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Animas River 10 mi
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain 
La Plata County 10 mi
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0 
Vallecito Reservoir 22 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0 
Dolores River 32 mi
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado trout streams
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Castle Creek Fishing
Special regulation water in La Plata County.
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Colorado streams
Arriving on the Castle Creek: what it is like
The Castle Creek, a stream, drains part of La Plata County. About 10 miles separates the mapped point from Durango.
Special regulations cover 1 reach, roughly 3.5 miles.
1counties
3.5regulated miles
0USGS gauges
0atlas access points
CPW Fishing Atlas 2025 layers (special-regulation, Gold Medal and fishing location layers), NHD flowlines, Census places, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Special regulations
Regulated sections of the Castle Creek
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Headwaters / Confluence with Junction Creek | 3.51 | rule in the CPW brochure |
The atlas maps where each regulated reach of the Castle Creek starts and ends; the rule itself is the brochure entry for the water.
What the brochure says about the Castle Creek
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Castle Creek | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 14 |
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.
CPW special fishing regulation and Quality Waters layers, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Access
Where the Castle Creek runs
Expect to hike to the Castle Creek; no access point is on file.
Backup boat ramps near the Castle Creek
- Haviland Lake SWAHaviland Lake, 11 miles
- Pastorius Reservoir SWAPastorius Reservoir, 16 miles
- Mancos State Park on Jackson Gulch ReservoirJackson Gulch Reservoir, 18 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Harvest rules for the Castle Creek
| 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 |
| Channel, flathead and blue catfish | Daily bag 10, possession 10, 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 |
| Northern pike and bullhead | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
The drainage column of the limits chart puts the Castle Creek west of the Continental Divide. Statewide numbers apply on the Castle Creek wherever no reach rule is posted.
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.
Statewide bag and possession chart, 2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (CPW, season March 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026. All Colorado limits.
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Around the Castle Creek on the map
Reservoirs and ponds near the Castle Creek
- Haviland Lake11 miles
- Henderson Lake14 miles
- Lemon Reservoir15 miles
- Pastorius Reservoir16 miles
Stores that stock up the Castle Creek trips
- Duranglersfly shop, La Plata, 10 miles
- San Juan Anglersfly shop, Durango, 10 miles
- San Juan Anglerfly shop, Durango, 10 miles
- Anasazi Angler Incfly shop, Hesperus, 19 miles
Hiring a guide for the Castle Creek
- 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
Nearest towns to the Castle Creek
- Durango10 miles
- Mancos20 miles
- Bayfield22 miles
Rivers within reach of the Castle Creek
- Deep Creek, La Plata County4 miles
- Clear Creek, La Plata County5 miles
- Hermosa Creek5 miles
- Animas River10 miles
the Castle Creek on the county pages
Piscifun
Piscifun gear to pack for the Castle Creek
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In photos
A camera tour of the water by Castle Creek
Photo: USEPA Environmental-Protection-Agency, Public domain
.jpg){kind=link}
Photo: Ahodges7, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Answers
The Castle Creek, question by question
Where in the state is the Castle Creek?
It runs through La Plata County.
Does the Castle Creek have special trout rules?
It has 1 reach with special trout rules.
Is the Castle Creek wadeable right now?
It is ungauged; nearby Colorado river pages carry flows.
How do Colorado anglers get down to the Castle Creek?
Nothing mapped; use a land-status map.
What is the trout limit on the Castle Creek?
1 reach follow their own rules, listed above. CPW prints: Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
Is a CPW license required to fish the Castle Creek?
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.
How far is the nearest shop from the Castle Creek?
Duranglers (10 miles).
Which sport fish does CPW tie to the Castle Creek?
CPW publishes no species list for it.
Which town works as a base for the Castle Creek?
About 10 miles away is Durango.
Plan a float or wade on the Castle Creek
Check the gauge and reach rules before you go.