Carter Lake, Loveland Colorado - Carter Lake located just outside of Loveland offers excellent trout fishing, thanks in part to frequent stockings. Species in Carter Lake: Brown Trout, Crappie, Cutthroat Trout, Kokanee, Largemouth Bass, Perch, Rainbow Trout, Splake, Walleye
Carter Lake is one of two main project storage reservoirs in the east slope distribution system. It is home to several species including largemouth bass, trout, yellow perch, splake and kokanee. With three boat ramps available, the facilities accommodate an extremely busy summer season. Numerous campgrounds are scattered all around the lake, many offering electrical hookups and shaded sites. The North Pines area is home to the sailing club and can get busy during the summer. Some of the best views can be attained from the Carter Knolls campground.
If you’re not fishing, you may enjoy all the other activities that Carter has to offer including sailing, jet-skiing, rock climbing, scuba diving, and hiking. Carter Lake Marina offers a restaurant and supplies such as fishing equipment and firewood.
2009 CDOW Fishing Forecast
Historical Walleye Information
Annual net sampling indicates overall walleye abundance has changed little in past 5 years, however the size structure of Carter’s population has changed since 2003. Following the implementation of new regulations there has been a significant increase in the abundance of walleye larger than 16”. Although, anglers can legally harvest walleye measuring 16-20” (one fish per day) the number of walleye within this slot has actually increased and stabilized relative to the 90’s. Larger walleyes (>20”) are protected from harvest and have thrived as a result. In fact 40% of all walleye sampled during 2008 measured larger than 20 inches. In addition, fish measuring >30” showed up in the fall sample for the first time ever. The largest walleye collected during the fall 2008 survey measured 33.9” and weighed 12.5 pounds. Catch and release angling for very large walleye at Carter should be very good during 2009. Fishing for walleyes within the slot size (16-20”) should be quite good as well.
Why is the special regulation in place? Walleye in Carter grow very slow and the harvest of large brood fish (>20”) severely limits their ability to reproduce. This became quite evident during the 1990’s when the slot size was not in place. The restrictive regulation ensures that new year classes of fish will continue to replace fish lost to harvest and old age. Artificial stocking of walleye does little to solve this problem in Carter as the naturally low productivity of this reservoir simply cannot sustain and grow massive numbers of walleye.
Besides ensuring natural walleye production at Carter, the regulation also assures young walleye will be stocked in countless waters throughout Colorado. Since 2007, the DOW has collected more than 40 million walleye eggs from Carter’s female walleye, fertilized the eggs using males from the reservoir, and transferred the eggs to hatcheries in Wray and Pueblo for subsequent stocking throughout Colorado. Virtually all huge walleye (>28”) roaming Carter Reservoir are female; male walleye simply do not get this large. Not only is keeping such a fish illegal it also hinders future walleye production in Colorado.
Kokanee Salmon –Typically 140,000 2-inch Kokanee are stocked each year in Carter Reservoir. Annual net surveys and input from anglers indicates the survival of these fish is very poor. Kokanee catches were much better in the 1990’s. For example, a total of 497 kokanee were sampled in 1992 (4.6 per net hour) while only 6 fish were collected in 2008 (0.06 per net hour). Poor survival and the frustrating angling are directly attributable to walleye predation. To combat the predation, salmon stocking was nearly doubled in 2008 (250,626 fish). This increase will continue in the future and be evaluated annually.
In the meantime the best places to fish for Kokanee are where the fish were originally stocked. Even in lakes these fish simulate fall spawning runs at age 3-5. Each year the kokanee are boat-stocked near the SE boat ramp and along the west shore “gulches”. Kokanee are planktivores so snagging these fish during legal months (October-December) is your best bet.
Trout–Anglers should find trout fishing good and quite steady at Carter during all of 2009. Each year roughly 20,000 catchable-sized rainbows are stocked in Carter. The stocking is spaced out over several months. Holdover trout which are not caught within the first year of stocking often grow to lengths exceeding 20 inches. In fact, a 20 inch or larger rainbow has been sampled every year since 1990. Trout are stocked with the intention for anglers to keep; so go ahead and take a few for the frying pan! Besides the stocker rainbows, anglers may also catch a few splake or lake trout. If trout fishing is slow, anglers might try fishing Flatiron or Pinewood Reservoirs which are both minutes from Carter. Best of luck, check back next year to see how Carter will fish in 2010! Carter Lake
Getting there: Drive west of Loveland on U.S. Highway 34 to mile marker #85. Watch for the 'Carter Lake' sign. Turn left (south) onto County Road 29. Go 2 miles and turn right (west) onto County Road 18E. Go west another 2 miles. Watch for the park signs. At County Road 31 turn left and stop to purchase park entrance permits at the entrance station on your right or at The Bison Visitor Center. Continue south on County Road 31 another 2 miles to Carter Lake, campgrounds, marina, and swim beach.
Fees: 2009 annual permit types and prices (valid January 1 - December 31): Larimer County Resident Annual Vehicle Permit: $65 Larimer County Resident Annual Boat Permit: $65 Non-resident Annual Vehicle Permit: $85 Non-resident Annual Boat Permit: $85
2nd Vehicle Permit: $40 (for vehicles registered to the same address, 1 for each full-priced permit) Paddling Permit: $35 (available for non-motorized, non-registered boats such as canoes, kayaks, rafts, racing shells, sailboards) A "family" permit which allows 3 boats on the lake at the same time.
Boating: All Boats Allowed. Boat travel direction - counter clockwise.
Boat inspections began April 10 at all three ramps from 6 a.m. – 10 p.m. All ramps will be closed to nighttime use. Beginning in October, state Zebra Mussle inspection hours are: 7 am to 5 pm Fri., Sat., & Sun.. The ramps are closed Mon. thru Thrus. All boats that are transported on trailors must be inspected before launching. This includes PWC's (jetskis). 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.
Eagle# of Sites: 49 Fees: $12 non-electric and $17 electric
The Eagle campground provieds 22 electric sites and 27 non-electric and sits on the north side of the road away from the northern shoreline. The electric sites sit atop a hill overlooking the lake and the Talon loop providing non-electric sites sit down the hill with not many views of the lake. Sites E4, E6 and E7 have good views of the lake.
South Shore# of Sites: 30 Fees: n/a
The South Shore campground has 24 electric sites and 6 walk-in tent sites. The area also has a group picnic area and boat ramp. Some of the sites are close together but sites 17-21 si along the shoreline.
Carter Knolls# of Sites: 9 Fees: $12
Carter Knolls sits on a bluff along the eastern shoreline and provides 7 non-electric reservable sites and 2 walk-in tent sites. These sites provide great views of the whole lake. The walk-in tent spots are nice and sit away from the other sites. The sites are exposed to the elements and there is not much shade in the campground. The area also provides a day-use area.
Big Thompson# of Sites: 8 Fees: $12
A nice campground in the northwest corner of the lake and close to the swim beach. The campground has eight non-electric sites and provides an area for day use as well. All the sites are close to the water.
Lowell# of Sites: 7 Fees: $12
A nice spot close to the marina along the northern shoreline. The sites are close to the water and all are non-electric. The sites closest to the water are L1, L2, and L3. A day use area is also available.
North Pines# of Sites: 4 Fees: $12
This is a nice, small spot along the northeast shore and provides 4 non-electric sites. The campground is wooded and provides good space between sites. The sites are close to the water and provide some great views of the lake.
