Fishing in Colorado
Fishing licenses and catch 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.
Start with the person, then the water
The angler
Anglers age 16 and older generally need a current Colorado fishing license. Age, residency, license type, dates, and extra stamps can affect what the person needs, so use the current CPW license page.
The water
Search the lake or river stretch in the current brochure. That listing can change the statewide default.
The fish
Confirm species, daily limit, possession limit, size rule, and any release requirement before keeping it.
Bag and possession are different checks
A daily bag limit is what you may take in a day. A possession limit is what you may have on hand. The current brochure explains how those counts work for the species and water.
A second line needs a second-rod stamp
CPW allows an angler to use a second rod, hand line, or tip-up after buying the stamp. The stamp does not add another bag limit, and youth fishing with a second line need the stamp too.
When you are not sure what you caught
Do not guess your way into a harvest rule. Keep a current fish-identification source handy, take a clear photo, and release the fish promptly when the rule or species is uncertain.
Take this with you
Before you keep a fish
- ✓ The angler's current license and stamps are settled.
- ✓ You found the exact water in the current brochure.
- ✓ You can identify the species and know the size and count rules.
- ✓ You know whether that water requires release or limits the method.
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: License products, fees, dates, limits, and special regulations can change. Confirm the current CPW Fishing Brochure and the exact water listing before fishing or keeping a catch.
Keep going
The other parts of fishing in colorado
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.
Boats and Clean, Drain, Dry
The Colorado checks for boat registration, aquatic nuisance species stamps, inspections, launches, and cleaning gear between waters.