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Best channel catfish lakes in Colorado

23 Colorado waters hold channel catfish, 1 mapped with real state-agency depth surveys. Ranked below by size and depth-data quality — open any water to see exactly where to fish it: depth contours, scored spots with plain-English reasons, seasonal windows and bait picks. Scent-driven bottom feeder. Holes, channels and inflows — best after dark.

1. Navajo Reservoir — 333 ft max · survey depth data · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, CrappieWhy #1: survey-backed contours receive the ranking's data-quality boost · 2 public access sites
2. Meredith Reservoir — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
3. John Martin Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
4. Prewitt Reservoir — 25 ft max · Walleye, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
5. Chatfield Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
6. Pueblo Reservoir — 135 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
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. Standley Lake — 96 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
10. Henry Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Saugeye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
11. Banner Lakes #11 — 26 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
12. Union Reservoir — 28 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
13. Ryan Pond, West — 18 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
14. Arvada Reservoir — 60 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
15. Mack Mesa Lake — 50 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
16. Brush Hollow Reservoir — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
17. Milavec Reservoir — 17 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
18. Jim Baker Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
19. Waneka Lake — 13 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Saugeye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #19: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
20. Berkeley Lake — 10 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #20: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
21. Rocky Mtn Lake — 25 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Crappie, Bluegill, Channel CatfishWhy #21: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
22. Boulder City Reservoir — 20 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #22: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
23. Lon Hagler Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #23: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites

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When to fish channel catfish in Colorado

• Spring 3–12 ft — Warm inflows and shallow mud flats after rain.
• Summer 8–25 ft — Deep holes by day; cats roam shallow flats to feed at night.
• Fall 10–30 ft — Fish concentrate in river/creek channels and deeper holes.
• Winter 20–40 ft — Stacked in the deepest holes; slow natural baits.

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 bluegill 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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