Fishing closures are impacting many rivers and streams around Colorado due to how extremely low flows and high water temperatures can stress aquatic species. Because of this, anglers are asked to avoid certain areas at certain times, also making a few changes to how they fish.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife can enact fishing closures when daily maximum water temperature exceeds 71 degrees, when streamflow drops to 50 percent of the norm or less, when fish condition deteriorates and signs of fungus or stress are observed, or when daily minimum dissolved oxygen levels fall below six parts per million. Given that some of these conditions are present in certain parts of Colorado, various closures have been enacted, with anglers also asked to be proactive by testing water with a handheld thermometer to determine if temperatures are approaching 71 degrees, finding a cooler stretch of water to fish if that’s the case.

“I liken it to how nobody wants to be exercising outdoors when it’s over 100 degrees outside,” said CPW Southwest Region Senior Aquatic Biologist Jim White. “That’s kind of the same thing we’re imposing on these fish when folks are fishing when the water temperatures are that hot. When you’re fighting a fish, it could be comparable to going out for an intensive jog or sprint even. Alleviating that stress on the fish population is good practice.”

In addition to avoiding warmer water, anglers are also asked to use heavier tippet and line to land fish quickly, to wet hands before handling any fish, to keep fish submerged while unhooking and releasing, to avoid removing fish from water for photographs, and to avoid overcrowded areas.

A series of recent press releases from Colorado Parks and Wildlife highlights various voluntary fishing closures that are in place around the state. Note that all conditions and closures are subject to rapid change – do your own research ahead of time while planning any trip and follow directions of all posted signage found on-site:

Animas River: People are asked not to fish the Animas River through Durango after noon each day, with low water levels present and water temperatures consistently close to 71 degrees. Read more here.

Cochetopa Creek: Voluntary fishing closure from noon until midnight. Read more here.

Colorado River: “A full-day voluntary closure is in effect from Red Dirt Creek downstream to the Highway 13 bridge in Rifle. Water temperatures consistently exceed 71 degrees, and flows remain critically low.” Read more here.

Conejos River: Voluntary afternoon fishing closure from below Platoro Reservoir to Broyles Bridge at County Road D.5 from noon until midnight. Read more here.

Crystal River: “A full-day voluntary closure is in effect from mile marker 64 on Highway 133 downstream to the Roaring Fork confluence. Flows are declining rapidly and are expected to drop to a level at which fish movement is limited in the near future. Crystal River flows are currently less than 10% of average for this time of year.” Read more here.

Dolores River: Afternoon fishing closure below McPhee Dam. Read more here.

Eagle River: “A full-day voluntary closure is in effect from Lake Creek in Edwards downstream to the Colorado River confluence. Daily temperatures are peaking at 77 degrees in Gypsum and 74.5 degrees in Wolcott.” Read more here.

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River: Voluntary fishing closure from noon until midnight. Read more here.

Rio Grande River: Two stretches are under voluntary afternoon fishing closures, including from the Rio Grande Reservoir Dam to the Rio Grande Canal at the terminus of the Gold Medal section of the river and from Big Meadows Reservoir Dam on the South Fork of the Rio Grande to its confluence point with the main stem of the Rio Grande River. Read more here.

Roaring Fork River: “A daily afternoon voluntary closure is in effect from noon to midnight from the Highway 133 bridge in Carbondale to the Colorado River confluence. High afternoon temperatures and heavy angling pressure are isolated to this lower stretch. Upper sections remain cooler, allowing fish to recover overnight.” Read more here.

San Juan River: People are asked not to fish the San Juan River through Pagosa Springs after noon each day amid low water levels and temperatures consistently near 71 degrees. Read more here.

Tomichi Creek: Voluntary fishing closure from noon until midnight. Read more here.

Yampa River: Mandatory fishing closure for the 0.6-mile stretch of the Yampa River from Stagecoach State Park dam downstream to the lowermost park boundary; Voluntary fishing closure from the top of Sarvis Creek State Wildlife Area downstream roughly 1.6 miles through the Bureau of Land Management stretch of land; Voluntary fishing closure from the upstream boundary of Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area to the western edge of Steamboat Springs city limits; Mandatory commercial and voluntary recreational closure through city of Steamboat Springs (enacted by city). Read more about the CPW closures here.

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