Horsetooth Reservoir, Fort Collins Colorado - Horsetooth Reservoir offers exceptional smallmouth bass and walleye fishing, in addition to trout and a variety of other species. Species in Horsetooth Reservoir: Bluegill, Carp, Black Crappie, Lake Trout, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Rainbow Trout, Smallmouth Bass, Splake, Walleye, White Bass
Horsetooth Reservoir, located in the foothills west of Fort Collins, is a popular destination among the northern Front Rangers for its recreational opportunities, and views over the plains. This 6.5-mile reservoir is open year round and is a part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. This project’s purpose is to divert water from the west slope to the east slope for drinking water, irrigation, and hydropower generation.
Campgrounds and cabins are available near the marina and southern area of the lake and boat-in camping is permitted along the western shoreline in designated areas. During the summer expect heavy surface traffic from boaters, water-skiers, and jet-skiers. There is a full-service marina available at Inlet Bay. Several areas around this lake are popular among bouldering enthusiasts.
With many coves and bays along the shoreline there are ample places to find structure when seeking out the reservoirs abundant population of smallmouth bass. During the spring concentrating on points and riprap has the potential to produce good numbers of walleye. It should be noted that while most all the shoreline is public, the west shore is best accessed via watercraft and much of the east shore is relatively steep and not easily traversed. Fish in Horsetooth have been found to have significant levels of mercury. Consumption advisories are in effect.
CDOW 2009 Report Based on 2008 Fish Surveys
Horsetooth has been managed for cool and coldwater assemblies of fish since the 1950’s. Various proportions of rainbows, cutthroats, browns, lakers, and splake have made up the coldwater assembly over time. Cool water fish like walleye, smallmouth bass, white bass, and yellow perch have been stocked historically and now maintain self-sustaining populations.
Horsetooth has had a very dynamic fishery. A large yellow perch population provided great forage for walleye from the reservoir’s filling until the 1960’s when the population crashed. When walleye body condition and growth fell to unacceptable levels, rainbow smelt were introduced as alternate forage. This led to a boom in walleye fishing in the 1980’s. The smelt ended up eating themselves out of house and home, affecting the recruitment of walleye and other fish. The smelt population subsequently crashed and a viable population has not been verified since 1996.
Efforts in the last decade have been to reestablish a quality forage base without the potentially detrimental effects that smelt had on the fishery. Spottail shiners, emerald shiners, and gizzard shad have been successfully introduced though population levels are not yet at ideal numbers. Walleye have reestablished a self sustaining population but body condition and growth have not yet returned to historic levels.
Horsetooth Reservoir is currently managed to provide a variety of angling opportunities with both coolwater andcoldwater species. Splake are the primary coldwater component and have an additional benefit controlling mysis shrimp in the reservoir. Because they tend to utilize deeper water and stay near the bottom, splake are not as susceptible to our methods of sampling. Other trout are stocked periodically for diversity when available.
All other species are naturally reproducing. We monitor these populations and try to effect changes if necessary by stocking fish or altering regulations. There currently appears to be a deficient forage base and we have made efforts to establish gizzard shad by stocking large breeding shad for several years. Walleye body condition improved in our sampling from an aver-age of 82.5 in 2007 to 88.3 in 2008. This may correspond to the successful spawn gizzard shad had in 2007. The shad didn’t seem to be as prolific in 2008 but if numbers have remained high, expect better growth for this year.
Horsetooth Reservoir.
Getting there: From I-25 take the Harmony exit (exit 265), stay on Harmony west through town. At Taft Hill Road, Harmony turns into County 38E. Continue west on 38E to the reservoir. Fees: Larimer County Parks Pass accepted, need a boat permit as well.
Daily Fees: Daily vehicle $7 Daily boat $7
Annual Vehicle (Larimer County Resident) $65.00 Annual Vehicle (Non-resident) $85.00 2nd Vehicle Permit (for vehicles registered to the same address, 1 for each full-priced permit) $40.00 Annual Boat (Larimer County Resident) $65.00 Annual Boat (Non-resident) $85.00 Senior Annual Vehicle (65 and over, turning 65 in year of permit) $35.00 Paddling Permit (available for non-motorized, non-registered boats such as canoes, kayaks, rafts, racing shells, sailboards) A "family" permit which allows 3 boats from the same household on the lake at the same time. $35.00 Permit for Persons with Disabilities (available to those persons who already have the State Parks Columbine Pass, or the National Parks Access Card) $10.00
Non-electric Campsite (January-December) $15 per night Electric Campsite (April-September) $25 per night Electric Campsite (October-March) Boating: All Boats Allowed. Direction of travel is counter-clockwise
Boat Inspection Hours to get on water. Prior to April 15, 2009: no inspections required April 15 - September 30, 2009: 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., 7 days a week October 1 - October 31, 2009: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays November 1 - February 28, 2010: 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. and Noon - 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays as weather and ice conditions allow. Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is not allowed
8/10/2010 - Horsetooth Reservoir - Fishing at Horsetooth Reservoir is great. Smallmouth and walleye have been active in the Inlet bay area, as well as cove areas with fish hitting on worms. Some spinners have been successful. Try reaction type baits. Tube jigs and jerk baits have worked well. In addition, smallmouth are more active with warming water temps. The water temp is around 65 degrees and warming. The water level is now dropping. Inlet Channel is open to fishing. You must have a valid fishing license. All walleye must be at least 18 inches long, but only one can exceed 21 inches. Smallmouth bass must be at least 12 inches.
Conditions History
Get an FxR+ Subscription for your journal history, DOW historical reports, and historical Fish Explorer reports.
Western Shore Boat Camping# of Sites: n/a Fees: $12
Boat camping allowed along Western shore of Horsetooth from Dixon Cove to Eltuck. Boat-in camping is at designated sites only. Failure to camp at designated sites could result in an eviction or a citation. Fires are permitted as long as they are below the high water mark and are in a well constructed fire pit.
