Fishing in Colorado

South Platte River Fishing Regulations

Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons

South Platte River is a river, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 10 species, including Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, and Golden Trout, set separately for 14 sections of the river. These rules replace Colorado's statewide limits on this water.

10 species with limits14 sections with their own rules
Official Colorado regulations ↗Colorado statewide limits →Colorado license costs →

Map of South Platte River

Aerial map of South Platte River, Colorado
39.2917, -105.2089Directions ↗

Fish with special rules on South Platte River

Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.

Brook Trout illustration

Brook Trout

Catch & release only

Brown Trout illustration

Brown Trout

Catch & release only

Cutthroat Trout illustration

Cutthroat Trout

Catch & release only

Golden Trout illustration

Golden Trout

Catch & release only

Lake Trout illustration

Lake Trout

Catch & release only

Rainbow Trout illustration

Rainbow Trout

Catch & release only

Steelhead illustration

Steelhead

Catch & release only

Largemouth Bass illustration

Largemouth Bass

15" min

South Platte River limits by species (2026)

Cheesman Reservoir dam to Wigwam Club south property line

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Brown Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Cutthroat Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Golden Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Lake Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Rainbow Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Steelhead–Catch & release onlyYear-round

Confluence of the Middle and South Forks to Spinney Mountain Reservoir inlet

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
Brown TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
Cutthroat TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
Golden TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
Lake TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
Rainbow TroutOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round
SteelheadOnly one may be longer than 20 inches · 12-20 inches must be released–2Year-round

Eleven Mile Dam to Wagon Tongue Gulch Road bridge

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Brown Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Cutthroat Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Golden Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Lake Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Rainbow Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Steelhead–Catch & release onlyYear-round

Scraggy View picnic ground to Strontia Springs Res.

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
Brown TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
Cutthroat TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
Golden TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
Lake TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
Rainbow TroutMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
SteelheadMust be between 16-20 inches or over 20 inches · No more than 1 over 20 inches–2Year-round
10 more sections of South Platte River

Section A

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Brown TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Cutthroat TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Golden TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Lake TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Rainbow TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
SteelheadRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round

Section B

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Brown Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Cutthroat Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Golden Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Lake Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Rainbow Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Steelhead–Catch & release onlyYear-round

Section C

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Brown TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Cutthroat TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Golden TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Lake TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
Rainbow TroutRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round
SteelheadRelease 12-20 inches · Only 1 trout over 20 in.–2Year-round

Strontia Springs Dam to 300 yards upstream of Marston Diversion

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout–2Year-round
Brown Trout–2Year-round
Cutthroat Trout–2Year-round
Golden Trout–2Year-round
Lake Trout–2Year-round
Rainbow Trout–2Year-round
Steelhead–2Year-round

Wigwam Club north boundary to Scraggy View Picnic Ground

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout16" min2Year-round
Brown Trout16" min2Year-round
Cutthroat Trout16" min2Year-round
Golden Trout16" min2Year-round
Lake Trout16" min2Year-round
Rainbow Trout16" min2Year-round
Steelhead16" min2Year-round

Wigwam Club property to Scraggy View picnic ground

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesArtificial Only––Year-round
Brook Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Brown Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Cutthroat Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Golden Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Lake Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Rainbow Trout–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Steelhead–Catch & release onlyYear-round

Strontia Springs Dam to Chatfield Res.

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
Brook Trout16" min2Year-round
Brown Trout16" min2Year-round
Cutthroat Trout16" min2Year-round
Golden Trout16" min2Year-round
Lake Trout16" min2Year-round
Rainbow Trout16" min2Year-round
Steelhead16" min2Year-round

Within Chatfield State Park

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
Largemouth Bass15" min–Year-round
Smallmouth Bass15" min–Year-round
WalleyeOnly 1 walleye longer than 21 inches may be taken per day.18" min3Year-round

Section D

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish Species–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Artificial Only––Year-round
––Sep 15 – Dec 31 · Portions may be closed

Spinney Mountain Reservoir outlet to Eleven Mile Reservoir inlet

SpeciesSize limitDaily bagSeason
All Fish SpeciesSome portions may be closed to fishing as posted from Sept. 15-Dec. 31 for kokanee spawning.––Year-round
–Catch & release onlyYear-round
Artificial Only––Year-round

– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.

Plan your South Platte River trip

Colorado fishing regulations →

Statewide size limits, bag limits, and seasons for every species.

Colorado fishing license →

Costs for residents and non-residents, and where to buy.

All Colorado waters →

Every Colorado lake and river with its own fishing rules.

South Platte River fishing: common questions

What fish have special regulations on South Platte River?

10 species have rules specific to South Platte River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, Steelhead, and Largemouth Bass, and 2 more.

What is the brook trout limit on South Platte River?

Brook Trout are catch and release only on South Platte River (cheesman Reservoir dam to Wigwam Club south property line). Rules differ across 11 sections of the river.

What is the brown trout limit on South Platte River?

Brown Trout are catch and release only on South Platte River (cheesman Reservoir dam to Wigwam Club south property line). Rules differ across 11 sections of the river.

What is the cutthroat trout limit on South Platte River?

Cutthroat Trout are catch and release only on South Platte River (cheesman Reservoir dam to Wigwam Club south property line). Rules differ across 11 sections of the river.

Is South Platte River catch and release?

Some rules on South Platte 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 South Platte River?

Where South Platte 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

All Colorado waters →

Take South Platte River rules on the water

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