Fishing

Colorado offers unrivaled opportunity to fish over 35 species in some of the most scenic bodies of water. Fish anywhere in 6,000 miles of streams and more than 1,300 lakes and reservoir​s. Annual fishing licenses are valid March 1 through March 31 (13 months). ​Youth aged 15 and under fish for free.​
Two women and a group of children fish off a pier.
Young children and their adults fish together off a pier.

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35 +

Fish Species

6000 +

Miles of Stream

1300 +

Lakes and Resevoirs

39

Gold Medal Waters

Ice fishing

Ice Fishing

Enter to Win Prizes

Take a friend fishing.

For the sixth consecutive year, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and our partner Colorado fishing companies are encouraging anglers to take a friend fishing. As a reward for sharing your expertise and love of fishing, we’ve created a contest for mentors who take the time to pass on their knowledge. We are now offering prizes for the mentor as well as the mentee!

Nee Noshee Reservoir

fishing at Nee Noshee Reservoir

Fishing Spotlight

Colorado Quality Waters

Choose from a list of more than 50 fishing waters to plan your next fishing adventure!

CPW's List of  Quality Waters includes lakes and streams that contain productive, quality fisheries with public access and are fishable by most angling methods. The waters may have been nominated for one species or a whole suite of species. 

Plan Your Fishing Trip

Fishing licenses.

Licenses

Licenses can be purchased online, over the phone, or in person at hundreds of retail locations.

See License Options
Prepare your boat.

Register, ANS Stamp, Inspection, Decontamination

Any boat (motor or sail) operated in Colorado must be registered and purchase an ANS stamp. Get a mandatory boat inspection before your hit the water, and get decontaminated afterwards.

Prepare Your Boat

Download the myColorado App

Carry your fishing license on your phone. Follow the FAQ to learn how to access your license within the app wallet. The app can be downloaded from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

Visit myColorado.gov
Places to fish.

Places to Fish

Search for fishing opportunities by species or by proximity to your home or destination.

Find a Fishing Spot

Learn to Fish

    Looking to learn to fish, or know someone who is? Start here with simple guides and gear lists or take a fishing clinic for hands-on practice with a seasoned angler or CPW staff member.

    Fishing Basics

    Fishing Basics

    Getting started isn’t complicated. Follow our basic equipment guide and you’ll be hooked before you know it!

     young angler with fish

    Bait Fishing

    This popular angling method uses a bait fishing rig and a fishing hook.

     Fly Fishing

    Fly Fishing

    This popular angling method that involves using a lightweight artificial fly to catch fish.

     ice fishing

    Ice Fishing

    This winter activity that involves drilling a hole in the ice and dropping a fishing line through it in order to catch fish.

    What fish is that? 

    Learn the characteristics of fish in Colorado, including how to tell the difference between the fish you can legally take, and the protected fish you can't.

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    An angler in a wheelchair casts his fishing line from a pier.

    Accessible Fishing

    Find an Accessible Fishing Spot

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains a list of accessible fishing locations for anglers with disabilities.

    Select the region below to find accessible fishing access near you, or visit the park finder to find a park with accessible fishing:

    Columbine Lifetime Fishing License

    For any Colorado resident who has a total and permanent disability. Residents must apply for this fishing license.

    Clean Your Gear: Angling

    Aquatic Nuisance Species

    Help Protect Colorado's Waters

    Learn how to clean, drain and dry angling gear with Grace, a CPW Invasive Species Program Technician, and Danny Frank, Owner of Colorado Trout Hunters and help prevent the spread of aquatic nuisance species in Colorado.

    The Latest From The Water

    Catch Up on the Latest Surveys and Reports

    Whether you are a seasoned angler or a novice, keeping up with the latest fishing reports and surveys can help you make the most of your time on the water.  Stay Up-to-Date on stocking and catch trends.  

    Fishing Reports

    Would you like ​to be notified about the latest fishing news from CPW? Join our email newsletter and be the first to know about the hottest fishing spots, events, and more.

      Stocking Report

      The stocking report identifies where catchable trout (approximately 10 inches) were recently stocked.

      The report is updated every Friday during the fishing season and lists waters that were scheduled to be stocked throughout the previous week. Many factors can potentially impact when fish can be stocked, so the scheduled stocking dates that are used to generate this report are subject to change without notice.

      Fishery Survey Summaries

      Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) fisheries biologists are now providing to the public online survey summaries by water. CPW conducts hundreds of lake and stream surveys each year. The first page of the documents provides general information about fishing in particular waters, such as location and access. A second page highlights detailed information regarding fishery management aspects. 

      More waters will be added over time, and updates will be provided for waters that are currently available. High-priority and brood waters such as Chatfield, Pueblo, Horsetooth, and the Gunnison River are surveyed annually, while smaller, more remote, or lightly used lakes or streams may only be surveyed once every 5-10 years.

      Previous Fishing Reports

      CPW Fishing Report - August 16

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - August 2

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - July 19

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - July 7

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - June 21

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - June 7

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - May 24

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - May 10

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - April 26

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - April 5

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - March 22

      View Report

      CPW Fishing Report - March 8

      View Report

      Anglers telling fish stories.

      Catch a Record

      Fishing Awards and Records

      Colorado Parks and Wildlife recognizes licensed anglers who catch exceptionally large fish through three separate programs, Record by Weight, Record by Length (released only) and Master Angler.​​​​​ Learn more about what it takes to be a Colorado record holder!

      Fish hatchery truck.

      Hatcheries

      Your Fishin' is Our Mission!

      Since 1881, Colorado Parks & Wildlife fish hatcheries have been dedicated to improving the fish populations of our beautiful state. Today, CPW operates 19 hatcheries that breed, hatch, rear and stock over 90 million fish per year. Many of the fish produced are to enhance angling opportunities, while others serve a critical role in native species recovery efforts.  Colorado fish hatcheries support our angling pastime, which annually contributes 2.4 billion dollars to our state's economy!​

      Grow Your Skills

      There's a clinic or event for anglers of all ages and skill levels. Find one near you.

      Ice fishing

      Feb

      10

      Ice Fishing Clinic

      Monday, Feb 10

      State Forest State Park

      10 am-3 pm at North Michigan Reservoir. Bring your own gear, or we can provide poles and augers. Fishing license required for 16+. Dress for the weather!
      Ice fishing

      Feb

      10

      Registration Required:

      Event participants must register

      Ice Fishing Clinic

      Monday, Feb 10

      State Forest State Park

      10 am-3 pm at North Michigan Reservoir. Bring your own gear, or we can provide poles and augers. Fishing license required for 16+. Dress for the weather!

      More Fishing Resources

      The Colorado Fishing Atlas.

      The Colorado Fishing Atlas

      The Colorado Fishing Atlas, the latest interactive mapping tool offered by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, allows users to search for fishing opportunities by species, specific interest or proximity to your home or destination. Information includes accessible fishing access, stocked waters, boat ramps, special fishing regulations, stream gages (including links to real-time data) and more.

      Visit the Fishing Altas
      Colorado Outdoors Annual Fishing Guide.

      Colorado Outdoors Annual Fishing Guide

      Find fishing guides for the metro area and other Colorado locations, fishing techniques, hidden gems, and read about other anglers fishing succeses and failures. Buy the Colorado Outdoors Magazine Fishing guide, or get it free with a magazine subscription.

      Get the Fishing Guide

      Colorado Fishing Network

      Comprehensive information about fishing in Colorado. Features where to fish, maps, regional features, reports, photos, stories, guides, and conditions.

      Visit the Colorado Fishing Network
      USGS Water Data.

      USGS Water Data

      The National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric datas has been collected.

      Learn More at USGS.gov
      Fish Explorer.

      Fish Explorer

      FishExplorer is an angler-owned, angler-managed, angler-produced project with a perpetual goal to offer the best, most thorough, and most up-to-date fishing resource in the state under one roof.

      Visit FishExplorer
      Cabins at State Forest State Park.

      Extend Your Adventure

      Make it a Fishing Weekend

      Getaway for the weekend.

      Arrive and spend a relaxing evening fishing nearby your cabin. Wake up early and take your boat out on the water, or sleep in take a leisurely stroll down to the water with your fishing poles. Check out on Sunday, and get in a few more hours of fishing in before you head home.

      Colorado Fishing Brochure

      Colorado Fishing Broch​​ure

      Colorado Fishing Broch​​ure

      The online Fishing brochure is the most up-to-date version.​​​

      Download the Brochure
      Pesca en Colorado​.

      Pesca en Colorado​ (En Español)​​​​​​​

      El folleto de Pesca en línea es la versión más actualizada.

      Descargue el Folleto