Totten Reservoir Fishing
A 225-acre Colorado reservoir in Montezuma County at 6,153 feet.
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A quick portrait of Totten Reservoir
Measured from the CPW water layer, Totten Reservoir is a reservoir of some 225 acres in Montezuma County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 6,153 feet. The surrounding property is Totten Reservoir SWA, per CPW. Cortez is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 3 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Southwest Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike and walleye. 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.
The state posts a fish consumption advisory for Totten Reservoir: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Listed fish for Totten 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 Totten Reservoir
- Totten Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CPW
Mapped access at Totten Reservoir
- Totten Reservoir fishing access near Cortezeasy access, stocked: warmwater, 6,153 ft
Boat ramps in reach of Totten Reservoir
- Puett Reservoir SWAPuett Reservoir, 7 miles northeast
- Summit Reservoir SWASummit Reservoir, 9 miles northeast
- McPhee Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 10 miles north
- Narraguinnep Reservoir SWANarraguinnep Reservoir, 10 miles northwest
- House Creek Ramp on Narraguinnep ReservoirNarraguinnep Reservoir, 11 miles north
- Joe Moore Reservoir SWAJoe Moore Reservoir, 12 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits a warden checks at Totten 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, Totten Reservoir counts as west of the Continental Divide water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, Totten Reservoir follows the statewide chart.
Local fishing rules at Totten Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Totten Reservoir | Min. size for largemouth bass is 15 inches long. | p. 38 |
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.
Record catches logged at Totten Reservoir
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sunfish, bluegill | weight | 2-9.5 (lbs.-ozs.) | Gregory Wallace | 2019 |
CPW state records by weight and catch-and-release length, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado records.
Nearby water compared with Totten Reservoir
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Totten Reservoir | 225 | 6,153 | 1 | ||
| Denny Lake | 1 mile southwest | 17 | 6,113 | 0 | |
| Puett Reservoir | 8 miles northeast | 155 | 7,272 | 1 | |
| Summit Reservoir | 9 miles northeast | 279 | 7,389 | 1 | yes |
| Narraguinnep Reservoir | 10 miles northwest | 533 | 6,684 | 3 | |
| McPhee Reservoir | 12 miles north | 4,289 | 6,927 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Within a short drive of Totten Reservoir
Further reservoirs a short haul from Totten Reservoir
- Denny Lake1 mile southwest
- Puett Reservoir8 miles northeast
- Summit Reservoir9 miles northeast
- Narraguinnep Reservoir10 miles northwest
- McPhee Reservoir12 miles north
Tackle counters on the way to Totten Reservoir
- Doc's Marina McPheemarina, Dolores, 3 miles
- On the Hook Bait & Tackle Shopbait and tackle shop, Cortez, 3 miles
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 27 miles
Fishing outfitters by Totten 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
Where to stay for a Totten Reservoir trip
- Cortez3 miles
- Mancos13 miles
- Durango37 miles
Which county pages list Totten Reservoir
- Montezuma Countyseat: Cortez
Piscifun reels and grips for Totten Reservoir
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A camera tour of the water by Totten Reservoir
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Steven Baltakatei Sandoval, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
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Straight answers about Totten Reservoir
Which CPW region covers Totten Reservoir?
The outline falls in Montezuma County, CPW Southwest Region, about 3 miles from Cortez.
How many acres does the CPW outline give Totten Reservoir?
Around 225 acres of water, at about 6,153 feet.
Does Totten Reservoir have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
Start at Totten Reservoir SWA, one of 1 boat ramp.
Which fish does CPW list at Totten Reservoir?
Fish on the list: bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye and yellow perch.
Are there extra rules at Totten 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 Totten 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 Totten Reservoir?
No catchable trout listing exists for it.
Is there a fly shop near Totten Reservoir?
Drive about 3 miles to Doc's Marina McPhee.
Did a CPW record fish come out of Totten Reservoir?
sunfish, bluegill, weight 2-9.5 (lbs.-ozs.), by Gregory Wallace in 2019.
Is Totten Reservoir fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as yes; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for Totten Reservoir
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.