We love Colorado’s lakes and streams for the serenity they afford. And we love them for the colorful fish they keep.

Here we get to know some of the state’s vast array:

Rainbow trout: However “the angler’s favorite and the mainstay of Colorado’s hatchery system,” as Colorado Parks and Wildlife describes the species, it is not native to the state. Rainbows are said to have been introduced in the 1880s. They’ve gone on to be that delightful, shiny sight spotted in waters from the mountains to the plains.

Cutthroat trout: CPW notes three natives to the state: the greenback, the Rio Grande and the Colorado. The red throats distinguish them from rainbows, along with their bolder spots. The greenback is the designated state fish. It’s celebrated at the historic Leadville National Fish Hatchery, which has been at the forefront of recovery efforts.

Brown trout: Like rainbow trout, browns were introduced to Colorado in the late 19th century and similarly swim in rivers and reservoirs all around the state. Where it lacks the color of the rainbow, it makes up for in size. State record books maintain a 30.5-pounder compared to a 19.6-pound rainbow (both caught in Gunnison County).

Brook trout: All fish are hungry, but especially the brook. It feasts on insects and “will rise to a large range of small lures, baits and flies,” according to CPW. The agency considers the white-spotted, colorfully-finned trout “prolific” and often “overpopulated” as it outcompetes others.

Lake trout: It is North America’s largest trout — as Colorado’s record 50-pounder goes to show. It was caught in Blue Mesa Reservoir, representing the kind of big and deep water that lake trout prefer to lurk.

Kokanee salmon: Blue Mesa Reservoir is also a hot spot for these lunkers, which flash silver and reddish and can span more than 20 inches. Males develop peculiar “hook jaws.” They are a sight to see — and a tasty meal to be had, anglers know.

Walleye: Some prefer to eat salmon, and others swear by walleye, which have been stocked in large reservoirs over the years. A greater feast can be had over walleye; their record weights, exceeding 18 pounds, are more than double that of Kokanee salmon. They are different lookers with those dorsal fins.

Yellow perch: They might be the state’s most abundant game fish, CPW notes, “and one of the most table worthy.” Though, they are much smaller than the others, a pound or two as they swim in eye-catching schools. Along with the yellowish bodies, they are marked by dark stripes.

Channel catfish: From their native waters in eastern Colorado, the species has gone on to warmer rivers and lakes all over the state. Aurora Reservoir was home to the record 43.38 pounds logged in 2010. They’ve got the whiskers (technically called barbels) you’d expect on a cat.

Bass: To the pleasure of the fishing masses, smallmouth and largemouth bass can be found in Front Range waters from Lake Pueblo to Fort Collins’ Horsetooth Reservoir and many in between. On the Western Slope, the Yampa River is well-known for smallies, which aren’t so different in terms of capable lengths exceeding 20 inches. The red eyes and faint, vertical stripes are different from largemouths.

Tiger muskie: It was brought to Colorado in the 1980s to control sucker and carp numbers and to provide a trophy chase. Colored like a tiger with teeth also of a predator, you can find it atop state record books for all fish types: 40.15 pounds pulled from Quincy Reservoir, another measuring 41.5 inches from Clear Creek Reservoir.

Mountain whitefish: They are true to the name in color and location, native to northwest Colorado’s mountainous Yampa and White rivers. They were later added to the Colorado and Cache la Poudre rivers, giving more anglers the challenge presented by the fish’s small, delicate mouth.

Grayling: Outside Walden, the high-mountain Joe Wright Reservoir is a surprise, predominant home of this surprise species of the arctic. Here CPW has reported successful stocking and spawning of the fish, unmistakable for their “large sail-like dorsal fin.” CPW adds they “can be a nice challenge, not to mention a great photo opportunity.”