Largemouth bass are the big haul at Carter Lake, but this super-clean and clear 1,100-acre reservoir southwest of Loveland is also stocked with rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout, as well as walleye, yellow perch and splake, the love child of brook and lake trout. The daily entrance fee is $9 — summer weekdays are the least crowded, but the lake doesn't freeze, so fishing happens year-round — and the rustic camping is extra. But once you're in there, take a break from angling to amble around the plethora of pine trees dotting the surrounding foothills or cool off with a swim. The on-site marina shop sells gear if you forget something.
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