Colorado Bowfishing Lakes & Regs.

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The following is a non-comprehensive, nor official list of lakes where bowfishing for permitted species is allowed in Colorado.

For the lakes listed below, COBF has made the initial inquiries with Park/Lake officials to verify that bowfishing was permitted or regulations are specifically stated in the Fishing Regulations and/or Division Properties listings. As always, please refer to your the Colorado DOW fishing regulations AND individual lake regulations.

If you have other public access Colorado lakes that you know bowfishing is allowed at please email us at info@coloradobowfishing.com.

As ethical and responsible sportsmen and women it is YOUR individual responsibility to always verify with lake/city/DOW officials that bowfishing for legal species is legal/permitted at the listed locations as regulations may change. Since many local laws prohibit the discharge of projectile weapons, ALWAYS pick up the phone and CALL FIRST BEFORE going bowfishing at your intended location.

Several SWA’s state “Discharging firearms or bows prohibited except when hunting.” If this regulation is listed for a property AND the property DOES NOT specifically state that bowfishing is allowed, you CANNOT bowfish there. In 2008, COBF submitted an issue paper to the Wildlife Commission which resulted in clarifying bowfishing regulations and opened up 23 additional SWA properties to bowfishermen and women statewide.


NIGHT BOWFISHING WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

Use of artificial light is allowed for fishing in Colorado. (“ARTIFICIAL LIGHT: Legal if used as a fishing aid.”) There are no restrictions concerning the use of artificial light for bowfishing. Regardless, one should contact each lake managing authority to verify they would allow it. Use the color key codes below when reading the “lakes” list below to determine if bowfishing at night is permitted.

(*) Bowfishing after dark with artificial light is PERMITTED

(X) Bowfishing after dark with artificial light is NOT PERMITTED

(?) Bowfishing after dark with artificial light is UNKNOWN

If UNKNOWN (?) the general DOW “Artificial Light” fishing regulation may or may not apply since local lake/park regulations can override this. Please speak with lake officials or your local DOW officer BEFORE you go fishing at night then let us know to update this page.

Lakes where bowfishing is permitted

Adobe Creek Reservoir SWA (?)
Atwood SWA (?)
Banner Lakes SWA (?)
Barr Lake State Park (northern half only) (*)
Big Thompson Ponds SWA (?)
Boedecker Reservoir SWA (?)
Bonny Lake State Park (*)
Bosque del Oso SWA (?)
Boyd Lake State Park (*) notify ranger before bowfishing at night.
Brush SWA (?)
Carter lake (almost non-existant carp) (*)
Cherry Creek State Park (*)
Chatfield Reservoir State Park (*)
Eleven Mile Reservoir (X)
Frank SWA (?)
Holbrook Reservoir SWA (?)
Horsetooth Reservoir (very low carp numbers) (*)
Jackson Lake State Park (X)
Jackson Lake SWA (?)
John Martin Reservoir (*)
Jumbo Reservoir SWA (?)
Karval Reservoir SWA (?)
Lake Dorothey SWA (?)
Lake Pueblo State Park (*)
Lone Tree Reservoir SWA (?)
Lon Hagler Reservoir (*)
Messex SWA (?)
Mitani-Tokuyasu SWA (?)
North Sterling State Park (*)
Overland Trail SWA (?)
Poudre River SWA (?)
Pueblo Reservoir SWA (?)
Prewiit Reservoir SWA (*)
Ramah Reservoir SWA (?)
Red Lion SWA (?)
Sandsage SWA (?)
Sedgwick Bar SWA (?)
Simpson Ponds SWA (?)
St. Vrain State Park (X)
Stalker Lake SWA (?)
Tamarack Ranch SWA (?)
Walker SWA (?)
Wellington SWA (?)

STATEWIDE LEGAL SPECIES

EAST OF CONTINENTAL DIVIDE LEGAL SPECIES

Gizzard Shad (unless specifically prohibited in specific lake regulations)
White sucker (unless specifically prohibited in specific lake regulations)
Longnose Sucker (unless specifically prohibited in specific lake regulations)

OTHER

As with hunting, be sure of your target and 100% sure of what you are aiming your arrow at. You can only bowfish for specific species in Colorado as listed in the “LEGAL SPECIES” sections above
BE AWARE and do not mistake Colorado’s threatened and non-game fish such as: Bonytail, Razorback Sucker, Colorado Pikeminnow, Humpback Chub, Rio Grande Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, Rountail Chub, Flannelmouth Sucker, Mountain Sucker, Stoneroller or the Flathead Chub that may look similar in the water to legal fish.