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Blue Mesa Fisheries Update
Dan Brauch and Adam HansenColorado Parks and Wildlife
December 18-19, 2019
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Blue Mesa Fish UpdateBMR fisheryKokanee managementLake trout managementLake trout harvest incentive
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Blue Mesa Fishery Goals
Goal #1: Provide Blue Mesa anglers with best fishing opportunities for kokanee, rainbow trout, trophy lake trout and brown trout.
Goal #2: Maintain Blue Mesa as source of kokanee eggs to provide kokanee fishing opportunities at 28 lakes in Colorado.
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Blue Mesa Reservoir Fisheries
Supports up to 450,000 hours of angling annually.“Destination” Fishery—Up to 2/3 of anglers are from Colorado’s East Slope or from out of stateGross economic estimated to be $12.3 million in today’s dollars ($5.43 million in 1987).Curecanti NRA was responsible for an estimated $44 million in economic value in 2014.
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Kokanee & lake trout are not co-evolvedLake trout stocked in Colorado in late 1800’s, Kokanee in 1951
Kokanee and Lake Trout
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Blue Mesa Kokanee• Stocked after Blue Mesa Dam completed (1965)
with Granby source (Flathead L, MT 1951-1957)• Currently states primary egg source—natural
reproduction is minimal in Colorado
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02468
1012141618
Egg
Tota
l in
Mill
ions
Year
Kokanee Spawntake Totals by Water 2000-2019
Antero
Blue Mesa
Cheesman
Eleven Mile
Granby /Shadow Mt.
McPhee
Lake Nighthorse
Vallecito
Williams Fork
Wolford
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Kokanee Fishing
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
Kokanee percent of total catch
Year
Kokanee Contribution to Blue Mesa Catch May through October
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Kokanee Grow Trophy Trout
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0%
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
age 3 age 4-6 age 7-25
InvertebratesCrayfishPerchRainbow TroutKokanee
Stable Isotope proportion of MAC diet 2010 (CSU)
MAC Age
Die
t Pro
porti
on
(12-16”) (17-23”) (24-44”)
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Sonar transects
2009
2002
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Sonar Estimates 1994-2019
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Lake Trout Management / Regulations
• Late 1980’s 1 fish over 20 inches (86-87)• 1990-1995 22-34 inch fish must be returned
(slot)• 1996-2010 8 fish bag limit• 2009- 2011 CPW netting to reduce predation
AND reduce reproductive capacity• 2011- 1 fish over 38 inches, unlimited under 38• 2012-2017 CPW netting to reduce predation
(reduced length target: 32” to 30” to 28”)• 2016- 1 fish over 32 inches, unlimited under 32
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Lake Trout Abundance
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Predatory Lake Trout Abundance
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• Goal 1: Manage predation on kokanee to maintain kokanee fishing, eggtake and prey availability for trophy lake trout
• Goal 2: Provide quality opportunities for trophy lake trout
Lake Trout Management 2020
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2 Tools: Angler harvest and CPW netting
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Angler Returned 09-12 Angler Harvested 09-12
Angler Catch 2009-2012
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43
Netting Removal Incidental Mortality Netting Released
Netting Catch 2009-2019Incidental mortality a concern
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Lake Trout Harvest 1996-2018
Netting Catch 2009-2019Not popularIncidental mortality a concern
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Kokanee VS Lake Trout Abundance
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• Only incentivize harvest up to 24 inches:• Consume the most kokanee• 96 percent of lake trout removed by CPW AND of
lake trout kept by anglers are 24 inches and smaller.
• 83 percent of released lake trout under 24 inches• Harvest about 30%, far below unsustainable levels,
so significantly more harvest can occur (>50%-55% continued harvest would likely be unsustainable)
• Population monitoring and modelling will guide program (creel, sonar, SPIN lake trout study) to insure moving towards goals.
Lake Trout Harvest Incentive Proposal
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• Only heads accepted from fish under 24 inches• Dropped off at CPW offices (Gunnison and
Montrose) and Blue Mesa?• Propose 2020 contest February through July• Prizes for:
• Most lake trout turned in ($1000, $500, $250??)• Turned in coded wire tagged fish (propose $250
per tagged fish)• Randomly selected (one chance per head turned
in) 20 $200 prizes• Other donated prizes?
Lake Trout Harvest Incentive Proposal
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• Continue stocking 3.5 million kokanee annually
Blue Mesa Recommendations
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• Maintain kokanee survival by managing lake trout population/predation through angler harvest; achievable at Blue Mesa?
• Resume netting if angling harvest is shown to not control population growth; minimize netting
Blue Mesa Recommendations
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• Assess lake trout management annually and provide recommendations for changes
• Maintain kokanee, brown trout, rainbow trout and trophy lake trout angling opportunities
• Monitor gill lice to assess effect on kokanee fishery
Blue Mesa Recommendations