FISHING

Sport fishing is permitted in Rocky Mountain National Park, a protected area. Fishing activities are balanced with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic environments and life.

Fishing was popular with early settlers and visitors in the Rocky Mountains. In an attempt to improve the sport, many streams and lakes were stocked with non-native species of trout. Waters with no sport fish were also stocked. The National Park Service stocked non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout as late as 1969. The only trout native to the park are the greenback cutthroat and the Colorado River cutthroat.

These efforts to enhance recreational opportunities in National Park areas were reconsidered in the 1970's. Since 1975, native greenback cutthroat and Colorado River cutthroat trout are being restored to park waters and exotic or non-native fish are being removed.

Disinfecting Your Equipment

Park fish are vulnerable to several invasive organisms that can be carried on waders and other gear. Please read and follow these guidelines to disinfect your gear before entering park waters.

Today's Fisheries:

Populations of at least four species of trout exist in the park: brown, brook, rainbow, and cutthroat. Some suckers also inhabit the streams and lakes. Only 48 of the 156 lakes in the park have reproducing populations of fish. Cold water temperatures and lack of spawning habitat prevent reproduction in high altitude lakes. Supplemental stocking is done only to restore native species. Fishing success at high altitudes varies, even in waters known to contain fish. Restoration of native species requires that the possession limits be managed carefully. See POSSESSION LIMIT for specific regulations. You must be able to identify each species of fish taken.

Licenses & Fees:

A valid Colorado fishing license is required for all persons 16 years of age or older to fish in Rocky Mountain National Park. No other permit is necessary; however, special regulations exist. It is your responsibility to know and obey them.

To obtain current Colorado fishing license fees visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife web site.

Method of Capture:

Each person shall use only one hand-held rod or line. Only artificial lures or flies with one (single, double, or treble) hook with a common shank may be used. "Artificial flies or lures" means devices made entirely of, or a combination of materials such as wood, plastic, glass, hair, metal, feathers, or fiber, designed to attract fish. This does not include: (a) any hand moldable material designed to attract fish by the sense of taste or smell; (b) those devices less than one and one-half inch in length to which scents or smell attractants have been externally applied; (c) molded plastic devices less than one and one-half inch in length; (d) foods; (e) traditional organic baits such as worms, grubs, crickets, leeches, minnows, and fish eggs; and (f) manufactured baits such as imitation fish eggs, dough baits, or stink baits.

When in possession of any fishing equipment, the possession of bait for fishing, including worms, insects, fish eggs, minnows, or other organic matter is prohibited with the following exception: children 12 years of age or under may use worms or preserved fish eggs in open park waters. No bait is allowed in catch-and-release waters.

Possession Limit:

This is general information only. A complete listing of regulations is available at park visitor centers and ranger stations. Possession Limit means the numbers, sizes, or species of fish, fresh or preserved, a person may have. These provisions have parkwide application and are detailed below.

Maximum Daily Bag Limit: 4 fish
Possession Limit: 8 fish, 6 must be brook Trout

Species	Possession Limit (Daily)	Species
Rainbow, Brown, Colorado River Cutthroat, Non-native Cutthroat	2	10" or more
Greenback Cutthroat Trout	0	(Catch-and-Release-ONLY)
Brook Trout	6 (8 if no other species are possessed)	any size
Additional Brook Trout Bonus	10	Under 8"

Closed Waters: (no fishing allowed)

Bear Lake, inlet and outlet streams, extending 200 yards downstream Bench Lake and Ptarmigan Creek above War Dance Falls Hunters Creek above Wild Basin Ranger Station, as posted

Lake Nanita Outlet downstream 100 yards South Fork Poudre River above Pingree Park Upper Columbine Creek above 9,000 feet

Open Lakes: (known to contain fish populations)
This is not a complete listing of all the fishable waters in the park.

Arrowhead Lake Black Lake Box Lake Caddis Lake Fourth Lake Haynach Lake Jewel Lake Lake Haiyaha Lake Nanita (outlet closed)

Lake of Glass Lake Verna Little Rock Lake Loch Vale Lone Pine Lake Mills Lake Mirror Lake Peacock Pool Pettingell Lake

Poudre Lake Rock Lake Sky Pond Solitude Lake Spirit Lake Sprague Lake Ten Lakes Park Lakes Thunder Lake Ypsilon Lake

Catch-and-Release:

Certain waters in the park with restored native fish populations are open year round during daylight hours, except as indicated. Use barbless hooks only. Any and all fish species taken must be immediately returned to the water unharmed. No bait is permitted by any age angler in catch-and-release areas.

The following waters are open for catch-and-release fishing:

Adams Lake** Big Crystal Lake* Cony Creek* (above Calypso Cascades) Dream Lake Fern Lake and Creek* Fifth Lake** Hidden Valley Beaver Ponds and Hidden Valley Creek, open only as posted Hutcheson Lakes Lake Husted* Lake Louise* Lawn Lake* Lily Lake* (south, west and north shores) Loomis Lake*

Lost Lake* (brook trout may be kept) North Fork of the Big Thompson above Lost Falls* (brook trout may be kept) Odessa Lake* Ouzel Creek* (above falls; brook trout may be kept) Ouzel Lake* (brook trout may be kept) Paradise Creek drainage** Pear Lake and Creek* Roaring River* Sandbeach Lake and Creek* Spruce Lake* Timber Lake and Creek** West Creek

Due to the dynamic nature of fisheries management, fishing regulations could change at anytime. Special closures may be put in place above an beyond what is listed here. Please contact the park before your fishing trip for current information.