When is northern pike season in Colorado?

Colorado keeps northern pike 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 northern pike?

The Colorado daily bag limit for northern pike is Unlimited — no bag or possession limit statewide (CPW encourages unlimited harvest of this undesirable introduced predator; it is illegal to stock, transport, or release live northern pike). The possession limit is Unlimited — no possession limit statewide. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size northern pike can you keep in Colorado?

The Colorado size rule for northern pike is No statewide minimum or maximum size; Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in must be released immediately (protected slot). Slot limit: Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in protected slot — pike 26 to 34 in must be returned to the water immediately; CPW's one quality-size-managed pike water (harvest of small + very large pike still encouraged). Trophy rule: CO state-record northern pike 30 lb 11 oz (30.69 lb — 46.5 in) Stagecoach Reservoir Routt County (Tim Bone, 2006); Eleven Mile + Spinney Mountain + Williams Fork + Vallecito + Navajo Reservoirs all produce 20+ lb trophy pike; Williams Fork carries a 26–34 in protected slot to grow trophy fish.

Do you need a license to fish for northern pike in Colorado?

Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for northern pike, 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 northern pike in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, northern pike fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; spearfishing + archery permitted for northern pike on most waters; ILLEGAL to stock, transport, or release live northern pike anywhere in Colorado (undesirable introduced predator); Live baitfish use restricted to listed waters (CPW aquatic-nuisance-species + illegal-introduction controls); Federal NPS regulations apply within Curecanti NRA + Rocky Mountain NP (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 water-specific pike slot + bag exceptions.

Do specific Colorado waters have different northern pike rules?

Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide northern pike regulation, including Williams Fork Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Eleven Mile + Spinney, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Colorado Northern pike 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Esox lucius

Last updated May 30, 2026

Colorado northern pike (Esox lucius) is managed as an undesirable, illegally-introduced apex predator — pike were never native to Colorado + most reservoir populations originate from unauthorized 'bucket-biology' stockings, where they prey heavily on stocked trout, kokanee, + native fish. CPW's response is the most liberal harvest rule of any Colorado species: there is NO bag, possession, or size limit on northern pike statewide (unlimited harvest is actively encouraged), and it is ILLEGAL to stock, transport, or release live northern pike anywhere in the state. Despite the encouraged-removal stance, pike support a popular trophy fishery: Stagecoach Reservoir (Routt County) holds the CO state record 30 lb 11 oz (30.69 lb — 46.5 in) caught by Tim Bone in 2006 — and Eleven Mile Reservoir + Spinney Mountain Reservoir + Williams Fork Reservoir + Vallecito Reservoir + Navajo Reservoir all produce trophy pike over 20 lb. Williams Fork Reservoir is the one CPW pike water actively managed for a quality size structure: northern pike 26–34 inches must be returned to the water immediately (a protected mid-size slot to grow trophy fish while still allowing harvest of small + very large pike). Northern pike may also be taken by spearfishing + archery on most waters. Open year-round, no closed season.

Compare northern pike regulations across all states →

Get change alerts

Watch Colorado Northern pike and we'll email you when a season, bag limit, slot, or closure changes. Free while in beta.

Season

Open year-round Open year-round, no closed season; CPW encourages unlimited harvest of this undesirable introduced predator — no bag, possession, or size limit statewide except the Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in protected slot.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: Unlimited — no bag or possession limit statewide (CPW encourages unlimited harvest of this undesirable introduced predator; it is illegal to stock, transport, or release live northern pike)
Possession: Unlimited — no possession limit statewide

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: No statewide minimum or maximum size; Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in must be released immediately (protected slot)
Slot: Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in protected slot — pike 26 to 34 in must be returned to the water immediately; CPW's one quality-size-managed pike water (harvest of small + very large pike still encouraged)
Trophy rule: CO state-record northern pike 30 lb 11 oz (30.69 lb — 46.5 in) Stagecoach Reservoir Routt County (Tim Bone, 2006); Eleven Mile + Spinney Mountain + Williams Fork + Vallecito + Navajo Reservoirs all produce 20+ lb trophy pike; Williams Fork carries a 26–34 in protected slot to grow trophy fish

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; spearfishing + archery permitted for northern pike on most waters
ILLEGAL to stock, transport, or release live northern pike anywhere in Colorado (undesirable introduced predator)
Live baitfish use restricted to listed waters (CPW aquatic-nuisance-species + illegal-introduction controls)
Federal NPS regulations apply within Curecanti NRA + Rocky Mountain NP (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 water-specific pike slot + bag exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Colorado waters:

Williams Fork Reservoir
Northern pike 26–34 in must be returned to the water immediately (protected slot); no bag or size limit on pike outside the slot — CPW's one quality-size-managed pike water
Stagecoach Reservoir
No bag, possession, or size limit (CPW encouraged-removal); CO state-record northern pike 30 lb 11 oz / 46.5 in (Tim Bone, 2006) — Routt County
Eleven Mile Reservoir + Spinney Mountain Reservoir
No bag, possession, or size limit (CPW encouraged-removal); Pikes Peak headwaters South Platte reservoirs producing 20+ lb trophy pike alongside the trophy trout fishery
Navajo Reservoir
No bag, possession, or size limit (CPW encouraged-removal); CO/NM joint reciprocal compact on the boundary reservoir — both CPW + NMDGF licences honored on the main stem
Lower Animas River + lower Colorado River reaches
No bag or possession limit on northern pike (consistent with the statewide encouraged-removal rule)

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.

The northern pike rules on this page are sourced from Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)'s official northern pike regulation page.

Visit official Colorado fishing regulations →

Emergency-order channel

Northern pike 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 northern pike season in Colorado?: Colorado keeps northern pike 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 northern pike?: The Colorado daily bag limit for northern pike is Unlimited — no bag or possession limit statewide (CPW encourages unlimited harvest of this undesirable introduced predator; it is illegal to stock, transport, or release live northern pike). The possession limit is Unlimited — no possession limit statewide. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size northern pike can you keep in Colorado?: The Colorado size rule for northern pike is No statewide minimum or maximum size; Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in must be released immediately (protected slot). Slot limit: Williams Fork Reservoir 26–34 in protected slot — pike 26 to 34 in must be returned to the water immediately; CPW's one quality-size-managed pike water (harvest of small + very large pike still encouraged). Trophy rule: CO state-record northern pike 30 lb 11 oz (30.69 lb — 46.5 in) Stagecoach Reservoir Routt County (Tim Bone, 2006); Eleven Mile + Spinney Mountain + Williams Fork + Vallecito + Navajo Reservoirs all produce 20+ lb trophy pike; Williams Fork carries a 26–34 in protected slot to grow trophy fish.
Do you need a license to fish for northern pike in Colorado?: Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for northern pike, 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 northern pike in Colorado?: Yes. In Colorado, northern pike fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; spearfishing + archery permitted for northern pike on most waters; ILLEGAL to stock, transport, or release live northern pike anywhere in Colorado (undesirable introduced predator); Live baitfish use restricted to listed waters (CPW aquatic-nuisance-species + illegal-introduction controls); Federal NPS regulations apply within Curecanti NRA + Rocky Mountain NP (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 water-specific pike slot + bag exceptions.
Do specific Colorado waters have different northern pike rules?: Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide northern pike regulation, including Williams Fork Reservoir, Stagecoach Reservoir, Eleven Mile + Spinney, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

← Back to Colorado regulations overview