Emerald Lakes Fishing Regulations
Big & Little counties, Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Emerald Lakes is a lake in Big & Little counties, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 7 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 2 sections of the lake. These rules replace Colorado's statewide limits on this water.
Fish with special rules on Emerald Lakes
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Emerald Lakes limits by species (2026)
Entire lake
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only | – | – | Year-round |
 Brook Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Brown Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Cutthroat Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Golden Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Lake Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Rainbow Trout | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
 Steelhead | 14" max | 2 | Year-round |
In the Lake Creek inlet for 0.5 miles above Big Emerald Lake
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish Species | – | – | Jan 1 – Jul 15 · Closed |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.
Plan your Emerald Lakes trip
Emerald Lakes fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Emerald Lakes?
7 species have rules specific to Emerald Lakes: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Steelhead.
What is the brook trout limit on Emerald Lakes?
Brook Trout have a maximum size of 14" on Emerald Lakes (entire lake), and the daily bag limit is 2.
What is the brown trout limit on Emerald Lakes?
Brown Trout have a maximum size of 14" on Emerald Lakes (entire lake), and the daily bag limit is 2.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Emerald Lakes?
Cutthroat Trout have a maximum size of 14" on Emerald Lakes (entire lake), and the daily bag limit is 2.
Do Colorado statewide fishing rules apply on Emerald Lakes?
Where Emerald Lakes 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
- Animas River · La Plata
- Eagle River · Eagle
- Taylor River
Take Emerald Lakes rules on the water
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