Season Dates & Information
Annual licenses go on sale March 1. Licenses are valid March 1 through March 31 (13 months) for fishing, combination fishing and hunting, small game and Colorado waterfowl stamps. Licenses can be purchased at sales agents, CPW offices, online or by phone at 1-800-244-5613.
Purchase of a $12.15
Habitat Stamp is also required with the purchase of the first hunting or fishing license of the season.
Waters of Colorado are open to taking fish, amphibians, mollusks and crustaceans both day and night, year-round, except as otherwise provided in the
Fishing Regulations Brochure. A hardcopy of the brochure is available at all
CPW Offices and
sales agents statewide.
Free Fishing Days
You can fish in Colorado without a license only on the first full weekend of June, each year. All other rules and regulations apply.
What's New for 2024:
New Regulations for Certain Properties:
- The West Fork of Clear Creek, Duck Creek, the Square Top Lakes, and Williams Gulch: Fishing with fly and lure only and catch-and-release.
- Blue River and Tenmile Creek: Brown trout over 14 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water upon catch and fishing is prohibited Sept. 1–Dec. 1.
- Dillon Reservoir: Brown trout over 14 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water upon catch.
- Hermosa Creek: Fishing is prohibited 100 feet upstream and downstream of the fish barrier located 0.1 miles below the East Fork of Hermosa Creek confluence.
|
License & Other Fees |
Resident |
Nonresident |
Annual Habitat Stamp
Only one required per person, ages 18-64, per year buying or applying for a license. | $12.15 | $12.15
|
Lifetime Habitat Stamp
| $364.63
| $364.63
|
Annual Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Stamp
Required for Motorboat and sailboats
| $25.00
| $50.00
|
| Annual (18-64) | $41.83
| $117.14
|
Senior Annual (65+)
Colorado residents only
| $11.47
| N/A
|
Youth (16-17)
Second-rod charge still applies. For youth under 16, see the
Fishing Brochure.
| $11.47
| N/A
(same as non-resident adult)
|
Small Game & Fishing Combination
| $60.05
| N/A
|
Senior Annual Small Game & Fishing Combination (65+)
Colorado residents only
| $35.32
| N/A
|
Centennial Senior Lifetime Fishing (64+)
Income-eligible Colorado residents only | $11.21
| N/A |
| Annual Small Game Upgrade for Senior Lifetime Fishing license holders (65+)
| $25.60
| N/A
|
| Five-day | N/A | $38.19
|
| One-day* | $16.33
| $19.97
|
| Additional-day | $7.82
| $7.82
|
Second-rod Stamp
Available to anyone who has purchases a fishing license and to any youth under 16 | $12.68
| $12.68
|
*Customers buying a one-day or additional day license are exempt from the Habitat Stamp fee with the first two of these licenses. The Habitat Stamp fee will be assessed when a third license of this type is purchased. All license fees include a .25 cent search & rescue fee, and a $1.50
Wildlife Education Fund surcharge. |
