UPDATED 1/20/26

3 LAKES ICE FISHING CONTEST REGULATIONS – 2026

Official Event Announcement:

2026 Rule Changes and Location Updates

January 20, 2026

To provide more options given this year’s ice conditions, Willow Creek Reservoir has been added as an official contest location for 2026. Participants should be aware that the front of the Boat Launch parking lot at Willow Creek will be prioritized for accessible parking and individuals with disabilities. Parking is available in the west parking lot and the Willow Creek campground will be open for day parking only. Parking along County Road 40 is prohibited.

Due to unseasonably warm temperatures this winter, the 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest in coordination with the U.S. Forest Service are prohibiting all motorized vehicles within the following areas: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Willow Creek Reservoir. While these lakes remain official locations for the contest, access is restricted to foot traffic only. We urge all participants to use extreme caution when venturing out, as ice conditions remain variable.

Additionally, we will delay the start time for fishing each day and ask all participants to wait until 7:00 am (daylight) to venture on to all bodies of water. The Weigh Station will continue to operate at Stillwater Boat Launch parking lot. To facilitate the weigh-in process, please note that half of the Stillwater parking lot will be reserved for temporary in-and-out Weigh Station parking only.

We advise anglers to remain vigilant and follow ice safety standards, which recommend at least 4 inches of ice for foot traffic. Thank you for your patience and continued support of the 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest and the U.S. Forest Service as we work to ensure a safe and successful event for everyone.

General Contest Rules: 

1. Waters include Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Grand Lake and Willow Creek Reservoir. No open water. 

2. Participants 16 and older must show a current Colorado Fishing License and Contest Registration form to weigh fish and claim prizes. Youth 15 and under must show a Contest Registration Form. 

3. All Colorado Fishing rules and regulations apply, including bag and possession limits for adults and children. Please consult your current rules and regulations as they pertain to the above waters. *Tiger muskie are not a species included in this contest. Bag limit for tiger muskie is one (1) over 36".

4. Only one cash prize per day will be awarded to an entrant. 

5. Stomach contents are subject to examination by the Weigh Station Manager & Division of Wildlife. 

6. Taxes, licenses, setup fees & transportation to pick up and deliver prizes are the responsibility of the winners. 

7. Friday, Saturday & Sunday contests will start at 7:00 am (Mountain Standard Time) and end at 4:00pm. Sunday's contest will end at 2:00pm. All participants must wait until 7:00 am to enter all bodies of water.

8. Except for tagged fish and the biggest fish category, prizes are determined by largest weight and time entered. In the event of a tie, the first fish registered wins. (ex: If three 7-pound fish are the largest entered in a category, the earliest registered fish will take first, the next entered fish will take second, and the latest entered fish will take third). 

9. Fish have been tagged in previous years on their left side below their dorsal fin with a pink tag with the words “Winner”. Bring this fish to the weigh station to collect your prize. If you catch a tagged fish from a previous year, you will receive a $200 gift card in the mail.

10. Participants may register fish in any category but must declare the category before measuring or weighing the fish. Participants can only win one cash prize per day (that which is of highest retail value). 

11. There will only be one upgrade of fish allowed per category. Any fish weighed or measured at the Weigh Station during contest hours will be considered entered even if it is disqualified due to length. You may enter fish in multiple categories, but can upgrade each of them once.

12. Winners will be subject to a polygraph exam as part of contest requirements. In the event deception is detected (to be determined by the polygraph administrator or law enforcement officer or photo evidence), the entrant’s prize will go to the person with the next largest fish. Destination Granby and the Weigh Station Manager reserve the right to disqualify contest entrants if deception is determined outside of a polygraph test. Example: In 2025 photo evidence was used to disqualify a contestant who was found to be fishing in open water.

13. On Friday and Saturday night, awards will be announced at the close of the Weigh Station- as close to 5:00pm as possible. Sunday awards will be announced as close to 3:00pm as possible. 

• THE NIGHTLY AWARD CEREMONIES WILL BEGIN AT SUN OUTDOORS- EVENT CENTER AS CLOSE TO 5:30 pm (Friday and Saturday) AND 3:30 pm (Sunday).

• CASH & PRIZE WINNERS over $500 total value will be REQUIRED to submit a W9 for tax purposes. All winners may be asked to fill one out but forms will NOT be submitted unless total winnings exceed $500.

• PRIZE DRAWINGS WILL BE VIRTUAL. LEADERBOARD WINNERS & PRIZE DRAWING WINNERS WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON THE 3 LAKES FACEBOOK PAGE (FACEBOOK.COM/3LAKESICEFISHING) AND THE DESTINATION GRANBY 3 LAKES WEBSITE (https:// www.destinationgranby.com/events/3-lakes-ice-fishing-contest/). 

• DAILY GIVEAWAY PRIZE DRAWING WINNERS  MUST PICK UP THEIR PRIZE AT THE WEIGH STATION BY THE TIME IT CLOSES EACH DAY OR PRIZE IS  FORFEITED. SATURDAY’S GRAND PRIZE WINNER MUST PICK UP THEIR ITEMS FROM SUN OUTDOORS OR NO LATER THAN APRIL 1, 2026 AT DESTINATION GRANBY if arrangements are made (516 E Agate Ave, Granby, CO 80446). 

14. ALL DAILY LEADERBOARD CASH WINNERS/YOUTH WINNERS MUST PICK UP THEIR PRIZE BY 7:00PM ON FRIDAY & SATURDAY AND BY 5:00PM ON SUNDAY, AT SUN OUTDOORS (1051 SUMMIT TRAIL, GRANBY, CO 80446). Please make alternating arrangements if you are not able to pick up your prize.

15. ALL FISH, INCLUDING THOSE IN THE GRAND SLAM CATEGORY, MUST BE CAUGHT BY THE PERSON ENTERING THE FISH. All fish must be entered the day they are caught. 

16a. MACKINAW LENGTH LIMIT IN ALL CATEGORIES IS UNDER 19 INCHES- 2026 Edit: Splake may be entered into the Mackinaw Category.

16b.. PLEASE CAREFULLY HANDLE AND IMMEDIATELY RELEASE ANY MACKINAW OVER 19” IN LENGTH. 

17. 3 LAKES IS AN ICE FISHING CONTEST. REGISTRANTS MUST DRILL THROUGH ICE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR CASH PRIZES. OPEN WATER FISHING IS NOT PERMITTED. 

Children’s Categories: 

• Must follow all General Contest Rules except: A child may enter any species of fish in his/her age group.

• Paid Youth Participants may enter fish into Adult- Prize Contention categories. This must be notated at the weigh station. Fish that are entered in Prize Contention categories will not also be eligible for Youth Prizes. 

**Grand Slam Rules: 

1. Participants must catch one qualifying fish in each of the following species: Mackinaw, Rainbow trout, Brown trout, Kokanee Salmon. Mackinaw must be under 19 inches to qualify. 

2. No fish entered in this category may be entered or moved into any other contest category. (i.e.: Brown Trout may not be entered in the Brown Category and the Grand Slam Category). 

3. Categories must be declared before the fish is weighed or measured. 

4. Each Species of fish (Mackinaw, Rainbow, Brown, Kokanee) must be entered for participants to qualify. Participants may upgrade only 1 fish (i.e.: participants may upgrade a Kokanee but then could not upgrade either Rainbow, Brown, or Mackinaw). Only the heaviest fish in each species will be counted. 

5. Combined weight of all four fish determines the winner. 

Big Fish Catch and Release Trophy Drawing Rules: 

1. This is an “on your honor” contest. Fish 32” or larger that have been caught and released are eligible. PLEASE HANDLE FISH PROPERLY AND RELEASE QUICKLY! 

2. Enter by photographing your fish or getting a witness signature that contains the size of your caught fish. 

3. All entrants will be entered in a daily drawing for a trophy.

WEIGHING & MEASURING: Stillwater Campground, US-34, Granby, CO 80446 (on west side of Lake Granby) 1. All Mackinaw (Lake Trout) *or Splake will be measured by pinching the tail together and measuring from tip of nose to tip of tail to ensure they are less than 19 inches. Mackinaw over 19 inches will not be weighed and entered for prize contention.  2. You must be registered for the tournament prior to fishing. Proof of registration and a fishing license.  3. Weigh Station will be open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Fri. & Sat & until 2:00 pm on Sun. To enter a fish, you must be in-line at the weigh station no later than 4:00 pm each day and 2:00 pm on Sunday. 

4. No frozen fish will be accepted. 

Protests: 

Contestants will conduct themselves in a true sportsmanlike, courteous, safe, and ethical manner always. Every competitor is expected to participate in marshaling of the field to maintain the highest integrity to the competition. Any unfavorable conduct or action by a contestant, which could negatively reflect on the tournament, will be grounds for disqualification. The Weigh Master or any participating angler has a right to protest another angler. An official written protest with $50 fee must be made with the Weigh Master or Destination Granby staff within 30 minutes of completion of daily weigh-in. The fee will be returned if the protest is found valid. Following interviews with concerned parties, a ruling will be made. 

i. In the event investigation indicates a violation occurred, the angler will be disqualified, and cash prizes must be returned. a. A polygraph may be utilized if so decided by the Weigh Master. The Weigh Master will interpret rules according to the spirit and intent of the rule and his/her decision in all disputes is final. 

ii. If the protest is valid, the disqualified party must pay all investigative costs including the polygraph. 

iii. If the protest is invalid, the fee will not be returned, and the protesting team must pay all investigative costs including the polygraph. 

**The Three Lakes Fishing Contest operates under special use permit on the Arapaho National Forest in cooperation with visitors to the Arapaho National Recreation Area and participants in the Fishing Contest. All off-highway vehicles (ATVs) and snowmobiles must have current registrations. Destination Granby is a special use permit holder with the USDA Forest Service and adheres to the following: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs. Persons with disabilities who require adaptive equipment may contact Destination Granby. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (braille, large print, audio tape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET center at (202) 720-2600 (Voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20250-90410 or call (202) 720-5964 (Voice or TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. Fishing licenses must be current and include addendum with second rod stamps, as appropriate. The DOW regulations for Mackinaw and Splake are 4 fish. Remember that when releasing a fish, be sure to keep it in water and limit time holding in air to take pictures, etc. This will decrease the mortality rate. Please use the port-a-toilets or restrooms available to help keep our waters clean. Respect private property and please park in the areas plowed open for parking. Please do not block dumpsters, gates, roads, or driveways. Wheeled vehicles over 1,000lbs. are restricted to designated maintained roads, and parking areas. Please use trash bags to contain trash. Be sure to pack out all cigarette butts, cans, empty fish hook bags, fishing line, or other trash and deposit in the containers provided at parking areas and along the lake. Waterfowl can become entangled in fishing line and die. 

Snowmobiles and Motor Vehicles DO NOT MIX WITH ALCOHOL! 

These are State and Federal Regulations and are not rules governed by the Fishing Contest. 

Please be careful and help us protect our environment. 

As visitors to the Arapaho National Recreation Area (ANRA) and participants in the Fishing Contest, you agree to: ● Purchase, hold and properly display the required ANRA pass: passes may be obtained at the Arapaho Bay fee station, or at the self-service pay stations at the Sulphur Ranger District (9 Ten Mile Drive, Granby CO, 80446), or Stillwater boat ramp (credit cards only), or online at www.recreation.gov (self-service pay stations have been known to be out of service, we recommend having an alternative plan for purchasing your parking pass). America the Beautiful pass covers all ANRA day use parking areas.

● Hold a current registration for all off-highway vehicles including ATVs and Snowmobiles (vehicles over 1,000lbs. are restricted to designated maintained roads and parking areas). ATVs can only access the lakes from the boat ramps, no cross-country travel. 2026 Edit: U.S. Forest Service are prohibiting all motorized vehicles within the following areas: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Willow Creek Reservoir.

● Hold a current fishing license that includes an addendum with a second rod stamp when applicable. 

● Fishing huts must be portable and removed at the end of the day. 

● Use toilet facilities provided by the event.

● Park only in designated areas plowed for contest. 

● Pack out all the refuse. 

● Camp in designated areas and stay off private property. 

● Respect the Bald Eagle closure on the North Fork of the Colorado River. *This is easily identified using the COTrex app. 

Overnight camping is permitted for self-contained units (must have indoor water and toilet facilities). For Lake Granby camping is restricted to the Sunset Overflow lot. No camping will be allowed at the Stillwater Boat Launch. Camping is prohibited along County Road 6 (Arapaho Bay Road) and in day use areas. 

NATIONAL FOREST SERVICE: The North Fork of the Colorado River below Shadow Mountain Dam to the mouth of Lake Granby is closed to human activity on both National Park and US Forest Service public lands from November 15 to March 15 annually. This closure protects Bald Eagle winter habitats. Map available upon request.

CANCELLATION POLICY: You are eligible for a full refund of your registration if you cancel by Monday, January 12, 2026. Please reach out to kayte@destinationgranby.com to cancel your registration.

ANRA PARKING FEE STRUCTURE