Fishing Is Fun provides up to $700,000 in funding annually to local Colorado communities and organizations for the development and improvement of Colorado’s aquatic resources and angling opportunities.
Donor Name: Colorado Parks & Wildlife
State: Colorado
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/09/2026
Size of the Grant: $500,000 to $1 million
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
The Fishing Is Fun program provides up to $650,000 annually in matching grants to local and county governments, park and recreation departments, angling organizations, water districts and others for projects to improve angling opportunities in Colorado. The grants Reimburse project sponsors for up to 75 percent of approved expenses. The Fishing Is Fun program has historically supported four broad categories of projects.
The four main categories of projects are:
- New Angler Access – This category covers projects developing access to streams and lakes that have been previously closed to the public or to lands that are owned by public agencies but have been largely inaccessible by the public for lack of development or other site challenges. Access can be accomplished by easements, leases, or in some cases, fee title acquisition. It can include site and facility development associated with that access such as trails or access steps to fishing waters. It can also include identification of and signage for existing, but underutilized publicly owned angling access.
- Habitat Development – Includes in-stream structures, bank stabilization, erosion control, revegetation, submerged fish habitat improvements, and renovation to irrigation diversion structures to facilitate fish migration or float angling access.
- In-stream habitat project often present specialized challenges and require specific skills. For projects involving in-stream habitat work, early consultation with CPW aquatic biologists is strongly advised. Improvements based on the Natural Channel Design approach is also advised. A link to a Natural Channel Design checklist and background document is available on the Fishing Is Fun page on the CPW website. CPW aquatic biologists can also advise project sponsors on firms experienced with Natural Channel Design. Project sponsors have also often found it helpful for CPW aquatic biologists to be involved with the contractor selection process.
- Fishing Site Improvements – This category includes development activities at existing public fishing sites such as restrooms, angler trails, fishing piers, shade shelters, parking lots, and other angler amenities.
- Boat Access – This category covers all types of amenities associated with motor boat access. Projects can be on rivers or lakes and include improvements such as boat ramps, docks, restrooms, parking lots, fencing and access road improvements.
Fishing Is Fun projects often include one or more of the following elements:
- Construction or renovation of public fishing ponds
- Construction or renovation of boat ramps, docks, or fishing piers
- Restrooms (1)
- Stream or lake habitat improvement structures
- Fencing of stream riparian habitat
- Facility improvements such as access trails, parking, shade shelters, bank stabilization
- Angler access structures
- Public access for stream or lake fishing by fee title, easement or lease (2)
Eligible Projects
The Fishing Is Fun Grant Program is designed to improve Colorado’s sportfishing resources and anglers’ ability to access them. Characteristics of projects that can help meet those goals include:
- The project will assist Colorado Parks and Wildlife in reaching its Strategic Plan goals, most notably an increase in angler recreation days or angler satisfaction.
- Proposed improvements are substantial in nature.
- The project directly relates to an improvement in or access to the sportfishing resource.
- Features will be maintained for the life of the project for sportfishing purposes, normally considered to be 20 years.
- Public access to the sportfishing resource is assured for the useful life of the project.
- The project is a cost-effective investment.
- Physical facilities will be of barrier free construction and be open to all anglers.
Eligibility Criteria
- A wide range of entities are eligible to apply for Fishing is Fun grants including: local and county governments, park and recreation departments, open space departments, water districts, landowners, angling organizations, land and water trusts, conservation groups and other nonprofit organizations. Applicants may not participate in more than two projects annually. Separate chapters or units of statewide organizations are considered as separate applicants. Two or more local agencies may form a partnership to conduct a project.
- For applicants with limited experience with grant administration, state contracting, permitting, or fund management, partnering with a county or municipality can facilitate project management. While such partnerships are encouraged they are not required.
For more information, visit Colorado Parks & Wildlife.
