Poudre River Fishing Regulations
Larimer County, Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Poudre River is a river in Larimer County, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 7 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 4 sections of the river. These rules replace Colorado's statewide limits on this water.
Fish with special rules on Poudre River
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Poudre River limits by species (2026)
Rocky Mountain National Park boundary to confluence with Joe Wright Creek
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only | – | – | Year-round |
 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 |
Upper boundary of Big Bend campground to confluence with Black Hollow 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 |
Upper boundary of Gateway Park to the confluence with the North Fork of the Poudre River
| 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 |
West boundary of the Hombre Ranch to the Pingree Park Road/bridge
| 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 |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.
Plan your Poudre River trip
Poudre River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Poudre River?
7 species have rules specific to Poudre River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Steelhead.
What is the brook trout limit on Poudre River?
No size limit is listed for Brook Trout on Poudre River (rocky Mountain National Park boundary to confluence with Joe Wright Creek), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the brown trout limit on Poudre River?
No size limit is listed for Brown Trout on Poudre River (rocky Mountain National Park boundary to confluence with Joe Wright Creek), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Poudre River?
No size limit is listed for Cutthroat Trout on Poudre River (rocky Mountain National Park boundary to confluence with Joe Wright Creek), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 4 sections of the river.
Is Poudre River catch and release?
Some rules on Poudre 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 Poudre River?
Where Poudre 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
- 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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