Animas River Fishing Regulations
La Plata County, Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Animas River is a river in La Plata County, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 21 species, including Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, and Brook Trout, set separately for 2 sections of the river. These rules replace Colorado's statewide limits on this water.
Map of Animas River
Fish with special rules on Animas River
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Animas River limits by species (2026)
Confluence with Hermosa Creek to the state line
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
 Black BullheadNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Black CrappieNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 BluegillNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Brown BullheadNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Channel CatfishNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
| CrappieNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Green SunfishNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Largemouth BassNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Northern PikeNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Smallmouth BassNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 WalleyeNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 White CrappieNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Yellow BullheadNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
 Yellow PerchNo bag limit | – | – | Always open |
Confluence with Lightner Creek to the Rivera Crossing Bridge
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only | – | – | Always open |
 Brook Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Brown Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Cutthroat Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Golden Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Lake Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Rainbow Trout | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
 Steelhead | 16" min | 2 | Always open |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.
Plan your Animas River trip
Animas River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Animas River?
21 species have rules specific to Animas River: Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Brook Trout, Brown Bullhead, Brown Trout, Channel Catfish, and Crappie, and 13 more.
What is the black bullhead limit on Animas River?
No size limit is listed for Black Bullhead on Animas River (confluence with Hermosa Creek to the state line).
What is the black crappie limit on Animas River?
No size limit is listed for Black Crappie on Animas River (confluence with Hermosa Creek to the state line).
What is the bluegill limit on Animas River?
No size limit is listed for Bluegill on Animas River (confluence with Hermosa Creek to the state line).
Do Colorado statewide fishing rules apply on Animas River?
Where Animas River has its own rule for a species, that rule replaces the statewide limit. For species not listed on this page, Colorado's statewide regulations apply. Regulations are set by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife; confirm with the official 2026 regulations before keeping a fish.
Other Colorado waters with special regulations
- South Platte River
- Yampa River
- Colorado River
- White River
- Poudre River · Larimer
- Gunnison River
- Blue River · Grand, Summit
- Roaring Fork River
- Arkansas River · Chaffee , Lake , Fremont , Pueblo
- Eagle River · Eagle
- Taylor River
- East River · Gunnison
Take Animas River rules on the water
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