Ice fishing in Colorado: 10 lakes and how to stay safe

Ice first

Those figures are for clear, solid new ice. White or snow ice is about half as strong, so double them. Ice is never the same thickness across a lake: check it with a spud or auger every few steps, stay away from inlets, outlets, springs and pressure ridges, and follow your state agency's advice.

1. Blue Mesa Reservoir

At some 9,180 acres, Blue Mesa Reservoir is a good-sized lake. Lake trout, trout, yellow perch and kokanee salmon are the draw. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves to work. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Blue Mesa Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

2. Navajo Reservoir

Navajo Reservoir spreads over some 15,600 acres. You will find it about 16 miles north of Bayfield. Northern pike, bluegill, crappie and trout are the draw. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves: good places to start. Navajo Reservoir straddles the Colorado-New Mexico border and was formed by a dam on the San Juan River. Under the ice, northern pike: cold. Slow baits near weed edges and drop-offs.

Navajo Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

3. John Martin Reservoir

John Martin Reservoir spreads over some 11,700 acres. It lies about 5.3 miles west of Las Animas. It is the Arkansas behind John Martin Dam. It holds walleye, crappie, catfish and white bass. At about 60 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove worth a first look. John Martin Reservoir is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reservoir on the Arkansas River in southeastern Colorado. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

John Martin Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

4. Lake Granby

Lake Granby spreads over some 7,260 acres. You will find it near Granby. Granby Dam holds it on the Colorado. It holds lake trout, trout and kokanee salmon. At about 221 ft deep, it stays cooler below the surface well into summer. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. Lake Granby is Colorado's third-largest body of water, created by Granby Dam as part of the Colorado-Big Thompson Project. Under the ice, lake trout: cool surface. They come shallower; try shore points.

Lake Granby today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

5. Lake Pueblo

Lake Pueblo is a reservoir of 5,670 acres. It lies about 4.8 miles north of Pueblo West. Pueblo Dam holds it on the Arkansas. It holds walleye, crappie, bluegill and trout. It goes down to about 135 ft. Pueblo Reservoir was built by the Bureau of Reclamation as part of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Lake Pueblo today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

6. Lake Meredith

Lake Meredith is a reservoir of some 5,510 acres. It lies about 1.9 miles northwest of Ordway. It holds bluegill, walleye, northern pike and yellow perch. On the 3-D map the bed has three point drop-offs and an upper arm: good places to start. Under the ice, bluegill: cold. Deep and hard to tempt. Use tiny baits.

Lake Meredith today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

7. Blue Lake

Blue Lake covers about 4,660 acres. The lake is about 12 miles south of Las Animas. Crappie and catfish are the draw. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and a steep ledge worth a first look. Under the ice, crappie: cold. Tight schools near deep brush and bridges.

Blue Lake today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

8. McPhee Reservoir

At 4,470 acres, McPhee Reservoir is a good-sized lake. You will find it near Cortez. The fish here are walleye, trout, crappie and northern pike. It goes down to about 270 ft. Its bed shows three point drop-offs and two sheltered coves worth a first look. McPhee Reservoir is the largest reservoir in the San Juan National Forest, formed by a dam on the Dolores River. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

McPhee Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

9. Nee Noshe Reservoir

Nee Noshe Reservoir covers 3,770 acres. You will find it about 9.3 miles northwest of Eads. It holds crappie, walleye, yellow perch and catfish. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and an upper arm to work. Neenoshe is one of four Great Plains Reservoirs on the high plains of southeastern Colorado. Under the ice, crappie: cold. Tight schools near deep brush and bridges.

Nee Noshe Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

10. Riverside Reservoir

Riverside Reservoir is a reservoir of 3,700 acres of water. The lake is near Kersey. The fish here are walleye and striped bass. The lake bed gives you three point drop-offs and a sheltered cove to work. Also known as the Sanborn Draw dam, this reservoir was formed in 1903 by a dam diverting water from the South Platte River. Under the ice, walleye: cold. Slow jigs on deep structure.

Riverside Reservoir today: water temperature, bite times and the 3-D lake bed

What to bring

• Ice picks around your neck and a throw rope
• A spud bar or auger to test as you walk
• A flotation suit or life jacket on early and late ice
• A friend, and someone on shore who knows where you went
• Small jigs and spoons tipped with a minnow or waxie