Fishing Vallecito Lake
Kokanee salmon are the headliner and a twenty-pound northern pike is the trophy, across seven species and four seasons.
Start at the docks. In summer, kids can catch yellow perch right off the docks on a worm and a bobber — easy first fishing, no boat needed, and there's no bag limit on perch.
This week on the water
What's biting, where, and on what — updated weekly. We keep it on one page so it can never say two different things.
The bite changes fast — for the current word, ask at the marina or book a local guide.
Loading stocking info…
Today's best bite windows
A solunar forecast — the major and minor feeding periods predicted from the moon's position over Vallecito today. It's a fishing-activity model, not a guarantee: weather, water clarity, and the hatch matter at least as much. Computed from sun/moon math for the lake (37.34°, −107.56°) — no live data, no API.
Calculating today's windows…
Species & how to fish them
Seven gamefish in the reservoir, plus brook trout up the creeks. Tap a fish to jump to it, see the at-a-glance table, then the details.
| Species | Status | Best months |
|---|---|---|
| Kokanee Salmon | Stocked · the headliner | Jun–Aug troll; Nov 15–Dec 31 snag (Grimes Creek stretch) |
| Northern Pike | Self-sustaining · the trophy | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Rainbow Trout | Stocked · reliable | Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Brown Trout | Self-sustaining | Late Sep–Nov |
| Walleye | Self-sustaining · low-light | May–Jun, Sep–Oct |
| Smallmouth Bass | Self-sustaining | Jun–Aug |
| Yellow Perch | Panfish · unlimited | Best through the ice (Dec–Mar) |
Kokanee salmon
The headliner — landlocked sockeye, stocked annually by CPW. Troll from June through August (small dodgers/squids, downriggers or leaded line to find the temperature band); fish early, before the wind comes up around 2 p.m. The fall fishery is a snagging season, Nov 15 – Dec 31, and only in the Grimes Creek inlet stretch (see regs); bag limit 10. Honest note: kokanee numbers have had down years (local guides point to fish lost during the 2015 spillway releases), so a given season can run hot or thin — check the weekly report above, or ask at the marina or a guide for this year's outlook.
Northern pike
Self-sustaining and the trophy of the lake — 20-pound-plus fish live here. Best in the north end (weedy, shallower water) in late spring and again in early fall. No bag limit — CPW encourages harvest to protect native fish downstream, so keep what you'll eat. Big baits: spoons, large spinnerbaits, swimbaits.
Rainbow trout
Stocked annually and the most reliable catch for casual anglers. Best around ice-out and again in fall. Troll, bait-fish from shore, or cast spinners; bag limit 4 (trout).
Brown trout
Self-sustaining and wilier than the rainbows. Late September through November is prime as browns get aggressive ahead of their fall spawn. Streamers and larger lures near structure.
Walleye
Self-sustaining; a low-light, structure-oriented fish. Work 10–40 ft from a boat with bottom bouncers/worm harnesses or vertical jigs; dawn, dusk, and overcast days are best. Tough to target from shore. Bag limit 5.
Smallmouth bass
Self-sustaining; hold on rocky structure and around docks. June–July are the shallow months as the water warms; tubes, jigs, and crankbaits. No bag limit (CPW encourages harvest).
Yellow perch
A small, abundant panfish — mostly an ice-season target. Perch school over flats and basins; drop small jigs tipped with bait through the ice and stay mobile until you find the school. There's no bag limit, so they're a good keep-and-fry fish. In summer, kids can pick them up off the docks on a worm and bobber — easy first fishing.
Up the creeks: small brook trout are catchable in Vallecito Creek and the Pine River above the lake.
Fishing Vallecito Reservoir month-by-month
A rough rhythm of the season — mountain conditions vary year to year, so check live conditions and the weekly report before you go.
| Month | What's fishable | Tactic of the month | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Ice fishing (where ice is safe) | Jig for trout & perch through the ice | Mid-winter; no official ice reports — check locally before you walk out. |
| February | Ice fishing | Jigging; the local ice-fishing tournament is late Feb | Hard-water peak. |
| March | Late ice transition | Cautious ice jigging early in the month | Ice gets unreliable as it warms; ice-out approaches. |
| April | Pike, rainbow trout (ice-out) | Cast/troll the shallows as pike and trout move up | Ice-out begins; lake may be low and rising. |
| May | Pike, trout, early walleye | Shallow presentations; low-light for walleye | Runoff builds in the creeks; conditions change fast. |
| June | Kokanee (troll), smallmouth, trout | Start trolling for kokanee; fish at first light | Free Fishing Days (first full weekend); wind by ~2 p.m.; creeks high with runoff. |
| July | Kokanee, smallmouth, trout | Troll deeper as water warms; smallmouth on rock | Afternoon thunderstorms + wind — start at dawn; busiest month. |
| August | Kokanee, smallmouth, walleye | Low-light walleye; keep trolling kokanee | Warm; monsoon storms; early starts pay. |
| September | Browns, trout, pike — best all-around | Streamers for browns; cover water for pike | Grimes Creek inlet closes Sep 1 (through Nov 14); fewer crowds. |
| October | Browns, trout, pike | Fall feed — bigger lures | Cold nights, great color. |
| November | Kokanee snagging (from Nov 15) | Snag kokanee in the Grimes Creek stretch only | Grimes Creek closure ends Nov 14, snagging opens Nov 15; ice forms late. |
| December | Kokanee snagging (to Dec 31); early ice | Snagging in the stretch; first-ice jigging where safe | Cold; verify ice with locals. |
Shore vs. boat
From shore
Bank access is realistic around the public areas and the PRID public-ramp area; trout and pike are the most shore-friendly targets, while walleye are tough from shore (they hold deep). Watch the live lake level — when it drops, the shoreline and some access points shift. See the lake map for public access points.
From a boat
Rent a boat (fishing boats, pontoons) at the Vallecito Marina, or launch your own at the marina or the PRID public ramp (open May 1–Nov 1). You'll need a PRID permit and, for trailered/motorized boats, an ANS inspection — arrive clean, drained, and dry. Permit prices and buy links are in Licenses & permits below; the ramp + inspection walkthrough is on Launch Your Boat. And fish early: the afternoon wind on this lake is real and predictable.
Also worth a cast: Lemon Reservoir, about 10 miles away on the Florida River, is a smaller (~600-acre) non-motorized lake stocked with rainbow trout (plus brown trout and kokanee) — a quieter alternative when Vallecito is busy or windy, with Forest Service camping at Florida and Transfer Park. (Source: durango.org.)
Licenses & permits
Everything you need to fish, boat, and ride legally at Vallecito, with direct buy links. Always confirm current prices at the official portal before you buy. To keep figures consistent, this page is where we list prices in full; other pages link here.
Fishing — Colorado Parks & Wildlife
License year Mar 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027. Official portal: cpwshop.com.
| Permit | Who · price | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| Fishing license | Age 16+. Resident annual $44.87 (senior 64+ / youth 16–17 $12.96; 1-day $18.07). Nonresident annual $124.01 (5-day $41.04; 1-day $21.90). | Buy cpwshop.com · or the CPW Durango office (151 E 16th St) or any authorized agent |
| Second-rod stamp | $14.24 (optional — fish two rods) | Add with your license at cpwshop.com |
| Habitat Stamp | Ages 18–64: $12.76 (auto-added to your first license purchase) | Included at checkout |
Boating
| Permit | Who · price | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| ANS stamp aquatic nuisance species | Per motor/sail boat. Resident $25 (with registration); nonresident $50. Kayaks/SUPs exempt — but trailered craft are still inspected. | Buy cpwshop.com |
| PRID recreation permit per vehicle | Day $6 · annual $60. Receipt on the dash (day) or a mailed hang-tag (annual). | Day · Annual |
| PRID boat + rec combo | Day $12 · annual boat $60. For motorized/trailered boats; SUP/kayak need only the vehicle permit. | Combo day · Annual boat |
In person: PRID office (13029 CR 501, (970) 884-2558), Pine River Lodge, or Vallecito Marina. Public ramp open May 1–Nov 1.
Trail & OHV
| Permit | Who · price | Get it |
|---|---|---|
| OHV registration / permit | $26.25/yr (Apr 1–Mar 31), including street-legal rigs on designated OHV trails | Register cpwshop.com |
| Hunting | Varies by species & season | CPW licensing portal |
| Hiking / Wilderness | Free — no permit required. Just follow Wilderness rules. | — |
Sources: CPW fee tables + cpwshop.com; Pine River Irrigation District recreation-fee pages. Verified June 2026.
Regulations (2026)
Bag/possession limits and special-water rules below. Always confirm current limits with Colorado Parks & Wildlife before you fish.
| Trout (rainbow / brown) | Bag & possession limit 4 |
| Kokanee salmon | Bag & possession limit 10 |
| Walleye | Bag limit 5 (statewide default) |
| Northern pike | Unlimited — CPW encourages harvest (protects native fish downstream) |
| Smallmouth bass | Unlimited — CPW encourages harvest |
| Yellow perch | Unlimited |
| Grimes Creek inlet — fall closure | Fishing prohibited Sep 1 – Nov 14, in the Grimes Creek inlet area only (from the Bureau of Reclamation property boundary downstream to the reservoir's standing-water line) — not the whole lake. |
| Snagging (kokanee) | Allowed Nov 15 – Dec 31, in that same Grimes Creek inlet stretch only. |
| License season | Mar 1, 2026 – Mar 31, 2027 |
| Free Fishing Days | First full weekend of June (no license required those two days) |
Sources: Colorado Parks & Wildlife Chapter W-1 final fishing regulations and CPW eRegulations special-waters listings (Grimes Creek inlet closure Sep 1–Nov 14; snagging Nov 15–Dec 31; kokanee limit 10). Verified June 2026 — confirm before you fish.
Local guides
Hire local — they'll have this week's pattern dialed. Tap a guide for full contact details.
Fisher Guide Service
Trolling & spin for all species; winter ice fishing (970) 769-0669
Vallecito Lake Outfitters
Horseback, pack trips & guided fishing (970) 759-9135Go Fish Durango
Fly & pontoon trips around Durango & Vallecito gofishdurango.comLocal notes: fish early — the afternoon wind is predictable. Watch the lake level; when it drops, fish reposition and some ramps get tricky (the reservoir gives away nearly half its water most summers — the 85-year pattern ). During the fall run, know exactly where snagging is and isn't allowed (Grimes Creek inlet stretch only). New here? See the first-visit guide and the lake map.