Fishing in Colorado
Fishing boats, inspections, and Clean, Drain, Dry
The Colorado checks for boat registration, aquatic nuisance species stamps, inspections, launches, and cleaning gear between waters.
The launch has its own checklist
- Confirm registration and the current aquatic nuisance species requirements for the vessel.
- Check whether an inspection is required before launch or after travel from another water.
- Check station and ramp hours. An open lake does not guarantee an open inspection station.
- Follow the local rule for drain plugs, live wells, bait water, and launch access.
Clean, Drain, Dry is for more than boats
Mud, plants, mussels, and disease can move on trailers, anchors, waders, boots, nets, and float tubes. Remove material, drain water, and let gear dry before the next water. Follow decontamination instructions when CPW requires them.
Check again on the way home
Some waters inspect boats as they leave or attach a seal for the next launch. Stop at the required station and keep the receipt or seal information the inspector gives you.
Take this with you
Before you tow out
- ✓ Registration and the current ANS requirement are settled.
- ✓ You checked inspection and ramp hours for the exact water.
- ✓ The boat, trailer, drain spaces, and gear are clean and dry.
- ✓ You know the exit-inspection or decontamination step for the trip home.
Official sources and review
Check the current rule before you act
These links go to the agencies that control this part of the trip. Use the exact page, license, listing, map, order, or confirmation for your situation.
Use this carefully: Inspection, seal, decontamination, launch, and drain rules can change by water and travel history. Confirm the current CPW page and the exact launch before towing out.
Keep going
More about fishing in Colorado
Trout fishing
The statewide trout limit, named-water exceptions, brook trout, protected cutthroat, legal lines, and the rules to check before keeping a fish.
Kokanee and snagging
Ordinary kokanee angling, the narrow snagging exception, statewide limits, fish identification, and the named-water rules that control the season.
Walleye, saugeye, and sauger
The shared statewide limit, the eastern drainage exception, named-water size rules, identification, and ordinary fishing methods.
Northern pike and tiger muskie
The very different statewide limits, fish identification, legal methods, named-water rules, and live-fish restrictions.
Bass, catfish, and panfish
Statewide warm-water limits, shared species groups, western and eastern exceptions, named-water sizes, and fish identification.
Bait and live bait
Where ordinary bait is allowed, why chumming is illegal, and how elevation, the Continental Divide, source water, and receipts affect live baitfish.
Ice fishing
Fishing licenses, tip-ups, second rods, hole size, shelters, fires, exact-water rules, and a calm check on changing ice.
Licenses and limits
Who should check for a Colorado fishing license, how statewide limits work, and why the exact water listing matters before you keep a fish.
Where to fish
How to use the CPW Fishing Atlas, find public access, and check the bank, streambed, parking, and land-manager rules for a Colorado fishing spot.
Rules for the exact water
How to read Colorado's special fishing regulations for a named lake or river stretch, including methods, closures, limits, and release rules.