Vallecito Reservoir Fishing
A 2,472-acre Colorado reservoir in La Plata County at 7,669 feet.
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Vallecito Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Vallecito Reservoir spreads over roughly 2,472 acres of La Plata County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 7,669 feet above sea level. San Juan National Forest manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Bayfield, near 12 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Southwest Region water.
CPW records brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, northern pike, rainbow trout and smallmouth bass in this water. Launching happens at 1 boat ramp. The boating entry reads Motor boats (gasoline). CPW calls access easy; pressure runs medium. For hard water, CPW has ice fishing listed as yes.
Fish from Vallecito Reservoir carry an eating advisory: CDPHE advisory.
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 Vallecito Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Vallecito Reservoir
- Vallecito Reservoir boat rampboat ramp, ANS inspection
Atlas fishing locations at Vallecito Reservoir
- Vallecito Reservoir fishing access near Bayfieldeasy access, stocked: catchable trout and sub-catchables, 7,669 ft
When the Vallecito Reservoir ramp is crowded
- Haviland Lake SWAHaviland Lake, 17 miles northwest
- USFS boat ramp on Williams Creek ReservoirWilliams Creek Reservoir, 19 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply gauge at Vallecito Reservoir
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Vallecito Reservoir (station VALRESCO), 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 Vallecito Reservoir can change by the week.
Harvest rules for Vallecito 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 |
Drainage matters for walleye, wiper and perch limits; Vallecito Reservoir sits west of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Vallecito Reservoir.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Trout stocking dates at Vallecito Reservoir
CPW put Vallecito Reservoir on its weekly catchable trout report 18 listings; the most recent listing is dated August 28, 2026.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 28, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 14, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 7, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 31, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| July 17, 2026 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| September 12, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| September 5, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 29, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 22, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 15, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| August 8, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Southwest Region |
| November 1, 2024 | 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.
How Vallecito Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vallecito Reservoir | 2,472 | 7,669 | 1 | yes | |
| Lemon Reservoir | 7 miles west | 641 | 8,129 | 0 | |
| Emerald Lake Little | 11 miles northeast | 15 | 10,014 | 0 | |
| Emerald Lake, Hinsdale County | 12 miles northeast | 282 | 10,038 | 0 | |
| Henderson Lake | 12 miles northwest | 12 | 9,948 | 0 | yes |
| Ute Lake Lower Twin (#2) | 17 miles north | 4 | 11,794 | 0 |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Vallecito Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Vallecito Reservoir
- Lemon Reservoir7 miles west
- Emerald Lake Little11 miles northeast
- Emerald Lake, Hinsdale County12 miles northeast
- Henderson Lake12 miles northwest
- Ute Lake Lower Twin (#2)17 miles north
Where to buy line and lures near Vallecito Reservoir
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, 20 miles
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, 21 miles
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, 21 miles
- Two Rivers Marinamarina, Arboles, 28 miles
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 30 miles
Outfitters who fish Vallecito Reservoir
- Duranglers, Inc.fishing guide, Durango
- Fish and Fungi LLCfishing guide, Ignacio
- Fisher Guide Servicefishing guide, Bayfield
- Cole Glenn Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Durango
- Durango Fly Fishing LLC.fly fishing guide, Durango, (970) 799-5246
- Heads Up Fly Fishing LLCfly fishing guide, Ignacio, (970) 984-8433
Beds and gas close to Vallecito Reservoir
- Bayfield12 miles
- Durango21 miles
- Pagosa Springs31 miles
County guides that cover Vallecito Reservoir
- La Plata Countyseat: Durango
Piscifun tackle sized for Vallecito Reservoir
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Reservoirs and creeks near Vallecito Reservoir in photos
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
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Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Before you drive to Vallecito Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Vallecito Reservoir?
CPW maps it in La Plata County, CPW Southwest Region, about 12 miles from Bayfield.
How many acres does Vallecito Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 2,472 acres by the CPW outline, at about 7,669 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Vallecito Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Vallecito Reservoir boat ramp is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Vallecito Reservoir?
CPW lists brook trout, brown trout, kokanee salmon, northern pike, rainbow trout, smallmouth bass and walleye.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Vallecito Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Vallecito Reservoir 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 Vallecito Reservoir for trout?
The report carries 18 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (5 in 2026, 6 in 2025, 7 in 2024); latest August 28, 2026.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Vallecito Reservoir?
Closest on our list: San Juan Anglers, 20 miles.
What does the latest reading at Vallecito Reservoir show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at Vallecito Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Vallecito Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.