Turquoise Lake Fishing
A 1,756-acre Colorado lake in Lake County at 9,873 feet.
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Turquoise Lake: setting, size and how to reach it
Turquoise Lake spreads over roughly 1,756 acres of Lake County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 9,873 feet above sea level. San Isabel National Forest manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Leadville North, near 3 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southeast Region water.
CPW records brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access easy; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has 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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Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from Turquoise Lake.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Turquoise Lake
- Matchless Ramp on Turquoise Lakeboat ramp, ANS inspection
Atlas fishing locations at Turquoise Lake
- Turquoise Lake fishing access near Leadville Northeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 9,873 ft
When the Turquoise Lake ramp is crowded
- East Ramp on Twin Lakes LowerTwin Lakes Lower, 12 miles south
- Clear Creek Reservoir SWAClear Creek Reservoir, 18 miles south
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply gauge at Turquoise Lake
Bureau of Reclamation (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for Turquoise Lake At Sugarloaf Dam Near Leadville Co (station TURQLACO), 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 Turquoise Lake can change by the week.
Harvest rules for Turquoise 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 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; Turquoise Lake sits in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Turquoise Lake.
Brochure rules for Turquoise Lake
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Turquoise Reservoir | Bag and possession limit for lake trout is 2. | 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.
Trout stocking dates at Turquoise Lake
CPW put Turquoise Lake on its weekly catchable trout report 13 listings; the most recent listing is dated July 31, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| July 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 15, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| April 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 29, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 15, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 1, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| July 11, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 30, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 20, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 18, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast 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.
How Turquoise Lake measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Turquoise Lake | 1,756 | 9,873 | 1 | yes | |
| Crystal Lakes | 5 miles south | 9 | 9,420 | 0 | |
| Tennessee Lake, West, Upper | 6 miles northwest | 16 | 11,847 | 0 | |
| Timberline Lake | 6 miles west | 26 | 10,865 | 0 | |
| Virginia Lake | 7 miles west | 3 | 11,421 | 0 | |
| Windsor Lake | 7 miles west | 21 | 11,629 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Turquoise Lake
Other reservoirs within a drive of Turquoise Lake
- Crystal Lakes5 miles south
- Tennessee Lake, West, Upper6 miles northwest
- Timberline Lake6 miles west
- Virginia Lake7 miles west
- Windsor Lake7 miles west
Where to buy line and lures near Turquoise Lake
- Colorado Angling Companybait and tackle shop, Minturn, 23 miles
- Minturn Anglersfly shop, Minturn, 23 miles
- Breckenridge Outfitterssporting goods store, Summit, 23 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
- Wild Willow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 25 miles
Outfitters who fish Turquoise Lake
- Minturn Anglers LLCfishing guide, Minturn
- Mountain Anglerfishing guide, Breckenridge, (970) 453-4665
- The Affable Angler Corp.fishing guide, Breckenridge
- Colorado Fly Fishing Guidesfly fishing guide, Leadville, (866) 908-7547
- Stonefly Angler LLCfly fishing guide, Breckenridge
Beds and gas close to Turquoise Lake
- Leadville4 miles
- Minturn19 miles
- Breckenridge24 miles
County guides that cover Turquoise Lake
- Lake Countyseat: Leadville
Piscifun tackle sized for Turquoise Lake
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Reservoirs and creeks near Turquoise Lake in photos
Photo: PEO ACWA, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Mark Crockett, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Before you drive to Turquoise Lake, read these
Where in Colorado is Turquoise Lake?
CPW maps it in Lake County, CPW Southeast Region, about 3 miles from Leadville North.
How many acres does Turquoise Lake cover on CPW maps?
Close to 1,756 acres by the CPW outline, at about 9,873 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Turquoise Lake?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Matchless Ramp on Turquoise Lake is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Turquoise Lake?
CPW lists brown trout, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Turquoise Lake?
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 Turquoise Lake on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list Turquoise Lake for trout?
The report carries 13 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (5 in 2026, 5 in 2025, 3 in 2024); latest July 31, 2026.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Turquoise Lake?
Closest on our list: Colorado Angling Company, 23 miles.
What does the latest reading at Turquoise Lake show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at Turquoise Lake?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Turquoise Lake an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.