Summit Reservoir Fishing
A 279-acre Colorado reservoir in Montezuma County at 7,389 feet.
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A quick portrait of Summit Reservoir
Measured from the CPW water layer, Summit Reservoir is a reservoir of some 279 acres in Montezuma County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 7,389 feet. The surrounding property is Summit Reservoir SWA, per CPW. Mancos is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 7 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Southwest Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass. CPW maps 1 boat ramp on it. Craft permitted, per CPW: Non-motorized. Atlas notes: easy to reach, medium pressure. On ice: 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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Listed fish for Summit Reservoir, each linked where Colorado has a species page.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Ramp access for Summit Reservoir
- Summit Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
Mapped access at Summit Reservoir
- Summit Reservoir fishing access near Mancoseasy access, stocked: sub-catchables and warmwater, 7,389 ft
Boat ramps in reach of Summit Reservoir
- Puett Reservoir SWAPuett Reservoir, 2 miles west
- Joe Moore Reservoir SWAJoe Moore Reservoir, 4 miles east
- Mancos State Park on Jackson Gulch ReservoirJackson Gulch Reservoir, 6 miles east
- Totten Reservoir SWATotten Reservoir, 9 miles southwest
- House Creek Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 11 miles northwest
- McPhee Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 11 miles northwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits a warden checks at Summit 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 |
| 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 |
For the statewide limits chart, Summit Reservoir counts as west of the Continental Divide water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, Summit Reservoir follows the statewide chart.
Local fishing rules at Summit Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Summit Reservoir | Min. size for largemouth bass is 15 inches long. | p. 37 |
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.
Stocking report listings for Summit Reservoir
Summit Reservoir appears 4 listings on the CPW trout report, most recently April 17, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| April 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 13, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 16, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 26, 2024 | 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.
Nearby water compared with Summit Reservoir
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summit Reservoir | 279 | 7,389 | 1 | yes | |
| Puett Reservoir | 1 mile west | 155 | 7,272 | 1 | |
| Joe Moore Reservoir | 4 miles east | 36 | 7,699 | 1 | yes |
| Jackson Gulch Reservoir | 6 miles east | 225 | 7,829 | 1 | yes |
| Totten Reservoir | 9 miles southwest | 225 | 6,153 | 1 | |
| Twin Spruce Ponds | 10 miles north | 35 | 7,292 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Within a short drive of Summit Reservoir
Further reservoirs a short haul from Summit Reservoir
- Puett Reservoir1 mile west
- Joe Moore Reservoir4 miles east
- Jackson Gulch Reservoir6 miles east
- Totten Reservoir9 miles southwest
- Twin Spruce Ponds10 miles north
Tackle counters on the way to Summit Reservoir
- Doc's Marina McPheemarina, Dolores, 9 miles
- On the Hook Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cortez, 12 miles
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 23 miles
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, 29 miles
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, 29 miles
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, 30 miles
Fishing outfitters by Summit Reservoir
- Duranglers, Inc.fishing guide, Durango
- Cole Glenn Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Durango
- Durango Fly Fishing LLC.fly fishing guide, Durango, (970) 799-5246
- Heads Up Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Ignacio, (970) 984-8433
Where to stay for a Summit Reservoir trip
- Mancos7 miles
- Cortez12 miles
- Durango30 miles
Which county pages list Summit Reservoir
- Montezuma Countyseat: Cortez
Piscifun reels and grips for Summit Reservoir
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A camera tour of the water by Summit Reservoir
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
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Straight answers about Summit Reservoir
Which CPW region covers Summit Reservoir?
The outline falls in Montezuma County, CPW Southwest Region, about 7 miles from Mancos.
How many acres does the CPW outline give Summit Reservoir?
Around 279 acres of water, at about 7,389 feet.
Does Summit Reservoir have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
Start at Summit Reservoir SWA, one of 1 boat ramp.
Which fish does CPW list at Summit Reservoir?
Fish on the list: black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and trout.
Are there extra rules at Summit Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. It has its own brochure entry too, printed above.
Is a second-rod stamp needed at Summit 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.
Are catchable trout released into Summit Reservoir?
Stocking report: 4 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2026, 1 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest April 17, 2026.
Is there a fly shop near Summit Reservoir?
Drive about 9 miles to Doc's Marina McPhee.
Is Summit Reservoir fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as yes; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for Summit Reservoir
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.