Rainbow Trout in Colorado
Finding rainbow trout, keeping them legally, and the records.
- 4 a daylimit
- 19 lb 9.6 ozrecord
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Rainbow trout for Colorado anglers
In the Colorado species list rainbow trout sits among the trout fish; the statewide chart has 1 chart row for it. Where the chart applies (waters statewide), the rule reads: daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate.
The 2003 fish of 19 lb 9.6 oz from Morrow Point Reservoir holds the state weight mark. The water pages here name it 287 times. 18 water-by-water rules in the brochure single it out, chiefly in Gunnison County.
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| Chart row | Zone | Limit | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trout, Arctic Char, Grayling, Salmon, Mountain Whitefish (except kokanee) | Statewide | Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate | 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 rainbow trout in the CPW record book
Weight category
| Entry | Weight | Length | Angler | Water | County | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 19 lb 9.6 oz | 34 in | Lee Cox | Morrow Point Reservoir | Gunnison | 2003 |
Measured and released
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 29.75 in | Zach Langer | Blue River | 2022 |
Older Master Angler entries
| Entry | Length | Angler | Water | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rainbow Trout | 40.25 in | Tony Felicilda | Taylor River |
A new length record must beat the current one, or 24 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 rainbow trout rules
| Water and section | County | Rules |
|---|---|---|
| From the base of Evergreen Dam downstream to Bear Creek Reservoir: | Jefferson | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag and possession limit for trout (except rainbow and cutbow) is 2. Rainbow trout and cutbow must be returned to water immediately. |
| From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with St. Louis Creek: | Grand | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From Almont to the U.S. 50 bridge. From 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam to the north fork of the Gunnison. From the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers downstream to the U.S. 50 bridge: | Delta | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From Almont to the U.S. 50 bridge. From 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam to the north fork of the Gunnison. From the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers downstream to the U.S. 50 bridge: | Gunnison | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From Almont to the U.S. 50 bridge. From 200 yards downstream of Crystal Dam to the north fork of the Gunnison. From the confluence of the East and Taylor rivers downstream to the U.S. 50 bridge: | Montrose | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From 200 yards downstream of the Crystal Dam downstream to the Relief Ditch diversion (5 miles above Austin Bridge): | Delta | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From 200 yards downstream of the Crystal Dam downstream to the Relief Ditch diversion (5 miles above Austin Bridge): | Gunnison | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From 200 yards downstream of the Crystal Dam downstream to the Relief Ditch diversion (5 miles above Austin Bridge): | Montrose | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From the confluence with High Bridge Gulch downstream to the BLM boundary below “The Gate” campground: | Gunnison | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From the confluence with High Bridge Gulch downstream to the BLM boundary below “The Gate” campground: | Hinsdale | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From the confluence with Cherry Creek downstream to the upper Red Bridge campground boundary: | Gunnison | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From the confluence with Cherry Creek downstream to the upper Red Bridge campground boundary: | Hinsdale | Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession and min. size for brown trout is 2, 16 inches long. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. |
| From lower boundary of River Hill Campground downstream to the Colo. 149 bridge: | Hinsdale | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. Bag, possession and max. size for brown trout is 2, 12 inches long. |
| From lower boundary of River Hill Campground downstream to the Colo. 149 bridge: | Mineral | Artificial flies and lures only. Rainbow trout must be returned to water immediately. Bag, possession and max. size for brown trout is 2, 12 inches long. |
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 rainbow trout
- 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.
Catchable trout releases and rainbow trout
The weekly stocking report gives a water, a CPW region and a date for catchable trout, about 10 inches, with no species named: 2,425 listings, 2024 to 2026.
CPW Fish Stocking Report and its archive, retrieved October 25, 2026.
Pages that list rainbow trout
Lakes listing rainbow trout
- Navajo Reservoir15,753 acres
- John Martin Reservoir11,712 acres
- Blue Mesa Reservoir9,087 acres
- Lake Granby7,046 acres
- McPhee Reservoir4,289 acres
- Eleven Mile Reservoir3,415 acres
- Pueblo Reservoir3,363 acres
- Dillon Reservoir3,345 acres
- Vallecito Reservoir2,472 acres
- Green Mountain Reservoir2,111 acres
- Taylor Reservoir2,041 acres
- Spinney Mountain Reservoir2,002 acres
- Horsetooth Reservoir1,824 acres
- Turquoise Lake1,756 acres
- Barr Lake1,725 acres
- Twin Lakes Lower1,708 acres
- Boyd Lake1,575 acres
- Williams Fork Reservoir1,552 acres
- Wolford Mountain Reservoir1,548 acres
- Antero Reservoir1,380 acres
- Chatfield Reservoir1,355 acres
- Shadow Mountain Reservoir1,338 acres
- Queens Reservoir1,268 acres
- Standley Lake1,230 acres
Streams listing rainbow trout
- Yampa RiverRoutt County
- South Platte RiverJefferson County
- Colorado RiverMesa County
- Conejos RiverConejos County
- Roaring Fork RiverGarfield County
- Blue RiverSummit County
- Eagle RiverEagle County
- Grape CreekFremont County
- Elk RiverRoutt County
- Beaver Creek, Fremont CountyFremont County
- Cottonwood Creek, Chaffee CountyChaffee County
- Dolores RiverMontezuma County
- North Fork Cache La Poudre RiverLarimer County
- Rio GrandeRio Grande County
- South Arkansas RiverChaffee County
- Taylor RiverGunnison County
- Uncompahgre RiverOuray County
CPW Boatable Waters and Quality Waters species fields and state record waters; largest waters first.
Colorado fish in the same group as rainbow trout
- Brook Trouttrout
- Brown Trouttrout
- Cutbowtrout
- Native Cutthroat Trouttrout
- Snake River Cutthroat Trouttrout
- Golden Trouttrout
- Lake Trouttrout
- Splaketrout
- Tiger Trouttrout
- Arctic Chartrout
- Graylingtrout
- Mountain Whitefishtrout
Reservoirs and creeks near Rainbow Trout in photos
Photo: Jeffrey Beall, CC BY 3.0
Photo: Peter K, CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Larry D. Moore, CC BY 4.0
Photo: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, photographer not specified or unknown, Public domain
Rainbow trout in Colorado, question by question
What is the Colorado bag limit for rainbow trout?
Daily bag 4, possession 8, in aggregate (statewide); special regulations can change it on listed waters.
How big is the Colorado record rainbow trout?
19 lb 9.6 oz from Morrow Point Reservoir, by Lee Cox in 2003.
Where in Colorado do rainbow trout turn up most?
287 water pages here list it, starting with Navajo Reservoir, John Martin Reservoir and Blue Mesa Reservoir.
Is rainbow trout covered by any special regulation?
Yes; 18 entries name it, for example From the base of Evergreen Dam downstream to Bear Creek Reservoir: in Jefferson County.
Where do rainbow trout sit on the CPW species list?
Trout on the CPW species list; the chart zones that apply are statewide.
Is there a closed season on rainbow trout?
Colorado waters are open all year, day and night, unless a special regulation closes them; 18 special-regulation entries mention it.
Is a license required before casting for rainbow trout?
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 is a length record for rainbow trout entered?
Photograph it on a measuring device with a witness and release it; it must beat the current record, or 24 inches where none exists.
Find rainbow trout near you
The pages above carry access and CPW rules.