Bullhead in Colorado
Finding bullhead, keeping them legally, and the records.
- No bag limitlimit
- 5 lb 1 ozrecord
Pick for bullheadPiscifun LumiCat II catfish rod48% OFFSale $114.99 Photo of Chatfield Reservoir: Lovemedead, CC BY 4.0
Bullhead for Colorado anglers
In the Colorado species list bullhead sits among the catfish fish; the statewide chart has 1 chart row for it. Where the chart applies (waters statewide), the rule reads: no bag or possession limit.
The 1993 fish of 5 lb 1 oz from Farm Pond holds the state weight mark. 38 water-by-water rules in the brochure single it out, chiefly in La Plata County.
For the bullhead herePiscifun Chaos XS round baitcaster36% OFFSale $57.99 bullhead on the CPW limits chart
| Chart row | Zone | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Pike, Bullhead | Statewide | No bag or possession limit | Open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation says otherwise |
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife), p. 10, retrieved October 25, 2026; the chart applies on every water not listed in the special regulations.
Biggest bullhead in the CPW record book
Weight category
| Entry | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 5 lb 1 oz | 23 in | Uldene Kuretich | Farm Pond | Delta | 1993 |
Measured and released
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 14.19 in | Marc Melnick | James M Robb CO River State Park (CO River Section) | 2022 |
| Brown Bullhead | water not printed |
Older Master Angler entries
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Bullhead | 22 in | Brian Koprowski | Chatfield Reservoir |
A new length record must beat the current one, or 14 inches where no record exists (the Master Angler qualifying length).
CPW Fishing Awards and Records and the 2026 brochure pages 6 and 7, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Waters with their own bullhead rules
| Water and section | County | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| From the confluence with Hermosa Creek downstream to the state line: | La Plata | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Garfield | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Eagle | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Grand | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Williams Fork River downstream to the state line: | Mesa | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Dolores | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Mesa | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Montezuma | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From McPhee Dam downstream to the state line: | Montrose | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the I-70 Exit 147 bridge in Eagle downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River: | Eagle | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the U.S. 160 bridge east of Durango downstream to the confluence with the Animas River: | La Plata | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| Green River | Moffat | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Smith Fork downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River: | Delta | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
| From the confluence with the Smith Fork downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River: | Gunnison | No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. |
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.
General brochure rules that mention bullhead
- b. Crustaceans: The following crustaceans may be possessed east of the Continental Divide: virile crayfish, waternymph crayfish, calico crayfish, ringed crayfish and Southern Plains crayfish. The following crustaceans may be possessed on either side of the Continental Divide: freshwater shrimp …p. 8
2026 Colorado Fishing brochure (Colorado Parks and Wildlife),, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Colorado fish in the same group as bullhead
- Channel Catfishcatfish
- Flathead Catfishcatfish
- Blue Catfishcatfish
Reservoirs and creeks near Bullhead in photos
Photo: Mshuang2, CC0 1.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 4.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Bullhead in Colorado, question by question
What is the Colorado bag limit for bullhead?
No bag or possession limit (statewide); special regulations can change it on listed waters.
How big is the Colorado record bullhead?
5 lb 1 oz from Farm Pond, by Uldene Kuretich in 1993.
Where in Colorado do bullhead turn up most?
Water pages here do not name it so far.
Is bullhead covered by any special regulation?
Yes; 38 entries name it, for example From the confluence with Hermosa Creek downstream to the state line: in La Plata County.
Where do bullhead sit on the CPW species list?
Catfish on the CPW species list; the chart zones that apply are statewide.
Is there a closed season on bullhead?
Colorado waters are open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation closes them; 38 special-regulation entries mention it.
Is a license required before casting for bullhead?
Everyone 16 and older needs a CPW fishing license: $44.87 a year for adult residents, $124.01 for nonresidents, or $18.07 for a resident one-day license.
How is a length record for bullhead entered?
Photograph it on a measuring device with a witness and release it; it must beat the current record, or 14 inches where none exists.