Lake Pueblo

Pueblo County, CO

A 4,600-acre reservoir on the Arkansas River west of Pueblo, managed by Lake Pueblo State Park. One of Colorado's top warmwater fisheries — walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, channel catfish, and stocked rainbow trout.

Live · updated

Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, Channel Catfish & Rainbow Trout — tied at the top (68/100)

6 species tied for best of 6 tracked at Lake Pueblo.

68 /100
good
Air Temp
95°F
Mostly Sunny
Wind
15 mph
ESE
Rain
5%
This Afternoon
Pressure
Steady
6-hour trend
Water Temp
Inland
Sunrise
5:36 AM
Sunset
8:19 PM
Moon · 70%
waning gibbous

6 species tracked, ranked by today's conditions. The top 6 (tied) are open below — tap any species to expand it, or a chip to focus.

#1 Walleye Workable day for Walleye. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Sander vitreus — Maryland's premier cool-water gamefish. Deep Creek Lake is the flagship fishery; also found in the non-tidal Potomac and the Youghiogheny River. Low-light feeder — dusk, dawn, and overcast/windy days are prime. Jigs, crankbaits, and nightcrawler harnesses are standard.

Prefers. Water 50–72°F (ideal 62°F) · either tide · depth 10–40 ft.

Daily creel
5

Statewide: 5/day, 5 in possession. Several Front Range reservoirs are more restrictive (an 18" minimum).

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

#1 Largemouth Bass Workable day for Largemouth Bass. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Micropterus salmoides — Most popular gamefish in MD non-tidal waters. Ambush predator around cover — lily pads, submerged timber, docks, grass edges. Hits plastics, spinnerbaits, jigs, and topwater across the season.

Prefers. Water 55–85°F (ideal 72°F) · either tide · depth 3–25 ft.

Min size
15"
Daily creel
5

Largemouth and smallmouth in aggregate: 5/day, 15" minimum statewide.

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

#1 Smallmouth Bass Workable day for Smallmouth Bass. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Micropterus dolomieu — Premier gamefish of the non-tidal Potomac, the Upper Susquehanna, and Deep Creek Lake. Pound-for-pound one of the hardest-fighting freshwater fish. Hits tubes, crayfish imitations, spinnerbaits, and topwater poppers.

Prefers. Water 55–78°F (ideal 68°F) · either tide · depth 3–30 ft.

Min size
15"
Daily creel
5

Largemouth and smallmouth in aggregate: 5/day, 15" minimum east of the Continental Divide; smallmouth are unlimited west of the Divide.

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

#1 Crappie Workable day for Crappie. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Pomoxis spp. — Covers both black crappie (P. nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis). Schooling panfish around brush, docks, and submerged timber. Spring pre-spawn is the prime season — small minnows and 1/16-oz jigs are the go-to.

Prefers. Water 50–80°F (ideal 65°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.

Daily creel
20

Black and white crappie in aggregate: 20/day, 20 in possession.

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

#1 Channel Catfish Workable day for Channel Catfish. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Ictalurus punctatus — Native catfish of MD non-tidal rivers, reservoirs, and farm ponds. Bottom-feeder that takes chicken liver, stinkbait, nightcrawlers, and cut bait. Most active at night and in warm water.

Prefers. Water 60–85°F (ideal 75°F) · either tide · depth 5–30 ft.

Daily creel
10

Channel, blue, and flathead catfish in aggregate: 10/day, 10 in possession.

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

#1 Rainbow Trout Workable day for Rainbow Trout. In season 68/100

What's helping

  • 15 mph wind — light chop — baitfish active, fish willing to feed

About. Oncorhynchus mykiss — The most heavily stocked trout in Maryland. Put-and-take fisheries across the state plus holdover/wild fish in Western MD streams (Savage, Youghiogheny tailwater, Gunpowder). Takes PowerBait, small spinners, and standard dry/nymph patterns.

Prefers. Water 45–68°F (ideal 55°F) · either tide · depth 3–20 ft.

Daily creel
4

Statewide trout aggregate: 4/day, 8 in possession (rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat). No statewide minimum size; many waters carry slot or gear restrictions — confirm the water-specific CPW rule.

Source: Colorado non-tidal regulations · verified 2026-06-01.

Water Body

Reservoir

Access

Pier, shore, and ramp

Jurisdiction

Colorado non-tidal

Coordinates

38.2676, -104.7514

Local reports & rules for Lake Pueblo: Colorado Parks & Wildlife fishing & regulations → · fish-consumption advisory →

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Lake Pueblo?

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

What fish are commonly targeted at Lake Pueblo?

Lake Pueblo is listed on this site for 6 commonly-targeted species: Walleye, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, 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 Lake Pueblo?

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 Lake Pueblo 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 Lake Pueblo have?

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

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Lake Pueblo?

state agency regulations apply at Lake Pueblo. 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 Lake Pueblo tidal water?

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

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