ANGLERS' ROUNDTABLE SCHEDULED FOR GUNNISON

Gunnison area anglers are invited to attend a Colorado Division of Wildlife Angler's Roundtable, 7 p.m., May 21, in the multi-purpose room at the Fred R. Fields Western Heritage Center in Gunnison. Dan Brauch, aquatic biologist for the DOW in Gunnison, will talk about a variety of issues, including stocking plans, river and reservoir levels and a fishing forecast. He'll also discuss new concerns about zebra and quaga mussels and other aquatic nuisance species at Blue Mesa Reservoir and throughout Colorado. The public is invited to ask questions and discuss any issues related to fishing or aquatic issues.

For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.

ANGLERS' ROUNDTABLE SET FOR MONTROSE

Anglers in the Montrose, Delta and Telluride areas are invited to attend a Colorado Division of Wildlife Anglers' Roundtable, 6-8 p.m., May 22, at the Holiday Inn Express, 1391 S. Townsend Ave. in Montrose. Dan Kowalski, aquatic biologist for the DOW in Montrose will talk about a variety of issues, including: fish management in the lower Gunnison, Uncompahgre and San Miguel river basins; the local fishing forecast and stocking plans; and aquatic nuisance species, including new concerns over zebra mussels in Colorado. The public is invited to ask questions and discuss any issues related to fishing or aquatic issues.

Reports from the Arkansas have been great. Anglers have been seeing caddis hatch sporadically from Canyon City all the way up to the lower reaches of Salida now that water temps have begun to increase. In addition, Baetis are still on the move in both the upper and lower stretches of the river on overcast days.

This weeks weather forecast shows mixed rain and overcast days during the week followed by sunshine and warmer temps on the weekend. Plan to see water temps, clarity, and water level fluctuate as high alpine runoff from rain shower events moves water into the valley. Now is the time to get out on the water! Plan to see fish-ability dissipate as the Arkansas continues to increase in flow.

The most recent report indicates that the best afternoon fishing is in and around the Texas Creek area where Caddis are returning to the water in the afternoon to lay eggs.

Fishing tactics for the Arkansas very this time of year depending on water temps, water levels and clarity. Plan to adjust your tippet sizes with clarity (6x-4x) and dont be afraid to fish longer leaders (10 feet) through the deeper holes. The best fishing is often above or below the main hatch. Think dry dropper/ double dropper rigs with mixed stonefly, caddis pupa and baetis nymphs for the double dropper rig. Fish BWO's on the surface as well as a mix of other alternative patterns when the hatch is on. Often your fly can get lost in the swarm if you are matching the hatch.

Stoneflies: Tungstone%u219s (golden and brown) and 20 Incher%u219s #10-14, BH Prince #10-14, Golden Stone #10, Speculators #8, Guides Choice Hares Ear #12-14.

Baetis: High-Vis Para Adams #18-20, Quill Baetis #18, Loopwing Emerger #20, CDC Baetis #20, CDC Comparadun #20, RS2 #20

CADDIS: Mothers Day Caddis #16-18, Headlight Caddis #14-18, Black Foam Caddis #16, and Elk Hairs #14-18

Warning to anglers fishing at Grey Reef near Alcova in Wyoming.The rules concerning private and public land have changed significantly in and around the Lusby access between the dam and government bridge. A new lodge was established in this area and they are enforcing the rules of public access on private land. Reed the signs carefully.

STERILE WALLEYE STOCKED IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO RESERVOIRS

As an experimental project aimed at protecting native fish and expanding recreational fishing opportunities in western Colorado, the Colorado Division of Wildlife has stocked sterile walleye in Puett and Narraguinnep reservoirs near Cortez. Stocking of the sterile fish in these southwest Colorado reservoirs will continue annually for five years. Several lake management plans in northwest Colorado are being rewritten and the DOW hopes to obtain permission to stock triploid walleye in those lakes in 2009. Walleye are a popular sport fish that are stocked by the DOW in plains and foothill reservoirs on the eastern slope of Colorado. In western Colorado, however, stocking of warm-water predator fishes is restricted by agreement between the members of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program to protect endangered fishes in the upper Colorado River and San Juan River drainages. Walleye are predators and can take a toll on native fish, specifically the endangered Colorado pikeminnow, the razorback sucker and the humpback chub. The fish recovery program is a partnership between the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, irrigators and other water users, National Park Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and environmental groups. Through the program, endangered fish are recovered in a way that allows water development to continue in the Upper Colorado and San Juan river basins. "The Division of Wildlife stocked fertile walleye for many years at Puett and Narraguinnep

reservoirs," explained Mike Japhet, senior aquatic biologist for the DOW's southwest region. "The switch to stocking sterile walleye is something new. It will be a couple of years before we know how the experiment to produce and stock sterile fish will work. The payoff for anglers is that sterile fish grow faster and reach larger size than their fertile counterparts." The endangered fish recovery program may also benefit from this stocking trial. In mid-March, the DOW was given permission by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to stock sterile walleye in Narraguinnep and Puett reservoirs. These are irrigation lakes far from the San Juan River, so it's very unlikely that the fish could make it to the river if they escaped from the reservoirs. But if they did, the fish would eventually die without reproducing and would present less risk to endangered native species. The walleye were made sterile through a process that exposes fertilized eggs to extreme pressure – 9,500 pounds per square inch. The eggs were from spawn taken at Carter Lake, located near Loveland, in mid-April. Within three minutes after being fertilized eggs were placed in a reinforced steel cylinder filled with water. A hydraulic jack was used to raise the pressure. The eggs were held for about 10 minutes. The pressure alters early cell division by producing an extra female chromosome. The fish, then, have three chromosomes and are known as triploid. The third chromosome renders them sterile. The technique has been used for years on a variety of other fish in other states and in the private aquaculture industry. Triploid trout and catfish are fairly common; but triploid walleye are more challenging to produce. About 450,000 walleye fry were stocked at the two reservoirs on April 23. DOW biologists expect that about 10 percent of those fish will survive and grow to catchable size in several years time. "When people start catching them, they won't notice any difference in appearance of the triploids--they look the same as regular diploid walleye. The differences can only be determined at the genetic level. In time, however, we hope there will be more lunker walleye at these reservoirs," Japhet said. In upcoming years DOW biologists will conduct netting surveys to determine the growth rate of the fish. Also, some of the pressure-treated walleye are being raised in hatchery ponds to determine what percentage actually develops into triploid fish.

Our guides have been having a great time fishing the Big Thompson this week. Between occasional baetis and midge hatches and great nymph fishing anglers of all ages and ability levels have been able to get out and have a great day on the water. Stomach samples reveal that fish have been taking baetis nymphs with a narrower thorax. Try fishing Killer Mayflies.

Rocky Mountain Anglers is currently having a sale on assorted sized of 2007 Cloudveil 8x Waders and Simms G3 waders. Please contact the shot at 303-447-2400 for details.

Dust of those old fishing rods and come out to the annual Senior Fish-Off! Boulder County will be holding there annual Senior Fish-Off on Friday, May 9th from 6:00am to 10:00am. at Wally Toevs Pond at Walden Ponds Wildlife Habitat (on 75th St, between Valmont Rd. and Jay Rd.)

Highlights include prizes for the, largest Rainbow trout, most experienced (oldest), best fishing hat and fishing related joke as well as the fish fry.

Minimum age to participate is 64 yrs.

Valid 2008 fishing license is required.

The Big Thompson is fishing well! We were up there yesterday around noon and saw quite a few baetis coming off. Fish were not readily coming to the surface but, we did see a few rises and quite a few taking emergers. We fished a little bit of everything but had the best luck on Ray Charles sizes 16-18, Killer Mayflies size 20, Eggs and Killer Mayflies #18-20 (olive). The water was relativly clear in spite of the recent increase in flows.

SE FISHING FORECAST

Biologists from the Colorado Division of Wildlife have prepared a 15-page fishing forecast for the Southeast Region. The document lists some of the most popular waters in the southeast part of the state. It highlights changes and gives anglers an indication of which species they can expect to catch this year. The 2008 report is available in PDF format on the Division's web site at:

http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Reports/SeasonalReport/ The Colorado Division of Wildlife is the state agency responsible for managing wildlife and wildlife habitat, as well as providing wildlife related recreation and maintaining a balance between human activities and wildlife. Funding for the Division of Wildlife comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and the habitat fees collected in conjunction with those sales. The Division does not receive tax dollars from the Colorado general fund.

REPORT

Talk about some scrambled signals. The calendar says April, but a cabin-weary Colorado fisherman might not be so sure.

A fly rod? An ice auger? A float tube? ...On a given April day, a fishermen might find a use for all – possibly even in some unlikely combination.

Heavy frost might coat the windshield of the fishmobile in the morning. Frost may give way to sunshine just a little later, as mourning doves, robins and grackles glide into the backyard to feed. Sunshine might yield to clouds, to rain, to thunder snow, but by midafternoon, skies are clear again. The forecast calls for more snow in the mountains, followed by warm days, followed by more snow ...

Springtime in Colorado is a time of transition, and such not-so-unusual weather patterns are reflected in the fishing outlook. While the high country still is locked away by snow and ice, lower-elevation waters are open. Ice fishermen still punch holes through the hard water of many popular reservoirs including the lakes of North and South parks, but the ice is quickly deteriorating on many other mid-elevation lakes.

High-country creeks and the upper reaches of some streams still have ice, but just a little lower, rivers are in a pre-runoff stage, complete

with trout at least sporadically rising to emerging midges. Blue-wing-olive mayflies have appeared on some streams, and the main hatches are just around the corner. Such rites of spring might be short-lived, however. The statewide mountain snowpack is above average; in some basins exceptionally high. Once the thaw begins, a prolonged runoff is expected on free-flowing rivers across the state.

While rivers might become virtually unfishable into early summer, the runoff also is likely to improve water levels in reservoirs that have suffered through several years of drought.

In the meantime, lower-elevation reservoirs offer fishing for trout. Walleyes have been spawning in Front Range impoundments, and here and there, a few catfish have been taken off the bottom. But with water temperatures generally in the 40s, good warm-water fishing still is a few weeks away.

Warm water or cold, anticipation among fishermen is running high. April might be rushing the season just a bit, but some interesting opportunities nevertheless can be found. HATCHERY TRUCKS ARE ROLLING

Among the earliest signs of spring in Colorado is a Division of Wildlife fish-stocking truck pulling up to a nearby lake or stream.

Catchable-sized trout from the state hatchery

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• Fish the Roof of the Rockies • Pike fishing at Vallecito Reservoir • Discover the Taylor River • ... and more! system provide season-opening opportunities for many anglers, especially near urban areas, and the DOW began stocking low-elevation waters along the Front Range, the eastern plains and the Western Slope around Grand Junction in March. Stocking of lowland lakes will continue through the spring and early summer, when their water temperatures become too warm for trout.

As the season progresses and higher-elevation waters open up, many will receive fish. The stocking of catchable trout will continue through the summer and into fall, with more than 3.8 million to be released into designated waters this year.

In addition to catchable trout, the DOW will plant approximately 14.8 million subcatchables, ranging from recently hatched fry to fingerling-sized fish, destined for suitable "put-to-grow" waters.

Subcatchables also comprise almost all the DOW's warm-water stocking effort, and 58.4 million small fish will be planted this year to grow to size. The only catchables among warm-water species will be 160,000 eight-inch channel catfish.

ZEBRA MUSSEL ALERT

Boating fishermen can expect an inspection of their equipment at several popular reservoirs this summer.

The Colorado State Parks Board recently approved a statewide mandatory boat inspection program to protect the state's waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) including zebra mussels, which were discovered in Pueblo Reservoir.

Zebra mussels are a non-native invasive mollusk that is harmful to the environment and parks officials are taking steps necessary to try to contain their spread.

All boats including motors, trailers and related equipment will be subject to inspection for any non-native plant material and aquatic wildlife identified as AIS prior to launch or departure from state-park waters. Boats may be denied access or placed under quarantine if inspection is refused or if AIS are found on or within a boat or boating equipment.

Inspections will begin at Pueblo and expand this spring to four other state parks that have been identified as high risk for transport of AIS: Navajo, Cherry Creek, Chatfield and John Martin.

Zebra MusselInspections are necessary because AIS are transported over land to other bodies of water by hitchhiking on recreational vehicles including boats, jet skis and boat trailers. Unchecked, these organisms will quickly spread and out-compete native species.

Aquatic nuisance species have no effective predators and have detrimental impacts on the environment, recreation, water quality and water transport. Several other aquatic nuisance species have reached Colorado, including New Zealand mud snails and water weeds.

All boaters are encouraged to follow these practices to help prevent the spread of AIS:

Before leaving any boy of water, boaters should:

* Drain the water from the boat, live well and lower units of the engine. * Clean the hull of the boat * Dry the boat, fishing gear and equipment * Inspect all exposed surfaces * Remove all plant an animal material