Largemouth Bass in Colorado
largemouth bass under the 2026 CPW chart.
- 5 a daylimit
- 11 lb 6 ozrecord
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The Colorado file on Largemouth bass
CPW files largemouth bass with the bass group, and the 2026 statewide chart gives it 1 chart row. In waters statewide waters the chart sets daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate.
Weight record: 11 lb 6 oz, Echo Canyon Reservoir, 1997. Look for it on 123 water pages that list species. The special regulations mention it 58 times, led by Mesa County.
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| Chart row | Zone | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bass: Largemouth, Smallmouth, Spotted | Statewide | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026; the chart applies on every water not listed in the special regulations.
The Colorado record largemouth bass
On the scale
| Entry | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 11 lb 6 oz | 22.5 in | Jarrett Edwards | Echo Canyon Reservoir | Archuleta | 1997 |
Length category
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 22.5 in | Timothy Holt | Longview Pond (Private) | 2023 |
Heritage lengths through 2019
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Largemouth Bass | 28 in | Derek Mitchell | Rocky Mt. Arsenal |
A new length record must beat the current one, or 18 inches where no record exists (the Master Angler qualifying length).
CPW Fishing Awards and Records and the 2026 brochure pages 6 and 7, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado waters that change the largemouth bass limit
| Water and section | County | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| From the confluence with Hermosa Creek downstream to the state line: | La Plata | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| Blanca Wildlife Habitat Area (BLM Ponds) | Alamosa | Min. size for largemouth bass is 15 inches long. Fishing prohibited Feb. 15–July 15. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Garfield | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Eagle | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Grand | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Mesa | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| Connected Lake | Mesa | Bag, possession and min. size for largemouth bass is 2, 18 inches long. |
| Crawford Reservoir | Delta | Bag, possession limit and min. size for largemouth bass is one fish, 18 inches long. No bag or possession limit for yellow perch. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Dolores | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Mesa | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Montezuma | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Montrose | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| Duke Lake | Mesa | Bag, possession and min. size for largemouth bass is 2, 18 inches long. |
| From the I-70 Exit 147 bridge in Eagle downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River: | Eagle | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
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.
Spots across the state where largemouth bass show up
Ponds and reservoirs with largemouth bass
- John Martin Reservoir11,712 acres
- Meredith Reservoir5,114 acres
- McPhee Reservoir4,289 acres
- Pueblo Reservoir3,363 acres
- Dillon Reservoir3,345 acres
- North Sterling Reservoir2,752 acres
- Jackson Reservoir2,423 acres
- Prewitt Reservoir2,192 acres
- Green Mountain Reservoir2,111 acres
- Horsetooth Reservoir1,824 acres
- Barr Lake1,725 acres
- Neenoshe Reservoir1,660 acres
- Boyd Lake1,575 acres
- Jumbo Reservoir1,411 acres
- Chatfield Reservoir1,355 acres
- Standley Lake1,230 acres
- Henry Lake1,189 acres
- Carter Reservoir1,122 acres
- Cherry Creek Reservoir881 acres
- Trinidad Reservoir843 acres
- Nee Gronda Reservoir835 acres
- Aurora Reservoir763 acres
- Union Reservoir751 acres
- Elkhead Reservoir706 acres
CPW Boatable Waters and Quality Waters species fields and state record waters; largest waters first.
Species filed beside largemouth bass
- Smallmouth Bassbass
- Spotted Bassbass
- White Bassbass
- Striped Bassbass
- Wiperbass
High-country water around Largemouth Bass, photographed
Photo: Jay Miller from Fly to Eleven Mile Canyon just outside Colorado Springs, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Mshuang2, CC0 1.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Largemouth bass across Colorado: common questions
How many largemouth bass may I keep in Colorado?
Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate (statewide); special regulations can change it on listed waters.
Does CPW keep a record for largemouth bass?
11 lb 6 oz from Echo Canyon Reservoir, by Jarrett Edwards in 1997.
Which water pages on this site carry largemouth bass?
123 water pages here list it, starting with John Martin Reservoir, Meredith Reservoir and McPhee Reservoir.
Which Colorado waters single out largemouth bass?
Yes; 58 entries name it, for example From the confluence with Hermosa Creek downstream to the state line: in La Plata County.
Which category do largemouth bass fall under in Colorado?
Bass on the CPW species list; the chart zones that apply are statewide.
Can I fish for largemouth bass all year in Colorado?
Colorado waters are open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation closes them; 58 special-regulation entries mention it.
Which Colorado license covers largemouth bass?
Everyone 16 and older needs a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, or $18.07 for a resident one-day license.
How do I submit a largemouth bass to CPW?
Photograph it on a measuring device with a witness and release it; it must beat the current record, or 18 inches where none exists.
Plan a largemouth bass outing
Open a lake or stream above and read its rules first.