I saw this in the Free Press today. Pretty stupid idea!
http://www.gjfreepress.com/article/20071119/SPORTS/71118006BY DOUG MILLER
FREE PRESS OUTDOORS CORRESPONDENT
In Western Slope warm water report dated this year, funded by Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Division of Wildlife biologist Pat Martinez has suggested poisoning Rifle Gap Reservoir.
Rifle Gap Reservoir, located about 45 minutes from Grand Junction, has long been known for its quality sport fishery for trout, walleye, bass, yellow perch, crappie, and recently its fantastic northern pike fishery. It is also known as the only boatable walleye fishery on the Western Slope.
These fish are self- sustaining with no stocking required.
Not only is Rifle Gap the most popular warmwater fishery on the Western Slope, it is also a popular ice fishing destination. Proceeds from the annual winter tournament for trout benefit the Colorado Sportsman’s Wildlife Fund, along with providing Rifle- area businesses an economic shot in the arm.
Currently, Rifle Gap reservoir is in excellent shape as far as quality, size and health of fish that it has ever been.
The thought of killing a lake of this caliber has many sport fisherman in the area in a state of shock, not only warm water fishing fanatics but cold water trout fisherman as well.
“ This is to send a message to anglers and the public that illicit introductions will not be tolerated in the future,” Martinez said in the report.
However, there is no evidence that any illicit introductions have occurred.
Whatever has happened made Rifle Gap Western Colorado’s premier warm- water fishery.
Now, it’s a target for destruction.
Should the poisoning be commissioned, it will take many years to re- establish the lake back to its present caliber.
If the poisoning doesn’t occur, the next plan of action would be a mandatory kill of pike. In this scenario, if an angler catches a pike and does not kill it, but releases it, the angler would be cited and fined similar to the illegal release of wildlife from exactly the same impoundment the fish came from.
Many concerned individual anglers and fishing groups that have found out about Rifle Gap’s potential poisoning have contacted State Sen. Josh Penry, Gov. Bill Ritter, and the wildlife commission.
Some people are concerned that if the poisoning is done at Rifle Gap, it will then move to nearby Harvey Gap following the same procedure.
Warm- water fisheries are rare on the Western Slope. Many local anglers hold these fisheries dear to their hearts. With over 300 lakes on Grand Mesa, thousands of miles of creeks, rivers, streams and thousands of other trout lakes, many sportsmen are taking the destruction of our warm- water fisheries very seriously.
Access these reports by logging on to the Division of Wildlife’s Web site:
www.wildlife.state.co. us under search type Western Slope warm water. The Rifle Gap plan is on Page 54 of the report.
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