State fishing regulations expected to be adopted

State fishing regulations expected to be adopted

Nov. 16, 2000

BY THE COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE

DENVER — The Colorado Wildlife Commission will consider adopting new fishing regulations for 2001-05 during its upcoming meeting this month. Colorado anglers will see small, yet important changes in the regulations, including a proposal to set a new statewide daily bag limit for trout and kokanee salmon.

The commission will meet today and Friday, Nov. 16-17, at the Hunter Education Building at 6060 Broadway in Denver. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m. The new regulations would take effect Jan.1, 2001.

One of the most significant proposed changes is to decrease the statewide daily bag limits of coldwater fish, mostly trout, from eight to four for lakes and streams. A multiday possession of eight fish would be allowed. Other coldwater fish affected by this proposed change include splake, salmon (except kokanee), grayling and char. A reduction in trout stocking has taken place as a result of the Division of Wildlife’s effort to clear hatcheries of whirling disease. In some streams natural reproduction has been reduced as a result of whirling disease. These two factors weighed heavily in the division’s decision to set tighter limits.

In recent years, bag limits for coldwater fish was eight in most waters east of the Continental Divide. In streams and rivers west of the divide, the limit was two, and in lakes and ponds it was four.

Another proposed change in bag limits includes the reduction from a 40- to 10-fish bag limit for kokanee salmon in most waters. Kokanee have lost some of its spawning population out of Granby Reservoir. Division officials say the limits reflect the overall shortage of kokanee for spawn-taking and an effort to spread harvest across more anglers.

Other highlights of the proposed regulation changes include those in Granby Reservoir:

-- Bag and possession limit for lake trout (mackinaw) is two fish, only one greater than 20 inches in length. Under recent regulations, the limit was four.

--From Jan. 1-Aug. 31, the daily bag limit for trout and kokanee, except lake trout, is four fish in the aggregate.

--From Sept. 1-Dec. 31, the daily bag limit is four trout, except lake trout and 10 kokanee.

The intent of the new regulation is to help promote larger kokanee populations in Granby and increase the size of the spawning run, while maintaining trophy-size lake trout.

Here are some other special regulation highlights being proposed:

--In an effort to improve the quality of fishing by increasing the size and or numbers of trout available for harvest or catching, DOW officials are proposing additional special regulations. A two-and-a-half mile section below the Elevenmile dam would change to catch-and-release. Biologists are hoping that the larger fish will move downstream into the standard regulation section. The division will begin to stock hatchery-reared fish below the catch and release area in 2001. This area will be open to bait fishing.

--A proposal to reinstate special regulations (two fish limits) on selected waters on the West Slope, if the statewide bag limit change is approved. The following waterways are a highlight of what would fall under the special regulations: Blue River, parts of the Colorado River, Eagle River, Fraser River, Gore Creek in Summit County, Roaring Fork River and Yampa River.

--A proposal for spawning closure for Brown Trout in one portion of the Tomahawk Wildlife Area near Fairplay. DOW biologists want to select a two-to three-mile section of the stream and close it to angling from Sept. 1, 2001-Jan. 31, 2002. Biologists want to study the section to find out if angling pressure and hooking stress on Brown Trout have any influence on overall spawning success and young browns. It would be a three-year evaluation.

--A proposal to change the daily bag limit of Northern Pike to one fish, over 34 inches on a lake by lake basis – not a statewide limit.

--A public proposal initiated by a sportsmen’s group to change the statewide daily bag limit of Tiger Muskie to one fish over 36 inches. Division officials have not made a recommendation on this particular proposal.

--A proposal to allow youth ages 15-and-under to fish with bait in statewide fly and lure areas.

While not related to a regulation change, the DOW will begin to resume limited stream stocking with hatchery-reared fish in 2001. Streams stocked will be those that have reduced natural reproduction and are readily available to youth and other anglers.