Summit County Citizens Voice

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has completed a restoration project at a popular fishing hole.

Thousands of rainbows and cutthroats stocked

By Summit Voice

Colorado Parks and Wildlife has completed a reclamation project at Lake John, setting the stage for a rejuvenated fishery that will be open for angling in early September. Lake John is located northwest of Walden along CO Road 7A.

“The success we have had with the reclamation is like a reset button for Lake John,” said Kurt Davies, aquatic biologist for the northeast region. “The lake will be back online by the first week of September and back to growing fish at its maximum potential. The fish we are planting now will see tremendous growth before the lake is even iced up and with the large brood fish we are putting in there, there’s the possibility someone will hook into a real trophy.”

Parks and Wildlife biologists and managers anticipate dramatic improvements in Lake John post –reclamation. Signs posted at the entrance to Lake John will notify the public of the re-opened fishery in the near future.

“The reclamation has been very successful to this point and I’m looking forward to seeing anglers catch fish out of Lake John this September,” said Walden District Wildlife Manager Josh Dilley. “This water is important to the local economy as well as to the recreation of my district.

Fish stocking will continue throughout the fall, but anglers can anticipate the following fish in the restored lake:

–130,000 4″-5″ Rainbow Trout

–50,000 5″-8″ Snake River Cutthroat

–40,000 6″-9″ Rainbow/Cutthroat Hybrid

–35,000 10″ Rainbow Trout

–1500 16″-22,” 3-7 lb. Rainbow Trout Brood

Filed under: Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife, fishing, recreation, Summit County Colorado Tagged: | Colorado fishing, Colorado parks and wildlife, fishing, Lake John reclamation, Rainbow Trout, Trout