Fishing

Historically Western Colorado plays host to some of the best fishing in the Central Rocky Mountains. Delta County provides a variety of fishing opportunities including the wilds of the Gunnison Gorge and a variety of lake fishing environments. Explore Delta County with your rod and real, you will not be disappointed.

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Crawford State Park

Located one mile south of Crawford on Highway 92, which is the West Elk Loop, Crawford State Park has multiple options for outdoor recreation.  In the late spring and summer fishing and camping predominate, along with plenty of options for hiking and biking.  The winter offers ice fishing, cross country skiing, ice-skating, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Crawford State Park is known as a quality perch and crappie fishery, other popular fish in the reservoir include northern pike, rainbow trout, large mouth bass and channel catfish.  The Park has a boating capacity of 60 boats. There are over 60 campsites at The Iron Creek and Clear Fork campgrounds. Some sites offer electrical hook-ups and some are universally accessible.

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Paonia State Park

Water activities include boating, fishing, water-skiing, and jet skiing.  Due to the reservoir being used for agriculture irrigation water level fluctuates, the boat ramp is best used until later in July.  Northern Pike is a popular catch and best from late June until late August. There are fifteen campsites in the park located on the northern side of the reservoir.

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The Gunnison Gorge

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The Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area consists of  62,844 acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management,  Uncompahgre Field Office located in Montrose.  The wilderness area is managed to preserve and protect outstanding wilderness, scenic, and non-motorized recreational values.  The Gunnison Gorge offers a technical (Class II-IV) and remote boating experience for rafters, kayakers, and whitewater canoeists.  Boating conditions change with flows and are highly dependent on winter snowpack.  Other wilderness uses include:

• hiking and backpacking
• horseback riding
• small and big game hunting
• Gold Medal trout fishing

http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/nca/ggnca.html

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Grand Mesa

At 800 square miles, northwest Colorado’s Grand Mesa is one of the largest flat-top mountains in the world and a landmark on the western side of Delta County.   With seven species of trout and over 300 lakes & reservoirs your summer fishing options are endless. The majority of the lakes and reservoirs can be reached by RV’s and four-wheel drive vehicles, some require a hike through the forest.

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 Sweitzer Lake State Park

Sweitzer Lake is considered a good fishing spot for youngsters with catfish, bluegill, green sunfish, and carp. Fishing regulations have recently changed, and Sweitzer Lake is now a catch and release only lake.

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