Trappers Lake Fishing
A 323-acre Colorado lake in Garfield County at 9,632 feet.
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A quick portrait of Trappers Lake
Measured from the CPW water layer, Trappers Lake is a lake of some 323 acres in Garfield County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 9,632 feet. The surrounding property is Flat Tops Wilderness Area, per CPW. Carbonate is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 18 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Northwest Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names brook trout and native cutthroat trout. Craft permitted, per CPW: Non-motorized. Atlas notes: medium to reach, medium pressure. On ice: ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Listed fish for Trappers Lake, 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 Trappers Lake
For Trappers Lake, the ramp layer is empty; nearby ramps are listed.
Mapped access at Trappers Lake
- Trappers Lake fishing access near Carbonatemedium access, 9,632 ft
Boat ramps in reach of Trappers Lake
- Yamcolo Boat RampYamcolo Reservoir, 10 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits a warden checks at Trappers 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 |
For the statewide limits chart, Trappers Lake counts as west of the Continental Divide water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, Trappers Lake follows the statewide chart.
Local fishing rules at Trappers Lake
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Trappers Lake | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and max. size for cutthroat is 2, 11 inches long. Cutthroat over 11 inches long must be returned to water immediately. No bag or possession limit for brook trout. Fishing prohibited in inlets and upstream for 0.5 miles. Fishing prohibited within 100 ft. of either side of | 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.
Nearby water compared with Trappers Lake
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trappers Lake | 323 | 9,632 | 0 | ||
| Lake Of The Woods | 2 miles northwest | 16 | 9,015 | 0 | |
| Smith Lake Upper | 7 miles northeast | 7 | 10,498 | 0 | |
| Bear Lake, Garfield County | 9 miles northeast | 55 | 9,741 | 0 | yes |
| Vaughn Lake | 10 miles north | 34 | 9,394 | 0 | |
| Yamcolo Reservoir | 10 miles northeast | 184 | 9,501 | 1 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Within a short drive of Trappers Lake
Further reservoirs a short haul from Trappers Lake
- Lake Of The Woods2 miles northwest
- Smith Lake Upper7 miles northeast
- Bear Lake, Garfield County9 miles northeast
- Vaughn Lake10 miles north
- Yamcolo Reservoir10 miles northeast
Tackle counters on the way to Trappers Lake
- Stagecoach Marinamarina, Oak Creek, 29 miles
Fishing outfitters by Trappers Lake
- Alpine Anglingfishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-9245
- Alpine Angling/Adventure Travel,Incfishing guide, Carbondale
- Elevated Angling, LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Into The Wild Kayak Fishing Adventures LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Scotts High Country Anglers LLCfishing guide, Parachute
- Crystal Fly Shop & Decorfly fishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-5741
- Harcourt Fly Fishing 3G LLCfly fishing guide, New Castle, (970) 404-1339
Where to stay for a Trappers Lake trip
- Gypsum29 miles
- Glenwood Springs31 miles
- Eagle32 miles
Which county pages list Trappers Lake
- Garfield Countyseat: Glenwood Springs
Piscifun reels and grips for Trappers Lake
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A camera tour of the water by Trappers Lake

Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0

Photo: Tony Webster, CC BY 2.0

Photo: BLMUtah, Public domain

Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Straight answers about Trappers Lake
Which CPW region covers Trappers Lake?
The outline falls in Garfield County, CPW Northwest Region, about 18 miles from Carbonate.
How many acres does the CPW outline give Trappers Lake?
Around 323 acres of water, at about 9,632 feet.
Does Trappers Lake have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
None on file; see the nearby list.
Which fish does CPW list at Trappers Lake?
Fish on the list: brook trout and native cutthroat trout.
Are there extra rules at Trappers Lake?
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 Trappers 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.
Are catchable trout released into Trappers Lake?
No catchable trout listing exists for it.
Is there a fly shop near Trappers Lake?
Drive about 29 miles to Stagecoach Marina.
Is Trappers Lake fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as no; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for Trappers Lake
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.

