Gold Medal Waters

The state of Colorado has 9,000 miles of trout streams. The streams and rivers designated Gold Medal have a length of 322 miles. To qualify for Gold Medal Status, the water must produce twelve quality trout per acre that have a length of fourteen inches or grater. The section of water must be capable of producing 60 pounds of Standing Stock, those living organisms within the water which include plant life, micro invertebrates, and of course fish. The water to qualify must have public access.

Animas River(Durango)- elevation 6,458 feet

Gold Medal Water: 4 miles
Seasons: Spring to Fall
River: Large Freestone
Fish: Brown Trout, Cutbow Trout, Rainbow Trout, Snake River Cutthroat Trout
Access: Easy
Boating: na
Streamers
Additional Info: From the confluence of Hermosa Creek downstream to the confluence with Lightner Creek:
-There is no bag or possession limit for Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Bullhead, Yellow Perch, or Crappie
From the confluence of Lightner Creek to the Rivera Crossing Bridge:
-Fishing is with flies and lures only.
-Bag and possession limit is two fish with a minimum of 16 inches in length.
-N-There is no bag or possession limit for Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Bullhead, Yellow Perch, or Crappie

Blue River (Green Mountain Reservoir)- elevation 7,614 feet

Blue River Below Green Mountain Dam

Gold Medal Water: 34 miles
Seasons: Spring to Fall
River: Large Freestone

From the Green Mountain Reservoir Dam downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River. Highway 9 follows the Blue River down to it’s confluence with the Colorado.
Additional Info:
-Fishing is with flies and lures only.
-All trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catching.

Blue River Basin CPW Fishing Regulations
Blue River State Wildlife Area (Above the Reservoir)

Colorado River (Granby Dam to below Hot Sulphur Springs)- elevation 7,794 feet

Colorado River near Granby

Gold Medal Water

Seasons:  Spring to Fall
River: Medium Freestone
The Colorado River from Lake Grandby Dam downstream to the US 40 Bridge, approximately 3 miles west of the town of Hot Sulphur Springs.
Additional Info:
-The bag and possession limit is for two trout.

Colorado River (Troublesome Creek)-elevation 6,886 feet

Colorado River Middle Section

Gold Medal Water: 20 miles
Seasons: Year Round
River: Large Freestone

From the confluence with Troublesome Creek, going downstream to below Radium. This section excludes 50 yards upstream and downstream of the rivers confluences with Canyon, Grizzly and No Name Creeks.
Fish: Mountain Whitefish, Brook Trout, Brown Trout, Cutbow Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access: Easy
Boating: Non-motorized
Additional Info:
-The bag and possession is for 2 Trout.
-There is no bag or possession limit for Channel Catfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Green Sunfish, Bluegill, Bullhead, Yellow Perch or Crappie.

Upper Colorado River Drainage
(Lake Granby to Radium, including Blue River, Williams Fork River. Fraser River, Kinney Creek)
Middle Colorado and Eagle Rivers
(Radium to Glenwood Springs, including Eagle River, West Cross Creek, Cross Creek, Hat Creek, Nolan Creek, Brush Creek, Abrams Creek, Gypsum Creek, Meadow Creek, East Meadow Creek, Piney River)
Lower Colorado River Drainage
(Silt to State Line, including Lower Gunnison River, Beaver Creek, Trapper Creek, Northwater Creek, East Fork Parachute Creek)

Fryingpan River- elevation 6,992 feet

Fryingpan River just below Rudei Reservoir

Gold Medal Water: 14 miles
From Ruedi Dam going downstream to the confluence of the Roaring Fork River.
Seasons: Spring to Fall
River: Medium Freestone
Fish: Brown Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access: Easy
Boating: na
Additional Information:
-Fishing is only with flies and lures.
-All Trout (except Brown Trout) must be returned to the water immediately upon catching.
-The bag and possession limit is for 2 Brown Trout, with a maximum size of 14 inches.

Gore Creek- elevation 7,854 feet

Gore Creek

Gold Medal Water: 4 miles.
From the Confluence with Red Sandstone Creek going downstream to the confluence with the Eagle River.
Fish: Brown Trout
Access: Easy
Boating: na
Additional info: -Fishing with flies and lures only -The bag and possession limit is two fish with a minimum size of 16 inches.

Eagle River-
From the confluence of the East Fork and the South Fork of the Eagle River, going downstream to the I-70 Exit 147 bridge in the Town of Eagle.
Additional Info:
-The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.

Middle Colorado and Eagle Rivers

Roaring Fork River- elevation 6,438 feet

Roaring Fork River

Gold Medal Water: 22 Miles
From the upper Woody Creek Bridge, downstream to the confluence with the Colorado River; excluding 50 yards upstream and downstream from the confluences with Fourmile Creek and Threemile Creek

Additional info:
-Fishing with flies and lures only
-The bag and possession limit is two fish with a minimum size of 16 inches.

Middle Colorado and Roaring Fork Rivers
(Including: Lost Trail Creek, Nickelson Creek, Roaring Fork River, Rocky Fork Creek, Fryingpan River, Middle Colorado River Section-Glenwood Springs Area, Mitchell Creek)

Gunnison River (Crystal Reservoir)- elevation 6,756 feet

Gunnison River below Crystal Dam

Gold Medal Water: 27 miles
From 200 yards below Crystal Dam to the confluence with the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River.
Seasons: Spring to Fall
River: Large Freestone
Fish: Kokanee Salmon, Brown Trout, Lake Trout, Rainbow Trout
Access: Difficult
Boating: Non-power Boats
Additional Info: this stretch of the River is from the Crystal Reservoir dam downstream for 200 yards. -Fishing is with flies and lures only.
-All Rainbow Trout must be returned to the water upon catch.
-This is Gold Medal Water. -Snagging of Kokanee Salmon is permitted from September 1 through December 31.