Smith Reservoir Fishing
A 280-acre Colorado reservoir in Costilla County at 7,725 feet.
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Arriving at Smith Reservoir: what it is like
About 280 acres of reservoir water make up Smith Reservoir, which lies in Costilla County. The water lies at about 7,725 feet of elevation. CPW lists Smith Reservoir SWA as the managing property. Blanca lies about 3 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Southwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists rainbow trout, brown trout and trout for it. The ramp layer shows 2 boat ramps. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect easy access and high pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Quality Waters: This river provides excellent angling opportunities through shore, wading, or float fishing. There is lots of reasonable access, and this section has multiple habitat structures that hold large numbers of fish. It meets Gold Medal standards for the number of larger fish; however, biomass estimates are slightly below the Gold Medal standard.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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The roster for Smith Reservoir 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.
Where trailers back in at Smith Reservoir
- Smith Reservoir SWA near Blancaboat ramp, low-water ramp, condition fair, CDOW
- Smith Reservoir SWA near Blancaboat ramp, high-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
Shore access around Smith Reservoir
- Smith Reservoir fishing access near Blancaeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 7,725 ft
Ramps a short tow from Smith Reservoir
- Mountain Home Reservoir SWA near Fort Garland (north)Mountain Home Reservoir, 8 miles east
- Mountain Home Reservoir SWA near Fort Garland (south)Mountain Home Reservoir, 8 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The keep-or-release rules at Smith 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Smith Reservoir lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Smith Reservoir the chart sets it.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
When CPW stocked Smith Reservoir
The stocking report names Smith Reservoir 4 listings, latest June 13, 2025.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| June 13, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 16, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 9, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 11, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest 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.
Smith Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smith Reservoir | 280 | 7,725 | 2 | yes | |
| Mountain Home Reservoir | 8 miles east | 206 | 8,149 | 2 | yes |
| Lilly Lake Lower | 14 miles north | 7 | 12,338 | 0 | |
| Stabilization Reservoir | 15 miles south | 41 | 7,822 | 0 | yes |
| Sanchez Reservoir | 22 miles south | 1,457 | 8,272 | 1 | |
| San Luis Lake | 22 miles northwest | 759 | 7,525 | 2 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Smith Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Smith Reservoir neighborhood
- Mountain Home Reservoir8 miles east
- Lilly Lake Lower14 miles north
- Stabilization Reservoir15 miles south
- Sanchez Reservoir22 miles south
- San Luis Lake22 miles northwest
Paid guides within reach of Smith Reservoir
- Conejos River Anglers, LLCfishing guide, Conejos River, Antonito
Communities within reach of Smith Reservoir
- Alamosa20 miles
- Monte Vista36 miles
Smith Reservoir and the counties around it
- Costilla Countyseat: San Luis
A Piscifun kit for days on Smith Reservoir
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A photo lineup of the fish at Smith Reservoir
Photo: Purefury182, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain-Prairie, Public domain
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Smith Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Smith Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Costilla County, CPW Southwest Region, about 3 miles from Blanca.
How large a reservoir or lake is Smith Reservoir?
Some 280 acres, at about 7,725 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Smith Reservoir?
CPW maps 2 boat ramps, among them Smith Reservoir SWA near Blanca.
What is on the fish list at Smith Reservoir?
rainbow trout, brown trout and trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Smith Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Which CPW license do I buy for Smith Reservoir?
Fishing two lines at once takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp on top of the license; adult residents pay $44.87 for the license and nonresidents $124.01.
Is Smith Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
4 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (4 in 2025); latest June 13, 2025.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Smith Reservoir?
Nothing within 30 miles on our list.
Is Smith Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as yes. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Smith Reservoir this season
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