When is walleye season in Colorado?

Colorado keeps walleye 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 walleye?

The Colorado daily bag limit for walleye is 5 / day with 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs (Pueblo + John Martin + Chatfield + Cherry Creek + Standley); 5 / day no statewide minimum elsewhere. The possession limit is 10 in possession combined walleye + saugeye. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.

What size walleye can you keep in Colorado?

The Colorado size rule for walleye is 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs; no statewide minimum elsewhere. Trophy rule: Pueblo Reservoir Colorado's flagship walleye fishery — 4-7 lb fish routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually + recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue; John Martin Reservoir southern-Colorado eastern-plains multi-species reservoir with saugeye (walleye × sauger hybrid stocked by CPW); CPW Quality Management 18 in min + 5 / day rule one of the more aggressive walleye-protection rules in the western US; CPW stocks ~3 million walleye + saugeye fry + fingerlings annually via Las Animas + Chalk Cliffs + Wray + Pueblo State Fish Hatcheries.

Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Colorado?

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

Yes. In Colorado, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; 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 reservoir-specific exceptions.

Do specific Colorado waters have different walleye rules?

Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Pueblo Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

2026 regulation year

Colorado Walleye 2026 — Season, Bag Limit, Size Rules

Sander vitreus

Last updated May 27, 2026

Colorado walleye fishery is anchored by Pueblo Reservoir (4,646-acre Arkansas River reservoir Pueblo County — USBR Pueblo Dam built 1975 — Colorado's flagship walleye fishery + recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue) and the eastern plains Arkansas River reservoir chain — John Martin Reservoir (11,640-acre Arkansas River reservoir Bent County — USACE John Martin Dam built 1948 — southern-Colorado eastern-plains multi-species reservoir) + Cherry Creek Reservoir (880-acre Denver metro CPW State Park) + Chatfield Reservoir (1,550-acre South Platte River reservoir USACE Chatfield Dam 1975 Denver metro) + Standley Lake (1,200-acre Front Range reservoir Westminster CO metro) + Bonny Reservoir (formerly 1,900-acre South Republican River — drained in 2011 for Republican River Compact compliance; remnant pool walleye fishery limited). Pueblo Reservoir walleye runs in April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn produce 4-7 lb fish routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually + the recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue. John Martin Reservoir carries saugeye (walleye × sauger hybrid stocked by CPW) alongside walleye on the southern-Colorado eastern-plains reservoir multi-species fishery. CPW-managed Quality Management on Pueblo + John Martin + Chatfield + Cherry Creek + Standley carries 18 in min + 5 / day rule (one of the more aggressive walleye-protection rules in the western US — contrasts with North Dakota 14 in min + 5 / day standard + Wyoming 15 in min + 6 / day standard). CPW stocks ~3 million walleye + saugeye fry + fingerlings annually statewide via Las Animas State Fish Hatchery (walleye broodstock) + Chalk Cliffs State Fish Hatchery + Wray State Fish Hatchery + Pueblo State Fish Hatchery. Open year-round statewide.

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Season

Open year-round Open year-round statewide; April – June pre-spawn through post-spawn densest fishing window on Pueblo + John Martin + Chatfield + Cherry Creek + Standley Lake.

Bag & possession

Daily bag: 5 / day with 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs (Pueblo + John Martin + Chatfield + Cherry Creek + Standley); 5 / day no statewide minimum elsewhere
Possession: 10 in possession combined walleye + saugeye

Size, slot, trophy rules

Size: 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs; no statewide minimum elsewhere
Trophy rule: Pueblo Reservoir Colorado's flagship walleye fishery — 4-7 lb fish routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually + recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue; John Martin Reservoir southern-Colorado eastern-plains multi-species reservoir with saugeye (walleye × sauger hybrid stocked by CPW); CPW Quality Management 18 in min + 5 / day rule one of the more aggressive walleye-protection rules in the western US; CPW stocks ~3 million walleye + saugeye fry + fingerlings annually via Las Animas + Chalk Cliffs + Wray + Pueblo State Fish Hatcheries

Gear restrictions

Hook-and-line; trolling permitted
Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season
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 reservoir-specific exceptions

Named water-body overrides

Where statewide rules differ on specific Colorado waters:

Pueblo Reservoir
5 / day with 18 in min Quality Management; recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue; 4-7 lb fish routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually
John Martin Reservoir
5 / day with 18 in min Quality Management; saugeye (walleye × sauger hybrid stocked by CPW) 5 / day no statewide minimum; crappie 20 / day no min
Cherry Creek Reservoir
5 / day with 18 in min Quality Management; urban-accessible Denver-metro walleye fishery
Chatfield Reservoir
5 / day with 18 in min Quality Management; rainbow + brown trout 4 / day combined; smallmouth + largemouth bass 5 / day combined
Standley Lake
5 / day with 18 in min Quality Management; trophy walleye on listed reach

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

Walleye 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 walleye season in Colorado?: Colorado keeps walleye 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 walleye?: The Colorado daily bag limit for walleye is 5 / day with 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs (Pueblo + John Martin + Chatfield + Cherry Creek + Standley); 5 / day no statewide minimum elsewhere. The possession limit is 10 in possession combined walleye + saugeye. Some named waters set a different limit — check the water-body overrides above.
What size walleye can you keep in Colorado?: The Colorado size rule for walleye is 18 in min on listed Quality Management reservoirs; no statewide minimum elsewhere. Trophy rule: Pueblo Reservoir Colorado's flagship walleye fishery — 4-7 lb fish routinely with 12+ lb fish landed annually + recurring CPW Walleye Tournament venue; John Martin Reservoir southern-Colorado eastern-plains multi-species reservoir with saugeye (walleye × sauger hybrid stocked by CPW); CPW Quality Management 18 in min + 5 / day rule one of the more aggressive walleye-protection rules in the western US; CPW stocks ~3 million walleye + saugeye fry + fingerlings annually via Las Animas + Chalk Cliffs + Wray + Pueblo State Fish Hatcheries.
Do you need a license to fish for walleye in Colorado?: Yes. Colorado requires a valid fishing license to fish for walleye, 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 walleye in Colorado?: Yes. In Colorado, walleye fishing carries these gear rules: Hook-and-line; trolling permitted; Spearfishing permitted on listed waters during ice-fishing season; 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 reservoir-specific exceptions.
Do specific Colorado waters have different walleye rules?: Yes. 5 named Colorado waters carry rules that override the statewide walleye regulation, including Pueblo Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir, Cherry Creek Reservoir, and 2 more. See the named water-body overrides above for the exact rule on each.

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