FILING - 10/31/2007
Basis and Purpose
Chapter 1 – Fishing

Basis and Purpose:

This regulation permanently implements the emergency regulation on Antero Reservoir passed by the Commission on August 13, 2007.

Antero Reservoir was recently reopened to fishing for the first time in five years.  It is a shallow reservoir and regulations allowed up to four fish to be kept from the reservoir, but only one of those fish may be larger than 16 inches.  Because of the lack of fishing pressure and the productivity of the reservoir, many fish caught from the reservoir are larger than 16 inches.  Since it has been open, several caught and released trophy-sized fish have been found dead of apparent hooking-related mortality.  The situation is exacerbated by very warm water temperatures, which are likely contributing to the sensitivity of trout to hooking-related mortality.  Restricting the bag limit to two fish is intended to reduce overall take and associated hooking mortality, while liberalizing take to allow both fish to be over 16 inches is intended to allow anglers to keep large fish which would otherwise likely die.  An emergency regulation has been passed pursuant to 24-4-103(6) C.R.S. to allow for these fish to be kept.

The statutory authority for these regulations can be found in § 24-4-103, C.R.S., and the state Wildlife Act, §§ 33-1-101 to 33-6-209, C.R.S., specifically including, but not limited to: §§ 33-1-101, 102, 104, 105, 106-108, 115, and 121; §§ 33-2-104, 105, 106, and 107; § 33-3-104; §§ 33-4-101, 102, 102.5, 103, 116, 116.5, 117, and 119; § 33-5.5-102; and §§ 33-6-107, 109, 112, 113, 113.5, 114, 114.5, 117, 119, 120, 121, 124, 127, 128, 129, 131, 205, 206, 207, and 208. 

EFFECTIVE DATE - THESE REGULATIONS SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE NOVEMBER 30, 2007 AND SHALL REMAIN IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT UNTIL REPEALED, AMENDED OR SUPERSEDED.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED BY THE WILDLIFE COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO THIS 11th DAY OF OCTOBER, 2007.

APPROVED:
Thomas M. Burke
Chairman

ATTEST:
Robert W. Bray
Secretary