Species of Fish in Colorado
| Cutthroat Trout… | the greenback subspecies is the official state fish |
|---|---|
| Brook Trout… | a very prolific fish |
| Lake Trout… | the largest trout |
| Kokanee Salmon… | the land-locked Sockeye |
| Mountain Whitefish… | another native |
Contents
What fish can you find in Colorado?
Native Fish of Colorado
- Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis)
- Colorado River Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus)
- Greenback Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias)
- Green Sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) and Orangespotted Sunfish (Lepomis humilis)
What is the most common fish to catch in Colorado?
Another long ago introduced species, the yellow perch may be Colorado’s most abundant game fish and one of the most table worthy. Yellow perch have two separate dorsal fins with large vertical dark stripes on their yellowish sides. These fish can be found in large schools and are caught by using bait or small spinners.
How many species of fish are in Colorado?
101 fish species
Colorado is home to 55 species of fish reported in the riverine habitat that includes native and introduced. Now Colorado offers 101 fish species for fishing in the different headwater like the Colorado River, Arkansas River, Rio Grande, and the South Platte River.
What kind of fish live in the Colorado River?
Daily and seasonal flows generally vary between 2,000 and 20,000 cubic feet per second. Game fish species include striped bass, small- and largemouth bass, channel catfish, rainbow trout, bluegill, and redear sunfish.
Does Colorado have bass?
All of these beautiful places have trout, but they also have some great smallmouth and largemouth bass and/or walleye fishing. Besides our major reservoirs, Colorado is dotted with reclaimed gravel quarries, most commonly along the various river corridors. These are home to tons of bass, panfish and catfish.
What is the biggest fish in Colorado?
The state’s heaviest fish ever reeled in and recorded is a 57-pound grass carp. The monster emerged in 2013 from Cottonwood Park Lake in Lakewood. It was 47 inches long. Weighing in second is the 50-pound lake trout battled in 2007 at Blue Mesa Reservoir in western Colorado.
Can you eat fish you catch in Colorado?
Not to worry! You can still safely eat the fish you catch – and don’t forget that eating fish has many health benefits. The fish in Colorado are routinely tested for mercury levels.
Is there salmon in Colorado?
Colorado is home to a unique salmon species called the Kokanee.These landlocked salmon are close relatives to the Pacific sockeye salmon. They have a similar reproductive process that includes migrating upstream into moving water to spawn.
Is there tilapia in Colorado?
Tilapia culture is legal in Colorado. There is an active community of tilapia growers and educators in Colorado.
Does Colorado have sturgeon fish?
no, serously.
Are there GAR in Colorado?
Several different species of gar (spotted, long-nosed, short-nosed, and even a few alligator gar) can also be targeted in the Colorado. Despite the proximity to Austin, the Colorado River gets very little fishing pressure.
Where can you find catfish in Colorado?
Try your luck at Adobe Creek Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, Echo Canyon Reservoir, Hertha Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Lathrop State Park, Navajo Reservoir, North Sterling Reservoir, Pueblo Reservoir, Sloan Lake and Standley Lake.
What is the best trout bait?
The best trout bait will be something that imitates the natural food found in a trout’s diet. There are many trout baits available but the 5 best trout baits are worms, fish eggs, flies, artificial baits, minnows, and live baits.
Is the Colorado River Good fishing?
The lower section of the Colorado River is best fished by drift boat. The Colorado supports a large population of brown and rainbow trout. Check with local outfitters to find out what’s hatching, but nymph and streamer fishing are typically the most productive way to hook into these large fish.
Are there crayfish in the Colorado River?
No crayfish species are native to the Colorado River Basin (CRB), including the portion of the state of Colorado west of the Continental Divide.
Are there smallmouth in Colorado?
The name “smallie” seems to have stuck as the colloquial favorite here in Colorado, and many of the pristine lakes and reservoirs in Colorado have smallies in abundant supply. The smallmouth bass shares much of the same habitat with its largemouth cousins, but smallies generally tend to enjoy clearer and colder water.
What do Colorado bass eat?
Largemouth bass eat minnows, carp, and practically any other available fish species including their own. Young largemouth fall prey to yellow perch, walleyes, northern pike, and muskies.
What is the biggest bass caught in Colorado?
This is Colorado’s original fishing record program.
Applications can be sent to:
| Species | Largemouth Bass |
|---|---|
| Weight | 11.38 |
| Location | Echo Canyon Reservoir (Archuleta County) |
| Angler | Jarrett Edwards |
Can you fish at night in Colorado?
Except as otherwise provided in these regulations, all waters of the state shall be open to fishing using all manners of take day and night, year around.
Where are the biggest catfish in Colorado?
Lake Pueblo State Park
Randy Stillwell, 66, now holds the record for the biggest blue catfish caught in Colorado. Stillwell caught the fish around 2 p.m. Sunday in Lake Pueblo State Park. The massive fish measures 38 and 5/8 inches long and weighs 29.132 pounds, with a 25-inch girth.
