7281 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7281
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Environmental Assessment, November 1987.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

I CHAPTER III AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT
Ruedi Reservoir provides sportfishing opportunities for rainbow, brown,
and lake trout and kokanee salmon. The Fryingpan River from Ruedi Dam
downstream to the confluence with the Roaring Fork River (14 miles) and
the Roaring Fork River from the confluence with the Crystal River to the
confluence with the Colorado River (12 miles) are considered "Gold Medal
Waters" by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. This designation is given
to streams that offer the greatest potential for trophy trout fishing and
angling success.
Sportfishing in the catch-and-release area of the Fryingpan River (the
first 2 miles below the dam) during 1983 provided over 10,800 hours of
angling recreation. Rainbow trout comprised the majority of the catch,
followed in order by brown, brook, and cutthroat trout. In another reach
of the Fryingpan River (where one rainbow and one brown trout are allowed
to be kept), sportfishing provided over 15,600 hours of angling recreation
during 1983. Rainbow trout were again predominant in the catch, followed
by brown trout and incidental catches of brook and cutthroat trout.
Reclamation has agreed with the State of Colorado to maintain a minimum of
' 110 cfs in the Fryingpan River for the trout fishery during the fishing
season.
The reservoirs and tailwater of the Aspinall Unit provide fishing
opportunities for rainbow, brown, and lake trout and kokanee salmon. The
Gunnison River from the upper boundary of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison
National Monument downstream to the confluence with the North Fork of the
Gunnison is considered "Gold Medal Waters" by the Colorado Division of
Wildlife. It was estimated that the area provided 37,000 angler-hours of
recreation in 1984 (Chip Marlow, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, personal
communication). Brown trout were predominant in the catch, followed by
rainbow trout.
2. Warmwater Saortfishin
The Yampa, Green, White, and Colorado Rivers provide hundreds of miles of
warmwater fishing opportunity for Colorado and Utah residents. Fishing,
' primarily from towns along.these warmwater streams, allows local citizens
the opportunity to catch common introduced fishes such as catfish,
walleye, and bass, as well as incidental endemic fishes, such as Colorado
' squawfish and roundtail and humpback chubs.
On the Yampa River, a growing northern pike fishery has been highly touted
by citizens of Craig as well as Colorado fishermen along the East slope.
Unfortunately, the northern pike populations coexist and occupy similar
habitat to Colorado squawfish in the Yampa. Fishermen often take
incidental Colorado squawfish in their pursuit of northern pike.
Releases of lip-hooked Colorado squawfish or humpback chub do not normally
present a problem to the species; however, bait fishing for catfish can
' result in a deep ingestion of the hook and mortality. Much of the fishing
for catfish or other warmwater fish involves the use of bait rather than
lures.
' III-31