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Rainbow Trout
Photo: Fabricio Cardenas, CC BY-SA 4.0 
Brook Trout
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain 
Smallmouth Bass
Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0 
Channel Catfish
Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
Colorado rivers
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East Fork Piedra River Fishing
Special regulation water in Hinsdale County.
Pick for salmonPiscifun Viper X spinning reel50% OFFSale $39.99 Photo of Vallecito Lake: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Colorado rivers
Getting to know the East Fork Piedra River
The East Fork Piedra River cuts its river channel across Hinsdale County. Piedra is the closest Census place to the channel, roughly 7 miles away.
The atlas marks 1 reach as regulated water, near 16 miles.
1counties
16regulated 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
Gold Medal and regulated reaches of the East Fork Piedra River
| Reach | Miles | Rule as printed |
|---|---|---|
| Confluence with the Middle Fork of the Piedra River / Headwaters | 15.97 | rule text in the brochure |
Fish a regulated East Fork Piedra River reach by its own rule, not the statewide chart.
The East Fork Piedra River in the special regulations
| Water as printed | Rule | Brochure |
|---|---|---|
| Piedra River, East Fork | Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately. | p. 30 |
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
Finding the East Fork Piedra River
No ramp or atlas location sits on the East Fork Piedra River; reach it from public land and road crossings with care for private banks.
Ramps a short tow from the East Fork Piedra River
- USFS boat ramp on Williams Creek ReservoirWilliams Creek Reservoir, 8 miles
- Big Meadows Reservoir SWABig Meadows Reservoir, 15 miles
- Alberta Park Reservoir SWAAlberta Park Reservoir, 17 miles
- Road Canyon Reservoir SWARoad Canyon Reservoir, 19 miles
CPW boat ramp and Fishing Atlas fishing location layers, USGS gauges, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Limits
Bag limits on the East Fork Piedra River
| 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 |
On the CPW drainage map, the East Fork Piedra River lies west of the Continental Divide. Colorado streams stay open all year; on the East Fork Piedra River the bag is the variable.
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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Neighbors of the East Fork Piedra River
Colorado lakes in the East Fork Piedra River neighborhood
- Williams Creek Reservoir8 miles
- Love Lake11 miles
- Spruce Lake Upper11 miles
- Big Meadows Reservoir15 miles
Fly shops and bait stores around the East Fork Piedra River
- Let IT Flybait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 17 miles
- PJ's Fine Bamboo Rodsbait and tackle shop, Pagosa Springs, 17 miles
- Rod & Reelbait and tackle shop, Creede, 25 miles
Paid guides within reach of the East Fork Piedra River
- Fish Creek Outfitting LLCfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Kaufman Team LLC DBA Williams Creek Anglerfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Pagosa Troutfittersfishing guide, Pagosa Springs
- Piedra River Anglers LLCfishing guide, Piedra River, Pagosa Springs
- Sport Fish Colorado LLCfishing guide, Lake City
Communities within reach of the East Fork Piedra River
- Pagosa Springs17 miles
- Bayfield34 miles
Creeks around the East Fork Piedra River
- Middle Fork Piedra River5 miles
- West Fork San Juan River8 miles
- Beaver Creek, Mineral County9 miles
- Ivy Creek13 miles
the East Fork Piedra River and the counties around it
Piscifun
A Piscifun kit for days on the East Fork Piedra River
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Know your fish
Telling the species of East Fork Piedra River apart by photo
Photo: Fabricio Cardenas, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: United States Fish and Wildlife Services, Public domain
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Photo: James Mann from Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, CC BY 2.0
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Photo: USFWS Mountain Prairie, Public domain
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Answers
Planning notes for the East Fork Piedra River
Where would I look for the East Fork Piedra River on a Colorado map?
Its Colorado basin takes in Hinsdale County.
Is the East Fork Piedra River Gold Medal?
Yes, 1 reach carry their own rules.
Does a USGS station report flows on the East Fork Piedra River?
No gauge reports for it.
Is the East Fork Piedra River mostly private?
CPW maps no access here; much of it may be private.
Is the East Fork Piedra River flies and lures only?
1 reach carry special rules; read the reach table and brochure entry. The brochure entry reads: Artificial flies and lures only. Cutthroat must be returned to water immediately.
Can an out-of-state visitor buy a license for the East Fork Piedra River?
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.
Is there a fly shop near the East Fork Piedra River?
Drive 17 miles to Let IT Fly.
Which species does CPW list for the East Fork Piedra River?
Its fish are not listed.
Which Colorado town sits nearest the East Fork Piedra River?
Base yourself in Piedra, roughly 7 miles away.
Put the East Fork Piedra River on this season's list
Flows and rules are on this page; check both.