Fishing isn’t only a summer activity. Here’s our picks for the best places to ice fish in Colorado!

Chambers Lake

Chambers Lake is a 255 acre coldwater reservoir that’s seven miles east of Cameron Pass on Hwy 14. The lake offers a campground and boat ramp, and the most popular fish in the lake are by far the rainbow trout, lake trout, and kokanee salmon. The inlet bay is the best part of the lake to catch trout, whereas catching kokanee salmon is best done with jigs, which feature weights molded onto hooks in the shape of various creatures.

Eleven Mile Reservoir

Located an hour and a half southwest of Denver, this reservoir is giant—it totals exactly 3,400 acres. Known for its size and the delicious large rainbow trout that swim beneath the water’s surface, this body of water is incredibly popular. You can also find kokanee salmon, cutthroat trout, and brown trout in these waters. The thickness of the lake ice is, on average, 10–15 inches. This year they’re hosting an Ice Fishing Tournament Series for serious ice fishers.

Rife Gap Reservoir

Best known for its annual ice fishing tournament, which happens at the end of January, this is one of Colorado’s premier ice fishing destinations. Here you’ll find German brown trout, walleye, perch, smallmouth, and largemouth bass. In addition to ice fishing in the winter, you can go cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. You can also camp in one of their 89 campsites.

Lake Granby

Head to Lake Granby for some beautiful sights and a long day of ice fishing. The lake’s trout provide anglers with some of the best ice fishing in Colorado—the trout population is estimated to be 100,000. The third largest body of water in Colorado, this stunning lake is part of the Arapaho National Recreation Area.