Colorado Parks and Wildlife is proposing to convert Scotland Peak Reservoir, also known as Broke Leg Slough, on the Grand Mesa to a catch-and-release, artificial flies and lures-only fishery to support conservation of native Colorado River cutthroat trout.

The reservoir is currently managed with a standard bag limit of four trout per day with all legal bait and tackle allowed. The proposed change would require all fish to be immediately returned to the water. CPW is proposing to eliminate bait to reduce incidental hooking mortality during catch-and-release.

CPW has planned a reclamation project on the less-than-one-acre pond to remove non-native trout and restock Colorado River cutthroat trout, aiming to establish a conservation population that can be used for egg collection to propagate the native species.

Image

The Grand Mesa contains more than 100 stocked and wild sport fisheries, most of which allow harvest and bait use. CPW believes the proposed change would protect the rare fish while having negligible impact on recreational angling opportunities in the area.

CPW will propose the regulation change to the Parks and Wildlife Commission at its November 4-5 meeting. The agency has already conducted outreach to local anglers, the U.S. Forest Service, and Trout Unlimited chapters, and is seeking additional public comment.

Anglers can provide feedback by completing an online survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfIVFGSy6RgCdJxa67ha9A-lnTg7Ko3KbZX1GG_DmW3SBTqxQ/viewform?usp=publish-editor