Vega Reservoir Fishing
A 855-acre Colorado reservoir in Mesa County at 7,968 feet.
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Getting to know Vega Reservoir
Its mapped shoreline gives Vega Reservoir close to 855 acres, all charted in Mesa County. At around 7,968 feet, it sits below the high peaks. CPW files it under Vega State Park. The closest town on the Census list is Collbran, some 9 miles away. It belongs to the CPW Northwest Region.
Its fish on the CPW roster: brook trout, brown trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout. Boaters have 3 boat ramps to choose from. CPW sets the boating rule as Motor boats (gasoline). The Fishing Atlas rates access as easy and fishing pressure as high. Through the ice season: 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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These Vega Reservoir species rest on CPW listings and records, not a full net survey.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Ramps CPW maps at Vega Reservoir
- Early Settlers Ramp on Vega Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Vega State Park
- Island Ramp on Vega Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Vega State Park
- Oak Point Ramp on Vega Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Vega State Park
Fishing access points at Vega Reservoir
- Vega Reservoir fishing access near Collbraneasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 7,968 ft
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
How full Vega Reservoir is
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Vega Reservoir Near Collbran, Co | 7,934.63 ft lake elevation | Oct 27 8:00 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 8:33 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Water rights, not anglers, set the level at Vega Reservoir.
Fish legal to carry home from Vega 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 |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts Vega Reservoir west of the Continental Divide. Waters stay open day and night all year in Colorado; the chart rows set the bag at Vega Reservoir.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The stocking record for Vega Reservoir
CPW logged Vega Reservoir 1 listing on its stocking list, the newest dated October 31, 2025.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| October 31, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northeast 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.
Vega Reservoir beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vega Reservoir | 855 | 7,968 | 3 | yes | |
| Youngs Creek Lake | 7 miles south | 8 | 10,197 | 0 | |
| Kenny Creek Reservoir | 8 miles south | 19 | 9,909 | 0 | |
| Monument Reservoir #1 | 9 miles south | 34 | 10,196 | 0 | |
| Colby Horse Park Reservoir | 10 miles south | 49 | 10,127 | 0 | |
| Finney Cut Lake #2 | 10 miles south | 8 | 10,497 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Around Vega Reservoir on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near Vega Reservoir
- Youngs Creek Lake7 miles south
- Kenny Creek Reservoir8 miles south
- Monument Reservoir #19 miles south
- Colby Horse Park Reservoir10 miles south
- Finney Cut Lake #210 miles south
Stores that stock up Vega Reservoir trips
- Timberline Sporting Goodsbait and tackle shop, Rifle, 21 miles
Hiring a guide for Vega Reservoir
- Western Anglers Guide Service LLCfishing guide, Grand Junction
- Colorado West Slope Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Grand Junction
Nearest towns to Vega Reservoir
- Battlement Mesa19 miles
- Parachute21 miles
- Rifle22 miles
Vega Reservoir on the county pages
- Mesa Countyseat: Grand Junction
Piscifun gear to pack for Vega Reservoir
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Photo views of fishing water near Vega Reservoir
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Afoxland at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado anglers ask this about Vega Reservoir
In what part of the state is Vega Reservoir?
Mesa County, CPW Northwest Region, about 9 miles from Collbran.
Is Vega Reservoir a big reservoir?
About 855 acres, at about 7,968 feet.
Can a trailered boat get onto Vega Reservoir from a mapped ramp?
There are 3 boat ramps; Island Ramp on Vega Reservoir heads the list.
Are trout part of the fishery at Vega Reservoir?
Expect brook trout, brown trout, native cutthroat trout, rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and trout.
What bag limit does the CPW chart set at Vega Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Is a CPW license required to fish Vega 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.
Has CPW listed Vega Reservoir for stocking recently?
It shows 1 listing on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025); latest October 31, 2025.
Which store on the list is nearest Vega Reservoir?
Timberline Sporting Goods, about 21 miles away.
Who reports the water level at Vega Reservoir?
Above: the USGS gauge.
Is Vega Reservoir an ice fishing spot?
Its winter entry reads ice fishing listed as yes; drill test holes first.
Put Vega Reservoir on this season's list
License prices and the full limits chart are on one page.