Best smallmouth bass lakes in Colorado
18 Colorado waters hold smallmouth bass, 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. Current- and rock-loving fighter. Lives around gravel, boulders and hard-bottom structure.
- 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
- McPhee Reservoir — 262 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #2: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Horsetooth Reservoir — 188 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #3: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 6 public access sites
- John Martin Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #4: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Cheesman Reservoir — 190 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Rainbow Trout, Yellow PerchWhy #5: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Chatfield Reservoir — 60 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #6: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
- Pueblo Reservoir — 135 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #7: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
- Boyd Lake — 16 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, White BassWhy #8: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Trinidad Reservoir — 70 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, SaugeyeWhy #9: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Standley Lake — 96 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #10: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
- Union Reservoir — 28 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #11: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 3 public access sites
- Arvada Reservoir — 60 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Channel Catfish, Rainbow TroutWhy #12: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 1 public access site
- Puett Reservoir — 14 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Crappie, Yellow PerchWhy #13: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Brush Hollow Reservoir — 45 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #14: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 2 public access sites
- Juniata Reservoir — 6 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, BluegillWhy #15: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Jim Baker Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Crappie, BluegillWhy #16: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · no verified access record attached
- Boulder City Reservoir — 20 ft max · Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, BluegillWhy #17: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
- Lon Hagler Reservoir — 24 ft max · Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye, CrappieWhy #18: mapped size signal; contours are approximated · 4 public access sites
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How to use this ranking
The order is a map-planning ranking, not a claim about today's fish population. It favors larger mapped waters and gives survey-backed contours a three-times data-quality boost. Agency population surveys, current regulations, access and recent conditions should make the final decision.
Compare maximum depth across 37,233 lake records · See Colorado waters with public access data
When to fish smallmouth bass in Colorado
- Spring 3–12 ft — Gravel and rock flats near deep water; spawning happens on hard bottom.
- Summer 10–30 ft — Offshore rock humps and deep points; smallmouth suspend near bait.
- Fall 8–25 ft — Feeding hard for winter — long tapering points and rocky drops.
- Winter 20–45 ft — Deep, vertical presentations near rocky wintering holes.
Also in Colorado: best largemouth bass lakes · best walleye lakes · best saugeye lakes · best northern pike lakes · best crappie lakes · best bluegill 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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