Ruedi Reservoir Fishing
A 1,037-acre Colorado reservoir in Pitkin County and Eagle County at 7,771 feet.
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The short version on Ruedi Reservoir
The CPW outline of Ruedi Reservoir encloses about 1,037 acres in Pitkin County and Eagle County. Elevation on the Fishing Atlas reads 7,771 feet. On the Fishing Atlas, the property is White River National Forest. Around 8 miles separates the water from Woody Creek. CPW manages it out of the Northwest Region.
Expect brown trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout and yellow perch, according to CPW. There are 1 boat ramp on its shore. Boat use on file: Motor boats (gasoline). Access is easy, pressure medium, per the atlas. Winter note: ice fishing listed as yes.
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (waterbody outline, Boatable Waters, fishing locations), Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
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CPW sources tie these fish to Ruedi Reservoir; others may swim there too.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Boat ramps at Ruedi Reservoir
- Ruedi Reservoir boat rampboat ramp
Where to fish from the bank at Ruedi Reservoir
- Ruedi Reservoir fishing access near Norrieeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 7,771 ft
More places to launch near Ruedi Reservoir
- Boat Ramp on Sylvan LakeSylvan Lake, 9 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Storage and elevation readings for Ruedi Reservoir
Bureau of Reclamation (Station cooperator) storage telemetry for Ruedi Reservoir Near Basalt (station RUERESCO), recorded October 25, 2026; retrieved October 25, 2026. Provisional data from CDSS.
A reading well below normal can close ramps at Ruedi Reservoir.
Colorado limits that apply at Ruedi 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 |
Read the west of the Continental Divide rows of the statewide chart for Ruedi Reservoir. The chart above is the baseline at Ruedi Reservoir; a brochure entry can override 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.
CPW stocking report entries for Ruedi Reservoir
Trout report entries for Ruedi Reservoir: 12 listings, ending August 14, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 14, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| July 10, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| September 26, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| September 5, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| August 15, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| July 18, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| June 20, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| May 16, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| April 18, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| September 12, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| August 26, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| February 13, 2024 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest 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.
Sizing Ruedi Reservoir up against the reservoirs nearby
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruedi Reservoir | 1,037 | 7,771 | 1 | yes | |
| Sylvan Lake | 9 miles northeast | 43 | 8,516 | 1 | yes |
| Chapman Dam | 9 miles east | 9 | 8,546 | 0 | yes |
| Nast Lake | 12 miles southeast | 5 | 8,709 | 0 | |
| Ivanhoe Lake | 17 miles southeast | 70 | 10,935 | 0 | |
| Dinkle Lake | 17 miles west | 6 | 8,511 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Close to Ruedi Reservoir
Backup lakes when Ruedi Reservoir is slow
- Sylvan Lake9 miles northeast
- Chapman Dam9 miles east
- Nast Lake12 miles southeast
- Ivanhoe Lake17 miles southeast
- Dinkle Lake17 miles west
Shops worth the stop before Ruedi Reservoir
- Wild Willow Outfittersbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 12 miles
- Frying Pan Anglersfly shop, Basalt, 12 miles
- Specialty Sportsbait and tackle shop, Basalt, 12 miles
- Taylor Creek Fly Shopfly shop, Basalt, 12 miles
- Pomeroy Sportsbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 12 miles
- Aspen Flyfishing Incbait and tackle shop, Aspen, 12 miles
Guide businesses near Ruedi Reservoir
- Anderson's Fish Camp LLCfishing guide, Avon
- Aspen Angling Company LLCfishing guide, Vail
- Aspen Trout Guides, Inc.fishing guide, Aspen
- Basalt Fishing Expeditions LLCfishing guide, Basalt
- Colorado Angling Company LLCfishing guide, Edwards
- Elk Mountain Expeditions LLC / Elk Mountain Anglingfishing guide, Aspen
- Gone Fishing Coloradofishing guide, Basalt
- Minturn Anglers LLCfishing guide, Minturn
Towns that work as a base camp for Ruedi Reservoir
- Aspen12 miles
- Snowmass Village13 miles
- Basalt13 miles
County pages touching Ruedi Reservoir
- Pitkin Countyseat: Aspen
- Eagle Countyseat: Eagle
Reels from Piscifun that suit Ruedi Reservoir
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Telling the species of Ruedi Reservoir apart by photo
Photo: Mike Cline, Public domain
Photo: ColtonOrbaker, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
Photo: Virginia State Parks staff, CC BY 2.0
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Ruedi Reservoir: the questions Colorado anglers bring
Which Colorado county holds Ruedi Reservoir?
Look in Pitkin County and Eagle County, CPW Northwest Region, about 8 miles from Woody Creek.
What size is Ruedi Reservoir on CPW maps?
Roughly 1,037 acres, at about 7,771 feet.
Which ramp is closest at Ruedi Reservoir?
1 boat ramp, including Ruedi Reservoir boat ramp.
What might a Colorado angler hook at Ruedi Reservoir?
CPW records show brown trout, kokanee salmon, lake trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout, yellow perch and trout.
Which limits apply at Ruedi Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
What does a CPW license cost for a trip to Ruedi Reservoir?
Fishing two lines at once takes the $14.24 second-rod stamp on top of the license; adult residents pay $44.87 for the license and nonresidents $124.01.
Does CPW stock Ruedi Reservoir?
CPW records 12 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (2 in 2026, 7 in 2025, 3 in 2024); latest August 14, 2026.
How far is the nearest tackle shop from Ruedi Reservoir?
Wild Willow Outfitters is roughly 12 miles off.
Is Ruedi Reservoir low this year?
The water supply band above prints Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry.
Does Ruedi Reservoir freeze for anglers?
The Fishing Atlas shows ice fishing listed as yes; check ice yourself before stepping out.
Hitch the boat and head for Ruedi Reservoir
Read the limits above, then pick a ramp.