Type: River
County: Pitkin County, Eagle County
Near: Basalt, CO
Rainbow TroutBrown Trout
TrophyParking
View stocking schedule →Fish stocking schedule
Colorado fish stocking schedule 2026.
- Year-Round
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado operates one of the most diverse stocking programs in the West — high-elevation lake stocking by aircraft, native cutthroat restoration, kokanee salmon, tiger muskie, and rainbow trout in lowland reservoirs.
Official source
Colorado Parks and Wildlife Stocking Report
Colorado Parks and Wildlife publishes the authoritative Colorado stocking schedule — Weekly updates in Searchable database format. For this week's actual stocking locations, dates, and volumes, view the official report directly.
This page summarizes the Colorado stocking program for planning purposes. The agency report is the authoritative source — verify before any trip.
Primary stocked species
In Colorado.
Typical stocking pattern by species. Heavy fill marks primary stocking months; moderate fill marks possible stocking. Verify exact dates against the official report.
- Rainbow TroutOncorhynchus mykissTypical size: 9–12 inch catchable; some trophy fish 16+ inches
- Brown TroutSalmo truttaTypical size: 9–14 inch catchable; trophy fish 18–24 inches
- Brook TroutSalvelinus fontinalisTypical size: 8–11 inch catchable
- Kokanee SalmonOncorhynchus nerkaTypical size: 2–3 inch fingerling
- Tiger MuskieEsox masquinongy × Esox luciusTypical size: 8–10 inch fingerling
- Hybrid Striped BassMorone saxatilis × M. chrysopsTypical size: 1–2 inch fingerling
Top stocked waterbodies
In Colorado.
Frying Pan RiverStocking Now South Platte River (Cheesman Canyon)Stocking Now Type: RiverCounty: Jefferson County, Park CountyNear: Deckers, CORainbow TroutTrophyParkingView stocking schedule →Big Thompson RiverStocking Now Type: RiverCounty: Larimer CountyNear: Estes Park, CORainbow TroutStandardParkingView stocking schedule →
Colorado counties with stocked waters
Notable Colorado programs
- High Mountain Lake Aerial Stocking
- Cutthroat Trout Restoration (Greenback, Colorado River)
- Tiger Muskie Predator Stocking
- Kokanee Salmon Reservoir Program
State hatchery system
Colorado operates 19 state-run fish hatcheries supporting the stocking program.
Colorado urban fishing program
Colorado maintains a designated urban fishing program — typically frequent stockings of catfish, trout, and panfish in city ponds and lakes. These programs are designed to make fishing accessible to families and first-time anglers.
Colorado urban fishing program details →Weekly stocking alerts for Colorado.
Bield Fish reads Colorado Parks and Wildlife's stocking reports and alerts you when your saved waters are stocked. Set your county once and you'll know the day fish hit your home river.
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