Yamcolo Reservoir Fishing
A 184-acre Colorado reservoir in Garfield County at 9,501 feet.
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Yamcolo Reservoir: setting, size and how to reach it
Yamcolo Reservoir spreads over roughly 184 acres of Garfield County, by its mapped outline. Its surface sits near 9,501 feet above sea level. Routt National Forest manages the ground around it. Plan supplies in Yampa, near 11 miles from the shore. In CPW terms it is a Northwest Region water.
CPW records brook trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout and trout 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.
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 Yamcolo Reservoir.
CPW Boatable Waters species field, CPW state records and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Launching a boat at Yamcolo Reservoir
- Yamcolo Boat Rampboat ramp; Routt National Forest
Atlas fishing locations at Yamcolo Reservoir
- Yamcolo Reservoir fishing access near Yampaeasy access, stocked: sub-catchables, 9,501 ft
When the Yamcolo Reservoir ramp is crowded
- South Ramp on Stagecoach ReservoirStagecoach Reservoir, 19 miles northeast
- North Ramp on Stagecoach ReservoirStagecoach Reservoir, 19 miles northeast
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Water supply gauge at Yamcolo Reservoir
Co. Division of Water Resources storage telemetry for Yamcolo Reservoir Above Yampa (station YAMRESCO), 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 Yamcolo Reservoir can change by the week.
Harvest rules for Yamcolo 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; Yamcolo Reservoir sits west of the Continental Divide. Outside any special regulation, these statewide numbers govern Yamcolo 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 Yamcolo Reservoir
CPW put Yamcolo Reservoir on its weekly catchable trout report 2 listings; the most recent listing is dated August 15, 2025.
| Report date | What CPW lists |
|---|---|
| August 15, 2025 | catchable trout, CPW Northwest Region |
| August 15, 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.
How Yamcolo Reservoir measures up to the water around it
| Lake | Distance | Acres | Elevation ft | Boat ramps | On the trout report |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yamcolo Reservoir | 184 | 9,501 | 1 | yes | |
| Bear Lake, Garfield County | 1 mile southwest | 55 | 9,741 | 0 | yes |
| Gardner Park Reservoir | 2 miles east | 50 | 9,632 | 0 | yes |
| Smith Lake Upper | 3 miles west | 7 | 10,498 | 0 | |
| Chatfield Reservoir, Rio Blanco County | 5 miles north | 11 | 10,459 | 0 | |
| Sheriff Reservoir | 8 miles northwest | 38 | 9,727 | 0 | yes |
CPW Fishing Atlas, ramp layer and stocking report, retrieved October 25, 2026.
The ground surrounding Yamcolo Reservoir
Other reservoirs within a drive of Yamcolo Reservoir
- Bear Lake, Garfield County1 mile southwest
- Gardner Park Reservoir2 miles east
- Smith Lake Upper3 miles west
- Chatfield Reservoir, Rio Blanco County5 miles north
- Sheriff Reservoir8 miles northwest
Where to buy line and lures near Yamcolo Reservoir
- Stagecoach Marinamarina, Oak Creek, 19 miles
Outfitters who fish Yamcolo Reservoir
- Alpine Anglingfishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-9245
- Alpine Angling/Adventure Travel,Incfishing guide, Carbondale
- Elevated Angling, LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Into The Wild Kayak Fishing Adventures LLCfishing guide, Carbondale
- Scotts High Country Anglers LLCfishing guide, Parachute
- Crystal Fly Shop & Decorfly fishing guide, Carbondale, (970) 963-5741
- Harcourt Fly Fishing 3G LLCfly fishing guide, New Castle, (970) 404-1339
Beds and gas close to Yamcolo Reservoir
- Gypsum30 miles
- Eagle31 miles
- Steamboat Springs32 miles
County guides that cover Yamcolo Reservoir
- Garfield Countyseat: Glenwood Springs
Piscifun tackle sized for Yamcolo Reservoir
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Reservoirs and creeks near Yamcolo Reservoir in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Joe Mabel, CC BY-SA 4.0
Before you drive to Yamcolo Reservoir, read these
Where in Colorado is Yamcolo Reservoir?
CPW maps it in Garfield County, CPW Northwest Region, about 11 miles from Yampa.
How many acres does Yamcolo Reservoir cover on CPW maps?
Close to 184 acres by the CPW outline, at about 9,501 feet.
Which ramp do boaters back down at Yamcolo Reservoir?
Yes: 1 boat ramp; Yamcolo Boat Ramp is one.
Which gamefish does CPW tie to Yamcolo Reservoir?
CPW lists brook trout, brown trout, mountain whitefish, rainbow trout and trout.
Does the brochure print a special rule for Yamcolo Reservoir?
Trout, arctic char, grayling, salmon and whitefish (not kokanee): Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
Can an out-of-state visitor fish Yamcolo Reservoir on a short license?
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.
When did CPW last list Yamcolo Reservoir for trout?
The report carries 2 listings on the CPW catchable trout report (1 in 2025, 1 in 2024); latest August 15, 2025.
Where can I pick up bait on the way to Yamcolo Reservoir?
Closest on our list: Stagecoach Marina, 19 miles.
What does the latest reading at Yamcolo Reservoir show?
See Colorado Division of Water Resources telemetry in the band above.
Can I drill holes at Yamcolo Reservoir?
CPW lists ice fishing listed as yes; no ice is ever certified safe.
Give Yamcolo Reservoir an early start
Buy the CPW license online before you leave.