Colorado Parks and Wildlife implements late season fishing closure on the Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir

Rachael Gonzales
Northwest Region Public Information Officer
970-773-8587 / [email protected]
Twitter: @CPW_NW Colorado Parks and Wildlife implements late season fishing closure on the Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir

Sept 30, 2025

OAK CREEK, Colo. — Due to decreased water flow from Stagecoach Reservoir, Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) will implement a mandatory full-day fishing closure on a 0.6-mile stretch of the Yampa River between the dam at Stagecoach State Park downstream to the lowermost park boundary. 

The closure will go into effect beginning Thursday, Oct. 2 and is expected to last until spring 2026.

"We are trying to be proactive in protecting the outstanding catch-and-release fishery we have downstream of Stagecoach Reservoir," said CPW Steamboat Area Aquatic Biologist Marisa Eley. “This closure is an effort to protect the resource by giving the fish a bit of a reprieve as they are prone to increased stressors related to these extreme low-flow conditions.”

When water flows are minimal, fish become concentrated in residual pool habitat and become stressed due to increased competition for food resources. The fish become much easier targets for anglers, an added stressor that can result in increased mortality.

CPW works closely with the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD), which owns and operates Stagecoach Reservoir, to stay informed on reservoir releases. 

“We had great success providing environmental and flow maintenance releases from the reservoir this summer in collaboration with our partners,” said UYWCD General Manager Andy Rossi. “Late season inflows to Stagecoach Reservoir are currently at low levels and flow maintenance releases by the Colorado Water Trust ended last week.”

Like many rivers and streams in western Colorado, the Yampa River offers world-class fishing and attracts thousands of anglers each year. 

"We are asking for the public’s patience and cooperation," said Stagecoach State Park Manager Craig Preston. “It is very important that we do what we can to protect this unique fishery for today and into the future.”  

The closure on this section of the Yampa is not related to the closure of the small section of the Yampa River at the Fish Creek confluence implemented to protect spawning mountain whitefish that will go  into effect on Wednesday, Oct. 1.

CPW also wants to remind the public that voluntary closures on the White River in Rio Blanco County and the Crystal River near Carbondale remain in place until further notice. 

Full-day voluntary fishing closure on the Crystal River
On Aug. 15, CPW implemented a voluntary full-day fishing closure between mile marker 64 on Highway 133 and the confluence of the Crystal and Roaring Fork rivers due to extreme low flow conditions. 

These voluntary fishing closures are expected to remain in place through October.

Partial-day voluntary fishing closures on the White River
On Aug. 15, CPW implemented voluntary fishing closures from 2 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. on the following sections of the White River.

• The North Fork White River from the White River National Forest boundary downstream to the confluence with the South Fork White River.

• The South Fork White River from the White River National Forest boundary downstream to the confluence with the North Fork White River.

• The White River from the confluence of the North Fork White River and the South Fork White River downstream to County Road 5.

These voluntary fishing closures will remain in place based on water quality concerns associated with the Lee and Elk fires. 

For more information about fishing in Colorado, including current fishing conditions and alternative places to fish, visit the CPW website.

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Caption: Image of the late season full-day mandatory fishing closure on the Yampa River just below the dam at Stagecoach Reservoir.