Learn to Fish
![A CPW employee poses with fishing clinic posters, rods and other supplies.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/fab583f0-9f6d-4696-ab3e-71ce936635b7/web/2022-crappie-fishing-clinic-Jason-Duetsch-1.jpg?w=768&itok=J_06hqwP)
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![Three anglers fish off a pier at Yampa River State Park. Three anglers fish off a pier at Yampa River State Park.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/fb26462e-4695-45e6-b87c-c8433dd5f3e4/web/Yampa-River-Doskocil-023.jpg?w=768&itok=UPdh9Iwo)
Three anglers fish off a pier at Yampa River State Park.
Fishing Basics
Purchase a Fishing License
Anyone aged 16 and older will need a fishing license.
![An angler leans over to choose a fishing rod. An angler leans over to choose a fishing rod.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/60dfa051-bb0a-4821-9188-a60a103b153f/web/Youth-Anglers-Wayne-D-Lewis-DSC_0798.jpg?w=1024&itok=sGKO1wPl)
Fishing Basics
Pick Your Rod and Reel
A closed-face spincast rod and reel are great for learning how to fish.
Choose Your Bait
Different species of fish have different appetites. Choose your bait based on what kind of fish are in the water and what you are trying to catch. Look at the list of waters in the Fishing brochure for any additional bait restrictions.
Trout
Flies, Lures, Salmon eggs, Jigs, Worms
Sunfish and Crappie
Jigs, Worms, Mealworms, Salmon eggs
Catfish
Stink bait, Worms, Hot dogs, Chicken livers
Bass
Jigs, Worms, Lures, Soft baits
![An angler adds bait to a hook with his fishing gear and tackle box laid out. An angler adds bait to a hook with his fishing gear and tackle box laid out.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/c0c6ec88-88c2-46a5-9bc3-7979f7173360/web/cherry-creek-Schendel-063.jpg?w=1024&itok=CbGxY8pm)
Fishing Basics
Get Your Gear
You need just a few basic items to get started fishing:
- Fishing line, 4 to 8 pounds
- Hemostats or needle-nose pliers; These help you dislodge hooks and grip line while tying knots.
- Sinkers, 1/8 oz
- Bobbers
- Hooks, No. 8 or No. 10
- Swivels, No. 10: Swivels keep your line from twisting.
Know Your Knots
There are lots of fishing knots. The Improved Clinch Knot is a good, basic knot to get you started.
![How to tie a clinch knot. Illustration by Wayne D. Lewis/CPW.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/d4508e7b-f6a1-4ca0-a6d8-95afae8e79ed/web/clinch-knot-for-howard-horton-final.jpg?w=768&itok=VICvnCDn)
- Thread the line through eye of the hook. Double back and make five or more turns around the line.
- Bring the end of line back through the first loop formed behind the eye. Then go through the big loop.
- Wet knot and pull the tag end to tighten down the coils. Slide it tight against the eye, clip excess line.
Fishing Locations
Where should you go? CPW offer accessible fishing location, fishing at state parks and state wild areas. The Colorado fishing atlas is also a handy tool for searching for fishing opportunities by species, specific interest or proximity to your home or destination.
Accessible Fishing Spots
Accessible fishing spots around the state include 37 state parks as well as other locations around the states and include accessible fishing piers, paved trails, restrooms, docks, depending on the location.
Find an Accessible Fishing SpotFishing at State Parks
20 state parks offer lake, pond, stream, or river fishing within the park.
Find a State parkBodies of Water
Browse waters or search by water type. The Bodies of Waters list includes CPW Quality Waters, a new category of fishable waters that our talented team of fish management biologists identified and nominated based on their fish sampling records, creel surveys, and professional biological assessments
Find out moreState Wildlife Areas
State wildlife areas (SWAs) are state or privately owned lands that offer state-managed, wildlife-related recreation to the public. Over 190 SWAs offer fishing.
Find an SWAColorado Fishing Atlas
The Colorado Fishing Atlas, the latest interactive mapping tool offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, allows users to search for fishing opportunities by species, specific interest or proximity to your home or destination.
Visit the Fishing AltasReel it in and Pack it Up
To maintain good fishing, the state regulates the number of fish you can keep and have in your possession. Check the current Fishing brochure below for bag limits and other regulations. Remember a net, ice and a cooler for keeping your catch.
![young angler with fish young angler with fish](https://cpw.widen.net/content/e5dac72c-3750-48fa-8f3e-45dbf24d6e98/web/North-Sterling-Schendel-042.jpg?w=480&itok=GKiDNlIu)
Bait Fishing
This popular angling method uses a bait fishing rig and a fishing hook.
![An angler standing next to his boat holding a long handled net. An angler standing next to his boat holding a long handled net.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/b4f079fa-50e5-4278-8d13-a1c713fdbdda/web/outdoor-adventure-expo-delliveneri-127.jpg?w=480&itok=W3BhRblD)
Use a Net
Fish are slippery. Drop the fish into the net after you reel it in.
![A woman leaning on a cooler. A woman leaning on a cooler.](https://cpw.widen.net/content/a249c8d3-e55e-46d6-b3ef-eb9a36934908/web/Hunt-BG-Rifle-J-Duetsch-031.jpg?w=480&itok=yvxq0Z2s)
Bring a Cooler
Bring a cooler with ice to store your fish in. If left out, the fish may spoil.
Increase Your Fishing Skills
![young angler with fish young angler with fish](https://cpw.widen.net/content/2fed0c0e-679c-4d4c-958b-97fdcd82ee76/web/Elkhead-SCHENDEL-065.jpg?itok=WEKv3YOs)
Bait Fishing
This popular angling method uses a bait fishing rig and a fishing hook.
![Fly Fishing Fly Fishing](https://cpw.widen.net/content/5ca98cee-c7dc-4835-b1ee-710cace20fb7/web/flyfisherman-by-wayne-d-lewis-dsc_0446.jpg?w=480&itok=2OXtMG7r)
Fly Fishing
This popular angling method that involves using a lightweight artificial fly to catch fish.
![ice fishing ice fishing](https://cpw.widen.net/content/3662d210-78b5-40e2-a10f-e8cb6ea8e331/web/ice-fishing-Dolder-010.jpg?itok=bYaAoB7k)
Ice Fishing
This winter activity that involves drilling a hole in the ice and dropping a fishing line through it in order to catch fish.
Colorado Fishing Brochure
Colorado Fishing Brochure
The online Fishing brochure is the most up-to-date version.
Download the BrochurePesca en Colorado (En Español)
El folleto de Pesca en línea es la versión más actualizada.
Descargue el folleto