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Best bluegill lakes in Colorado

27 Colorado waters list bluegill (official records or labelled estimates), 2 mapped with survey or official-chart depth data. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality, leading with the waters in our reviewed search catalog — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. The classic panfish. Shallow cover in summer, deeper weed edges otherwise.

1. Navajo Reservoir — 333 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. McPhee Reservoir — 262 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
3. Horsetooth Reservoir — 188 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
4. Pueblo Reservoir — 129 ft max · real survey depth contours · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #4: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 1 public access site
5. John Martin Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
6. Chatfield Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
7. Boyd Lake — 16 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
8. Trinidad Reservoir — 70 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugeyeWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
9. Carter Lake — 180 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
10. Standley Lake — 96 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
11. Henry Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
12. Union Reservoir — 28 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
13. Mack Mesa Lake — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
14. Windsor Reservoir — 32 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Rainbow TroutWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
15. Jim Baker Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
16. Boulder City Reservoir — 20 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
17. Lon Hagler Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites

…plus 10 more Colorado waters holding bluegill.

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When to fish bluegill in Colorado

• Spring 1–6 ft — Bedding colonies on sandy shallow flats — sight-fish the light spots.
• Summer 4–15 ft — Weed edges and dock shade; bigger 'gills hold slightly deeper.
• Fall 6–18 ft — Schools tighten on remaining green weeds and first drops.
• Winter 10–25 ft — Soft-bottom basins with invertebrates; finesse presentations.

Also in Colorado: best largemouth bass lakes · best smallmouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best saugeye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best channel catfish lakes · best rainbow trout lakes · best white bass & hybrids lakes · best yellow perch lakes · best common carp lakes · best lake trout lakes · best brown trout lakes · best brook trout lakes · best kokanee lakes · best cutthroat trout lakes · best splake lakes

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