Lake SWA included.
Which species does CPW list for North Lake?
The CPW roster names brook trout, brown trout, cutbow, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, splake and tiger trout.
How many trout can I keep at North Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
How much is a one-day license for North Lake?
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.
How often does CPW stock North Lake?
Yes: 7 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (5 in 2026, 1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest August 21, 2026.
Where do anglers at North Lake get supplies?
Pack everything; no listed store is within 30 miles.
What does CPW say about ice at North Lake?
ice fishing listed as yes, per CPW; conditions change daily.
Plan a Colorado day at North Lake
Fees, stamps and special rules sit on the license page.