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John Martin Reservoir 23 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0 
Denver County 161 mi
Photo: Sergio Vassio, CC BY 2.0
Colorado lakes and reservoirs
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Thurston Reservoir Fishing
A 202-acre Colorado reservoir in Prowers County.
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of John Martin Reservoir: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Prowers County
Thurston Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Thurston Reservoir spreads over roughly 202 acres of Prowers County, by its mapped outline. Plan supplies in Wiley, near 6 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southeast Region water.
Launching happens at 1 boat ramp.
202acres
1boat ramps
1counties
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Launching a boat at Thurston Reservoir
- Thurston Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
When the Thurston Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Queens SWA near Wiley (east)Queens Reservoir, 5 miles north
- Queens SWA near Wiley (west)boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW, 8 miles northwest
- Queens SWA on Neenoshe Reservoir near Eads (south)Neenoshe Reservoir, 8 miles northwest
- Queens SWA on Neenoshe Reservoir near Eads (east)Neenoshe Reservoir, 8 miles north
- Queens SWA on Neenoshe Reservoir near Eads (north)Neenoshe Reservoir, 9 miles northwest
- East Boat Ramp on John Martin ReservoirJohn Martin Reservoir, 20 miles southwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply
Water supply gauge at Thurston Reservoir
0 acre-feetstorage, Thurston Reservoir
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Thurston Reservoir (station THURESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Colorado reservoirs rise with runoff and drop through irrigation season, so ramps at Thurston Reservoir can change by the week.
Limits
Harvest rules for Thurston 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 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Thurston Reservoir sits in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Thurston Reservoir.
Brochure rules for Thurston Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Thurston Reservoir | Trot-lines and jugs permitted. | 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.
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How Thurston Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thurston Reservoir | 202 | 1 | |||
| Queens Reservoir | 5 miles north | 1,268 | 3,876 | 3 | |
| Northgate Pond #1 | 8 miles south | 8 | 3,608 | 0 | yes |
| Northgate Pond #2 | 8 miles south | 6 | 3,605 | 0 | yes |
| Northgate Pond #3 | 8 miles south | 16 | 3,601 | 0 | yes |
| Nee Gronda Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 835 | 3,878 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Nearby
The ground surrounding Thurston Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Thurston Reservoir
- Queens Reservoir5 miles north
- Northgate Pond #18 miles south
- Northgate Pond #28 miles south
- Northgate Pond #38 miles south
- Nee Gronda Reservoir8 miles northwest
Where to buy line and lures near Thurston Reservoir
- The Tackle Boxbait and tackle shop, Hasty, 19 miles
Beds and gas close to Thurston Reservoir
- Lamar10 miles
- Las Animas34 miles
County guides that cover Thurston Reservoir
- Prowers Countyseat: Lamar
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Piscifun tackle sized for Thurston Reservoir
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In photos
Reservoirs and creeks near Thurston Reservoir in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Sergio Vassio, CC BY 2.0
Answers
Before you drive to Thurston Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Thurston Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Prowers County, CPW Southeast Region, about 6 miles from Wiley.
How many acres does Thurston Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 202 acres by the CPW outline.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Thurston Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Thurston Reservoir SWA is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Thurston Reservoir?
CPW publishes no species list for it.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Thurston Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Extra rules from the brochure apply; they are above.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Thurston Reservoir on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list Thurston Reservoir for trout?
Not on the stocking report in recent years.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Thurston Reservoir?
Closest on our list: The Tackle Box, 19 miles.
What does the latest reading at Thurston Reservoir show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Give Thurston Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.