Colorado Fishing Brochure 2012 : Page 42012 Colorado Fishing REFERENCE REFERENCE FISHERY PROGRAMS STREAM SURVEYS HELP BIOLOGISTS MANAGE FISHING WILD TROUT & GOLD MEDAL WATERS POLICY www.wildlife.state.co. us/ParksWildlifeCommission/ Policies/Pages/Policies.aspx MASTER ANGLER PROGRAM The CPW Master Angler Award Program recog-nizes anglers who catch fish of trophy size and promote conservation. There are two categories: fish that are kept and fish re-leased. Awards are based on fish length, so fish can be measured and released. Anglers who catch a fish of qualifying length receive a Master Angler certificate and patch. Those who achieve record status also receive a matching lapel pin. Anglers can win multiple certifi-cates but only one patch per year. Only fish caught in Colorado are eligible. Entrants must have hooked, played, landed or released the fish. Snagged fish are ineligi-ble. Fish length is measured from the jaw tip to tail tip. Entries must be submitted within 60 days of catch. A clear, side-view photograph of the fish must accompany entries with one witness verification. Two witnesses are required for entries without photos. For an entry form, contact the Master Angler Award Program, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 6060 Broadway, Denver, CO 80216, or go to www.wildlife.state.co.us/ Fishing/AwardsRecords/Master Anglers/Pages/MasterAnglers. aspx . GOLD MEDAL WATERS Gold Medal Waters are the highest quality cold-water habitats and have the capability to produce many quality size (14 inches or longer) trout. CPW has established criteria and management guide-lines to support the public interest in angling, observ-ing and protecting these significant cold-water fishery resources. Gold Medal Waters are defined as any river or lake which is producing a standing stock of at least 60 pounds per acre, and at least 12 trout that are 14 inches or longer per acre on a sustained basis. River segments designated as Gold Medal Trout Wa-ters must be a minimum of 2 miles in length and lakes must be a minimum of 50 acres. The following lakes and streams in Colorado offer the greatest potential for trophy trout fishing: Photo © CPW Colorado Parks and Wildlife is the state agency responsible for fisher-ies management of public waters in Colorado. The primary tool that guides fish management is the lake and stream survey. These surveys periodically monitor fish populations. During the process, fish are col-lected using a variety of gear and the necessary biological data is recorded. This gauges the entire fish community rather than a single species. The collected data is used to track fish population trends, evaluate the effectiveness of manage-ment actions such as More about stocking and how fishery regulations, biologists and estab-sample fish: lish realistic management www.wildlife.state. goals for a co.us/Fishing/Reports/ given lake or Managementand stream. Surveys/Pages/Fishery The fisher-WaterSummaries.aspx ies section of CPW con-ducts hun-Fishery data for dreds of lake some of your favorite and stream Colorado waters: surveys each www.wildlife.state. year. co.us/Fishing/Reports/ High-Fishery SurveySummaries priority and brood waters /Pages/FisherySurvey such as Chat-Summaries.aspx field, Pueblo and Horse-tooth reservoirs and the Gunnison River are surveyed annually. Smaller, more remote, or lightly used lakes or streams may only be surveyed once every 5-10 years. Most of the survey fieldwork takes place from early June through late September; however, many areas also conduct more specialized sampling beginning right after ice-out and again in the fall prior to freeze-up. 4 GOLD MEDAL STREAMS ANIMAS RIVER: From Lightner Creek to Rivera Crossing bridge BLUE RIVER: From Dillon Reservoir dam to Green Mountain Reservoir inlet; also from Green Mountain Reservoir dam to Colorado River COLORADO RIVER: From Fraser River to Troublesome Creek FRYINGPAN RIVER: From Ruedi Reservoir dam to the Roaring Fork River GORE CREEK: From Red Sandstone Creek to Eagle River GUNNISON RIVER: From 200 yards downstream of Crystal Reservoir dam to the North Fork of the Gunnison NORTH PLATTE RIVER: From south boundary of Routt National Forest to Look Wyoming for the RIO GRANDE: From Hwy. 149 bridge at “G” next South Fork downstream to Rio Grande to a body of canal diversion structure water on pages ROARING FORK RIVER: From the Fry-10-33 to know ingpan River to the Colorado River that it’s a Gold Medal Water. SOUTH PLATTE RIVER: » From the confluence of the middle and south forks to Spin-ney Mountain Reservoir inlet G WILD TROUT PROGRAM CPW is responsible for the preser-vation and protection of native and non-native wild trout populations. Most mountain streams and some high lakes in Colorado sup-port populations of wild trout. These resources are important to the integrity of Colorado’s trout fisheries; as an indicator of proper-ly functioning aquatic ecosystems; and for their intrinsic value to those seeking a unique, aesthetic and significant fishery resource. To assure the continuation and availability of wild self-sustaining trout populations the Parks and Wildlife Commission has es-tablished specific management guidelines for those aquatic habitats which support all life stages of trout. These waters are to be managed to the extent possible to maintain these wild trout populations. » From Spinney Mountain Reservoir outlet to Eleven Mile Reservoir inlet » From Cheesman Reservoir dam to the south boundary of the Wigwam Club property » From the north boundary of Wigwam Club property to Scraggy View picnic ground confluence » Middle fork, from the Hwy. 9 bridge to the south fork GOLD MEDAL LAKES NORTH DELANEY BUTTE LAKE in Jackson County SPINNEY MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR in Park County STEAMBOAT LAKE in Routt County Publication List Using a screen reader? Click Here |
