October 08, 2026

Horsetooth Reservoir Fishing Report, Week of October 8, 2026

Newer report, Friday, October 23, 2026: Horsetooth fishing report. The notes below are the October 8 record.

This is a dated weekly report built only from official gages and Colorado Parks and Wildlife notices, checked the evening of Oct. 8, 2026. It is not a bite report. We have no verified catch information for this water this week, so we do not guess at one. Re-check the linked sources the morning you go.

Horsetooth Reservoir, week of October 8

Horsetooth is drawing down slowly, a little over a tenth of a foot a day. Nothing official changed for anglers this week.

Conditions

  • Level: Colorado DWR HORTOOCO, Horsetooth Reservoir, read 5,412.11 ft and 122,563 acre-feet at 8:15 p.m. on Oct. 8. The daily average was 5,412.99 ft (124,137 acre-feet) on Oct. 1.
  • Outflow: Colorado DWR HOROUTCO, Horsetooth outflow, read 59.4 cfs at 8:15 p.m.
  • Closures: Not on the CPW closures list (linked from the CPW fishing page) as of Oct. 8.
  • Stocking: Not on the CPW trout stocking report as of the Oct. 2 update.
  • Water temp: No official water temperature source for the reservoir. We have none to report.
  • Ice: No CPW ice notice. Open water.

Reading the numbers

A slow fall drawdown keeps exposing a little more bank each day. Without a temperature reading or catch information we will not call the bite. Check the CPW Fishing Atlas for the species CPW lists here.

Access

Horsetooth is run by Larimer County, not CPW, so check the county for ramp hours, permits and inspections before you tow. Fish from legal public shoreline.

Safety

Horsetooth is deep, cold and can turn windy fast. Small craft should hug the shore and come in early when wind builds. Wear a life jacket on any boat, kayak or paddleboard, tell someone your plan and return time, and Clean, Drain, Dry between waters (how to clean your gear). See Colorado Safety Essentials and our cold-water shoulder-season checklist.

Regs

Read CPW rules and regulations, the CPW fishing hub and Colorado fishing eRegulations for the exact water before you keep a fish. We do not print bag or size limits. Our Colorado fishing laws page explains where to look.

Plan it

Background: Horsetooth prep, Front Range guide and wind go/no-go checklist. Build the day in the Trip Builder. VCO merch is made to order and ships from Grand Junction (VCO merch).

Sources for this post