Colorado Public Trout Fishing Rivers & Streams

Although approximately two-thirds of the land in Colorado is privately owned, fishermen may access thousands of miles of public rivers and streams in the state, including 10 with Gold Medal designations awarded by the Colorado Wildlife Commission based on the presence of large trout and a rich aquatic environment. Colorado is home to cutthroat, rainbow, brown and brook trout that will challenge anglers of all abilities.

Regulations

Each angler aged 16 and older must buy a license to fish Colorado's public rivers and streams. However, on the first full weekend in June of every year, the state offers free fishing days when a license is not required. Trout fishing in streams and rivers is open to fishing year-round, except as otherwise noted in the Colorado Fishing Regulations Brochure, which may be downloaded from the Colorado Division of Wildlife website at wildlife.state.co.us.

Habitat

According to an article titled "Colorado Coldwater Fish Stream Habitat," published by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, "Streams with temperatures frequently exceeding 70 degrees Fahrenheit are not suited to trout. ... Brown and rainbow trout can tolerate slightly warmer temperatures than brook and cutthroat trout." Water temperatures of most rivers and streams in the mountains of Colorado rarely exceed 70 degrees, which is why trout live in almost all of them. Trout are also plentiful in tailwaters like the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir, where water flow is controlled by a dam, because water temperature does not vary significantly throughout the year.

Gold Medal Waters

There are 167.8 miles of Gold Medal trout streams in Colorado, which includes famous fishing destinations like the Colorado River, the Roaring Fork and the Frying Pan River. In her book "Trout Fishing Near American Cities," Ann McIntosh recommends Gold Medal waters of the South Platte River, the Blue River and the Gore Creek, which are all publicly accessible and less than a two-hour drive from Denver. In June, when salmonflies hatch on the Gunnison River in the Gunnison Gorge National Conservation Area and in Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, fly fishermen have the rare opportunity to cast 2- to 3-inch dry flies to 20-plus-inch trout.

Tackle

The diet of trout living in Colorado's rivers and streams consists primarily of insects, worms, crustaceans and baitfish. Fly fishermen should try to match the hatch, but standard flies include generic nymphs like princes, soft hackles and pheasant tails, mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, attractors, ants and hoppers for the late summer and early fall. Some of the biggest trout are caught by swinging streamers such as woolly buggers. Nymphs are typically dead-drifted under an indicator. You can also catch trout in Colorado's rivers and streams using worms, crickets, salmon eggs and lures like Kastmasters and Rooster Tails.

Whirling Disease

Whirling disease affects trout by causing irregular cartilage growth and neurological damage, which inhibits a trout's ability to feed normally. Although the parasite has no direct effect on humans and will not spoil your fishing fun, it is every fisherman's responsibility to prevent the spread of the disease. According to the Colorado Division of Wildlife website, whirling disease has been confirmed in 13 of 15 of the state's major river drainages. Fishermen should clean boots, waders and equipment after every fishing trip to prevent further contamination.