Colorado anglers have access to over 35 species of fish across 6,000 miles of streams and 1,300 lakes and reservoirs. As an industry, angling contributes $2.4 billion to Colorado’s economy each year, a 2018 state analysis shows.

But for Colorado Parks and Wildlife, preserving angler access to Colorado’s streams and lakes while promoting the health of its fish requires a delicate dance.

Last week, the agency’s commission conducted its annual review of fishing regulations. In total, 11 regulatory changes were approved for areas across the northwest, northeast and southwest corners of the state.

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“When we fish, we don’t realize how much goes into preserving our waters and preserving our species so that it can be enjoyed by everyone,” said Murphy Robinson, the sportsperson representative on the Parks and Wildlife Commission, during a meeting Aug. 22.

The approved changes seek to help conserve threatened species, protect fish during reproduction, increase access for anglers, and protect and encourage biodiversity in waterways.

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The updates made in Western Colorado’s tributaries, lakes and streams are summarized below. All changes will go into effect Oct. 1.

Increasing angling opportunities in Gunnison

Since 2001, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has had a fishing closure on the East River north of Gunnison. Implemented from Aug. 1 to Oct. 31, the closure is meant to protect kokanee salmon as they migrate to the Roaring Judy State Fish Hatchery. Fishing activities during the salmon migration increased mortality and reduced egg quality.

The changes will shorten this closure, delaying the start to Aug. 15. According to the report, the salmon don’t typically migrate in early August, so angling can occur in the first two weeks without affecting them. 

Adding a seasonal closure on Fish Creek in Steamboat

Mountain whitefish are one of only two native sport fish that can be found in northwest Colorado, and they can only be found in the Yampa and White River drainages. The species predominantly reproduce within the Fish Creek tributary of the Yampa, according to Parks and Wildlife.

To protect the mountain whitefish and their breeding ground — particularly amid “dramatic declines” in their native population — the wildlife agency and the city of Steamboat Springs have attempted voluntary fishing closures on Fish Creek.

The voluntary closures, however, have been ineffective, so the commission moved to make the closure mandatory from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. The closure impacts Fish Creek from where it connects with the Yampa River upstream for 0.4 miles. The closure will also affect the Yampa River upstream 100 feet and downstream 200 feet from where it connects to Fish Creek.

Removing restrictions on the Fryingpan River

A change approved on the Fryingpan River seeks to restore biodiversity to the waterway.

Over the last decade, a significant growth in the number of brown trout has begun to impact other species in the Fryingpan. According to the Parks and Wildlife report, the growing numbers of brown trout have been linked with stunted growth in all trout as well as decreased biodiversity, including a reduction in the number of rainbow trout.

Before the rule change, anglers in this river could not take home more than two brown trout, neither of which could be longer than 14 inches. The rule change will eliminate these requirements, making it open season on the species.

Finding a balance at Lake Granby

Changes in Lake Granby were approved to restore the predator-prey balance at the popular angling destination. The new regulations add protections for kokanee salmon and remove limits for lake trout.

Lake Granby has the largest population and highest density of lake trout in the state, Parks and Wildlife reports. However, their success in the lake has led to over-predation, impacting other prey species including the kokanee salmon. With the changes, anglers can now take home 12 fish, up from four. Only one of these can exceed 24 inches in length.

On the other hand, kokanee salmon have been diminishing. To help restore the species, a four-fish limit on kokanee salmon and all trout (that aren’t lake trout) was extended to be year-round. Previously, the limits were only in effect between January and August.

Protecting cutthroat trout in the southwest

The Rio Grande cutthroat trout is one of 55 species in Colorado with the greatest conservation needs, according to Parks and Wildlife. It could also be added to the federal Endangered Species Act this year.

To give the species time to become self-sustaining in the southwest where they are being stocked, the agency added regulations to several waterways.

The changes apply to Upper Sand Creek Lake, Lower Sand Creek Lake, Little Sand
Creek Lake, Sand Creek, Little Sand Creek, Jones Creek, McKenney Creek, Smith Creek, Cold Creek, Rito Hondo Reservoir, and Rito Hondo Creek.

Under the changes, anglers can only use artificial flies and lures, and all trout must be returned immediately after being caught.

Fixing regulations in Pitkin County’s Rocky Fork Creek

Previously, Colorado Parks and Wildlife believed that the Rocky Fork Creek in Pitkin County was home to native Colorado cutthroat trout species. However, genetic testing in 2008 identified the species were the non-native Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

Given this, previous catch-and-release and lure requirements are no longer needed. The agency’s report adds that the stream’s remote geographic location means that lifting the restrictions is unlikely to affect the fish negatively.

Reducing confusion for anglers in Wolf Creek

To protect native cutthroat trout — which were restocked in Wolf Creek and the south fork of Wolf Creek in 2018 and 2023 — Parks and Wildlife added lure and catch-and-release requirements to the south fork of Wolf Creek.

The approved changes will extend the south fork requirements to a greater portion of Wolf Creek to ensure the protection of the species and reduce confusion for anglers about where the restrictions exist.

Now the requirements will cover all of Wolf Creek from its headwaters, downstream to U.S. Forest Road 725. The changes also extended the regulations to “all trout” versus “all cutthroat trout” in Wolf Creek and the south fork.