Fishing in Rio Grande County, Colorado
Seat: Del Norte. CPW Southwest Region.
- 4lake pages
- 4ramp sites
- 1stream pages
Pick for troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo of Navajo Reservoir: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Getting to know the water of Rio Grande County
Anglers in Rio Grande County deal with the CPW Southwest Region; local government works out of Del Norte. About 0.4 square miles of water sit inside its borders, next to 912 square miles of land and 11,539 residents (2020). Gold Medal water in the county: Rio Grande (19.8 mi of stream).
Lake pages here: 4, adding up to 196 acres, with Beaver Creek Reservoir the largest sheet of water. Poage Lake rises to 11,063 feet, higher than any other lake here with a page. Boaters have 4 ramp sites CPW-mapped ramp sites in the county. Fishing Atlas coverage: 12 locations in the county, 4 accessible ones. The atlas notes say yes to ice fishing at 3 county lakes.
Census 2020 population and 2023 Gazetteer land and water area; CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, ramps and fishing locations, retrieved October 2026.
Ramps, lakes and streams of Rio Grande County on one map
CPW boat ramps and Fishing Atlas locations; lake pins are CPW waterbody points, stream pins the midpoint of the CPW reach. Checked October 2026.
For the trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Ponds and reservoirs across Rio Grande County
| Lake | Acres | Elevation ft | Notes | Species listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Reservoir | 103 | 8,768 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon |
| Home Lake | 62 | 7,628 | ice fishing, gas motors, trout stocked | bluegill, channel catfish, largemouth bass |
| Poage Lake | 27 | 11,063 | float tubes | |
| Millions Lake | 3 | 8,502 | ice fishing, no motors, trout stocked | rainbow trout |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbody outlines (acres from the outline), elevation and boating notes; species from CPW Boatable Waters. Retrieved October 2026.
Additional still water in Rio Grande County
Another 2 named lakes and ponds sit in Rio Grande County without a page of their own.
| Water | Acres | Elevation ft | Nearest town |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Grande Management Area Ponds | 102 | Monte Vista | |
| San Francisco Lake Upper West | 2 | 11,982 | Del Norte |
CPW Fishing Atlas waterbodies, retrieved October 2026.
Creeks and forks across Rio Grande County
- Rio Granderiver, Gold Medal 19.8 mi; 4 reaches with special rules (78.6 mi); 8 public access properties; on the stocking report
Trout water in Rio Grande County
Across Rio Grande County, 8 streams have regulated reaches and 1 are Gold Medal water.
See the Gold Medal waters page for the statewide list.
- Middle Fork Carnero Creek1 reach with special rules (9.8 mi), near Del Norte
- Middle Fork San Francisco Creek1 reach with special rules (5.7 mi), near Del Norte
- Miners Creek1 reach with special rules (4.3 mi), near Alpine
- North Fork Cat Creek1 reach with special rules (3.9 mi), near Monte Vista
- South Fork Carnero Creek1 reach with special rules (14.3 mi), near Alpine
- West Fork San Francisco Creek1 reach with special rules (4.6 mi), near Del Norte
- Wolf Creek1 reach with special rules (2.5 mi), near South Fork
CPW special-regulation, Gold Medal and Quality Waters stream layers (miles from CPW line geometry); USGS gauges. Retrieved October 2026.
Storage gauges across Rio Grande County
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Fuchs Res (station 2003539A), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Beaver Reservoir (station BEVRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Boat access in Rio Grande County
- Beaver Creek Reservoir SWABeaver Creek Reservoir, boat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
- Deer Park Fishing Access near South Fork (north), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- Deer Park Fishing Access near South Fork (south), boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
- Rio Grande River SWA (Del Norte Fishing Easements)Rio Grande River, boat ramp, universal-water ramp, CDOW
Bank access mapped in Rio Grande County (12)
- Sherman Lake, Home Lake SWAHome Lake, accessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 7,628 ft
- Beaver Creek Reservoir fishing access near South ForkBeaver Creek Reservoir, easy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,768 ft
- Million ReservoirMillions Lake, medium access, stocked: catchable trout, 8,502 ft
- Poage Lake fishing access near South ForkPoage Lake, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 11,063 ft
- Rio Grande River fishing access near Del Norte, Del Norte City ParkRio Grande River, accessible pier, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 7,869 ft
- Rio Grande River fishing access near Del Norte, Del Norte City Park 2Rio Grande River, accessible fishing area
- Rio Grande River, Coller SWARio Grande R #3, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,264 ft
- Rio Grande River, Deer Park Fishing AccessRio Grande R #3, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,174 ft
- Rio Grande River, Masonic Park Fishing EasementRio Grande R #3, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,224 ft
- Rio Grande River, Rio Grande River SWA (Del Norte Fishing Easements)Rio Grande R #2, medium access, stocked: sub-catchables, 8,006 ft
- San Francisco Lakes, UpperSan Francisco Lake Upper West, difficult access, stocked: sub-catchables, 11,982 ft
- Sherman Lake, Home Lake SWA 2Home Lake, accessible fishing area
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers (ndismaps.nrel.colostate.edu), retrieved October 2026.
What CPW stocks in Rio Grande County, and the records
The CPW stocking report lists 4 waters in Rio Grande County, 35 weekly listings since 2024.
Trout report listings for Rio Grande County
| Water | Listings | By year | Latest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Reservoir | 19 | 2026: 8, 2025: 10, 2024: 1 | Sept. 25, 2026 |
| Rio Grande | 12 | 2026: 8, 2025: 4 | Aug. 14, 2026 |
| Millions Lake | 3 | 2026: 1, 2025: 2 | June 26, 2026 |
| Home Lake | 1 | 2025: 1 | April 18, 2025 |
State records from Rio Grande County
| Species | Record | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tench | 5-6.9 (lbs.-ozs.) | Home Lake | 1998 |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout, about 10 inches; each listing is a week the water appeared on the report, 2024 to October 2026); CPW publishes no numbers or sizes per water. Retrieved October 2026. State records from the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027).
Tackle a drive from Rio Grande County
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 34 miles
- PJ's Fine Bamboo Rodsbait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 46 miles
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 47 miles
- ArkAnglersfly shop, Salida, 61 miles
- Arkansas River Fly Shopfly shop, Salida, 61 miles
Special regulations in Rio Grande County
Colorado waters stay open year round; in Rio Grande County the east slope limits apply except where a special regulation steps in.
| Species | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee) | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Brook trout 8 inches or less (bonus) | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Kokanee salmon | Daily bag 10, possession 10 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Walleye, saugeye and sauger | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass | Daily bag 5, possession 5, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White bass, striped bass and wiper | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| White and black crappie | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Bluegill and other sunfish | Daily bag 20, possession 20, in aggregate | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Yellow perch | Daily bag 20, possession 20 | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Tiger muskie | Daily bag 1, possession 1; at least 36 inches long | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
Rio Grande County exceptions to the statewide chart (7)
| Water and section | Rules | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Beaver Creek Reservoir | Snagging kokanee permitted Oct. 1–Dec. 31. | p. 12 |
| Cat Creek | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 14 |
| Cat Creek, North & South Forks | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 14 |
| Poage Lake | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and max. size for trout is 2, 12 inches long. | p. 31 |
| From lower boundary of River Hill Campground downstream to the Colo. 149 bridge: | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. Bag, possession and max. size for brown trout is 2, 12 inches long. | p. 32 |
| From Colo. 149 bridge at South Fork downstream to the Rio Grande Canal diversion structure: | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. | p. 32 |
| Portion on USFS lands including West San Francisco Lake: | Artificial flies and lures only. Trout must be returned to water immediately. | p. 34 |
Special regulations as printed in the 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), pp. 11 to 39, checked against CPW Chapter W-1 (as approved 13 November 2025); retrieved October 2026.
Bait counters and fly shops in Rio Grande County
Guide services located in Rio Grande County
- Jackalope Anglersfishing guide, Del Norte
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
Yellow Pages listings and chain store locators; DORA Office of Outfitters Registration roster (active business registrations with a fishing word in the name, placed by business city). Retrieved October 2026.
Around Rio Grande County on the map
Where people stay in Rio Grande County
- Monte Vistapop. 4,247
- Del Nortepop. 1,458
Past the Rio Grande County line
- Conejos County24 miles southeast
- Mineral County30 miles west
- Alamosa County37 miles east
- Archuleta County38 miles southwest
Piscifun gear to pack for Rio Grande County
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Reservoirs and creeks near Rio Grande County in photos
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
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Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: JustTooLazy, CC BY 2.0
Hunting in Rio Grande County
Public hunting land, seasons and processors for Rio Grande County are on State Hunting Spots, our sister site.
Colorado anglers ask this about Rio Grande County
What boat launching is there in Rio Grande County?
The CPW ramp layer shows 4 ramp sites, all listed above.
Which Rio Grande County lake should a first-timer try?
Beaver Creek Reservoir, about 103 acres by its CPW outline.
Can I fish a Gold Medal reach in Rio Grande County?
Yes: Rio Grande (19.8 mi).
Is night fishing legal on Rio Grande County water?
Statewide rules keep water open year round; only special regulations close a water.
Does any Rio Grande County storefront carry fishing tackle?
No shop is listed inside the county; the closest is Rod & Reel, 34 miles away.
Do any outfitters on the state roster work from Rio Grande County?
DORA lists 2 guide businesses based here.
Under which CPW region does Rio Grande County fall?
CPW Southwest Region.
Which community serves as seat for Rio Grande County?
Del Norte.
Is a second-rod stamp worth buying for Rio Grande County?
Anglers 16 and over carry a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, $12.96 for resident seniors. A single day of fishing costs $18.07 with residency and $21.90 without. The second-rod stamp costs $14.24 for anyone fishing two lines.
Are there flies-and-lures waters in Rio Grande County?
The brochure prints 7 special regulation entries for the county, starting with Beaver Creek Reservoir; all are in the regulations table above.
Which Rio Grande County lake is stocked most often?
Yes; 4 Rio Grande County waters appeared on the catchable trout report since 2024, 35 times in all.
Plan a day in Rio Grande County
Every lake page lists species, ramps and limits.