CPW Quality Waters
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited to announce a new category of fishable waters that our talented team of fish management biologists has identified and nominated based on their fish sampling records, creel surveys, and professional biological assessments. The list is called Colorado Quality Waters.
CPW Quality Waters
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is excited to announce a new category of fishable waters that our talented team of fish management biologists has identified and nominated based on their fish sampling records, creel surveys, and professional biological assessments. The list is called Colorado Quality Waters.
Your Fishin' is Our Mission!
Something for Everyone
CPW's List of Quality Waters includes lakes and streams that contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species. The list below is organized by region, and we encourage anglers to plan a trip to hook into their next big fish!
Waters by Region
These lakes and streams contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species.
- Big Creek Lake Lower
- Boyd Lake
- Douglas Reservoir
- Jackson Lake
- Lake John
- North Fork Cache la Poudre River
- North Fork Cache la Poudre River
- South Platte River
- St. Vrain State Park - Bald Eagle Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Blue Heron Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Coot Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Mallard Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Pelican Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Pintail Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Red Tail Pond
- St. Vrain State Park - Sandpiper Pond
These lakes and streams contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species.
- Blue River
- Colorado River
- Eagle River
- Elk River
- Elkhead Reservoir
- Kelly Lake
- Lake Granby
- Rifle Gap Reservoir
- Roaring Fork River
- Stagecoach Reservoir
- Yampa River
These lakes and streams contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species.
- Adobe Creek Reservoir
- Beaver Creek
- Boss Lake Reservoir
- Cottonwood Creek
- Frantz Lake
- Grape Creek
- John Martin Reservoir
- Martin Lake
- Monument Reservoir
- Nee Noshe Reservoir
- North Lake
- South Arkansas River
These lakes and streams contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species.
- Blue Mesa Reservoir
- Conejos River
- Dolores River
- Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Lake Fork Gunnison River
- Miramonte Reservoir
- Rio Grande River
- Rio Grande River
- Taylor Park Reservoir
- Taylor River
- Treasure Creek
- Uncompahgre River
- Uncompahgre River
- Vallecito Reservoir
Quality Waters vs Gold Medal Waters
Quality Waters are below the threshold to be considered Gold Medal, but they are recognized because of their fantastic and diverse fisheries. Learn more about Colorado's Gold Medal Waters.