Colorado regulations
Channel Catfish Regulations in Colorado 2026
Colorado channel catfish regulations in 2026: 10 fish/day bag limit, 10 fish possession. Zone-specific exceptions may apply — see the rule table below. Sourced from CPW.
Rules (43)
Animas River — La Plata From The Confluence With Hermosa Creek Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Blue Heron Lake
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
Only 1 channel catfish in the bag or possession limit may exceed 20 inches long
Colorado River — Garfield, Eagle, Grand, Mesa From The Confluence With The Williams Fork River Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish
Dolores River — Dolores, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, San Miguel From McPhee Dam Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish
Eagle River — Eagle From The I-70 Exit 147 Bridge In Eagle Downstream To The Confluence With The Colorado RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish
Florida River — La Plata From The U.s. 160 Bridge East Of Durango Downstream To The Confluence With The Animas RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish
Green River — MoffatOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish
Gunnison River From The Confluence With The Smith Fork Downstream To The Confluence With The Colorado RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Gunnison River, North Fork From The Confluence With Anthracite Creek Downstream To The Confluence With The Gunnison RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
La Plata River From The U.s. 160 Bridge Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Lon Hagler Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
Only one channel catfish in the bag or possession limit may exceed 20 inches long.
Los Pinos River — Hinsdale, La Plata From The U.s. 160 Bridge In Bayfield Downstream To Navajo ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
Los Pinos River From The U.s. 160 Bridge In Bayfield Downstream To Navajo ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Mancos River — Montezuma From The U.s. 160 Bridge In Mancos Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
Mancos River From The U.s. 160 Bridge In Mancos Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
McElmo Creek — Montezuma From The U.s. 160 Bridge East Of Cortez Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
Navajo River — Archuleta, Conejos From The Oso Diversion Dam Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
Piedra River— Archuleta From The U.s. 160 Bridge Downstream To Navajo ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie.
Pueblo Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Possession
- 5 fish
Underwater spearfishing allowed, aggregate with blue and flathead catfish
Pueblo Reservoir — PuebloOpen
- Status
- Permitted
- Daily bag
- 5 fish
- Possession
- 5 fish
Underwater spearfishing allowed for channel, blue and flathead catfish with an aggregate bag and possession limit of 5 and for wiper with a bag and possession limit of 5.
Rio Blanco River From The Blanco Diversion Dam Downstream To The Confluence With The San Juan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
San Juan River From U.s. 160 Bridge In Pagosa Springs Downstream To Navajo ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
San Miguel River From The Colo. 90 Bridge At Pinon Downstream To The Confluence With The Dolores RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Uncompahgre River —Ouray, Montrose, Delta From The Ridgway Dam Downstream To The Confluence With The Gunnison RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
White River — Rio Blanco From Taylor Draw Dam Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
White River — Rio Blanco From The Confluence Of The North And South Forks Of The White River Downstream To Kenney ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Yampa River — Routt, Moffat From The Headwaters Of The Yampa River Downstream To The Confluence With The Green RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Other Colorado fish regulations
Other regulated species in Colorado with current rule pages — same CPW source, same verification cadence.
- Trout (Brook, Brown, Rainbow)351 rules
- Largemouth Bass147 rules
- Smallmouth Bass116 rules
- Walleye74 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)45 rules
- Lake Trout44 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)29 rules
- Northern Pike5 rules
Also known as
Channel Catfish is also called Catfish. Anglers in different regions use different names for the same fish, and the rules on this page apply to all of them in Colorado.
Frequently asked questions
When is Channel Catfish season in Colorado?
Channel Catfish season in Colorado is set by CPW. Some zones may have specific open windows; see the rule table above.
What is the size limit for Channel Catfish in Colorado?
Colorado does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Channel Catfish. Check zone-specific rules above.
What is the daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Colorado?
Daily bag limit for Channel Catfish in Colorado is 1 fish in Blue Heron Lake, per CPW.
Official sources cited
- https://www.eregulations.com/colorado/fishing/special-regulations-fishing-waters
- https://www.eregulations.com/colorado/fishing/statewide-bag-possession-limits
- https://cpw.state.co.us/rules-and-regulations
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CPW before keeping a catch.