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000537 CONCLUSIONS 300 warmwater anglers residing in western Colorado who said they at least fished one day for warmwater fishes in 1995 were queried as to their preferences and satisfactions with warmwater fishing currently available in western Colorado. Channel catfish-36%, largemouth bass-25%, crappie-9%, smallmouth bass-6% and bluegill-5%, are the preferred species for these anglers, and also the fish most commonly managed by the CDOW in western slope waters. These anglers prefer to fish in large reservoirs, the Colorado River, small reservoirs and small gravel ponds managed by the state. The popularity of channel catfish among westslope warmwater anglers may pose problems for management agencies that are attempting to reduce the numbers of catfish that occur in the Colorado River, especially in the areas of critical habitat. Currently, catfish are only stocked in select waters with approved management plans, or waters where there is no conflict with native species. The large number of anglers who prefer channel catfish and largemouth bass represent a portion of the angling public that will need to be involved in future discussions of warmwater fish management. The majority of anglers, 63%, are somewhat to very satisfied with the opportunities currently available to them. However, there are a substantial number of anglers, 36%, who are somewhat to very dissatisfied with warmwater fishing opportunities. This minority represents a challenge to the Division in the likelihood of decreased warmwater fishing opportunities due to the recovery effort for threatened and endangered species. The challenge presented by dissatisfied warmwater anglers is further complicated by the fact that the majority of anglers surveyed, 55%, are opposed to the proposed pond reclamation project, and only 32% of warmwater anglers expressed support for the proposed project. A previous survey of the public in general, (USFWS, 1994) indicated that there was overall general support among anglers and the general public alike for recovery of native endangered or threatened fishes and efforts to control non-native fishes, but that report did not focus on the group (warmwater anglers) who are likely to be most impacted by recovery activities like the pond renovation project and removal of warmwater species. This survey of warmwater anglers presents a different picture of support for the proposed pond reclamation activities. At the present time, most warmwater anglers are not well informed about the project and this presents another challenge to the Division. Only 1 in 5 (19%) expressed that 17