The Colorado Hunting and Fishing Guide: Discover a Sportsman's Paradise
For many, Colorado is defined entirely by its powder-capped ski slopes. But for the hunting and fishing sportsman, the true magic of the Centennial State lies in its wild, untamed spaces.
From the sprawling, short-grass prairies of the Eastern Plains to the lung-busting, 14,000-foot peaks of the Rocky Mountains, Colorado offers a diverse sporting landscape that is practically unmatched in North America. Whether you are casting a dry fly into a rushing freestone mountain stream, drilling through the ice on a high-alpine reservoir, or listening for the haunting bugle of a bull elk breaking through the crisp autumn air, this is where outdoor dreams are realized.
Finding Your Hunting and Fishing Getaway
Navigating a state with over 23 million acres of public land can feel overwhelming—especially if you are visiting from out of state and trying to decipher complex licensing rules and rugged geography.
That is exactly why we created this guide for ColoradoInfo.com. Whether you are planning a DIY backcountry elk hunt, looking to hire a local guide to put you on trophy trout, or just want to introduce your kids to catching panfish on a family vacation, we will walk you through the essentials. You will find out what is in season, which regions hold the best opportunities, and how to navigate the rules so your trip is memorable, ethical, and entirely legal.
Important First Step: Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). Before you book a cabin, hire an outfitter, or pack your gear, make the Colorado Parks and Wildlife website your first stop. CPW is the official governing body for all hunting and fishing in the state. Regulations, license fees, and specific season dates change annually. You must use their site to purchase your required licenses, review the most up-to-date hunting and fishing brochures, and check for any emergency closures or restrictions.
II. Fishing in Colorado: From High Alpine to Gold Medal Waters
Colorado offers an unrivaled diversity of fishing. Whether you want to quietly stalk rising trout in a canyon river, troll deep water for massive lake trout, or sit on a frozen reservoir pulling yellow perch through the ice, the state’s 6,000 miles of streams and over 1,300 lakes deliver.
Here is how the fishing landscape breaks down.
Fly Fishing & The "Gold Medal" Standard
Fly fishing is deeply woven into Colorado's outdoor culture. While you can catch trout almost anywhere in the mountains, serious anglers flock to the state's Gold Medal Waters.
Managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), this designation is given only to waters that can consistently support a minimum of 60 pounds of trout per acre, and at least 12 trout measuring 14 inches or longer per acre. Out of thousands of miles of streams, only about 322 miles hold this title. Because they are highly protected, expect strict catch-and-release rules and regulations requiring artificial flies/lures only.
Top Gold Medal Rivers to Target:
- The Fryingpan River (Basalt): A world-famous tailwater below Ruedi Reservoir. It offers incredibly technical sight-fishing for massive rainbow and brown trout that fatten up on Mysis shrimp flushed from the dam.
- The South Platte River "Dream Stream" (South Park): A legendary 3-mile meadow stretch connecting Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile Reservoirs. It acts as a massive spawning run—rainbows in the spring, browns and Kokanee salmon in the fall. Bring your windbreaker.
- The Arkansas River (Leadville to Cañon City): With over 100 miles of designated Gold Medal water, it is the longest stretch in the state. Expect aggressive, fast-water freestone fishing where trout smash large dry flies like foam hoppers in mid-summer.
Lake & Reservoir Fishing
If rivers aren't your speed, Colorado’s sprawling reservoirs offer fantastic boating, shore-fishing, and access to species you won't find in the high-alpine creeks.
Deep Water Giants in the Mountains:
- Blue Mesa Reservoir: Located west of Gunnison, this is Colorado’s largest lake. It is the premier destination for deep-water trolling, famous for producing trophy-sized Lake Trout (Mackinaw) and healthy populations of Kokanee salmon.
- Lake Granby: Near Rocky Mountain National Park, this massive, 7,200-acre reservoir is another hotspot for huge lake trout and brown trout.
Front Range & Warm-Water Fishing:
- Chatfield & Cherry Creek Reservoirs (Denver Area): You don't have to leave the city to find great fishing. Both of these massive state parks are managed heavily for warm-water species. In the summer, they are top destinations for walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and yellow perch.
- Adobe Creek Reservoir (Eastern Plains): Sometimes called "Blue Lake," this warm-water irrigation reservoir sits south of Eads. It is far off the tourist path but boasts some of the best fishing in the state for crappie, catfish, wiper, and saugeye.
Ice Fishing: A Winter Staple
When the temperatures plummet, Colorado's fishing doesn't stop—it just moves onto the ice. Ice fishing is a massive winter tourism draw, offering a completely different way to experience the state's lakes.
Where to Drill:
- Antero & Eleven Mile Reservoirs (South Park): These high-altitude, relatively shallow reservoirs freeze solid early in the season. They are famous for producing incredibly thick, football-shaped trout.
- Grand Lake & Lake Granby: Ice anglers target the deep drops here to jig up massive lake trout all winter long.
Ice Safety Rule of Thumb: Always drill test holes as you walk out. You need a minimum of 4 inches of clear, solid ice to safely support an angler on foot, and ice thickness can vary wildly on the same lake.
Elk Hunting 101: Understanding Colorado’s Tag System
Colorado boasts the largest elk herd in the world, making it a bucket-list destination for hunters across the country. But before you can pack your gear and hit the mountains, you need to navigate how to legally get a tag.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) manages elk hunting through two primary systems: Over-The-Counter (OTC) and the Limited Draw. Here is what every beginner—especially out-of-state visitors—needs to know.
Over-The-Counter (OTC) Licenses: The Easiest Way to Hunt
As the name implies, OTC tags do not require you to enter a lottery. You simply buy the license online or at an authorized retailer (like a sporting goods store) and go hunting. They are unlimited in quantity, making them the perfect option if you want guaranteed hunting plans.
However, OTC tags come with strict limitations on when and where you can hunt:
- Rifle Only (For Non-Residents): Due to recent changes in CPW regulations, OTC archery elk tags are no longer available for non-residents. If you are visiting from out of state and want to bowhunt, you must enter the limited draw.
- Specific Seasons: OTC tags are only valid during the 2nd and 3rd Rifle Seasons (typically late October through mid-November).
- Bulls Only: Most OTC tags are for antlered elk (bulls) only, and many units have antler-point restrictions (e.g., a bull must have at least four points on one antler).
- Specific Units: You can only hunt in designated OTC Game Management Units (GMUs). While many units in the central and western mountains allow OTC hunting, the highly coveted, trophy-managed units do not.
When to buy: OTC licenses usually go on sale in early August and remain available through the season.
The Limited Draw: Accessing Prime Seasons and Units
If you want to hunt during the 1st or 4th Rifle seasons, hunt with a Muzzleloader, hunt cow elk (antlerless), or bowhunt as a non-resident, you must apply through the Limited Draw.
The draw operates on a Preference Point system. When you apply for a highly sought-after hunt code and are not selected, you are awarded a preference point for that species. The following year, your accumulated points put you higher in line.
- Zero-Point Hunts: You don't always need a mountain of points to draw! Many cow elk tags and 1st Rifle bull tags in standard units can be drawn with zero or one preference point.
- Trophy Units: Legendary units (like the northwest corner's GMUs 2, 10, or 201) can take well over 20 years of applying to finally draw a tag.
How to Apply for the Limited Draw
If you decide the draw is your best route, missing a deadline means you aren't hunting. Here is how the process works for a typical hunting year.
- Check Your Hunter Education: Required for anyone born on or after Jan 1, 1949.
You must have a valid hunter education card to buy any Colorado hunting license. CPW accepts hunter ed cards from all other states. Ensure your number is verified in the CPW system before applying. - Buy a Qualifying License & Habitat Stamp: Must be done before submitting an application.
To participate in the big game draw, you must first purchase a qualifying license for the current year (a non-resident Annual Small Game license is the most common choice). You are also required to buy a $12.76 Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp. - Submit Your Draw Application: The deadline is always early April.
Applications open in early March and close in early April (usually around April 7th). You can select up to four hunt choices on your application. Your preference points are only used if you draw your first choice. - Check the Results: Late May.
CPW typically posts the draw results online in late May. If you are successful, your card will be charged for the elk tag. If you are unsuccessful for your first choice, you will automatically be awarded a preference point for next year.
The Smart Strategy: Many non-resident hunters establish a routine: they apply for a preference point in the spring draw to build toward a premium hunt, then buy an OTC tag in August so they can still travel to Colorado and hunt every year.
