It’s a fishing day

Horsetooth Reservoir fishing conditions · Colorado

Today, 5 am–11 pmSmallmouth bass

The bite peaks at 68.

Log a trip here
Right now: 60 for smallmouth bass, marginalTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Smallmouth bass, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 601 am
  2. 60
  3. 60
  4. 604 am
  5. 65
  6. 68
  7. 687 am
  8. 68
  9. 68
  10. 6810 am
  11. 68
  12. 68
  13. 681 pm
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 684 pm
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 687 pm
  20. 68
  21. 68
  22. 6810 pm
  23. 60
  24. 60Tue
  25. 601 am
  26. 60
  27. 60
  28. 604 am
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 587 am
  32. 58
  33. 58
  34. 5810 am
  35. 60
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now

Water
No reading

Smallmouth bass range 55–78°

Wind
7 mph

From the north-northeast

Light
Dark

Sunrise 7:23 am

Sky
Chance Rain Showers

51% chance of rain

Air
42°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Rising

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
100% lit

Full

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Colorado non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Smallmouth Bass

Smallmouth bass

Micropterus dolomieu

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Smallmouth bass bite in 55–78° water, best near 68°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–30 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 5 bass a day combined east of the Continental Divide, no minimum; smallmouth are unlimited west of the Divide. Boyd, Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Pueblo have a 15" minimum; Horsetooth smallmouth 12".

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on smallmouth bass

Largemouth Bass

Largemouth bass

Micropterus salmoides

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Largemouth bass bite in 55–85° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 5 largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass a day combined, no minimum. Boyd, Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Pueblo have a 15" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Season here: Apr–Nov, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on largemouth bass

Walleye

Walleye

Sander vitreus

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Walleye bite in 50–72° water, best near 62°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 10–40 ft down.

Keep

5 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 5 walleye, saugeye and sauger a day combined, no minimum; 10 in the Arkansas and South Fork Republican drainages. Several Front Range reservoirs set an 18" minimum.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on walleye

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 4 trout a day in aggregate (brook, brown, cutbow, cutthroat, golden, lake, rainbow, splake, tiger), 8 in possession, no minimum length. Brook trout 8" or shorter are an extra 10 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Season here: Mar–May, Oct–Dec, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Yellow Perch

Yellow perch

Perca flavescens

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Yellow perch bite in 45–70° water, best near 58°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 5–30 ft down.

Keep

20 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado: 20 yellow perch a day east of the Continental Divide; unlimited west of it. Eleven Mile and Spinney have no perch limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Season here: Oct–May, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on yellow perch

Common Carp

Common carp

Cyprinus carpio

68MarginalToday, 5 am–11 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Common carp bite in 52–86° water, best near 72°.

Why

Light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed. Holds 1–15 ft down.

Keep

no daily limit

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado: species not on the statewide limits chart, including carp, have no bag or possession limit. Some waters set their own rules.

Verified Oct 18, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Last checked 8 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on common carp

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.29 inHg, rising

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunrise today7:23 am
  • Sunset today6:05 pm
  • MoonFull, 100% lit
  • Major solunarSunday 11:40 pm–1:40 am
  • Minor solunarToday 7:40 am–8:40 am
  • Major solunarToday 12:00 pm–2:00 pm

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 1,900-acre foothills reservoir west of Fort Collins, managed by Larimer County. Deep, clear water known for smallmouth and largemouth bass, walleye, yellow perch, and stocked rainbow trout.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Boyd Lake11 mi · ColoradoBest today 5 am to tonight 4 am
68Marginal

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Horsetooth Reservoir?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Horsetooth Reservoir you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Horsetooth Reservoir?

Horsetooth Reservoir is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Rainbow Trout, and 2 more. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Horsetooth Reservoir?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Horsetooth Reservoir against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Horsetooth Reservoir have?

Horsetooth Reservoir has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Horsetooth Reservoir?

state agency regulations apply at Horsetooth Reservoir. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Horsetooth Reservoir tidal water?

No. Horsetooth Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.