The river below Ridgway dam has its own catch-and-release rules

A dam changes a river. The water released from the bottom of Ridgway Reservoir stays cold all year, which makes the Uncompahgre River below the dam a steady trout fishery known as the Pa-Co-Chu-Puk reach. The name comes from a Ute phrase tied to nearby Cow Creek.

Fishing rules in Colorado change by water and even by river segment, and this stretch is a good example. From the gauging station below the dam down to the Cow Creek junction, the rules are artificial flies and lures only, and all trout must be returned to the water right away. Below Cow Creek toward the County Road 2 bridge, the rules differ. Reading the current regulations for the exact reach you are standing in matters, because a few hundred yards can change what is allowed.

Public access comes mainly through Ridgway State Park and the Billy Creek State Wildlife Area, each with its own entry and pass requirements. The water holds brown and rainbow trout, with some larger fish, though flows from the reservoir shape how the fishery behaves.

Before you fish, confirm the segment boundaries, gear rules, and any special designation in the current Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing regulations for this water.