Lake John Fishing Tournament 2026

First of all, due to the weather, there have been some changes this year to the ice fishing tournament. January 10th and 11th! The tournament is still on!

Colorado has been experiencing some unseasonably warm weather this winter. With temps in the low 70s in the Front Range, the mountains aren’t much better off right now. Your favorite place to fish in the Colorado Rockies has taken a hit when it comes to being on track with ice fishing too. As it stands, Lake John has finally capped, but ice is still thin.

What does this mean for the Ice Fishing Tournament at Lake John? Even though we hope for some more cold weather to give Lake John decent coverage within the next few weeks, some contingency plans have been put into effect to make sure everyone still has a great time on the lake. Right now, permits for the Lake John Fishing Tournament include ice fishing as well as shore fishing, just in case.

But there’s some good news! In spite of some minor setbacks with the ice, the prizes for winners have gone up! Grab your tickets now and be prepared for just about any kind of weather as we approach the new year and get closer to the weekend of the big event! 

About the Lake John Ice Fishing Tournament

Around a dozen miles west of Walden, CO you’ll find one of the most recognized lakes to any angler who has fished in Colorado. Lake John has been delighting fishing enthusiasts for generations, with some of the most accessible high altitude trout fishing in Colorado. 

Types of Fish

Our lakes have some serious diversity when it comes to sportfishing. Lake John itself has been known to harbor all sorts of cold water varieties including:

• Brook trout
• Rainbow trout
• Brown trout
• Cutbow trout
• Cutthroat trout
• Stickleback and fathead minnows

Current Fishing Conditions at Lake John

According to the latest report Lake John is at 100% cap, but only a few inches of thickness. Ice is thinnest towards the middle of the lake with the shores being around 5” thick. But this could change depending on the weather, which is why the fishing permits include lakeside and bellyboat fishing.

To put this into perspective, last year’s fishing tournament was around 18” of thickness with depths of 2’-12’. The grassy bottoms are the best places to fish, since that’s where fish get the majority of their forage. Thinner ice also means more light that will keep the fish from rising to the surface as much and shadows are more likely to scare them off.

If you want to keep an eye on fishing conditions at Lake John, Up to Date Fishing Reports can be found here courtesy of Lake John Resort.

What About Vehicles?

Vehicles are not permitted on thin ice! It is strongly advised not to venture out on thin ice and to practice safe ice fishing to avoid breaking through or hypothermia. We hope that anticipated cold trends in the next few weeks continue to put some more inches on the ice before the tournament. 

Roads are open and Lake John Resort has year round hookups for RVs, shoreside parking, and great visibility. 

Cost to Enter

For the Jan 10th and 11th Fishing Tournament, the price of adult tickets are $60 per person. Participants must print registration tickets for each person and present them at the event. Youth tickets are $20 per person. 

Regardless of the size of the fish caught, tickets will determine the winnings for each entry, which means even if a participant with a Youth ticket catches the biggest fish of the weekend, they would only win for their level. This is why some anglers purchase adult tickets for kids to fish against the adults, for a chance at the bigger prizes.

Prizes

• $100 Hourly Prize for Catch of the Hour
• Door prizes are also given every hour and can be anything from gift certificates to items such as propane heaters and fishing equipment. 
• There’s no telling what you might win just for entering the event!

Here’s what you can win!

Lake John Fishing Tournament Rules

• Bag and possession limit for Lake John is four (4) fish.  
• Check CPW regulations for fishing in Colorado, Colorado laws are still applicable on public lands and wilderness areas. 
• Only one major cash prize is available per entrant. 
• In the event of a tie, time of submitting the catch for recording with judges is considered the tie breaker, with the winner going to the earliest submission.  
• Fish under 16” caught by adult entrants are NOT eligible for measurement. 
• Contestants must have a current fishing license for the 2025-2026 fishing season!

Where to Stay in North Park

Lodging and accommodations at Lake John Resort are limited and fill up quickly. Book your lodging in a hotel, VRBO, or AirBnB vacation rental property in Walden, CO. Choose from a wide selection of vacation rentals, ranging from quaint to unique, and anywhere between single occupancy or large groups of visitors. Rooms will sell out fast, so make your reservations now! 

• Antlers Inn
• Caribou Crossing Motel
• Sleepy Moose Inn
• North Park Inn and Suites
• Chedsey Motel l
• Lake John Resort
• Yonder Yurts 
• Powderhorn Lodge
• The Old Homestead
• Visitors can learn all about places to park their RV here in this article. 

Be sure to check ahead for availability!

Pack Your Trash!

To make sure everyone can continue to enjoy ice fishing at Lake John, always pack out your trash and other waste. The litter and waste you leave on the ice eventually winds up at the bottom of the lake, contributing to pollution and affecting the health of the fish you’ve come to catch. Doing your part to keep it clean for everyone makes sure we get a chance to enjoy public lands for generations to come.

Get Your Fishing Gear Here!

Lake John Resort has a general store with all sorts of snacks, gear, and fishing equipment, but don’t sleep on the gear and information you can get in Walden, CO. North Park Supers, Corkles Mini Mart, Timberline Builder Supply and the Sinclair gas station also have fishing supplies. Check out North Park Anglers, an Orvis certified store with just about everything you would need for ice fishing, lake fishing, and fly fishing. Read more about four seasons fishing in North Park here! 

Come Up and See Us for the Fishing Tournament!

Even though the Front Range seems to be experiencing a heat wave, winter is still happening in the Colorado high country. The Ice Fishing Tournament is still getting the green light and we hope to see you there! This year will definitely prove to be a challenge for ice fishing until we get some more inches on the lakes, but there’s still so much to discover and experience this winter. 

So whether you are looking for a great way to detox from social media after the holidays or simply want to get out of the heat and grey blahs of the Front Range, North Park is a great place to get your wintertime fix in with plenty to do and some amazing scenery to enjoy on your visit!