Largest lake in the state of Colorado, the Blue Mesa Lake/Reservoir was formed and filled back in the 1960s by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers. Designed for both water storage and electricity generation, it has become home to some of the best trout fishing waters found anywhere in the United States.

With depths near the dam of almost 400 feet, and boasting nearly 100 miles of shoreline, the Blue Mesa Lake has become an angler's paradise for rainbows, cutthroats, browns and yet another new Mackinaw Lake trout state record! This bruiser tipped the scales at 50 pounds, 5 ounces and measured 44 ¼ inches in length, with a girth of 34 3/8 inches. The previous Colorado State Record Lake trout also came from the Blue Mesa Lake back in 2003.

The Blue Mesa Lake is also home to some of the finest Kokanee salmon fishing anywhere. Easy to catch while trolling, and with liberal limits , anglers from around the nation flock to the Blue Mesa Lake in the summer months for these delicious eating fish. In addition, although the Division of Wildlife (DOW) is not happy about it—the lake is also home to “buckets” of great angling action for Yellow Perch. Here is where the DOW says—“please keep all that you catch, and there is no limit!”

The Blue Mesa Lake sports plenty of on-the-lake camping areas, boat camping and nearby RV resorts. Two fully-stocked marinas, fish cleaning stations, multiple boat ramps and a restaurant on the lake, round out the amenities.