Navajo Reservoir Fishing
A 15,753-acre Colorado reservoir in Archuleta County at 6,089 feet.
Pick for bluegillPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Getting to know Navajo Reservoir
Its mapped shoreline gives Navajo Reservoir close to 15,753 acres, all charted in Archuleta County. At around 6,089 feet, it sits below the high peaks. CPW files it under Navajo State Park. The closest town on the Census list is Arboles, some 1 mile away. Part of it lies outside Colorado (outline crosses the Colorado state line; 17% inside Colorado). It belongs to the CPW Southwest Region.
Its fish on the CPW roster: bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, kokanee salmon, northern pike and rainbow trout. Boaters have 2 boat ramps to choose from. CPW sets the boating rule as Motor boats (gasoline). The Fishing Atlas rates access as easy and fishing pressure as medium. Through the ice season: ice fishing listed as no.
A consumption advisory covers Navajo Reservoir: CDPHE advisory.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the bluegill herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Which fish Navajo Reservoir holds
These Navajo Reservoir species rest on CPW listings and records, not a full net survey.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Ramps CPW maps at Navajo Reservoir
- Boat Ramp on Navajo Reservoirboat ramp, CPW; Navajo State Park
- Navajo Reservoir boat rampboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks
Fishing access points at Navajo Reservoir
- Navajo Reservoir fishing access near Arboles, Navajo State Park 2easy access, 6,089 ft
- Navajo Reservoir fishing access near Arboles, Navajo State Parkfishing access
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Fish legal to carry home from Navajo 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 |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts Navajo Reservoir west of the Continental Divide. Waters stay open day and night all year in Colorado; the chart rows set the bag at Navajo Reservoir.
Special regulations written for Navajo Reservoir
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Navajo Reservoir | Trot-lines permitted. | p. 29 |
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.
The 2026 brochure prints no reciprocal license agreement with a neighboring state, so a Colorado license covers the Colorado side only; adult residents pay $44.87 and nonresidents $124.01.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Big fish from Navajo Reservoir on the record list
| Species | Category | Weight or length | Angler | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike | heritage length (to 2019) | 48 inches in | Dennis Bruce |
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.
Navajo Reservoir beside its neighbors
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Navajo Reservoir | 15,753 | 6,089 | 2 | ||
| Pastorius Reservoir | 26 miles northwest | 47 | 6,864 | 1 | yes |
| Echo Canyon Reservoir | 26 miles northeast | 120 | 7,237 | 1 | yes |
| Vallecito Reservoir | 27 miles north | 2,472 | 7,669 | 1 | yes |
| Lemon Reservoir | 30 miles northwest | 641 | 8,129 | 0 | |
| Williams Creek Reservoir | 35 miles north | 332 | 8,247 | 1 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Around Navajo Reservoir on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near Navajo Reservoir
- Pastorius Reservoir26 miles northwest
- Echo Canyon Reservoir26 miles northeast
- Vallecito Reservoir27 miles north
- Lemon Reservoir30 miles northwest
- Williams Creek Reservoir35 miles north
Stores that stock up Navajo Reservoir trips
- Two Rivers Marinamarina, Arboles, 1 mile
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 26 miles
- PJ's Fine Bamboo Rodsbait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 27 miles
Hiring a guide for Navajo 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
Nearest towns to Navajo Reservoir
- Bayfield18 miles
- Pagosa Springs27 miles
- Durango31 miles
Navajo Reservoir on the county pages
- Archuleta Countyseat: Pagosa Springs
Piscifun gear to pack for Navajo Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
Photo views of fishing water near Navajo Reservoir
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado anglers ask this about Navajo Reservoir
In what part of the state is Navajo Reservoir?
Archuleta County, CPW Southwest Region, about 1 mile from Arboles.
Is Navajo Reservoir a big reservoir?
About 15,753 acres, at about 6,089 feet.
Can a trailered boat get onto Navajo Reservoir from a mapped ramp?
There are 2 boat ramps; Navajo Reservoir boat ramp heads the list.
Are trout part of the fishery at Navajo Reservoir?
Expect bluegill, channel catfish, black crappie, kokanee salmon, northern pike, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass.
What bag limit does the CPW chart set at Navajo Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. Check the special regulation rows above as well.
Is a CPW license required to fish Navajo Reservoir?
The 2026 brochure prints no reciprocal license agreement with a neighboring state, so a Colorado license covers the Colorado side only; adult residents pay $44.87 and nonresidents $124.01.
Has CPW listed Navajo Reservoir for stocking recently?
No listing on the CPW trout report since 2024.
Which store on the list is nearest Navajo Reservoir?
Two Rivers Marina, about 1 mile away.
Has Navajo Reservoir produced a Colorado state record?
Northern Pike, heritage length (to 2019) 48 inches in, by Dennis Bruce in an unprinted year.
Is Navajo Reservoir an ice fishing spot?
Its winter entry reads ice fishing listed as no; drill test holes first.
Put Navajo Reservoir on this season's list
License prices and the full limits chart are on one page.