Guide To Popular Panfish Fishing Options In Colorado

All about fishing for panfish species in CO lakes.

Throughout the state of Colorado you can find waters with populations of sunfish, including bluegill, green sunfish, rock bass, white bass and yellow perch. One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Colorado, and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, insects, crustaceans and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves, for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Panfish & Perch Lakes

Adobe Creek Reservoir, Aurora Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, Echo Canyon Reservoir, Hollenbeck Reservoir, Horsetooth Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, North Delaney Lake, North Sterling Reservoir, Pueblo Reservoir, Quincy Reservoir, Ridgway Reservoir, Rifle Gap Reservoir, Ruedi Reservoir, Sloan Lake, Standley Lake and Williams Fork Reservoir all have a healthy population of panfish. The state record bluegill came from Hollenbeck Reservoir.

Top Producing Panfish Lures & Bait

Check out the top producing lures and bait for bluegill, redear sunfish, rock bass and warmouth, as well as other smaller sunfish. Click here for the best lures for white bass, yellow bass, white perch and yellow perch.

Click the images and links above for species details.

The state record bluegill was taken from Comanche Power Plant.

The state record green sunfish (tie) - one was caught from Big Thompson Pond and the other from a gravel pit.

The state record hybrid sunfish came from a gravel pit.

The state record redear sunfish came from Stalker Lake.

Ramah Reservoir was home to the state record rock bass.

Blue Lake was home to the state record white bass.

Seaman Reservoir served up the state record yellow perch.

Panfish are prolific spawners and repopulate the waters as fast as they are harvested. A common problem with panfish fishing is that the waters are under-fished causing panfish to overpopulate. As a result they tend to stay small in size due to lack of food source.

The term "panfish" comprises many species, each called by a variety of names. The bluegill tops the list and is the most common.

Bluegill Fishing Basics Video

The core principles shown in this video will work for most sunfish, perch and other panfish.

Sunfish information in other states.