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Native Cutthroat Trout
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain 
Rainbow Trout
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Brook Trout
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain 
Wiper
Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Pearl Lake Fishing
A 176-acre Colorado lake in Routt County at 8,054 feet.
Pick for cutthroat troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Steamboat Lake: MtBotany, CC BY-SA 4.0
Routt County
Arriving at Pearl Lake: what it is like
About 176 acres of lake water make up Pearl Lake, which lies in Routt County. The water lies at about 8,054 feet of elevation. CPW lists Pearl Lake State Park as the managing property. Steamboat Springs lies about 22 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Northwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists grayling and native cutthroat trout for it. The ramp layer shows 1 boat ramp. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline w/ limits). Expect easy access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
176acres
8,054feet elevation
1boat ramps
2species listed
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Species swimming in Pearl Lake
The roster for Pearl 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.
Access
Where trailers back in at Pearl Lake
- Pearl Lake Boat Rampboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Pearl Lake State Park
Shore access around Pearl Lake
- Pearl Lake fishing access near Steamboat Springseasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,054 ft
Ramps a short tow from Pearl Lake
- Sage Flats Boat Ramp on Steamboat LakeSteamboat Lake, 3 miles west
- Placer Cove Ramp on Steamboat LakeSteamboat Lake, 4 miles west
- Marina Ramp on Steamboat LakeSteamboat Lake, 5 miles west
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply
The latest reading at Pearl Lake
5,560 acre-feetstorage, Pearl Lake
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Pearl Lake (station PEARLACO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Storage at Pearl Lake swings with snowmelt and water calls; check it before towing a boat.
Limits
The keep-or-release rules at Pearl 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, Pearl Lake lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Pearl Lake the chart sets it.
Where Pearl Lake breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Including inlet stream for 0.25 miles above inlet and the outlet stream for 0.25 miles below the outlet: | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for trout is 2, 18 inches long. | p. 30 |
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.
Compare
Pearl Lake and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pearl Lake | 176 | 8,054 | 1 | ||
| Steamboat Lake | 4 miles west | 1,012 | 8,031 | 3 | |
| Hahns Peak Lake | 7 miles northwest | 34 | 8,379 | 0 | yes |
| Big Creek Lake Upper | 17 miles northeast | 111 | 9,013 | 0 | |
| Big Creek Lake Lower | 17 miles northeast | 362 | 9,001 | 0 | yes |
| Tiago Lake | 20 miles southeast | 6 | 8,849 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
Neighbors of Pearl Lake
Colorado lakes in the Pearl Lake neighborhood
- Steamboat Lake4 miles west
- Hahns Peak Lake7 miles northwest
- Big Creek Lake Upper17 miles northeast
- Big Creek Lake Lower17 miles northeast
- Tiago Lake20 miles southeast
Fly shops and bait stores around Pearl Lake
- Straightline Outdoor Sportsbait and tackle shop, Steamboat Springs, 21 miles
- Steamboat Flyfisherbait and tackle shop, Steamboat Springs, 21 miles
Paid guides within reach of Pearl Lake
- North Park Fishing Club, LLCfishing guide, Steamboat Springs
- Yampa Valley Anglers, LLCfishing guide, Yampa River, Yampa, (970) 819-4376
- Flying Diamond Events, LLCfly fishing guide, Oak Creek
- Great Divide Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Steamboat Springs
- Steamboat Flyfisher LLCfly fishing guide, Steamboat Springs
Communities within reach of Pearl Lake
- Steamboat Springs22 miles
- Hayden28 miles
- Craig40 miles
Pearl Lake and the counties around it
- Routt Countyseat: Steamboat Springs
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for days on Pearl Lake
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Know your fish
A photo lineup of the fish at Pearl Lake
Photo: USFWS Fish and Aquatic Conservation, Public domain
Photo: Thesupermat, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
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Photo: BenitoJuarez98, CC BY-SA 4.0
Answers
Pearl Lake, question by question
How do I find Pearl Lake on a Colorado map?
Head for Routt County, CPW Northwest Region, about 22 miles from Steamboat Springs.
How large a reservoir or lake is Pearl Lake?
Some 176 acres, at about 8,054 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Pearl Lake?
CPW maps 1 boat ramp, among them Pearl Lake Boat Ramp.
What is on the fish list at Pearl Lake?
grayling and native cutthroat trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Pearl Lake?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. A brochure special regulation also names it; see the table above.
Which CPW license do I buy for Pearl 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.
Is Pearl Lake on the trout stocking report?
The report shows no entry for it.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Pearl Lake?
Straightline Outdoor Sports sits about 21 miles from the water.
How full is Pearl Lake by the latest storage telemetry?
Readings come from Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry.
Is Pearl Lake worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Pearl Lake this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.