Colorado River Fishing Regulations
Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Colorado River is a river, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 18 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 6 sections of the river. These rules replace Colorado's statewide limits on this water.
Map of Colorado River
Fish with special rules on Colorado River
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Colorado River limits by species (2026)
From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
 Black Crappie | – | – | Year-round |
 Bluegill | – | – | Year-round |
 Channel Catfish | – | – | Year-round |
| Crappie | – | – | Year-round |
 Largemouth Bass | – | – | Year-round |
| Northern Pikeminnow | – | – | Year-round |
 Smallmouth Bass | – | – | Year-round |
 Walleye | – | – | Year-round |
 White Crappie | – | – | Year-round |
 Yellow Perch | – | – | Year-round |
From 50 yards upstream and downstream of the confluences with Canyon, Elk, Grizzly and No Name Creeks
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish Species | – | – | Mar 15 – May 31, Oct 1 – Nov 30 · Closed |
 Brook Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Brown Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Cutthroat Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Golden Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Lake Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Rainbow Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
 Steelhead | – | 2 | Year-round |
From the U.S. 40 bridge approximately 3 miles west of the Hot Sulphur Springs downstream to confluence with Troublesome Creek
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only | – | – | Year-round |
| Brook Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Brown Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Golden Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Lake Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Rainbow Trout | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
| Steelhead | – | Catch & release only | Year-round |
From Granby Dam downstream to the U.S. 40 bridge approximately 3 miles west of Hot Sulphur Springs
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Brown Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Golden Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Lake Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Rainbow Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Steelhead | – | 2 | Year-round |
2 more sections of Colorado River
From the confluence with Troublesome Creek downstream to I-70 Exit 90 bridge at Rifle
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brook Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Brown Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Cutthroat Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Golden Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Lake Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Rainbow Trout | – | 2 | Year-round |
| Steelhead | – | 2 | Year-round |
Fraser to Troublesome Creek (Gold Medal)
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
 MuskellungeNo size, bag, or possession limit for tiger muskie (2026 NEW) | – | – | Year-round |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.
Plan your Colorado River trip
Colorado River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Colorado River?
18 species have rules specific to Colorado River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and Black Crappie, and 10 more.
What is the brook trout limit on Colorado River?
No size limit is listed for Brook Trout on Colorado River (from 50 yards upstream and downstream of the confluences with Canyon, Elk, Grizzly and No Name Creeks), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the brown trout limit on Colorado River?
No size limit is listed for Brown Trout on Colorado River (from 50 yards upstream and downstream of the confluences with Canyon, Elk, Grizzly and No Name Creeks), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Colorado River?
No size limit is listed for Cutthroat Trout on Colorado River (from 50 yards upstream and downstream of the confluences with Canyon, Elk, Grizzly and No Name Creeks), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
Is Colorado River catch and release?
Some rules on Colorado River are catch and release only, covering Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, and Lake Trout and others. Check the table for the section and dates that apply.
Do Colorado statewide fishing rules apply on Colorado River?
Where Colorado 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
- White River
- Poudre River · Larimer
- Gunnison River
- Blue River · Grand, Summit
- Roaring Fork River
- Arkansas River · Chaffee , Lake , Fremont , Pueblo
- Animas River · La Plata
- Eagle River · Eagle
- Taylor River
- East River · Gunnison
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