AS APPROVED - 10/11/2007

FINAL REGULATIONS - CHAPTER 1 ‑ FISHING  

ARTICLE II ‑ SPECIAL REGULATION WATERS

#108 – Special Daily Bag and Possession Limits, Size Restrictions, and Other Water-Specific Provisions”

A.	Various cutthroat waters, specifically those considered Cutthroat Conservation and Recreation waters, are protected throughout the state as listed below.  In those waters:

1.	Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only.  All cutthroat trout must be returned to the water immediately upon catch.  

Note:  This is to accommodate the growing number of cutthroat trout streams and lakes that are being included in conservation and recovery actions according to management plans.

B.	In place of or in addition to regulations # 101, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107 (bag and possession limits, manner of take, fishing dates, fishing hours, special conditions and restrictions, or other fishing activities), and 108 A, the following regulations apply to the named waters:

Note: Additional conditions and restrictions for state wildlife areas are found in Chapter 9.

1.	Abrams Creek - Eagle County

a.	Cutthroat trout regulation #108 A applies.

2.	Adams County Fairgrounds Lakes (Public Works and Mann Lakes) ‑ Adams County.

a.	The minimum size for largemouth and smallmouth bass is 15 inches in length.

3.	Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) ‑ Bent and Kiowa Counties

a.	Trotlines and fishing with jugs are permitted.
b.	The bag and possession limit and minimum size for walleye and saugeye is five fish in the aggregate, 15 inches in length.
c.	No more than one walleye or saugeye in the aggregate greater than 21 inches in length may be taken per day.

4.	Agnes Lakes ‑ Upper and Lower ‑ Jackson County

a.	Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only.
b.	The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.

5.	Akron City Lake - Washington County

a.	The minimum size for largemouth and smallmouth bass is 15 inches in length.

6.	Alberta Park Reservoir - Mineral County

a.	Cutthroat trout regulation #108 A applies.

7.	American Lakes (Snow Lake and Michigan Lakes) - Jackson County.

a.	Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only.
b.	The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.

8.	Animas River - LaPlata County 

a.	From the  confluence with Lightner Creek to the Rivera Crossing Bridge:
1.	Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only.
2.	The bag and possession limit and minimum size for trout is 2 fish, 16 inches in length.

9.	Antelope Creek, West - Gunnison County

a.	Cutthroat trout regulation #108 A applies.

10.	Antero Reservoir ‑ Park County

a.	Ice fishing shelters must be portable.
b.	The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish.

AS APPROVED - 10/11/2007
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