Summit County Citizens Voice

Stalking cutthroat trout in Clinton Gulch Reservoir, Summit County, Colorado.

Start the summer season by with some weekend fishing

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Colorado has more than 2,000 lakes, ponds, and reservoirs and 10,000 miles of streams and rivers, all full of trout, bass, walleye and catfish. And each year, the Colorado Division of Wildlife stocks these waters with more than 3 million catchable-sized trout; in addition to 14 million trout fingerlings.

This weekend, June 4-5, is your chance to catch some of those fish without a license on the traditional free-fishing weekend, an opportunity to introduce new people to angling or to re-connect with the summer pastime. See some pics of some favored high country fishing holes here: Morning photo: Gone fishin’.

“Free fishing weekend is a great opportunity for people to try out fishing if they haven’t yet,” said Greg Gerlich, aquatic section manager for the Division of Wildlife. “It’s also a chance for those who used to fish Colorado’s outstanding waters to get back into the sport.”

While no fishing license is required during the first full weekend in June, all other regulations remain in effect. That means that limits on the number of fish that can be caught you can catch in a day, known as a “bag limit” and restrictions on bait in certain waters will still be enforced.

Outside of free fishing weekend, anglers between the ages of 16 and 64 must purchase a fishing license before casting a line. An annual resident fishing license costs $26, and an annual non-resident license costs $56. One-day or five-day fishing licenses are also available. Youths under age 16 are not required to have a license. The Division offers  resident seniors, age 65 and older,  an annual Colorado fishing license for $1.

Fishing licenses can be purchased at any license agent or Division of Wildlife office.  Licenses can also be purchased over the phone at 800-244-5613 or online at http://wildlife.state.co.us/ShopDOW/AppsAndLicenses/.

The Division of Wildlife produces a weekly fishing report that includes information about dozens of hotspots around the state. The fishing report is available online at http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Reports/StatewideConditions/.

A few more Summit Voice fishing stories:

• Colorado: New fishing regs take effect
• Young angler lands Colorado’s biggest fish — ever
• Fishing with kids in Summit County, Colorado
• Video: Searching for rainbows in the Blue River
• CDOW offering grants for hunting, fishing and boating
• Aurora Reservoir yields another record fish
• CDOW to restore popular Grand Mesa trout fishery
• State-record 43-lb. catfish caught in Aurora Reservoir
• River-draping project has risks for trout, water quality

Filed under: Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Dillon Reservoir, recreation, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news Tagged: | angling, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado news, fishing, outdoors, recreation, Summit County News, United States