Lakes & Reservoirs
There are over 80 bodies of water in the area, 13 of which are only 20 minutes from town. From high mountain lakes that take a long hike to get to, as well as closer reservoirs accessible by any car and outfitted with boat ramps and handicap amenities, everyone can find shimmering water for your needs.
Cottonwood Cove
The Rio Grande and its surrounding areas offer perfect slow running waters, for fly fishing as well as with lures. Many of the river’s smaller tributaries feature stream-sized fish, and are full of aquatic life like cutthroat and rainbow trout. Some of the most popular streams are Embargo, Beaver, and Rock creeks. The South Fork of the Rio Grande offers excellent stream and bank fishing, wading, bait, cast-and-fly fishing for browns, rainbows, and brooks. It’ss accessible by car with some walk-in areas.
Ice Fishing
Several lakes in the area are perfect for ice fishing in the winter. A few of the most popular include Beaver Creek Reservoir, Big Meadows Reservoir and Road Canyon Reservoir west of Creede.
Salmonfly Hatch
South Fork and the Rio Grande river are not only known for their fifteen miles of Gold Medal bodies of water, but also for the Salmon fly Hatch associated with them. Starting around mid-June, you can find and follow the hatch all the way up the river, towards the headwaters ending sometime in July when the terrestrials take over.
