A vast expanse of snow-covered ice stretches out to the horizon, dotted with colorful ice fishing tents and equipment in Grand County Colorado.

Ice Fishing in Colorado

The lakes of Grand County are home to some of the biggest lake trout in the Rocky Mountains. Fortunately for you, they don’t hibernate! When the water freezes, that is when it is time to get out your fishing rods. Grand County has some of the best lakes for ice fishing in Colorado. Check out our local ice-fishing contests or learn more about where to auger down and reel them in. There are ice-fishing contests each winter that take place on the frozen waters of these Grand County, Colorado lakes. View our events calendar for this year’s exact contest dates.

Annual Wolford Mountain Reservoir Annual Ice Fishing Contest

Prizes abound at this one-day contest: $10,000 for the winning tagged-fish competition; $5,000 cash purse for the top 10 largest fish (length plus girth); and hourly “big-fish” prizes for adults and youth. Registration cost is $35 for adults and youth 15 and under who want to compete for the cash prizes. Otherwise, there is no charge for anyone 15 and under; the contest also features a free youth division with prizes for the top 10 largest fish.

Annual Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest

The contest takes place over three days on three popular fishing lakes in the Granby area: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Grand Lake. Participants can fish one, two or all three days, and are eligible for daily cash prizes of more than $5800 as well as raffle prizes. The kickoff party takes place on January 23, 2020 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. at River Run Resort.

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Protecting the Source Starts with You

In Grand County, nature isn’t just what you visit — it’s what we protect. From mindful travel habits to supporting local stewardship efforts, small actions add up to big impact. Learn how you can explore responsibly and help keep this place wild for generations to come.

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