Common Fish in the Front Range - and Beyond

When we say, “Colorado fishing”, what do you think of? Most people would respond with descriptions of serene flowing rivers, the rugged and beautiful Rocky Mountains, a cold microbrew, and of course, trout. Colorado has arguably some of the best natural trout streams in the continental United States, and if you don’t know what to look for, that can be daunting. So, without further ado, below are the most popular kinds of trout you’ll find in Colorado, plus some other common fish too. This way, you’ll be able to instantly spot different types of fish in different rivers. 

Rainbow Trout

Size: 8-20+ in.

It would be unfair to talk about trout in Colorado without first mentioning the Rainbow Trout. Although originally non native to Colorado, these trout flourish in the Colorado River and across Colorado in numbers. Spot these fish by identifying their multicolor hue, which is akin to that of a rainbow. The fish are also characterized by their coverage of black spots, and their unmistakable pink band stretching from eye to eye.

Lake Trout

Size: 19-36 in.

The Lake Trout can be found in high alpine lakes where they can survive for over 20 years. These trout can also grow to over 40 pounds, making them the largest trout species on the continent. Given its high altitude and mountainous regions, Colorado has a great offering of lake fly fishing and Lake Trout. These fish have a dark brown or green undertone covered with white speckles, as well as a split tail fin.

Cutthroat Trout

Size: 6-40 in. (dependant on subspecies)

The Cutthroat Trout is native to Colorado, and the Greenback Cutthroat Trout is actually the state fish. Although the Cutthroat Trout population is beginning to decline, they are still relatively easy to spot. Keep your eyes open for their light green and yellow hues in contrast to the red coloring near the gills of these fish. Similar to the Rainbow Trout, these trout are also covered in black spots.

Largemouth Bass

Size: 10-25+ in. 

The Largemouth Bass is camo-green with a dark green stripe on either side of its body. It also has a large, separated and serrated dorsal fin. When fully aged, these fish can surpass 20 pounds. It is not to be confused with the Smallmouth Bass, which looks very similar. The Smallmouth has vertical rather than horizontal dark green stripes, in addition to a smaller jaw and smaller dorsal fin.

Ready to go fly fishing? If you need equipment or lessons to get started, come visit us Angles Sports store in Longmont.