Yampa River Fishing Regulations
Colorado · 2026 size limits, bag limits, and seasons
Yampa River is a river, Colorado. It has its own fishing regulations for 7 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 Yampa River
Fish with special rules on Yampa River
Tap a fish for identification tips, size records, and the best bait.
Yampa River limits by species (2026)
0.6 miles downstream of Stagecoach Dam to Walton Creek confluence
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesSpawning areas (redds) closed as posted · Artificial 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 |
East Fork confluence to Stagecoach Reservoir
| 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 |
Rollingstone Drive bridge to 200 ft downstream of Fish Creek confluence
| 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 |
Stagecoach Dam downstream 0.6 miles
| Species | Size limit | Daily bag | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Fish SpeciesSpawning areas (redds) closed as posted · Artificial 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 |
2 more sections of Yampa River
Walton Creek confluence to Hayden
| 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 |
Headwaters to East Fork confluence
| 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 |
– means no limit is listed for this water. Rules not shown here follow Colorado's statewide regulations.
Plan your Yampa River trip
Yampa River fishing: common questions
What fish have special regulations on Yampa River?
7 species have rules specific to Yampa River: Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout, Golden Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout, and Steelhead.
What is the brook trout limit on Yampa River?
No size limit is listed for Brook Trout on Yampa River (0.6 miles downstream of Stagecoach Dam to Walton Creek confluence), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 6 sections of the river.
What is the brown trout limit on Yampa River?
No size limit is listed for Brown Trout on Yampa River (0.6 miles downstream of Stagecoach Dam to Walton Creek confluence), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 6 sections of the river.
What is the cutthroat trout limit on Yampa River?
No size limit is listed for Cutthroat Trout on Yampa River (0.6 miles downstream of Stagecoach Dam to Walton Creek confluence), and the daily bag limit is 2. Rules differ across 6 sections of the river.
Is Yampa River catch and release?
Some rules on Yampa 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 Yampa River?
Where Yampa 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
- 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
- East River · Gunnison
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