Rito Hondo Lake Fishing
A 39-acre Colorado lake in Hinsdale County at 10,236 feet.
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Rito Hondo Lake: setting, size and how to reach it
Rito Hondo Lake spreads over roughly 39 acres of Hinsdale County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 10,236 feet above sea level. Rito Hondo Reservoir SWA manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Lake City, near 11 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records brook trout, native cutthroat trout and rainbow trout in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Electric. CPW calls access easy; pressure runs low. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as limited.
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 Rito Hondo Lake.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Rito Hondo Lake
- Rito Hondo Reservoir SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, condition good, CDOW
Atlas fishing locations at Rito Hondo Lake
- Rito Hondo Lake fishing access near Lake Cityeasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 10,236 ft
When the Rito Hondo Lake ramp is crowded
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake LowerBrown Lake Lower, 4 miles south
- Brown Lakes SWA on Brown Lake UpperBrown Lake Upper, 5 miles south
- Road Canyon Reservoir SWARoad Canyon Reservoir, 9 miles south
- Creede SWAboat ramp, universal-water ramp, CPW, 15 miles east
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply gauge at Rito Hondo Lake
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Rito Hondo Reservoir (station RITRESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
Colorado reservoirs rise with runoff and drop through irrigation season, so ramps at Rito Hondo Lake can change by the week.
Harvest rules for Rito Hondo Lake
| 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Rito Hondo Lake sits east of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Rito Hondo Lake.
Brochure rules for Rito Hondo Lake
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Rito Hondo Reservoir | Artificial flies and lures only. All trout must be returned to water immediately. | 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.
How Rito Hondo Lake measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rito Hondo Lake | 39 | 10,236 | 1 | ||
| Continental Reservoir | 3 miles southwest | 375 | 10,272 | 0 | |
| Brown Lake Upper | 5 miles south | 140 | 9,799 | 1 | |
| Lake San Cristobal | 8 miles northwest | 327 | 9,001 | 0 | yes |
| Road Canyon Reservoir | 9 miles south | 151 | 9,278 | 1 | yes |
| Rio Grande Reservoir | 13 miles southwest | 1,078 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Rito Hondo Lake
Other reservoirs within a drive of Rito Hondo Lake
- Continental Reservoir3 miles southwest
- Brown Lake Upper5 miles south
- Lake San Cristobal8 miles northwest
- Road Canyon Reservoir9 miles south
- Rio Grande Reservoir13 miles southwest
Where to buy line and lures near Rito Hondo Lake
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 14 miles
Outfitters who fish Rito Hondo Lake
- Sport Fish Colorado LLCfishing guide, Lake City
- Wolf Creek Anglersfishing guide, South Fork, (719) 873-1414
- Telluride Fly Fishers LLCfly fishing guide, Telluride
- Telluride Fly Fishing Company, Incfly fishing guide, Telluride
Beds and gas close to Rito Hondo Lake
- Telluride35 miles
- Ridgway36 miles
- Mountain Village37 miles
County guides that cover Rito Hondo Lake
- Hinsdale Countyseat: Lake City
Piscifun tackle sized for Rito Hondo Lake
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Reservoirs and creeks near Rito Hondo Lake in photos
Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Mshuang2, CC0 1.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY-SA 3.0
Before you drive to Rito Hondo Lake, read these
Where in Colorado is Rito Hondo Lake?
CPW maps it in Hinsdale County, CPW Southwest Region, about 11 miles from Lake City.
How many acres does Rito Hondo Lake cover on CPW maps?
Close to 39 acres by the CPW outline, at about 10,236 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Rito Hondo Lake?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Rito Hondo Reservoir SWA is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Rito Hondo Lake?
CPW lists brook trout, native cutthroat trout and rainbow trout.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Rito Hondo Lake?
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 Rito Hondo Lake 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 Rito Hondo Lake for trout?
Not on the stocking report in recent years.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Rito Hondo Lake?
Closest on our list: Rod & Reel, 14 miles.
What does the latest reading at Rito Hondo Lake show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at Rito Hondo Lake?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as limited; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Rito Hondo Lake an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.