Fishing in
Colorado
12,186 named waters · 39 stocked in the last 30 days
Colorado's Gold Medal waters — sections of the South Platte, the Arkansas, the Fryingpan, and others — set the standard for tailwater trout fishing, with big, selective fish that reward technical presentations. High-elevation reservoirs like Blue Mesa add kokanee salmon and lake trout to a state built almost entirely around cold, clear water.
Colorado holds 12,186 fishable waters on the books. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has logged 97 stockings in the last year, led by trout. The biggest water in the state is Navajo Reservoir at 15,363 acres.
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What you'll catch here
- Trout38 waters
Freshest stockings
Full report →- Beaver Creek ReservoirTroutJul 24, 2026
- Trujillo Meadows ReservoirTroutJul 24, 2026
- Platoro ReservoirTroutJul 24, 2026
- Rio Grande ReservoirTroutJul 24, 2026
- Taylor ReservoirTroutJul 24, 2026
Most-stocked waters, last 12 months
- Taylor Reservoir4× stocked
- Beaver Creek Reservoir3× stocked
- Rio Grande Reservoir3× stocked
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir2× stocked
- Trujillo Meadows Reservoir2× stocked
- Lake San Cristobal2× stocked
- Platoro Reservoir2× stocked
- Bailey Reservoir1× stocked
- Rifle Creek1× stocked
- Kids Pond1× stocked
Biggest waters
- Navajo Reservoir15,363 ac
- John Martin Reservoir11,686 ac
- Blue Mesa Reservoir8,944 ac
- Lake Granby7,075 ac
- Lake Meredith5,539 ac
- Adobe Creek Reservoir4,770 ac
- McPhee Reservoir4,335 ac
- Riverside Reservoir3,633 ac
Major rivers
- South Platte Riverorder 9 · ~3,145 cfs
- Pawnee Creekorder 9 · ~22 cfs
- Badger Creekorder 9 · ~9 cfs
- Sand Creekorder 9 · ~1 cfs
- Gunnison Riverorder 8 · ~3,640 cfs
- Yampa Riverorder 8 · ~3,436 cfs
- Roaring Fork Riverorder 8 · ~1,443 cfs
- Big Thompson Riverorder 8 · ~283 cfs
Waters by county
All counties →Jackson (660) · Larimer (636) · Gunnison (502) · Mesa (457) · Eagle (443) · Grand (438) · Garfield (431) · Saguache (410) · Routt (407) · Dolores (386) · Delta (384) · Weld (353) · Rio Blanco (330) · Boulder (302) · Park (277) · Montezuma (276) · Huerfano (274) · La Plata (266) · Montrose (263) · Las Animas (251) · Conejos (234) · Pitkin (212) · Moffat (207) · Archuleta (204) · Jefferson (197) · El Paso (196) · Hinsdale (191) · Pueblo (184) · Chaffee (169) · San Miguel (161)
Seasons, limits, and rules are Colorado's call — read the official regulations and buy your license from the state, not a middleman. We link the source; we never restate the rules.
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Colorado fishing — FAQ
Where does Colorado stock fish?+
Colorado Parks and Wildlife logged 97 stockings across Colorado in the last year, led by trout. Browse the map and most-stocked waters above for exact locations.
How often does Colorado stock fish?+
Colorado's agency publishes stocking updates that we check daily. Follow any water to track its stocking schedule.
Do I need a license to fish in Colorado?+
Yes — Colorado requires a fishing license for most anglers. Buy one from the state agency and check current seasons and limits before you go.
How many fishable waters are in Colorado?+
Colorado has 12,186 named fishable waters mapped on FishableWaters, from stocked reservoirs to wild streams.