North Sterling Reservoir Fishing
A 2,752-acre Colorado reservoir in Logan County at 4,069 feet.
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The short version on North Sterling Reservoir
The CPW outline of North Sterling Reservoir encloses about 2,752 acres in Logan County. Elevation on the Fishing Atlas reads 4,069 feet. On the Fishing Atlas, the property is North Sterling State Park. Around 5 miles separates the water from Padroni. CPW manages it out of the Southwest Region.
Expect black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish and largemouth bass, according to CPW. There are 2 boat ramps on its shore. Boat use on file: Motor boats (gasoline). Access is medium, pressure medium, per the atlas. Winter note: 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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CPW sources tie these fish to North Sterling Reservoir; others may swim there too.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Boat ramps at North Sterling Reservoir
- Elks Ramp on North Sterling Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; North Sterling State Park
- South Ramp on North Sterling Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; North Sterling State Park
Where to fish from the bank at North Sterling Reservoir
- North Sterling Reservoir fishing access near Padroni, North Sterling State Park 2accessible fishing area
- North Sterling Reservoir fishing access near Padroni, North Sterling State Parkaccessible pier, medium access, stocked: warmwater, 4,069 ft
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado limits that apply at North Sterling 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 |
Read the east of the Continental Divide rows of the statewide chart for North Sterling Reservoir. The chart above is the baseline at North Sterling Reservoir; a brochure entry can override it.
Rules that change at North Sterling Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| North Sterling Reservoir | Min. size for largemouth bass is 15 inches long. Min. size for smallmouth bass is 12 inches long. Min. size for wiper is 15 inches long. Only 1 can be longer than 25 inches. Min. size for walleye and saugeye is 15 inches long. Only 1 walleye or saugeye in the aggregate longer than 21 inches may be taken per day. Min. s | 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.
Sizing North Sterling Reservoir up against the reservoirs nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Sterling Reservoir | 2,752 | 4,069 | 2 | ||
| Overland Trail Park Pond | 12 miles southeast | 5 | 3,925 | 0 | |
| Jeff's Pond | 24 miles east | 3 | 4,237 | 0 | |
| Prewitt Reservoir | 26 miles south | 2,192 | 4,087 | 1 | |
| Jumbo Annex | 33 miles east | 95 | 3,679 | 0 | |
| Jumbo Reservoir | 34 miles east | 1,411 | 3,706 | 4 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Close to North Sterling Reservoir
Backup lakes when North Sterling Reservoir is slow
- Overland Trail Park Pond12 miles southeast
- Jeff's Pond24 miles east
- Prewitt Reservoir26 miles south
- Jumbo Annex33 miles east
- Jumbo Reservoir34 miles east
Towns that work as a base camp for North Sterling Reservoir
- Sterling12 miles
County pages touching North Sterling Reservoir
- Logan Countyseat: Sterling
Reels from Piscifun that suit North Sterling Reservoir
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Telling the species of North Sterling Reservoir apart by photo
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: -Rorey-, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Meine Mutter (Erlaubnis liegt vor), CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
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North Sterling Reservoir: the questions Colorado anglers bring
Which Colorado county holds North Sterling Reservoir?
Look in Logan County, CPW Southwest Region, about 5 miles from Padroni.
What size is North Sterling Reservoir on CPW maps?
Roughly 2,752 acres, at about 4,069 feet.
Which ramp is closest at North Sterling Reservoir?
2 boat ramps, including Elks Ramp on North Sterling Reservoir.
What might a Colorado angler hook at North Sterling Reservoir?
CPW records show black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, common carp, green sunfish, largemouth bass and saugeye.
Which limits apply at North Sterling Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. The brochure adds a water-specific rule, shown above.
What does a CPW license cost for a trip to North Sterling Reservoir?
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.
Does CPW stock North Sterling Reservoir?
CPW has not listed it on the weekly report.
How far is the nearest tackle shop from North Sterling Reservoir?
Our Colorado shop list has nothing inside 30 miles.
Does North Sterling Reservoir freeze for anglers?
The Fishing Atlas shows ice fishing listed as yes; check ice yourself before stepping out.
Hitch the boat and head for North Sterling Reservoir
Read the limits above, then pick a ramp.