This is the Official Colorado Fishing regulations and Information navigation page for the Colorado state rules and regulations guidebook overviews.
You can access each individual state regulation guidebook by clicking the links below.
These are just the overviews of the official state regulations.
The Actual state Colorado Fishing regulation guidebooks are accessible by clicking on the state you would like to see from the home page map then clicking on the Colorado state fishing regulations books.
They are also accessible by clicking on the Colorado fishing reg. books below and accessing the Colorado fishing regs link in the Colorado Guidebooks listed below.
Enjoy be safe and have a great time exploring the site and remember to check back often to keep updated on all the new laws, rules, and Colorado regulations pertaining to the hunting, fishing, trapping, and wildlife sports.
Weather its Colorado Trout fishing, Colorado bass fishing, Colorado striper fishing, Colorado Salmon fishing, Colorado Catfish fishing, Colorado steelhead fishing, Colorado Panfish fishing, Colorado pike/muskie fishing, Colorado Walleye fishing  We have the Colorado state fishing regulations for your trip into the wilderness or on the water covered in one easy to location.
If you need Colorado fishing maps, Colorado state fishing maps, or just some Colorado fishing reports to tell you were the bite is hot we have that too.

Colorado Fishing Report

If you’re planning a fishing trip to Colorado, you have some excellent choices for lakes and streams throughout the state including Adobe Creek Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Standley Lake, Twin Lakes, Williams Fork Reservoir and others. Many of the lakes in Colorado have camping facilities as well as other accommodations nearby. Colorado is well known for excellent Bass, Catfish and Trout fishing. Additionally, in waters around the state you’ll find populations of Salmon, Walleye, Crappie, Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger, Saugeye and sunfish including Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch which are plentiful in some waters.

Fishing is regulated in Colorado by the Fish & Game Department. You can check their website for current fishing reports.

Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass and Spotted Bass Fishing in Colorado.

Bass are one of the most sought after of all the game fish. Its appeal spans cultures, age groups and genders to tap on the heart strings of anglers everywhere. Join us in our endeavor to offer information about bass fishing on your favorite bass lake in the Colorado area.

Colorado Bass Fishing Lakes

Colorados cold water is a limiting factor on bass fishing in CO. Many of the fisheries are too cold for bass. Those that are warm enough have a shorter growth season than lakes in the southern part of the states. Still there are nice opportunities for bass fishing in Colorado. Some of the major impoundments with a population of bass include Adobe Creek Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir and Navajo Reservoir.

The Colorado state record largemouth bass was taken out of Echo Canyon Reservoir and the CO state record smallmouth bass came from Navajo Reservoir.

Trout Fishing in Colorado - Fly Fishing for Torut

The 5 primary trouts are the rainbow, brook, brown, cutthroat and lake trout. Brown trout are considered the most difficult to catch and brookies are the easiest. Pure cold water is key to survival of the trouts and the brook trout is the most sensitive to temperature. The others are comfortable in slightly warmer waters.

Most streams, rivers, ponds and lakes have a population of trout. The state record cutthroat came for Twin Lakes. Blue Mountain Reservoir yielded the state record for lake trout. And Colorados largest rainbow came out of Morrow Point Reservoir.

Colorado Trout Fishing Lakes

Adobe Creek Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir, Morrow Point Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, Shadow Mountain Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Standley Lake, Twin Lakes and Williams Fork Reservoir are the major lakes in CO and all have a trout population.

For information regarding trout stocking in Colorado, visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife website.

The Colorado state record brook trout was caught from Upper Cataract Lake and the CO state record brown trout came form Roaring Judy Ponds. Twin Lakes produced the state record cutthroat trout and the state record golden trout was taken from Kelly Lake. Blue Mesa Reservoir served up the state record lake trout and the Colorado state record rainbow trout came out of Morrow Point Reservoir.

Salmon Fishing in Colorado

Colorado offers limited salmon fishing. They cannot spawn in Colorado, so populations of salmon are replenished by stocking. Two types of Pacific salmon are stocked in lakes and streams. They are the Kokanee (or sockeye) and the Chinook salmon.

Colorado Salmon Fishing Lakes

Blue Mesa Lake, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Grand Lake, McPhee Reservoir, Shadow Mountain Reservoir and Williams Fork Reservoir are the primary salmon fishing opportunities in CO.

Williams Fork Reservoir produced the Colorado state record chinook salmon (king salmon) and the CO state record kokanee salmon came out of Spinney Mountain Reservoir.

Walleye Fishing in Colorado

Walleye
Stizostedion vitreum

The walleye prefers moderately deep lakes with gravel, rock or sandy bottoms. It is found primarily in cold water lakes but has proven to survive in some warmer water impoundments. It is prized for its great tasting white, flaky flesh.

Walleye Fishing Lakes In Colorado

If you want to catch tasty walleye in Colorado you have several lakes to choose from, including Adobe Creek Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park and Standley Lake which produced the current state record walleye.

Colorado walleye spawn in spring and when they have the option will choose to migrate from the lake up into feeder streams to spawn. If this option is not available they seek out shallow bars or shoals with clean bottom surfaces near deep water.

This toothy fish will eat virtually anything it can catch and get in its mouth. They prefer small fish and will eat crustaceans, worms and insects. They tend to be somewhat wary and prefer the safety of deeper darker water. Try fishing for walleye from sundown to midnight, particularly during the heat of summer.

Fish for Colorado walleye with live bait, crankbaits, spoons, small spinner baits as well as plastic worms and grubs.

Crappie Fishing in Colorado

Crappie are actually a member of the sunfish family and can be found in all the continental states. They are known by many different names, typically based on geographic location. Paper mouth, goggleye, bridge perch and speckled perch, just to name a few.

Crappie Fishing Lakes In Colorado

Like the bass in Colorado, the crappies have a slow growing season. However, they are plentiful in several lakes throughout the state including Adobe Creek Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Chatfield Reservoir and Lathrop State Park.

The Colorado state record black crappie was caught from a private pond and Northglenn Lake produced the CO state record white crappie.

Catfish Fishing in Colorado

There are many species of catfish and even more ways to catch them. Adults range in size from less than a pound to hundreds of pounds. They can be found in all types of water including ponds, streams, lakes and rivers. There are even species which spend a limited amount of time on dry land. Big giant catfish put up a very noble fight once hooked.

Colorado Catfish Fishing Lakes

All major lakes in Colorado have a population of catfish. Try your luck at Adobe Creek Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, Shadow Mtn. Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Standley Lake or Williams Fork Reservoir.

Hertha Reservoir served up the Colorado state record channel catfish and the Colorado state record bule catfish came from a private pond.

Sunfish Fishing in Colorado for Green Sunfish, Rock Bass, White Bass, Yellow Perch and Other CO Panfish.

One or more species of sunfish populate virtually all warm water streams, ponds and lakes throughout Colorado and around the world for that matter. They can survive in waters that provide their natural food source of minnows, crustaceans, insects and worms. Their competitive nature amongst themselves for food, makes them relatively easy to catch.

Sunfish Lakes In Colorado

Adobe Creek Reservoir, Blue Mesa Reservoir, Bonny Reservoir, Carter Lake, Chatfield Reservoir, Eleven Mile Reservoir, Lake Granby, Grand Lake, Hollenbeck Reservoir, Horsetooth Lake, Lathrop State Park, McPhee Reservoir, Navajo Reservoir, Shadow Mtn. Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Standley Lake and Williams Fork Reservoir all have a healthy population of panfish. The state record bludgill came from Hollenbeck Reservoir.

The Colorado state record bluegill sunfish was taken from Hollenbeck Reservoir. It is unknown where the CO state record green sunfish and hybrid sunfish were caught.

Striper Fishing in Colorado

While stripers are native to salt water, they naturally migrate into fresh water streams to spawn. Their eggs must remain in motion in order to hatch so the fresh water rivers and streams which drain into the ocean become the spawning grounds for stripers.

Striped Bass Fishing Water in Colorado

There is limited striped bass fishing in Colorado. The state record came from CF&I Reservoir #2 in 1984. Since then stocking had been reduced or eliminated. If you are willing to travel, Arizona Striped bass fishing is excellent along the string of Colorado River lakes.

Fishing for other Tiger Musky, Northern Pike, Sauger and Saugeye in Colorado.

Colorado offers unique fishing opportunities.

 Northern Pike
Esox Lucius
IFGA Record: 55.1 lbs
The northern pike is a valient fighter and prefers water temperatures from 58 to 70 degrees. Also known as jack, jackfish, great northern pike and pickerel. While they have been transplanted into most states with cold water, they are native to the northern states and are abundant in the north-eastern states. Northern pike are basically olive in color with white and/or yellow bellies. The northern pike has light-colored marking on a dark body whish is opposite that of their cousins the muskies.They are an ambushing predator that eats frogs, crayfish, birds and virtually any fish they can get into their mouth. Use spinners, fish-immitating lures, jerk-baits or cutbait and fish close to cover.

Tiger Musky - Muskellunge
Esox lucius ~ Esox masquinongy
USA Record: 51.2 lbs.
The tiger muskellunge is a cross of the musky and northern pike. Male Tiger Muskellunge are most often sterile yet some females are fertile. Tiger muskies tend to be smaller than non-hybrid muskies but grow very fast. The body is often quite silvery with brownish fins and tail, without spots but displays broken vertical markings. Like their parent, they eat any fish they can catch and prefer to ambush their prey. They also eat crayfish, frogs and birds. Use large lures and stout line when fishing for tiger muskellunge. They will hit lures and fresh cut bait. They are known for their speed and are exceptionally strong for short runs.

Sauger
Stizostedion canadense
World Record: 17.7 lbs.
Excellent eating fish which typically runs a bit smaller than its cousin the walleye. The sauger prefers cold and cloudy, moving water in the 60s to low 70s. They spawn in the low to mid 40s. You can tell them from a walleye by the dark spotting on the dorsal fin, darker coloring and the rough covering of the gill area. Due to their resembelance to pickerel, they are also known as gray pickerel spotfin pike, gray pike, river pike and others. When the water turns cold and other fish are hard to come by, this is the time to fish for sauger.Fish with jigs, spoons and crankbaits imitating crayfish or baitfish. Fish near the bottom and experiment with presentation action and speed.

Saugeye
A cross between sauger and walleye.
USA Record: 15.6 lbs.
This is a fast growing fish but does not get as big as the walleye. It successfully inhabits waters where the walleye has struggled. They prefers water temperatures from 65 to 75 degrees. Look for them near bottom on sandy bars and particularly along dropoffs and river channels. Use small crankbaits that resemble minnows, shad or small crappies. Fish is their primary food source.
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