New statewide regulations include a prohibition on transporting bait fish between bodies of water and on transporting crayfish on the Western Slope. Additionally, to protect native and endangered fish populations in the Colorado and San Juan River basins, a number of creeks, streams and rivers now allow for unlimited take of non-native fish including channel catfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike, walleye, green sunfish, bluegill, bullhead, yellow perch or crappie. This regulation expands existing regulations and covers sections of the following waters: Animas River, Blanco River, Colorado River, Dolores River, Eagle River, Florida River, La Plata River, Los Pinos River, McElmo Creek, Mancos River, Navajo River, Piedra River, San Juan River, San Miguel River and White River.

Anglers will find new water-specific regulations in the following locations:

Denver Metro Area:

Cherry Creek Reservoir: The bag limit and minimum size for walleye is three fish, 18 inches in length. The regulation is designed to provide additional protection of the walleye brood source.

Chatfield Reservoir: The bag limit and minimum size for walleye is three fish, 18 inches in length. Similar to the new regulations at Cherry Creek, this regulation is designed to provide additional protection of the walleye brood source.

Cheesman Reservoir: Kokanee snagging is only permitted during the month of September. The limit will protect the kokanee brood source, while still allowing some snagging.

Northeast Colorado:

Carter Lake: The bag limit and maximum size for walleye is three fish, 21 inches in length. The possession limit for walleye is six fish. Biologists hope the new regulations will enhance walleye harvest while protecting a trophy fishery and bring the fishery back into balance with the available forage.

Horsetooth Reservoir: Returned to statewide regulations and bag limits for walleye. This should increase harvest and allow the fishery to become more in balance with the forage base.

Western Colorado:

Connected Lake and Duke Lake: Bag and possession limit and minimum size for largemouth bass is two fish, 18 inches in length. This regulation will allow harvest of largemouth bass while increasing the quality aspects of the population.

Highline Reservoir: The bag and possession and minimum size for largemouth bass is two fish, 15 inches in length. Smallmouth bass were dropped from the regulation as they are not managed in Highline Reservoir.

Parachute Creek, East Middle Fork: Added to the protected cutthroat waters list and special regulations added (artificial flies and lures only, all cutthroat trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch).

Rifle Gap Reservoir: bag and possession limit and minimum size for walleye is one fish, 18 inches in length or over. This regulation will help protect a declining walleye population while biologists work on a long-term option to manage and stock walleye.

Trappers Lake: all cutthroat trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch. This regulation is designed to help protect the population of genetically pure cutthroats.

Yampa River: From Stagecoach Dam downstream to Catamount Lake: Spawning areas (redds) are closed to fishing as posted to protect spawning fish. This regulation will protect large fish that are spawning and prevent destruction of redds while fish eggs are incubating.

Sweitzer Lake: All fish must be returned to the water immediately upon catch.

North Central Mountains:

Fraser River: From the headwaters downstream to the confluence with St. Louis Creek fishing is by artificial flies and lures only and all rainbow trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch. From the confluence with St. Louis Creek downstream to the Colorado River the bag and possession limit for trout is two fish. These changes will bring regulations in line with adjacent areas protect populations from overharvest.

Green Mountain Reservoir: the bag and possession limit for lake trout is eight fish. This will encourage the harvest of an expanding lake trout population and help conserve the kokanee population.

Lake Granby regulations were amended to remove inlet streams from the lake regulations.

Trappers Lake: all cutthroat trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch. This regulation is designed to help protect the population of genetically pure cutthroats.

Yampa River: From Stagecoach Dam downstream to Catamount Lake: Spawning areas (redds) are closed to fishing as posted to protect spawning fish. This regulation will protect large fish that are spawning and prevent destruction of redds while fish eggs are incubating.

Southeast Colorado:

New regulations include a prohibition on transporting bait fish between bodies of water anywhere in the state except in Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero and Prowers Counties.

Arkansas River below Pueblo Dam: Fishing by flies and lures only; all trout over 16 inches must be returned to the water immediately. This new regulation affects a two-mile stretch of river and is designed to improve the quality of the fishery by protecting larger trout.

Trinidad Reservoir: Daily bag and possession of walleye & saugeye is five fish, but only one of those can be larger than 18 inches. Biologists hope to enhance the number of larger fish to provide quality fishing opportunity at Trinidad Reservoir.

Adobe Creek, John Martin, Nee Noshe, Nee Gronde Reservoirs: The daily bag limit for walleye and saugeye (in aggregate) is five and the possession limit is 10. All walleye and saugeye less than 15 inches in length must be immediately returned to the water. The regulation change at these popular fisheries is designed to protect smaller year classes of fish while providing harvest opportunity for anglers.

Pueblo Reservoir: Underwater spearfishing is now allowed for wiper, channel catfish, blue catfish and flathead catfish. The bag and possession limit for wipers is five, and for catfish is five fish in the aggregate.

Henry, Two Buttes, and Thurston Reservoirs: Fishing by trotlines and jugs is now permitted. This regulation change expands trotlining and jug fishing to most of the larger reservoirs in southeast Colorado.

Pikes Peak South Slope Recreation Area Reservoirs: Although new fishing regulations are in place, due to budget shortfalls for the city of Colorado Springs, these waters will remained closed in 2011.

Durango Area:

Piedra River: From the Piedra River bridge on USFS 631 (Piedra Road) downstream to the lower boundary of the Tres Piedra Ranch (1.5 miles above US160), fishing is by artificial flies and lures only, all trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch.

Poage Lake: Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only, bag and possession limit and maximum size for trout is two fish, 12 inches in length.

Alberta Park Reservoir: Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only, bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.

Gunnison Area:

Blue Mesa Reservoir: The bag and possession limit for lake trout is unlimited. No more than one lake trout greater than 38 inches in length may be taken per day. This Regulation is intended to balance the fishery by reducing the lake trout population.

Crawford Reservoir: Northern pike harvest restriction was removed to allow unlimited harvest.

East River: Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only. The bag and possession limit and maximum size for trout is two fish, 12 inches in length.

Regulations at waters not listed did not change from the previous year and remain in effect.

In all, the Wildlife Commission adjusted fishing regulations at more than 30 bodies of water statewide. Complete fishing regulations are available on-line at http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/279EA0CB-C63F-4B49-8150-8B1DD38FB390/0/Ch01.pdf

Regulation booklets for the upcoming fishing season are being printed and should be available next month. Fishing licenses for the 2011 season take effect April 1 and run through March 31, 2012. Licenses for the 2011 season will go on sale at license agents, Division offices, online and by phone on March 15.

News Source: Colorado DOW - Feb. 26, 2011