When is cutthroat trout season in Colorado?

Colorado keeps cutthroat trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.

What is the Colorado bag limit for cutthroat trout?

The Colorado daily bag limit for cutthroat trout is 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed wild native cutthroat reaches (Greenback federally Threatened ESA + Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Species of Concern conservation reaches); 4 / day combined trout elsewhere. The possession limit is 8 in possession combined trout on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

Do you need a license to fish for cutthroat trout in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for cutthroat trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Colorado license — compare resident and non-resident Colorado fees on the state regulations page below.

Are there gear restrictions for cutthroat trout in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, cutthroat trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild native cutthroat conservation reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Greenback + Colorado River + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches; Live bait prohibited on most native cutthroat waters + Gold Medal Waters; Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain National Park + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW Fishing License valid — NPS does NOT supersede CPW); CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual); Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District native-cutthroat-conservation reach + season list.

Do specific Colorado waters have different cutthroat trout rules?

Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide cutthroat trout regulation, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Creek headwaters, Western Slope headwaters, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Colorado Cutthroat trout 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Oncorhynchus clarkii

Last updated May 27, 2026

Colorado cutthroat trout fishery is the southern Rocky Mountain heart of native cutthroat country — three distinct native cutthroat subspecies inhabit Colorado waters on separate drainages, each managed under aggressive CPW + USFWS conservation framework: Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias — Colorado state fish + federally Threatened ESA species — endemic to the South Platte + Arkansas River drainages on the Front Range eastern slope, found nowhere else in the world; CPW + USFWS + NPS Rocky Mountain National Park joint reintroduction program at Bear Lake + Sky Pond + listed alpine lakes Larimer + Boulder Counties — Greenback was thought extinct until rediscovered in 1973 + reintroduced beginning in 2014 to 16-mile Bear Creek headwaters via Leadville USFWS NFH stocking program); Colorado River cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii pleuriticus — CPW Species of Concern — western slope Colorado River drainage including the upper Colorado + Roaring Fork + Gunnison + Yampa + White + Animas + Dolores + San Juan headwaters in Grand + Eagle + Pitkin + Garfield + Mesa + Rio Blanco + Montrose + Gunnison + Hinsdale + La Plata + Archuleta + Montezuma Counties); Rio Grande cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii virginalis — CPW Species of Concern — Rio Grande drainage San Luis Valley southern Colorado + northern New Mexico including the Rio Grande + Conejos + Alamosa + La Jara + San Antonio River headwaters in Alamosa + Conejos + Saguache + Rio Grande + Mineral Counties). CPW-managed aggressive native cutthroat protection: Greenback cutthroat is 0 / day catch-and-release-only statewide on listed reintroduction reaches with barbless single hook + artificial lure / fly only; Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat are 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches. CPW stocks the Greenback + Colorado River + Rio Grande cutthroat conservation programs via Leadville USFWS NFH (Greenback broodstock) + Mt. Shavano State Fish Hatchery (Colorado River cutthroat broodstock) + Bellvue State Fish Hatchery + Roaring Judy State Fish Hatchery + Glenwood Springs State Fish Hatchery + Chalk Cliffs State Fish Hatchery. The Greenback cutthroat is Colorado's state fish (designated 1994) — the only native cutthroat subspecies federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (Threatened since 1978). Open year-round on most waters; conservation reaches catch-and-release-only.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; listed Greenback + Colorado River + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches 0 / day catch-and-release-only; Rocky Mountain NP Bear Lake + Sky Pond + listed Greenback reintroduction lakes 0 / day catch-and-release-only.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed wild native cutthroat reaches (Greenback federally Threatened ESA + Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Species of Concern conservation reaches); 4 / day combined trout elsewhere
Possession: 8 in possession combined trout on harvest waters

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum; catch-and-release-only on listed conservation reaches
Trophy rule: Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) is the Colorado state fish (designated 1994) + the only native cutthroat subspecies federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (Threatened since 1978) — endemic to the South Platte + Arkansas River drainages on the Front Range eastern slope, found nowhere else in the world — CPW + USFWS + NPS Rocky Mountain National Park joint reintroduction program at Bear Lake + Sky Pond + listed alpine lakes; CO state-record cutthroat trout 16 lb 0 oz Twin Lakes 1964 (one of largest cutthroat state records in country outside Pyramid Lake Lahontan cutthroat fishery); CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program for Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat across listed western slope + San Luis Valley reaches with barbless single hook + artificial lure / fly only

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild native cutthroat conservation reaches
Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Greenback + Colorado River + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches
Live bait prohibited on most native cutthroat waters + Gold Medal Waters
Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain National Park + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW Fishing License valid — NPS does NOT supersede CPW)
CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual)
Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District native-cutthroat-conservation reach + season list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Colorado waters:

Rocky Mountain National Park
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY native Greenback cutthroat (federally Threatened ESA — CPW + USFWS + NPS joint reintroduction program); barbless single hook + artificial-only
Bear Creek headwaters
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY native Greenback cutthroat — the only naturally-reproducing native Greenback population in the world (CPW + USFWS broodstock source for reintroduction program)
Upper Colorado + Roaring Fork + Gunnison + Yampa + Animas + Dolores headwaters
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY native Colorado River cutthroat on listed CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches; barbless single hook + artificial-only
Rio Grande + Conejos + Alamosa + La Jara + San Antonio River headwaters
0 / day CATCH-AND-RELEASE-ONLY native Rio Grande cutthroat on listed CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches
Twin Lakes
Cutthroat 4 / day combined trout (harvest water); CO state-record cutthroat trout 16 lb 0 oz Twin Lakes 1964

Official source

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) publishes the authoritative 2026 Coloradofishing regulations. Always verify the current rule before fishing — emergency closures and in-season changes can override what's published here.

Visit official Colorado fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Cutthroat trout closures, slot-limit changes, and harvest pauses are posted to Colorado Parks and Wildlife's emergency-order feed — check it before any Colorado trip during the active season.

Frequently asked questions

When is cutthroat trout season in Colorado?: Colorado keeps cutthroat trout open to fishing year-round for the 2026 regulation year — there is no closed season, though the daily bag and size limits below still apply every day.
What is the Colorado bag limit for cutthroat trout?: The Colorado daily bag limit for cutthroat trout is 0 / day catch-and-release-only on listed wild native cutthroat reaches (Greenback federally Threatened ESA + Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Species of Concern conservation reaches); 4 / day combined trout elsewhere. The possession limit is 8 in possession combined trout on harvest waters. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size cutthroat trout can you keep in Colorado?: The Colorado size rule for cutthroat trout is No statewide minimum; catch-and-release-only on listed conservation reaches. Trophy rule: Greenback cutthroat trout (Oncorhynchus clarkii stomias) is the Colorado state fish (designated 1994) + the only native cutthroat subspecies federally listed under the Endangered Species Act (Threatened since 1978) — endemic to the South Platte + Arkansas River drainages on the Front Range eastern slope, found nowhere else in the world — CPW + USFWS + NPS Rocky Mountain National Park joint reintroduction program at Bear Lake + Sky Pond + listed alpine lakes; CO state-record cutthroat trout 16 lb 0 oz Twin Lakes 1964 (one of largest cutthroat state records in country outside Pyramid Lake Lahontan cutthroat fishery); CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program for Colorado River cutthroat + Rio Grande cutthroat across listed western slope + San Luis Valley reaches with barbless single hook + artificial lure / fly only.
Do you need a license to fish for cutthroat trout in Colorado?: Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for cutthroat trout, with the usual exemptions for young children, state free-fishing days, and some senior or disabled-veteran categories. A license is valid only in the state that issued it, so non-residents need a Colorado license — compare resident and non-resident Colorado fees on the state regulations page below.
Are there gear restrictions for cutthroat trout in Colorado?: Yes. In Colorado, cutthroat trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; fly-fishing-only on listed wild native cutthroat conservation reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Greenback + Colorado River + Rio Grande cutthroat CPW Native Aquatic Species Reintroduction Program reaches; Live bait prohibited on most native cutthroat waters + Gold Medal Waters; Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain National Park + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW Fishing License valid — NPS does NOT supersede CPW); CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual); Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District native-cutthroat-conservation reach + season list.
Do specific Colorado waters have different cutthroat trout rules?: Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide cutthroat trout regulation, including Rocky Mountain National Park, Bear Creek headwaters, Western Slope headwaters, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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