All guides and pages
Field-checked preparation guides, ramp and ANS references, and seasonal checklists for Western Slope and Colorado waters. Use the Interactive Water Finder below to filter by region, access style, or target species.
Interactive Colorado Water Map & Elevation Profile
Tap a pin for elevation and species. Tap "Show in finder" to filter the guide cards below. Map is a schematic, not to scale.
~4,700 ft · 25 min NW of GJ · Bass, crappie, catfish, rainbow trout. Check CPW ANS ramp hours.
Open Trip Kit →~4,750 ft · 28 min NW of GJ · Wakeless hand-launch & shore fishing for rainbow trout, bass, and bluegill.
Open Trip Kit →~4,720 ft · 15 min E of GJ · Four stocked gravel-pit lakes in De Beque Canyon.
Open Trip Kit →Island Acres, Corn Lake, Wildlife Area, Connected Lakes, and Fruita section prep + USGS 09095500 / 09163500.
Open Trip Kit →~10,000 ft · 50 min E of GJ · Cold-water trout across Island, Cobbett, Sunset, and Ward lakes.
Open Trip Kit →~5,960 ft · 1 hr 10 min NE of GJ · Walleye (18" min, bag 3, only 1 >= 21"), perch, pike, smallmouth, trout.
Latest Rifle Gap Reports →~7,990 ft · 55 min E of GJ · High-meadow rainbow & cutthroat fishery; premier Western Slope early ice.
Ice-On Watch →~7,519 ft · Colorado's largest reservoir · Lake trout, kokanee, perch, rainbow. Check Elk Creek & Lake Fork ramps.
Latest Blue Mesa Reports →Pleasure Park to Whitewater · Gold Medal tailwater & lower river wade/float preparation.
Live USGS 09152500 Gage →~6,520 ft · Clear SW Colorado reservoir for trout and kokanee; mandatory ANS inspection.
Open Trip Kit →~7,766 ft · Deep mountain reservoir above Basalt + live Fryingpan USGS 09080400 outflow link.
Open Trip Kit →~6,842 ft · Walk-in shore-only fishery; check Denver Water & CPW seasonal closure dates.
Open Trip Kit →Live Utilities & Weekly Water Desk
- Live USGS River Gages — Instantaneous discharge (cfs) and water temperature (°F/°C) for 6 Western Slope rivers.
- Colorado Ice-On Watch — Elevation cooling tiers, CPW clear-ice thickness checker, and pre-ice safety checklist.
- Colorado Fishing Reports — Weekly water reports and seasonal tactics.
- Colorado Fish Kitchen — Species cleaning, filleting, and cooking guides (145°F USDA safe internal temp).