Highline Lake, Fruita Colorado - A short drive from Grand Junction, Highline lake is a popular park for fishing, hunting, water-skiing and jt-skiing, Species in Highline Lake: Carp, Channel Catfish, Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch
Highline is one of Colorado’s westernmost reservoirs residing only a few miles east of the Utah state line on the western end of the Grand Valley. This 150 acre impoundment is very popular with Mesa County residents. From Memorial Day through Labor Day’ Highline State Park is frequently at capacity on weekends. Make your reservations early during that time if you wish to camp at one of the 31 spaces at this desert oasis. The lake is open for boating from march 1 until September 30.
While best known for its boating and skiing, Highline offers diverse recreational opportunities such as swimming, hiking and mountain biking on over eight miles of trails. Highline is popular with birders, as over 200 bird species are known to frequent the area. And yes, Highline sports an excellent fishery. Crappie, largemouth bass, channel catfish, bullhead catfish, carp, and bluegill are frequently caught. Rainbow trout are stocked in the spring and fall providing good fishing for them during the cooler months of the year.
Due to the heavy summer weekend boat traffic, most fishers concentrate their efforts during the week in the summer or fish the fall through spring when the boating traffic is light. In the spring fishers concentrate on the dam for crappie and the occasional bass. Easy access on the west side is popular with shore fishers. Those from boats find the small coves and good structure to be productive for bass and bluegills. When the east inlet is running water, knowledgeable anglers work the channel for large channel catfish that are attracted to the moving water.
Highline Lake has a unique barrier net system designed to keep endangered and non-native fish apart, installed at the outlet - this is the first fish screen in the United States to be used to separate endangered fish from sport fishing.
Getting there: Drive west on I-70 from Grand Junction to Loma Exit, then north onto Colorado Highway 139 for 6 miles to Q Road. Go west on Q road for 1.2 miles, then turn north onto 11.8 Road for 1 mile to the park entrance. Fees: State Parks Pass - $6 daily fee. Camping fees are additional. Boating: All Boats Allowed. Highline Lake is open to power boating, jet skiing and water skiing from March 1st through September 30th
Highline Lake Campground# of Sites: 31 Fees: $14/night + park pass
Camping is offered year-round at 31 grassy campsites accommodating tents or RVs. Campers can enjoy coin operated hot showers and laundry facilities at the camper services building. Water hydrants are dispersed around the campground and a dump station is available year-round. There are no electrical hook-ups.
