Smith Reservoir is a fishing lake, and boats face inspection rules

Smith Reservoir sits in the northern part of Costilla County, near the small town of Blanca. Like Sanchez and Mountain Home, it is a State Wildlife Area run by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, with the area office in Monte Vista. To be on the property, anyone 16 or older needs a hunting or fishing license or an SWA pass.

If you bring a boat, there are statewide rules worth knowing before you arrive. In Colorado, any motorboat or sailboat must be registered and must carry an aquatic nuisance species, or ANS, stamp. Colorado Parks and Wildlife also requires trailered and motorized boats to pass an ANS inspection before they launch, to stop invasive mussels and other pests from spreading between waters. How inspection is handled on the ground varies from one water to another, so check the details for the lake you plan to visit. These rules protect every lake in the valley, not just this one.

For a day trip, that means planning ahead: have your registration and stamp in order, know how inspection works at the site, and make sure your boat, trailer, and gear arrive clean, drained, and dry.

Before you go, check current fishing rules, ANS requirements, and inspection details for Smith Reservoir on the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website.