It’s a fishing day

Dillon Reservoir fishing conditions · Colorado

Now until 6 pmKokanee salmon

The bite peaks at 82.

Log a trip here
Right now: 82 for kokanee salmon, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Kokanee salmon, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 822 pm
  2. 82
  3. 82
  4. 825 pm
  5. 60
  6. 58
  7. 588 pm
  8. 58
  9. 58
  10. 5811 pm
  11. 58Sun
  12. 60
  13. 602 am
  14. 60
  15. 60
  16. 605 am
  17. 60
  18. 60
  19. 588 am
  20. 58
  21. 58
  22. 6011 am
  23. 68
  24. 68
  25. 682 pm
  26. 68
  27. 68
  28. 605 pm
  29. 58
  30. 58
  31. 588 pm
  32. 58
  33. 58
  34. 5811 pm
  35. 58Mon
  36. 58
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Kokanee salmon range 45–59°

Wind
6 mph

From the north-northwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:56 pm

Sky
Sunny

No rain expected

Air
50°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Colorado non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Kokanee Salmon

Kokanee salmon

Oncorhynchus nerka

82Worth the tripNow until 6 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Kokanee salmon bite in 45–59° water, best near 53°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 20–120 ft down.

Keep

10 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 10 kokanee a day by angling, snagging or archery, no minimum. Snagging is legal only on listed waters and dates.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Year-round. More on kokanee salmon

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Rainbow trout is here May–Jun, Sep–Oct. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Colorado statewide: 4 trout a day in aggregate (brook, brown, cutbow, cutthroat, golden, lake, rainbow, splake, tiger), 8 in possession, no minimum length. Brook trout 8" or shorter are an extra 10 a day.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Colorado non-tidal

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Jun, Sep–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

47Sit it outNo window clears the bar

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Sharp 3-hour fall — fish feed hard ahead of a front. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Brown trout is here May–Oct. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

14" maximum · 4 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. Brown trout over 14" must be released; other trout follow the statewide limit.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · Dillon Reservoir

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: May–Oct, estimated from local air temperature, 2023–2025; there is no water gauge here. More on brown trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.37 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:56 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:40 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:30 pm–4:30 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 5:50 am–6:50 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Colorado Parks & Wildlife has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: state fishery agencies · fish-consumption advisory

About this spot

A 3,200-acre high-country reservoir at 9,000 ft in Summit County, ringed by Frisco, Dillon, and Silverthorne. Stocked heavily with rainbow trout; also holds brown trout, kokanee salmon, and arctic char.

Nearby

Public spots within 40 miles, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Lake Granby40 mi · ColoradoBest now until 6 pm
74Worth the trip

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at Dillon Reservoir?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at Dillon Reservoir you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at Dillon Reservoir?

Dillon Reservoir is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Kokanee Salmon, Brown Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at Dillon Reservoir?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at Dillon Reservoir against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does Dillon Reservoir have?

Dillon Reservoir has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at Dillon Reservoir?

state agency regulations apply at Dillon Reservoir. Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is Dillon Reservoir tidal water?

No. Dillon Reservoir is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.