Ridgway Reservoir Fishing
A 967-acre Colorado reservoir in Ouray County at 6,770 feet.
Pick for brown troutPiscifun Carbon X ultralight spinning reel28% OFFSale $57.99 Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Arriving at Ridgway Reservoir: what it is like
About 967 acres of reservoir water make up Ridgway Reservoir, which lies in Ouray County. The water lies at about 6,770 feet of elevation. CPW lists Ridgway State Park as the managing property. Loghill Village lies about 2 miles from the mapped point of the lake. The Southwest Region of CPW covers it.
CPW lists brown trout, green sunfish, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and splake for it. The ramp layer shows 1 boat ramp. For boats, CPW lists Motor boats (gasoline). Expect easy access and high 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 brown trout herePiscifun Carbon XT ultralight spinning reel25% OFFSale $59.99 Species swimming in Ridgway Reservoir
The roster for Ridgway 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 Ridgway Reservoir
- Dutch Charlie boat ramp on Ridgway Reservoirboat ramp, ANS inspection, State Parks; Ridgway State Park
Shore access around Ridgway Reservoir
- Ridgway Reservoir fishing access near Loghill Village, Ridgway State Park 2accessible fishing area
- Ridgway Reservoir fishing access near Loghill Village, Ridgway State Parkaccessible pier, easy access, stocked: catchable trout, 6,770 ft
- Dallas Creekfishing access
- Mear's Bay Fishing Accessfishing access
- Ridgway Reservoir fishing access near Loghill Village, Ridgway State Park 3fishing access
- Free Accessfishing access
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The latest reading at Ridgway Reservoir
| USGS gauge | Latest reading | Time (ET) |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgway Reservoir Near Ridgway, Co | 6,860.38 ft lake elevation | Oct 27 9:15 pm |
US Geological Survey provisional data, retrieved Oct 27, 2026 9:35 pm ET. Provisional readings can be revised.
Storage at Ridgway Reservoir swings with snowmelt and water calls; check it before towing a boat.
The keep-or-release rules at Ridgway 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, Ridgway Reservoir lies west of the Continental Divide. Possession equals what you hold in the field, in camp and at home; at Ridgway Reservoir the chart sets it.
Where Ridgway Reservoir breaks from the statewide chart
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Ridgway Reservoir | Snagging kokanee permitted Sept. 1–Dec. 31. No bag, possession limit for smallmouth bass. | p. 32 |
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.
When CPW stocked Ridgway Reservoir
The stocking report names Ridgway Reservoir 34 listings, latest September 25, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| September 25, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 26, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 19, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 12, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| June 5, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 29, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| May 15, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 24, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| April 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| October 31, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| October 24, 2025 | 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.
Ridgway Reservoir and the reservoirs around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgway Reservoir | 967 | 6,770 | 1 | yes | |
| Buckhorn Lake Little | 10 miles northeast | 10 | 9,749 | 0 | |
| Buckhorn Lake Big | 10 miles northeast | 18 | 9,725 | 0 | |
| Silverjack Reservoir | 11 miles east | 279 | 8,931 | 0 | |
| Rowdy Reservoir | 12 miles east | 4 | 9,192 | 0 | |
| Chipeta Lake | 17 miles northwest | 8 | 5,895 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Neighbors of Ridgway Reservoir
Colorado lakes in the Ridgway Reservoir neighborhood
- Buckhorn Lake Little10 miles northeast
- Buckhorn Lake Big10 miles northeast
- Silverjack Reservoir11 miles east
- Rowdy Reservoir12 miles east
- Chipeta Lake17 miles northwest
Fly shops and bait stores around Ridgway Reservoir
- Ridgeway Marinamarina, Ouray, under a mile
- RIGS Fly Shop & Guide Servicefly shop, Ridgway, 5 miles
- Sportsman's Warehouse Montrosesporting goods store, Montrose, 17 miles
- Cj's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 19 miles
- Ed's Fly Shopfly shop, Montrose, 19 miles
- Telluride Anglerfly shop, San Miguel, 20 miles
Paid guides within reach of Ridgway Reservoir
- Colorado Fishing Company LLCfishing guide, Montrose
- Uncompahgre Valley Anglersfishing guide, Uncompahgre River, Montrose
- Telluride Fly Fishers LLCfly fishing guide, Telluride
- Telluride Fly Fishing Company, Incfly fishing guide, Telluride
Communities within reach of Ridgway Reservoir
- Ridgway4 miles
- Montrose18 miles
- Telluride20 miles
Ridgway Reservoir and the counties around it
- Ouray Countyseat: Ouray
A Piscifun kit for days on Ridgway Reservoir
Piscifun and Amazon links are affiliate links; the site earns a commission on qualifying purchases.
A photo lineup of the fish at Ridgway Reservoir
Photo: Duane Raver, Public domain
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Sacramento District, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region, Public domain
Photo: USFWS Midwest Region from United States, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Ridgway Reservoir, question by question
How do I find Ridgway Reservoir on a Colorado map?
Head for Ouray County, CPW Southwest Region, about 2 miles from Loghill Village.
How large a reservoir or lake is Ridgway Reservoir?
Some 967 acres, at about 6,770 feet.
Where does CPW map a ramp at Ridgway Reservoir?
CPW maps 1 boat ramp, among them Dutch Charlie boat ramp on Ridgway Reservoir.
What is on the fish list at Ridgway Reservoir?
brown trout, green sunfish, kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, splake and yellow perch, by CPW sources.
What may I take home from Ridgway Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate. A brochure special regulation also names it; see the table above.
Which CPW license do I buy for Ridgway 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 Ridgway Reservoir on the trout stocking report?
34 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (10 in 2026, 16 in 2025, 8 in 2024); latest September 25, 2026.
Which tackle counter on our Colorado list is nearest Ridgway Reservoir?
Ridgeway Marina sits under a mile from the water.
How full is Ridgway Reservoir by the latest storage telemetry?
Readings come from the USGS gauge.
Is Ridgway Reservoir worth hauling an auger to in winter?
Atlas entry: ice fishing listed as no. Judge the ice in person.
Aim the truck at Ridgway Reservoir this season
Every Colorado fee and rule is a click away.