When is rainbow trout season in Colorado?

Colorado keeps rainbow 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 rainbow trout?

The Colorado daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 4 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + lake + tiger + golden); 2 / day with 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 1 / day with 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake. The possession limit is 8 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size rainbow trout can you keep in Colorado?

The Colorado size rule for rainbow trout is 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir; no statewide minimum on most waters. Slot limit: Spinney Mountain Reservoir 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + ice-fishing prohibited; Gold Medal stream reaches 2 / day with 16 in min Quality TROPHY. Trophy rule: Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir Gold Medal tailwater carries IGFA all-tackle world-record cutbow 23 lb 13 oz October 9, 2014 by Tim Daniel (still standing); Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir country's premier dry-fly + nymph Mysis-shrimp tailwater fishery (5-10 lb rainbow + brown routinely); Arkansas River 102-mile Gold Medal reach (Leadville Hayden Meadows to Cañon City Royal Gorge) Colorado's longest Gold Medal reach + country's longest continuous Gold Medal trout reach; Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake produces 5-10 lb fish routinely; CO state-record rainbow trout 19 lb 0 oz North Delaney Butte Lake 1972; CPW stocks ~88 million trout + kokanee + walleye annually one of country's largest hatchery systems by output.

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

Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow 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 rainbow trout in Colorado?

Yes. In Colorado, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed Gold Medal Waters reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Cheesman Canyon + Spinney Mountain Reservoir + listed catch-and-release reaches; Live bait prohibited on Gold Medal Waters + listed Quality reaches; Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain NP + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW License valid); CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual); CPW Second-Rod Stamp $5.31 required to fish with 2 rods simultaneously on most waters; Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District Gold Medal Waters reach + season list.

Do specific Colorado waters have different rainbow trout rules?

Yes. 7 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Taylor tailwater, Frying Pan tailwater, Arkansas Gold Medal, and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

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

Oncorhynchus mykiss

Last updated May 27, 2026

Colorado rainbow trout fishery is the country's premier Gold Medal Waters reach system — 322 miles of Gold Medal stream + 3 Gold Medal lakes designated statewide carrying minimum 60 lbs of trout per acre + 12+ in fish at minimum 12 fish per acre. The Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir (Gunnison County — 0.4-mile Gold Medal tailwater immediately below the dam) carries the IGFA all-tackle world-record cutbow (rainbow × cutthroat hybrid) 23 lb 13 oz Taylor River October 9, 2014 by Tim Daniel (still standing) — the Mysis-shrimp-fed deep-water tailwater produces 10-20+ lb cutbow + rainbow on tiny midge + scud + Mysis-shrimp patterns. The Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir (Pitkin County — 14-mile Gold Medal tailwater from Ruedi Dam downstream to the Roaring Fork confluence at Basalt CO) is country's premier dry-fly + nymph Mysis-shrimp tailwater fishery — green-drake + caddis + tricos + midge + Mysis-shrimp hatch sequence produces 5-10 lb rainbow + brown routinely. The Arkansas River 102-mile Gold Medal reach (Leadville Hayden Meadows to Cañon City Royal Gorge — Lake + Chaffee + Fremont + Pueblo Counties) is Colorado's longest Gold Medal reach + country's longest continuous Gold Medal trout reach + AHRA Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area BLM + CPW + Chaffee + Fremont Counties joint management. The South Platte Cheesman Canyon + Deckers + Eleven Mile Canyon Gold Medal reach (Park + Douglas + Jefferson Counties — near Denver metro) is country's premier urban-trout-stream fishery. The Gunnison River 27-mile Black Canyon reach inside Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park is country's most remote blue-ribbon trout canyon (1,000 ft canyon walls require permitted descent). The Animas River through Durango Gold Medal reach (La Plata County — 12-mile reach through Durango CO) carries the southern Colorado San Juan Mountains Gold Medal fishery. Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County — Gold Medal lake) + Eleven Mile Reservoir (Park County) + Eleven Mile Canyon below Eleven Mile Dam carry the Pikes Peak headwaters chain of South Platte reservoirs producing 5-10 lb trout routinely. CPW stocks ~88 million catchable + fingerling trout + kokanee + walleye annually statewide via Mt. Shavano + Roaring Judy + Crystal River + Glenwood Springs + Bellvue + Watson Lake + Finger Rock + Pitkin + Buena Vista + Las Animas + Chalk Cliffs State Fish Hatcheries + Leadville USFWS NFH — country's largest hatchery system by output alongside Idaho + Washington + Oregon. CO state-record rainbow trout 19 lb 0 oz North Delaney Butte Lake 1972. Open year-round on most waters.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round on most waters; Gold Medal Waters reaches carry 16-20 in min Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT slot; Spinney Mountain Reservoir + Cheesman Canyon catch-and-release-only artificial-fly-and-lure only barbless single-hook required.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 4 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + lake + tiger + golden); 2 / day with 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 1 / day with 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake
Possession: 8 in possession combined trout

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir; no statewide minimum on most waters
Slot: Spinney Mountain Reservoir 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + ice-fishing prohibited; Gold Medal stream reaches 2 / day with 16 in min Quality TROPHY
Trophy rule: Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir Gold Medal tailwater carries IGFA all-tackle world-record cutbow 23 lb 13 oz October 9, 2014 by Tim Daniel (still standing); Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir country's premier dry-fly + nymph Mysis-shrimp tailwater fishery (5-10 lb rainbow + brown routinely); Arkansas River 102-mile Gold Medal reach (Leadville Hayden Meadows to Cañon City Royal Gorge) Colorado's longest Gold Medal reach + country's longest continuous Gold Medal trout reach; Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake produces 5-10 lb fish routinely; CO state-record rainbow trout 19 lb 0 oz North Delaney Butte Lake 1972; CPW stocks ~88 million trout + kokanee + walleye annually one of country's largest hatchery systems by output

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed Gold Medal Waters reaches
Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Cheesman Canyon + Spinney Mountain Reservoir + listed catch-and-release reaches
Live bait prohibited on Gold Medal Waters + listed Quality reaches
Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain NP + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW License valid)
CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual)
CPW Second-Rod Stamp $5.31 required to fish with 2 rods simultaneously on most waters
Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District Gold Medal Waters reach + season list

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Colorado waters:

Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir
Trout 2 / day with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required; IGFA all-tackle world-record cutbow 23 lb 13 oz Taylor River October 9, 2014 (still standing)
Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir
Trout 2 / day with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only on listed reach; Mysis-shrimp tailwater produces 5-10 lb rainbow + brown routinely
Arkansas River Leadville to Cañon City
Trout 2 / day combined with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT on listed reaches + artificial-fly-and-lure only; AHRA BLM + CPW + Chaffee + Fremont Counties joint management
South Platte River Cheesman Canyon + Deckers + Eleven Mile Canyon
Trout 2 / day with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required; Cheesman Canyon catch-and-release-only reach
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Trout 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + ice-fishing prohibited; produces 5-10 lb fish routinely
Gunnison River Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP
Trout 2 / day with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + barbless single-hook required; Federal NPS overlay — CPW License valid
Animas River through Durango
Trout 2 / day combined with 16 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT on listed reaches + artificial-fly-and-lure only

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

Rainbow 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 rainbow trout season in Colorado?: Colorado keeps rainbow 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 rainbow trout?: The Colorado daily bag limit for rainbow trout is 4 / day combined trout (rainbow + brown + brook + cutthroat + lake + tiger + golden); 2 / day with 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 1 / day with 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake. The possession limit is 8 in possession combined trout. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size rainbow trout can you keep in Colorado?: The Colorado size rule for rainbow trout is 16 in min on listed Gold Medal Quality + TROPHY MANAGEMENT reaches; 20 in min on Spinney Mountain Reservoir; no statewide minimum on most waters. Slot limit: Spinney Mountain Reservoir 1 / day with 20 in min TROPHY MANAGEMENT + artificial-fly-and-lure only + ice-fishing prohibited; Gold Medal stream reaches 2 / day with 16 in min Quality TROPHY. Trophy rule: Taylor River below Taylor Park Reservoir Gold Medal tailwater carries IGFA all-tackle world-record cutbow 23 lb 13 oz October 9, 2014 by Tim Daniel (still standing); Frying Pan River below Ruedi Reservoir country's premier dry-fly + nymph Mysis-shrimp tailwater fishery (5-10 lb rainbow + brown routinely); Arkansas River 102-mile Gold Medal reach (Leadville Hayden Meadows to Cañon City Royal Gorge) Colorado's longest Gold Medal reach + country's longest continuous Gold Medal trout reach; Spinney Mountain Reservoir Gold Medal lake produces 5-10 lb fish routinely; CO state-record rainbow trout 19 lb 0 oz North Delaney Butte Lake 1972; CPW stocks ~88 million trout + kokanee + walleye annually one of country's largest hatchery systems by output.
Do you need a license to fish for rainbow trout in Colorado?: Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for rainbow 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 rainbow trout in Colorado?: Yes. In Colorado, rainbow trout fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; fly-fishing-only on listed Gold Medal Waters reaches; Artificial-lures-only + barbless single hook on Cheesman Canyon + Spinney Mountain Reservoir + listed catch-and-release reaches; Live bait prohibited on Gold Medal Waters + listed Quality reaches; Federal NPS regulations apply within Rocky Mountain NP + Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP + Curecanti NRA (CPW License valid); CPW Habitat Stamp + Fishing License required ages 18+ ($11.97 res / NR Habitat Stamp + $36.08 res annual / $97.97 NR annual); CPW Second-Rod Stamp $5.31 required to fish with 2 rods simultaneously on most waters; Confirm current-year CPW Fishing Regulations for District-by-District Gold Medal Waters reach + season list.
Do specific Colorado waters have different rainbow trout rules?: Yes. 7 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide rainbow trout regulation, including Taylor tailwater, Frying Pan tailwater, Arkansas Gold Medal, and 4 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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