Two Buttes Reservoir
FISH SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
Jim Ramsay - Aquatic Biologist, Lamar Service Center
2500 S. Main St. Lamar CO 81052 (719)336-6607
email: jim.ramsay@state.co.us
General Information: Two Buttes Reservoir has gone through various stages of water retention in the past
decade. Except for a couple years of partial filling, the lake has been dry. Some fish stocking occurred during years with water, but each time the lake went dry, the fishery was lost. Currently, the lake is holding
good water levels. It is hoped that additional precipitation will maintain this lake for years to come. The
lake has been stocked and should provide good fishing in 2015.
Location: Baca County. Travel south on Hwy 287 to Prowers Co. Rd. C. Travel east towards the Butte.
Size: 700 surface acres (variable); Lake varies depending on precipitation events. Average Depth: 15-20 ft.
Management: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Amenities and General Info.

Sportfishing Notes
Previous Stocking
Largemouth Bass
2 cement boat ramps, capable of
launching boats up to 24 ft.
2014

As an ambush predator, bass
relate to some type of structure (trees, rocks, submerged
vegetation, etc.).

Bass will hit a wide variety of
offerings including live bait,
jigs, crank baits, spinners,
spoons, and plastic worms.


Camping permitted (primitive).
Black Crappie
1.5”

Fires allowed, unless county
fire ban is in effect.
Bluegill
1.8”
Channel Catfish
8.2”

Restroom available on North
side of lake.
Hybrid Grass Carp
12.6”

Excellent bird-watching opportunities.
Largemouth Bass
1.6”
Rainbow Trout
9.8”
Saugeye
1.4”
Saugeye
0.2”
Best times are Apr.– Jun., or
summer months during morning or evening.
Walleye
1.1”
Panfish (Crappie, Bluegill)
Wiper
1.1”

Regulations
NO ATV’s or OHV’s allowed
on the wildlife area.

Vehicles must remain on designated roads.

Pack out all trash

2013
Black Crappie
1.8”
Black Crappie
7.0”
Bluegill
6.0”
Bluegill
Restrictions on bait fish apply at Channel Catfish
Two Buttes: All bait fish must
Largemouth Bass
be purchased from a bait shop
(receipt required) or collected
Rainbow Trout
from Two Buttes water only.

Prefer areas with submerged
structure, aquatic vegetation,
or near schooling bait fish.

Best months are Apr - June

Effective tackle includes live
bait rigs (minnow and worm),
small jigs (< 2”, 1/8 oz.),
small spinners, and dry flies.
1.0”
3.6”
3.6”
Channel Catfish

Variable depths, shallow during June/July spawning.
Good night fishing.

Best months are May–Oct.

Effective baits include:
worms, minnows, shrimp,
crawdads, cut bait, doughbait
10.9”
TWO BUTTES RESERVOIR
2015 LAKE SURVEY DATA
1 Hour Boat Electrofishing & Gillnetting - 7 Nets
Jim Ramsay - Aquatic Biologist
Lamar Service Center
Walleye/
Saugeye,
44.4%
Sunfish/Y.
Perch,
20.8%
LM, SM
Bass,
18.8%
B.
Bullhead,
4.9%
Bluegill,
B. Crappie,
0.7%
7.6%
White
Sucker,
4.7%
White
Sucker,
0.7%
PERCENT RELATIVE ABUNDANCE - ELECTROFISHING SAMPLE
G. Shad,
31.4%
INCHES
4
B. BULLHEAD
2
5
B. CRAPPIE
70
36
BLUEGILL
1
3
6
7
2
8
9 10
11 12
1
1
9
5
3
LM BASS
13
16
21
47
1
16
PERCENT RELATIVE ABUNDANCE - GILLNETTING SAMPLE
13 14 15
28 16
3
16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24
25 26 27
T
1
61
114
10
3
1
LM, SM
Bass, 10.9%
R. Trout,
4.3%
4
C. CATFISH
G. SHAD
Sunfish,
10.7%
(Gillnetting and Electrofishing samples combined)
LENGTH FREQUENCY TABLE
SAUGEYE
C. Catfish,
5.7%
B. Bullhead,
10.5%
G. Shad,
1.4%
C. Catfish,
0.7%
Bluegill,
1.8%
B. Crappie,
20.1%
9
3
5
133 11
8
1
2
14
14
1
1
30
2
163
15
80
64
WIPER
0
R. TROUT
SUNFISH
2
3
22
31
CENTIMETERS 10 13
15
2
12
7
23
56
18
20 23
25 28
30
33 35
38 40
43
45 48
50
53 55
58
60 63
65
68
RELATIVE WEIGHT TABLE
08
09
10
11
12
13
14
AVERAGE
BLUEGILL
SPECIES
---
04
---
05
---
06
---
07
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105.0
105.0
C. CATFISH
---
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103.7
103.7
CRAPPIE
---
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114.4
114.4
LM BASS
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---
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115.0
115.0
SUNFISH
---
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---
---
---
---
---
---
---
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96.7
96.7
WIPER
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TWO BUTTES RESERVOIR
2015 FISHING FORECAST
Channel Catfish
Channel catfish have been stocked twice since the lake refilled in 2013. The
fish in the first plant were about 3.5 inches in length. The second plant featured fish over 8 inches. These fish have grown quickly. Currently, the average channel catfish is over 10 inches and weighs about 1/2 lb. The largest
catfish in our sample was over 20 inches, weighing almost 4 lbs. Many large
bullhead catfish are available as well. Bullheads over 15 inches, weighing
almost 2 lbs. are available. Both species can be caught using traditional catfish baits, such as worms, livers, dough bait, shrimp, crawdads, and cut
shad.
PERCENT of CCF Caught
Jim Ramsay - Aquatic Biologist
Lamar Service Center
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
LENGTH IN INCHES
Largemouth Bass
Numerous bass have been stocked since the lake filled in 2013. Although
these bass were stocked as fingerlings, they have grown quickly in the productive waters of the newly filled reservoir. Currently, largemouth bass are
available in sizes ranging from 3 inch fingerlings to 16 inch adults. Anglers
pursuing largemouth bass use a wide variety of offerings. Popular choices
include spinner baits, scented worms, grubs, jigs, and shad-imitating crank
baits. Effective live baits include minnows, worms, and crawdads.
Percent of RBT Caught
Immediately after filling, Two Buttes Reservoir was stocked with a large number of rainbow trout. These fish provided immediate angling opportunity for
anglers wishing to try their luck in the newly filled reservoir. These fish grew
very quickly. By spring of 2014, many of these fish had grown to over 18
inches, and weighed about 2 lbs. each. Concerns grew that these fish would
not survive the warm summer months. Fortunately, most of these fish were
able to find cool water refuge in the deep reservoir. By fall, some of these
fish had grown to over 20 inches. These fish, as well as smaller fish from
subsequent stocking efforts are available to anglers today. Fishing should
be good for these fish in 2015.
100
80
60
40
20
0
15
16
17
18
LENGTH IN INCHES
30
Percent of LMB Caught
Rainbow Trout
25
20
15
10
5
0
5
6
7
8
9 10 11 12 13
LENGTH IN INCHES
Crappie
70
Percent of Crappie Caught
Large numbers of fingerling crappie, as well as some adult crappie, were
quickly stocked after the lake filled, in hopes of quickly establishing fishable
populations of these popular game fish. Currently, good numbers of these
fish are available. Since the original plants, some of these fish have grown
to over 8 inches. In 2015, crappie numbers should be good. Fish sizes
should be close to keeper size. Anglers targeting crappie should be willing
to move around the lake until schools can be located. Once found, good
catches can be made using small twister-tail jigs (1/8 oz, < 2inches), tube
jigs, or live minnows. Anglers are reminded that all bait fish must be purchased from a licensed bait dealer (receipt required) or caught from Two
Buttes Reservoir.
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
4
5
6
7
LENGTH IN INCHES
8
9