Echo Canyon Reservoir Fishing
A 120-acre Colorado reservoir in Archuleta County at 7,237 feet.
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Echo Canyon Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Echo Canyon Reservoir spreads over roughly 120 acres of Archuleta County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 7,237 feet above sea level. Echo Canyon Reservoir SWA manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Pagosa Springs, near 4 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass and rainbow trout in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access easy; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as yes.
Fish from Echo Canyon Reservoir carry an eating advisory: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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Tap a fish to open its Colorado page, with limits and records, from Echo Canyon Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Echo Canyon Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
Atlas fishing locations at Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Echo Canyon Reservoir fishing access near Pagosa Springs, Echo Canyon Reservoir SWA 2easy access, stocked: catchable trout and warmwater, 7,237 ft
- Echo Canyon Reservoir fishing access near Pagosa Springs, Echo Canyon Reservoir SWAfishing access
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Harvest rules for Echo Canyon Reservoir
| Species | Bag and possession | 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 |
| Smallmouth bass | No bag or possession limit | 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 | No bag or possession limit | 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Echo Canyon Reservoir sits west of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Echo Canyon Reservoir.
Brochure rules for Echo Canyon Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Echo Canyon Reservoir | Largemouth bass 12–15 inches long must be returned to the water immediately. | p. 21 |
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.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Trout stocking dates at Echo Canyon Reservoir
CPW put Echo Canyon Reservoir on its weekly catchable trout report 8 listings; the most recent listing is dated May 29, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| May 29, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 15, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| October 31, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| October 17, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 4, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 3, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 26, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
CPW Fish Stocking Report (catchable trout of about 10 inches; the date is when CPW added the water to its weekly list), 2024 to October 2026, retrieved October 25, 2026. Colorado stocking.
State record fish from Echo Canyon Reservoir
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bass, largemouth | weight | 11-6.0 (lbs.-ozs.) | Jarrett Edwards | 1997 |
CPW state records by weight and catch-and-release length, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado records.
How Echo Canyon Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Echo Canyon Reservoir | 120 | 7,237 | 1 | yes | |
| Alberta Park Reservoir | 22 miles northeast | 39 | 10,188 | 1 | |
| Spruce Lake Upper | 22 miles north | 12 | 11,329 | 0 | |
| Tucker Park Ponds | 23 miles northeast | 6 | 9,623 | 0 | yes |
| Williams Creek Reservoir | 24 miles northwest | 332 | 8,247 | 1 | yes |
| Pass Creek Pond | 24 miles northeast | 4 | 9,338 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Echo Canyon Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Alberta Park Reservoir22 miles northeast
- Spruce Lake Upper22 miles north
- Tucker Park Ponds23 miles northeast
- Williams Creek Reservoir24 miles northwest
- Pass Creek Pond24 miles northeast
Where to buy line and lures near Echo Canyon Reservoir
- PJ's Fine Bamboo Rodsbait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 4 miles
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 4 miles
- Two Rivers Marinamarina, Arboles, 27 miles
Outfitters who fish Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Fish Creek Outfitting LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Kaufman Team LLC DBA Williams Creek Anglerfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Pagosa Troutfittersfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Piedra River Anglers LLCfishing guide, Piedra River, Pagosa Springs
- Troutturners LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- R and D Fly Fishingfly fishing guide, Pagosa Springs
Beds and gas close to Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Pagosa Springs4 miles
- Bayfield33 miles
County guides that cover Echo Canyon Reservoir
- Archuleta Countyseat: Pagosa Springs
Piscifun tackle sized for Echo Canyon Reservoir
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Reservoirs and creeks near Echo Canyon Reservoir in photos
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Before you drive to Echo Canyon Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Echo Canyon Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Archuleta County, CPW Southwest Region, about 4 miles from Pagosa Springs.
How many acres does Echo Canyon Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 120 acres by the CPW outline, at about 7,237 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Echo Canyon Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Echo Canyon Reservoir SWA is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Echo Canyon Reservoir?
CPW lists black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, green sunfish, largemouth bass, rainbow trout and yellow perch.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Echo Canyon Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Extra rules from the brochure apply; they are above.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Echo Canyon Reservoir on a short license?
Colorado sells no separate trout stamp; a CPW fishing license covers trout ($44.87 for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents), and anglers 16 and older need one.
When did CPW last list Echo Canyon Reservoir for trout?
The report carries 8 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (3 in 2026, 3 in 2025, 2 in 2024); latest May 29, 2026.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Echo Canyon Reservoir?
Closest on our list: PJ's Fine Bamboo Rods, 4 miles.
Is Echo Canyon Reservoir in the CPW record book?
bass, largemouth, weight 11-6.0 (lbs.-ozs.), by Jarrett Edwards in 1997.
Can I drill holes at Echo Canyon Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Echo Canyon Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.