Twin Lakes Lower Fishing
A 1,708-acre Colorado lake in Lake County at 9,204 feet.
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A quick portrait of Twin Lakes Lower
Measured from the CPW water layer, Twin Lakes Lower is a lake of some 1,708 acres in Lake County. Expect thin air: this water sits near 9,204 feet. The surrounding property is San Isabel National Forest, per CPW. Twin Lakes is the nearest Census place to the shore, near 2 miles off. Fisheries staff of the CPW Southeast Region oversee it.
The CPW species field names brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout. CPW maps 1 boat ramp on it. Craft permitted, per CPW: Motor boats (gasoline). 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 Twin Lakes Lower, 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 Twin Lakes Lower
- East Ramp on Twin Lakes Lowerboat ramp, ANS inspection
Mapped access at Twin Lakes Lower
- Twin Lakes, San Isabel National Foresteasy access, 9,204 ft
Boat ramps in reach of Twin Lakes Lower
- Clear Creek Reservoir SWAClear Creek Reservoir, 6 miles southeast
- Matchless Ramp on Turquoise LakeTurquoise Lake, 12 miles north
- Railroad Bridge Boat Rampboat ramp, condition good, 14 miles southeast
- Buena Vista SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW, 20 miles southeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Level telemetry for Twin Lakes Lower
Bureau of Reclamation (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for Twin Lakes Reservoir, Co (station TWIRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Low storage at Twin Lakes Lower can leave ramps high and dry late in summer.
Limits a warden checks at Twin Lakes Lower
| 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 |
For the statewide limits chart, Twin Lakes Lower counts as in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages water. Unless listed in the brochure special regulations, Twin Lakes Lower follows the statewide chart.
Local fishing rules at Twin Lakes Lower
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes | Bag and possession limit for lake trout is 1. Lake trout 22–34 inches long must be returned to the water immediately. | 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.
Stocking report listings for Twin Lakes Lower
Twin Lakes Lower appears 13 listings on the CPW trout report, most recently July 31, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| July 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 5, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| April 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 29, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 1, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| July 11, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| June 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| May 30, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| April 25, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southeast Region |
| August 20, 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.
Nearby water compared with Twin Lakes Lower
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Twin Lakes Lower | 1,708 | 9,204 | 1 | yes | |
| Twin Lakes Upper | 2 miles west | 764 | 9,185 | 0 | yes |
| Mount Elbert Forebay | 2 miles northwest | 276 | 9,639 | 0 | yes |
| Hallenbeck Ponds | 3 miles northwest | 7 | 10,394 | 0 | |
| Hayden Meadows Reservoir | 6 miles north | 6 | 9,305 | 0 | |
| Clear Creek Reservoir | 6 miles southeast | 405 | 8,880 | 1 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Within a short drive of Twin Lakes Lower
Further reservoirs a short haul from Twin Lakes Lower
- Twin Lakes Upper2 miles west
- Mount Elbert Forebay2 miles northwest
- Hallenbeck Ponds3 miles northwest
- Hayden Meadows Reservoir6 miles north
- Clear Creek Reservoir6 miles southeast
Tackle counters on the way to Twin Lakes Lower
- UpRiver Fly Fishingfly shop, Buena Vista, 20 miles
- Ark Anglersfly shop, Buena Vista, 20 miles
- Taylor Park Marinamarina, Almont, 22 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 27 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 27 miles
- Wild Willow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 27 miles
Fishing outfitters by Twin Lakes Lower
- Aspen Trout Guides, Inc.fishing guide, Aspen
- Elk Mountain Expeditions LLC / Elk Mountain Anglingfishing guide, Aspen
- Aspen Flyfishing Guide Service Incfly fishing guide, Aspen
- Colorado Fly Fishing Guidesfly fishing guide, Leadville, (866) 908-7547
- Salida Fly LLCfly fishing guide, Buena Vista
Where to stay for a Twin Lakes Lower trip
- Leadville11 miles
- Buena Vista20 miles
- Aspen28 miles
Which county pages list Twin Lakes Lower
- Lake Countyseat: Leadville
Piscifun reels and grips for Twin Lakes Lower
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A camera tour of the water by Twin Lakes Lower
Photo: Sayamindu Dasgupta, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jpmcmahon1, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Straight answers about Twin Lakes Lower
Which CPW region covers Twin Lakes Lower?
The outline falls in Lake County, CPW Southeast Region, about 2 miles from Twin Lakes.
How many acres does the CPW outline give Twin Lakes Lower?
Around 1,708 acres of water, at about 9,204 feet.
Does Twin Lakes Lower have a CPW-mapped boat ramp?
Start at East Ramp on Twin Lakes Lower, one of 1 boat ramp.
Which fish does CPW list at Twin Lakes Lower?
Fish on the list: brown trout, cutbow, lake trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout.
Are there extra rules at Twin Lakes Lower?
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 Twin Lakes Lower?
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 Twin Lakes Lower?
Stocking report: 13 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (5 in 2026, 6 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest July 31, 2026.
Is there a fly shop near Twin Lakes Lower?
Drive about 20 miles to UpRiver Fly Fishing.
Is there a level gauge at Twin Lakes Lower?
Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry report it; see above.
Is Twin Lakes Lower fished through the ice?
CPW shows ice fishing listed as yes; carry picks and test thickness.
Circle a weekend for Twin Lakes Lower
Check the bag before a fish goes on the stringer.