Angler standing on the side of lake with his fishing pole in the water and another one next to him.

Fishing on Open Space

Cattail Pond at Boulder County Fairgrounds. Big pond with trees and bushes around it.

Cattail Pond at Fairgrounds

Open exclusively to kids 15 and under (fishing license is not needed for youth 15 and under)
Bluegill (limit 10) and Channel Catfish (limit 5)
Artificial and live bait permitted
Bank fishing only

Pella Crossing

Bluegill (limit 20), Black crappie (limit 20), Channel Catfish (limit 10), Yellow Perch (limit 20), Largemouth and Smallmouth Bass (catch and release)
Artificial flies and lures only
Portable boats and float tubes permitted (except at Webster Pond where no fishing is allowed)

Rogers Park along Boulder Creek. Creek with rocks and a small waterfall drop.

Boulder Creek and Rogers Park

Rainbow Trout (limit 4)
Artificial and live bait permitted
Stream fishing

South Boulder Creek Walker Ranch. Wide creek with large boulder and talks fir trees along the side.

South Boulder Creek at Walker Ranch

Rainbow Trout (limit 4)
Artificial and live bait permitted
Stream fishing

Wally Toevs Pond. Big pond with a wood dock and ducks in the water.

Wally Toevs at Walden Ponds

The fishing pier at Wally Toevs Pond is closed until further notice due to structural issues. Significant repairs are needed. The pond remains open for fishing.

Open exclusively to people 65 years and older, people with disabilities, and their youth companions who are 15 years or younger
Bluegill (limit 20), Rainbow Trout (limit 4), Largemouth Bass (limit 5 over 15″)
Artificial and live bait permitted
No boats or float tubes

Duck Pond at Walden Ponds. Big pond with trees on the side reflecting in the pond.

Other Ponds at Walden Ponds

Fishing is not allowed at Cottonwood Marsh
Bluegill (limit 20), Channel Catfish (limit 10), Largemouth Bass (catch and release)
Artificial flies and lures only
No boats or float tubes

Carolyn Holmberg Preserve at Rock Creek Farm. Wide waterway with cattails plants along the side and a blue sky with clouds.

Stearns Lake at Carolyn Holmberg Preserve

Bluegill (limit 20), Channel Catfish (limit 10), Tiger Muskie (limit 1 of 36” or larger), Largemouth Bass (limit 5 over 15″)
Artificial and live bait permitted
No boats or float tubes

Low Water Levels

Lakes and ponds in Boulder County, such as Walden Ponds, Dodd Lake, and Twin Lakes, are experiencing unusually low water levels due to an extremely dry winter and historically low snowpack. Front range lakes and ponds are fed by diversions from streams and groundwater seepage, and drought conditions are reducing inflows.

In past years, extra water could be diverted to ponds during “free river” conditions, when all water-rights holders in a basin were being served. This year, “free river” conditions are not expected.

Colorado allocates water under the prior-appropriation doctrine, which gives senior (older) water-rights holders priority to divert water based on their priority and the “call” on a river. Storage in local ponds, lakes, and reservoirs can be subject to that call, so they may not receive diversions to refill. These reservoirs also store water for irrigation and municipal use, and water levels are reduced when used for those purposes.

Declining water levels are a concern, especially for the wildlife that depend on the ponds. It is important to note that wildlife in this area have adapted to natural fluctuations in water availability over time. Staff are monitoring the ponds, surrounding habitat, and the species in the area and will respond appropriately within the constraints of current water availability.

The drought is unusually severe, and its effects on the landscape and community are evident. Boulder County is committed to protecting the health of the area to the greatest extent possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a fishing license and how do I get one?

If you are 16 years or older, you need a Colorado Fishing License to fish. You can purchase one online or in person at a retailer.

Colorado has a Free Fishing Weekend the first full weekend of June every year. Anglers of all ages can fish without a license anywhere in the state that weekend.

What is live bait and why can’t I use it at every location?

Live bait is anything that is organic, moldable, or scented. Power bait/Gulp, dough balls, live/dead fish/minnows, shrimp, crayfish, grasshoppers, cheese, chicken livers, scented lures, salmon eggs, fireballs, worms, corn and stink bait are all considered live bait. Generally, live bait is permitted in locations that are stocked by the Division of Wildlife. Self-sustaining populations (not stocked) require the use of artificial flies and lures only to better ensure a healthy, reproducing population.

Why should I catch-and-release?

Catch-and-release is a method of conservation. Unless you are absolutely sure you are going to eat your fish, you should release it. By practicing catch-and-release, you are allowing the fish to grow and reproduce.

Are there guidelines for catch-and-release?

Yes. Whether you are a fish or a human, stress can have negative impacts. A stressed fish has a smaller chance of survival if returned to the water. Follow these tips to ensure a fish has a greater chance of surviving and getting caught another day:

Do not play a fish to exhaustion. Reel it in quickly.
Use artificial lures made of hard plastic, metal, or artificial flies. Fish tend to swallow live bait and the hook becomes embedded in the fish’s throat. Hooks used with artificial tackle are often smaller and cause less injury to a fish.
Use barbless hooks or bend the barbs down with pliers.
Do not use treble hooks.
If a fish has swallowed the hook, do not pull it out. Either cut the hook with needlenose pliers/cutters removing both ends, or cut the line as close to the fish’s mouth as possible, leaving the hook in the fish.
When removing a hook, do not squeeze the fish or put your fingers in its gills.
Handle a fish as little as possible. If you need to handle a fish, do it in the water. The longer a fish is out of water, the more damage occurs to its protective, slimy covering.
To release the fish hold it gently in the water. You may need to move it back and forth gently so it can gain its equilibrium.

What kind of fish can I hope to catch?

Large and Smallmouth Bass, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, Yellow Perch, Tiger Muskie, Walleye, Bluegill, and Rainbow Trout.

What is the difference between float tubes, belly boats, etc?

Float tubes, belly boats, and kick boats are all more or less the same thing. Some have two pontoons with a harness-like seat in-between, others are doughnut shaped, while others are U or V shaped. What they all have in common is that they are single-occupancy, non-motorized flotation devices.

Can I use other flotation devices like sailboards, paddle boats, etc?

Any watercraft that is not intended for fishing is prohibited on all open space properties except for Lagerman Reservoir. There, motorized boats up to 7.5 hp at wakeless speeds are permitted.

Can I swim?

Swimming is prohibited at all open space properties.

Where can I take my son or daughter to learn how to fish?

The Cattail Pond at the Fairgrounds is a great place to learn. It is open exclusively to kids 15 and under. No fishing license is needed until they turn 16. Both artificial and live bait are permitted.

If you are a senior and want to take a grandchild fishing, Wally Toevs Pond at Walden Ponds is a great option. Wally Toevs is open exclusively to people 64 years and older and their youth companions who are 15 years and under. Artificial and live bait are permitted.

Where can I go fly fishing?

South Boulder Creek at Walker Ranch has great fly fishing, as does Boulder Creek at Rogers Park.

May I go ice fishing?

Ice fishing is not permitted at any open space property.

Additional Resources

Fishing Atlas Interactive Map

Looking for more places to fish? Check out the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing Atlas.