Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park

Fishing report
from Kirks Flyshop.

by Jesse Speer

by Jesse Speer

by Jesse Speer

Rocky Mountain National Park is a protected area where fishing activities are balanced with efforts to restore and perpetuate natural aquatic environments and life.

Fishing was popular with early settlers in the Rocky Mountains. In an attempt to improve the sport, they stocked many streams with non-native species of trout and moved trout to lakes and streams that lacked them. The National Park Service stocked non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout as late as 1968. The only trout native to the park were the greenback cutthroat and the Colorado River cutthroat.

These efforts to enhance recreational opportunities in National Park areas have been reconsidered. Since 1975, exotic or non-native fish have been removed and native greenback cutthroat and Colorado River cutthroat trout are being restored to 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 to altered waters. Fishing success at high altitudes varies, even from waters known to contain fish. Restoration efforts have kept the possession limits to a minimum, and have resulted in increased trout populations in many areas within the park.

Licenses & Fees

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

• Park 2007 Fishing Information & Regulations
• Park Aquatic Disinfection Guidelines
• Colorado License Fee

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 Possession Limit: 18 Fish

Species:
Rainbow, Brown, Colorado River cutthroat,
Non-native cutthroat
Possesions Limit (Daily): 2
Length: 10" or more

Species:
Greenback cutthroat trout
Possesions Limit (Daily): 0 (catch-and-release)

Species:
Brook trout
Possesions Limit (Daily): 6 (or 8 if no other species are possessed)
Length: any size
Additional Brook trout bonus: 10 of 8" or less

Open Lakes

• 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

Closed Waters

• Bear Lake, inlet and outlet streams, as posted
• Bench Lake and Ptarmigan Creek above War Dance Falls
• Columbine Creek above 9,000 feet
• Hidden Valley Beaver Ponds (closed April 1 - July 31)
• Hidden Valley Creek east of the Beaver Ponds (closed April - July 31)
• Hunters Creek above Wild Basin Ranger Station, as posted
• Lake Nanita Outlet downstream 100 yards
• South Fork Poudre River above Pingree Park
• West Creek above West Creek Falls

Catch-and-Release Areas

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. The only exceptions are in Hidden Valley Creek/Beaver Ponds and Ouzel Creek where the regular limit of brook trout may be kept. 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*
• Fern Lake and Creek*
• Fifth Lake**
• Hidden Valley Beaver Ponds and Hidden Valley Creek (open 8/1 - 3/31)*
• Lake Husted*
• Lake Louise*
• Lawn Lake*
• Lily Lake*
• Loomis Lake*
• Lost Lake*
• Lower Hutcheson Lake*
• Mid-Hutcheson Lake*
• North Fork of the Big Thompson above Lost Falls*
• Odessa Lake*
• Ouzel Lake and Creek*
• Paradise Creek drainage**
• Pear Lake and Creek*
• Roaring River*
• Sandbeach Lake and Creek*
• Spruce Lake*
• Timber Lake and Creek**
• Upper Hutcheson Lake*

*Greenback Cutthroat Trout
**Colorado River Cutthroat
Please consult a ranger for more information regarding fishing in the park. Local angling shops are excellent sources of advice and recommended flies.

The preceding information and illustrations orginally appear in the National Park Service "Fishing in Rocky Mountain National Park" brochure available at any ranger station.

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