Fishing near Loveland, Colorado
Larimer County, population 76,378.
- under a mileto nearest lake
- 8ramps nearby
Pick for crappiePiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Big Thompson River: G. Lamar, CC BY 2.0
Where Loveland anglers go
Loveland, a city in Larimer County, had 76,378 residents in 2020. The closest lake page is Heinricy Lake, under a mile to the northeast. Boyd Lake covers 1,575 acres, more than any other lake here. The nearest CPW boat ramp is Main Boat Ramp on Boyd Lake, 2 miles away.
A 14 miles drive reaches the Big Thompson River. The South Platte River, 24 miles away, carries the nearest Gold Medal reach. Winter anglers have 2 lakes below marked for ice fishing. CPW listed nearby lakes and streams 21 times on its stocking report since 2024.
Census 2020 population and Gazetteer point for Loveland; distances are straight lines.
Lakes near Loveland
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heinricy Lake | under a mile northeast | 42 | 4,969 | no motors | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Loveland Lake | 1 mile west | 440 | 5,010 | ice fishing, no boats | |
| North Lake Park Pond | 2 miles west | 3 | 5,011 | no boats, trout stocked | |
| Boyd Lake | 2 miles northeast | 1,575 | 4,959 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish |
| Dragonfly Pond, Larimer County | 2 miles southwest | 10 | 4,959 | float tubes, trout stocked | |
| Bass Pond | 2 miles southwest | 23 | 4,947 | float tubes |
Rivers near Loveland
- Big Thompson River14 miles, 1 reach with special rules (10.7 mi); 1 public access property
- Left Hand Creek20 miles, 3 public access properties
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies and Boatable Waters species; CPW special-regulation and Gold Medal stream layers. Retrieved October 2026.
For the crappie herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 The water around Loveland, mapped
- Main Boat Ramp on Boyd LakeBoyd Lake, 2 miles
- Heron Cove on Boyd LakeBoyd Lake, 2 miles
- Boedecker Reservoir boat rampBoedecker Reservoir, 4 miles
- Lon Hagler boat ramp near LovelandLon Hagler Reservoir, 6 miles
- Lonetree Reservoir boat ramp near LovelandLonetree Reservoir, 7 miles
- South Bay Ramp #2 on Horsetooth ReservoirHorsetooth Reservoir, 8 miles
- South Bay Ramp #1 on Horsetooth ReservoirHorsetooth Reservoir, 8 miles
- Inlet Bay Ramp on Horsetooth ReservoirHorsetooth Reservoir, 9 miles
Walk-in fishing near Loveland
- Heinricy Lake fishing access near LovelandHeinricy Lake, under a mile
- Lake Loveland fishing access near LovelandLoveland Lake, 1 mile
- North Lake Park Pond fishing access near Loveland, Larimer County 4North Lake Park Pond, 2 miles
- North Lake Park Pond fishing access near Loveland, Larimer CountyNorth Lake Park Pond, 2 miles
- North Lake Park Pond fishing access near Loveland, Larimer County 2North Lake Park Pond, 2 miles
- North Lake Park Pond fishing access near Loveland, Larimer County 3North Lake Park Pond, 2 miles
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Catchable trout near Loveland
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lake Park Pond | 10 | 2026: 4, 2025: 4, 2024: 2 | Oct. 16, 2026 |
| Boyd Lake | 10 | 2026: 2, 2025: 4, 2024: 4 | June 12, 2026 |
| Dragonfly Pond, Larimer County | 1 | 2025: 1 | May 2, 2025 |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout, about 10 inches; each listing is a week the water appeared on the report, 2024 to October 2026); CPW publishes no numbers or sizes per water. Retrieved October 2026.
Gauge stations a short drive from Loveland
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Big Thompson River At Loveland, Co. | 5 cfs, 0.62 ft gage height | Oct 26 5:30 pm |
| Cache La Poudre Riv Ab Boxelder Crk Nr Timnath, Co | 249 cfs, 3.11 ft gage height | Oct 26 6:00 pm |
| Cache La Poudre River At Fort Collins, Co | 224 cfs, 2.08 ft gage height | Oct 26 6:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 26, 2026 6:32 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Tackle and guides for Loveland
Fly shops and bait stores around Loveland
- Boyd Lake Marina Incmarina, Loveland, 2 miles
- Elkhorn Fly Shopfly shop, Loveland, 3 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Lovelandsporting goods store, Loveland, 3 miles
- Peak Fishingbait and tackle shop, Loveland, 4 miles
- SCHEELS Johnstownsporting goods store, Johnstown, 4 miles
- Bass Pro Shops Lovelandsporting goods store, Loveland, 4 miles
- Bennetts Tacklebait and tackle shop, Berthoud, 7 miles
- St Peter's Fly Shop, 2008 East Harmony Roadfly shop, Fort Collins, 7 miles
Paid guides within reach of Loveland
- Fly Fishing the Rocky Mountainsfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (417) 860-4175
- Natural Drift Anglers LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Northern Colorado Fishing Outfitters LLCfishing guide, Fort Collins
- Sasquatch Fly Fishinfly fishing guide, Estes Park, (970) 586-3341
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA outfitter roster (business city or county). Retrieved October 2026.
CPW limits near Loveland
Budget $44.87 (adult resident), $124.01 (nonresident) or $12.96 (resident senior) for a season of fishing in Colorado. Day licenses are $18.07 and $21.90, resident price first. Run a second line only with the $14.24 second-rod stamp. Near Loveland the chart rows for the east slope apply.
| Species | Limit | 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 |
| 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 | 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 |
Statewide limits chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10. Lake and stream pages list special regulations.
Neighbors of Loveland
Communities within reach of Loveland
- Windsor9 miles
- Fort Collins9 miles
- Timnath10 miles
- Berthoud10 miles
- Johnstown11 miles
Loveland and the counties around it
- Larimer CountyCPW Northeast Region
A Piscifun kit for days on Loveland
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A photo lineup of the fish at Loveland
Photo: Jonathunder, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Photo by and (C)2007 Derek Ramsey ( Ram-Man ), CC BY-SA 2.5
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Day trips out of Loveland: the usual questions
Which lake can Loveland anglers reach first?
Heinricy Lake, under a mile northeast.
Which ramp do Loveland boaters use?
Main Boat Ramp on Boyd Lake, roughly 2 miles off.
Where can a Loveland angler fish without a boat?
Closest: Heinricy Lake fishing access near Loveland, under a mile (easy access, stocked: warmwater, 4,969 ft).
Is there a bait counter within a short drive of Loveland?
Boyd Lake Marina Inc, about 2 miles off.
Which Gold Medal stream is nearest Loveland?
The South Platte River, 24 miles away, with 24.1 Gold Medal miles.
What county holds Loveland?
Larimer County covers it.
Is there winter fishing near Loveland?
Loveland Lake, 1 mile away, is flagged for ice fishing in the CPW notes; check ice conditions locally.
Is there a closed season near Loveland?
All year, around the clock, apart from named closures.
What does a nonresident license cost for a Loveland trip?
A nonresident year is $124.01; the five-day license is $41.04 and one day $21.90.
Does CPW stock lakes near Loveland?
Yes; nearby waters appear 21 times on the CPW catchable trout report since 2024, most recently North Lake Park Pond on Oct. 16, 2026.
Try the streams around Loveland
Check the lake page for special regulations.