Platoro Reservoir Fishing
A 751-acre Colorado reservoir in Conejos County at 9,975 feet.
Pick for brook troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Arriving at Platoro Reservoir: what it is like
About 751 acres of reservoir water make up Platoro Reservoir, which lies in Conejos County. The water lies at about 9,975 feet of elevation. CPW lists Rio Grande National Forest as the managing property. South Fork lies about 24 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Southwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, splake and trout for it. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect easy access and medium pressure, by CPW notes. The atlas entry shows ice fishing listed as no.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
For the brook trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species swimming in Platoro Reservoir
The roster for Platoro Reservoir joins the CPW species field with record catches and stocking.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Where trailers back in at Platoro Reservoir
No ramp at Platoro Reservoir shows on the CPW layer, so try a neighbor below.
Shore access around Platoro Reservoir
- Platoro Reservoir fishing access near South Forkeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 9,975 ft
Ramps a short tow from Platoro Reservoir
- Trujillo Meadows SWA on La Jara ReservoirLa Jara Reservoir, 14 miles southeast
- Alberta Park Reservoir SWAAlberta Park Reservoir, 14 miles northwest
- Beaver Creek Reservoir SWABeaver Creek Reservoir, 18 miles north
- Big Meadows Reservoir SWABig Meadows Reservoir, 19 miles northwest
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The latest reading at Platoro Reservoir
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Platoro Reservoir (station PLARESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Storage at Platoro Reservoir swings with snowmelt and water calls; check it before towing a boat.
The keep-or-release rules at Platoro 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 |
| 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Platoro Reservoir lies east of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Platoro Reservoir the chart sets it.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
When CPW stocked Platoro Reservoir
The stocking report names Platoro Reservoir 4 listings, latest August 14, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 14, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 31, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 10, 2026 | 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.
Platoro Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Platoro Reservoir | 751 | 9,975 | 0 | yes | |
| Mix Lake | 2 miles northeast | 15 | 10,062 | 0 | yes |
| Kerr Lake | 5 miles northeast | 38 | 11,382 | 0 | |
| Poage Lake | 12 miles north | 27 | 11,063 | 0 | |
| La Jara Reservoir | 13 miles east | 721 | 9,703 | 1 | |
| Alberta Park Reservoir | 14 miles northwest | 39 | 10,188 | 1 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Platoro Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Platoro Reservoir neighborhood
- Mix Lake2 miles northeast
- Kerr Lake5 miles northeast
- Poage Lake12 miles north
- La Jara Reservoir13 miles east
- Alberta Park Reservoir14 miles northwest
Fly shops and bait stores around Platoro Reservoir
- PJ's Fine Bamboo Rodsbait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 24 miles
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 25 miles
Paid guides within reach of Platoro Reservoir
- Conejos River Anglers, LLCfishing guide, Conejos River, Antonito
- Fish Creek Outfitting LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Kaufman Team LLC DBA Williams Creek Anglerfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Pagosa Troutfittersfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
Communities within reach of Platoro Reservoir
- Pagosa Springs24 miles
- Del Norte27 miles
- Monte Vista29 miles
Platoro Reservoir and the counties around it
- Conejos Countyseat: Conejos
A Piscifun kit for days on Platoro Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo lineup of the fish at Platoro Reservoir
Photo: Daniel Mayer (Mav), CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
_Gavins_Point.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: Nick Loveland, CC0 1.0
Platoro Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Platoro Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Conejos County, CPW Southwest Region, about 24 miles from South Fork.
How large a reservoir or lake is Platoro Reservoir?
Some 751 acres, at about 9,975 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Platoro Reservoir?
The ramp layer is empty for this water.
What is on the fish list at Platoro Reservoir?
brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, splake and trout, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Platoro Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Which CPW license do I buy for Platoro Reservoir?
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.
Is Platoro Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
4 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (4 in 2026); latest August 14, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Platoro Reservoir?
PJ's Fine Bamboo Rods sits about 24 miles from the water.
How full is Platoro Reservoir by the latest storage telemetry?
Readings come from Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry.
Is Platoro Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as no. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Platoro Reservoir this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.