Colorado Fishing Reports ยท Lakes ยท San Juan & Dolores Basin
Vallecito Reservoir sits northeast of Bayfield in the San Juan Mountains, with rainbows, browns, kokanee and pike.
Looking for the latest Vallecito Reservoir fishing report? This page is updated by the AvidMax fly shop team with current conditions, wind, stocking news and the flies working now at Vallecito Reservoir.
Water level
Heads up: Major flooding hit southwest Colorado on November 1 and 2. Expect muddy water and check road conditions before you drive.
Wind forecast
Vallecito Reservoir fishing report
Updated November 7, 2026.
The November 1 and 2 storms sent big, muddy inflows into this reservoir. Releases below the dam are very high, and the lake is full of debris and muddy water.
Give it time to settle. Roads in the area may also be damaged.
Stocking report
Recent trout stocking from Colorado Parks and Wildlife's weekly report.
Load your fly box
Before you head to Vallecito Reservoir, bring: Woolly Bugger #6-10, Clouser Minnow #2-4, Balanced Leech #10, Chironomid #14-16, Balanced Bou Leech #10-12, Slump Buster #6-8, Egg #12-14, Scud Bomb #12-16, Pitching Leech #10.
Flies working right now
The flies above that we have in stock right now.
Vallecito Reservoir lake details
| Access | Day-use areas and marinas around the lake, off County Road 501. |
|---|---|
| Elevation | About 7,650 ft |
| Drive from AvidMax | About 335 miles, roughly 7 hours 27 minutes from our Centennial shop |
| Best season | Spring through fall |
| Fish | Rainbows, browns, kokanee and northern pike |
| Regulations | Check Colorado Parks and Wildlife for the current rules. A Colorado fishing license is required. |
| Leaders and tippet | 9 ft leaders, 3X to 4X tippet |
| Ice fishing | Ice fishing in winter. Never go out on less than 4 inches of clear ice. |
| Camping | Several national forest campgrounds (seasonal) |
| Kids | Yes when conditions return to normal. |
| Good to know | Check road conditions after the floods. |
Fishing by season
Winter
Ice fishing.
Spring
Pike and trout at ice-off.
Summer
Kokanee and trout.
Fall
Pike and trout before ice.
How to get there
Take US-160 to Bayfield, then County Road 501 north to Vallecito.