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Colorado regulations

Lake Trout Regulations in Colorado 2026

Colorado lake trout regulations in 2026: 4 fish/day bag limit. Zone-specific exceptions may apply — see the rule table below. Sourced from CPW.

CPWOfficial source

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Rules (44)

Colorado statewide
Daily bag
4 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
Big Creek Lake (Lower)
Daily bag
3 fish
Possession
3 fish
Only 1 may be longer than 26 inches
Verified · View official source ↗
Blue Mesa ReservoirOpen
Status
Permitted
Daily bag
1 fish/day
No bag or possession limit Only 1 lake trout longer than 32 inches may be taken per day
Verified · View official source ↗
Crystal Reservoirs
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Grand Lake
Daily bag
4 fish
Possession
4 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Grand Lake — GrandCatch & release
Status
Catch And Release
Daily bag
4 fish
Possession
4 fish
All lake trout 26–36 inches long must be returned to water immediately. Only 1 may be longer than 36 inches. All lake trout 26–36 inches long must be returned to water immediately.
Verified · View official source ↗
Green Mountain Reservoir
Daily bag
8 fish
Possession
8 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Green Mountain Reservoir — Summit
Daily bag
8 fish
Possession
8 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Lake Granby
Daily bag
4 fish
Possession
4 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Mount Elbert Forebay ReservoirCatch & release
Status
Catch And Release
Daily bag
1 fish
Possession
1 fish
Slot min
22"
Slot max
34"
Lake trout 22–34 inches long must be returned to the water immediately.
Verified · View official source ↗
North Catamount Reservoirs
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Pikes Peak North Slope Recreation Area (Crystal, North Catamount And South Catamount Reservoirs)
Daily bag
2 fish/day
Verified · View official source ↗
Rampart Reservoir
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Rampart Reservoir — El Paso
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
South Catamount Reservoirs
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Taylor Park Reservoir
Daily bag
3 fish
Possession
3 fish
Max size
26"
Only 1 may be longer than 26 inches.
Verified · View official source ↗
Turquoise Reservoir
Daily bag
2 fish
Possession
2 fish
Verified · View official source ↗
Twin Lakes
Daily bag
1 fish
Possession
1 fish
Slot min
22"
Slot max
34"
must be returned to the water immediately
Verified · View official source ↗
Williams Fork Reservoir
Daily bag
8 fish
Possession
8 fish
Max size
30"
Only 1 may be longer than 30 inches.
Verified · View official source ↗

Other Colorado fish regulations

Other regulated species in Colorado with current rule pages — same CPW source, same verification cadence.

Also known as

Lake Trout is also called lakers. 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 Lake Trout season in Colorado?

Lake Trout 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 Lake Trout in Colorado?

Colorado does not publish a state-wide minimum size for Lake Trout. Check zone-specific rules above.

What is the daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Colorado?

Daily bag limit for Lake Trout in Colorado is 3 fish in Big Creek Lake (Lower), per CPW.

Official sources cited

Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CPW before keeping a catch.

← All Colorado fishing regulations