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.
Rules (44)
Big Creek Lake (Lower)
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Possession
- 3 fish
Only 1 may be longer than 26 inches
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
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.
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.
Pikes Peak North Slope Recreation Area (Crystal, North Catamount And South Catamount Reservoirs)
- Daily bag
- 2 fish/day
Taylor Park Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 3 fish
- Possession
- 3 fish
- Max size
- 26"
Only 1 may be longer than 26 inches.
Twin Lakes
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Slot min
- 22"
- Slot max
- 34"
must be returned to the water immediately
Williams Fork Reservoir
- Daily bag
- 8 fish
- Possession
- 8 fish
- Max size
- 30"
Only 1 may be longer than 30 inches.
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
- Channel Catfish43 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)29 rules
- Northern Pike5 rules
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
- https://www.eregulations.com/colorado/fishing/special-regulations-fishing-waters
- https://cpw.state.co.us/rules-and-regulations
- https://cpw.state.co.us
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CPW before keeping a catch.