The Longest-Running Ice Fishing Tournament West of the Mississippi Turns 38 on Three Colorado Lakes

The 38th annual Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest runs January 23 to 25, 2026, across Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, and Grand Lake in Colorado’s Grand County, with daily cash prizes exceeding $5,800 in four categories, open to all skill levels, and all proceeds supporting the Destination Granby nonprofit organization.

Event details

The 38th annual Three Lakes Ice Fishing Contest is the longest-running ice fishing tournament west of the Mississippi River, returning to Grand County, Colorado, January 23 through 25, 2026, across three connected high-altitude bodies of water: Lake Granby, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, and Grand Lake. The contest is presented by Sun Outdoors and organized by Destination Granby, a nonprofit Main Street organization, with all proceeds directed to Granby community programs. Participants may enter for one, two, or all three days, fishing any combination of the three lakes on any registered day.

Schedule, Categories, and Prize Structure

Friday and Saturday sessions begin at 6:40 AM Mountain Standard Time and close at 4 PM. Sunday begins 30 minutes before sunrise and concludes at 2 PM. Cash prizes are awarded daily to the top seven finishers in each of four categories: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout, Lake Trout under 19 inches, and Grand Slam (one each of Mackinaw under 19 inches, Rainbow, Brown, and Kokanee). Daily prize pools exceed $5,800. Mackinaw over 19 inches are measured and entered in the records but are ineligible for cash prizes, a rule that supports the ecosystem management of the Granby fishery. The Weigh Station at Stillwater Campground on US-34 accepts fish from 9 AM to 4 PM Friday and Saturday, and until 2 PM Sunday. Maximum two fish per angler per day may be entered. An Arapaho National Recreation Area vehicle pass is required in addition to a Colorado fishing license.

Good to Know: Snowmobiles and ATVs are permitted on the lakes when ice conditions support them, with access restricted to boat ramps only. Portable restrooms are positioned at Sunset Point Boat Launch, Stillwater Boat Launch, and Cutthroat Bay at CR64. The 2026 season has seen a warm early January, which has slowed ice formation on parts of the system; verify current ice depths at the contest’s Facebook page and destinationgranby.com before travel. Register online before arriving: in-person registration is available but costs more.

The Lakes and the Grand County Winter Context

Lake Granby holds the highest density of documented lake trout in Colorado, with fish exceeding 30 inches a predictable outcome for experienced anglers. Grand Lake, Colorado’s largest natural lake, drops to depths exceeding 500 feet and sustains substantial populations of rainbow and brown trout year-round. The contest’s three-lake format gives participants genuine tactical variety rather than the monotony of a single-venue event. Between sessions, the town of Granby on US-34 provides breakfast stops, gear shops including Granby Bait ‘n Tackle at 383 East Agate Avenue, and lodging at every price point. Ski Granby Ranch sits eight kilometres from town for families splitting days between the ice and the slope. Lake.com lists vacation rentals near Grand Lake and the Lake Granby shoreline for anglers and families making the contest a full multi-day stay, with properties ranging from shoreline cabins to valley lodges within minutes of the weigh station at Stillwater.