Colorado regulations
Smallmouth Bass Regulations in Colorado 2026
Colorado Smallmouth Bass regulations: Daily bag 1 fish in aggregate, Possession 1 fish in aggregate, Slot min 10 inches. Sourced from CPW.
Rules (116)
Adams Co. Fairgrounds Lakes (Public Works & Mann-Nyholt Lakes)
- Min size
- 15 inches long
Animas River — La Plata From The Confluence With Hermosa Creek Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Arapahoe Bend Natural Area (Bass, Beaver, Cormorant & Snapper Ponds)
- Min size
- 15 inches long
Bald Eagle LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to the water immediately
Berthoud ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
must be returned to water immediately
Big Thompson Ponds
- Daily bag
- 1 fish in aggregate
- Possession
- 1 fish in aggregate
- Min size
- 15 inches long
Blue Heron LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to water immediately
Chatfield Reservoir And Chatfield State Park Within Chatfield State Park, Including The South Platte River And All Ponds Within The Park Boundary
- Min size
- 15 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 smallmouth bass
Dolores River — Dolores, Mesa, Montezuma, Montrose, San Miguel From McPhee Dam Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for smallmouth bass
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 smallmouth bass
Erie Lake—BoulderCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth must be returned to water immediately.
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 smallmouth bass
Golden Park Pond No. 3
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
in the aggregate with largemouth bass
Golden Park Ponds No. 1Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Possession of largemouth or smallmouth bass while fishing Golden Park Ponds No. 1 or 2 is prohibited.
Golden Park Ponds No. 1 & No. 2Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Possession of largemouth or smallmouth bass while fishing Golden Park Ponds No. 1 or 2 is prohibited.
Golden Park Ponds No. 2Closed
- Status
- Prohibited
Possession of largemouth or smallmouth bass while fishing Golden Park Ponds No. 1 or 2 is prohibited.
Green River — MoffatOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit for smallmouth bass
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
Hudson Town Pond
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
in the aggregate with largemouth bass
Jayhawker PondsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
must be returned to the water immediately
Kingfisher Pond (Fort Collins Environmental Learning Center)
- Min size
- 15"
Koa LakeCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
must be returned to water immediately
La Plata River From The U.s. 160 Bridge Downstream To The State LineOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
Lon Hagler ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to water immediately.
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.
McPhee ReservoirCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
- Slot min
- 10"
- Slot max
- 15"
Largemouth and smallmouth bass 10–15 inches long must be returned to the water immediately.
Mead PondsCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to water immediately.
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.
Pella Crossing Recreation Area Ponds (All Ponds) — BoulderCatch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to the water immediately.
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.
Pit D Pond — Boulder
- Daily bag
- 1 fish
- Possession
- 1 fish
- Min size
- 15"
Bag, possession and min. size for largemouth and smallmouth bass is 1 in the aggregate, 15 inches long.
Ridgway ReservoirOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag, possession limit for smallmouth bass
Rio Blanco River From The Blanco Diversion Dam Downstream To The Confluence With The San Juan RiverOpen
- Status
- Permitted
No bag or possession limit
River’s Edge Natural Area Ponds (Bass, Dragonfly & Sandpiper)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to the water immediately
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
Valco Ponds 4 & 5Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
must be returned to water immediately
Walden Ponds (Except Wally Toevs Pond)Catch & release
- Status
- Catch And Release
All largemouth and smallmouth bass must be returned to the water immediately.
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
- Walleye74 rules
- Crappie (Black & White)45 rules
- Lake Trout44 rules
- Channel Catfish43 rules
- Bluegill (Sunfish)29 rules
- Northern Pike5 rules
Also known as
Smallmouth Bass is also called smallies. 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 Smallmouth Bass season in Colorado?
Smallmouth Bass 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 Smallmouth Bass in Colorado?
Minimum size for Smallmouth Bass in Colorado is 15 inches long in Adams Co. Fairgrounds Lakes (Public Works & Mann-Nyholt Lakes), per CPW. Slot limits or maximum sizes may apply in some zones.
What is the daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Colorado?
Daily bag limit for Smallmouth Bass in Colorado is 1 fish in aggregate in Big Thompson Ponds, 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
Reference only. Regulations change frequently, often mid-season. Always verify with CPW before keeping a catch.