Rio Grande Website 2022 - Colorado Parks And Wildlife

Rio Grande LAST UPDATED: June 2022 FISH SURVEY AND MANAGEMENT INFORMATION Estevan Vigil - Aquatic Biologist (Monte Vista) Estevan.vigil@state.co.us / 719-587-6908 General Information: The Rio Gr ande pr ovides outstanding angling oppor tunities for Br own Tr out and fair Rainbow Trout fishing on this stretch of river. Public access is good for bank, wade, or float fishing. Location: Mar shall Par k to Del Nor te. Recreational Management: Color ado Par ks and Wildlife, Forest Ser vice. Fishery Management: Coldwater Angling. Purchase a Fishing License: https://www.co.wildlifelicense.com/star t.php Amenities Eleven public boating access points for deployment or pickup of small rafts or boats. Seasonal restrooms available at several locations including Creede SWA and Coller SWA. Guided float fishing available from several local guides. Previous Stocking River Hill Campground to South Fork Rio Grande 2020: 23,000 subcatchable whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout stocked. 2020: 23,000 subcatchable whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout stocked. South Fork Rio Grande to Rio Grande Canal diversion 2020: 39,000 subcatchable whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout stocked. 2014: 99,000 subcatchable whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout stocked. Regulations Lower boundary of River Hill Campground downstream to the Colo. Highway 149 Bridge Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession, and maximum size for Brown Trout is two fish, 12” long. Rainbow Trout must be returned to water immediately. Highway 149 bridge downstream to Rio Grande Canal diversion structure Artificial flies and lures only. Bag, possession, and minimum size for Brown Trout is two fish, 16” long. Rainbow Trout must be returned to water immediately. Sportfishing Notes Brown Trout Most common species making up about 90% 99% of fishery. Spawn in mid-October through November. Rainbow Trout Make up a small percentage of the fishery (1-10%). Spawn in mid-April through mid-May. Float Fishing Notes This stretch is a mix of private and public lands. Respect private property and always ask permission prior to wade or bank fishing on private property. Boats and rafts may fish private sections of river but any person or object touching the bank or river bottom is trespassing. Railroad bridge abutments at Wagon Wheel gap are hazardous during high water.

Rio Grande - Rio Grande Campground to Blue Creek Map and Access Information

Rio Grande - Palisade Campground to South Fork Map and Access Information

Rio Grande - South Fork to Del Norte Map and Access Information

Rio Grande at La Garita Ranch (17 miles upstream of South Fork, CO) FISH SURVEY INFORMATION Figure 1. Rio Gr ande at La Gar ita Ranch. Figure 2. Histor ical density estimates for Br own Tr out and Rainbow Trout in the Rio Grande at La Garita Ranch. This 2.4 mile stretch of river was last surveyed in 2014 using two electrofishing rafts. Figure 3. Br own Tr out and r ainbow tr out length-frequency for the Rio Grande at La Garita Ranch in 2014. There was an estimated 105 lbs. per acre of brown trout and 2 lbs. per acre of Rainbow trout.

Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area (6 miles upstream of South Fork, CO) FISH SURVEY INFORMATION 2500 Fish per Mile 2000 Brown Trout Rainbow Trout 1500 1000 500 0 2009 Figure 4. Rio Gr ande at Coller State Wildlife Area. This 2.2 mile stretch of river was last surveyed in 2017 using two electrofishing rafts. 2011 2014 2017 Figure 5. Histor ical density estimates for Br own Tr out and Rainbow Trout in the Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area. 250 Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Number Sampled 200 150 100 50 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Length (Inches) 14 15 16 17 Figure 6. Br own tr out and r ainbow tr out length-frequency for the Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area in 2017. There was an estimated 62 lbs. per acre of Brown Trout and 1 lb per acre of Rainbow Trout.

Rio Grande at State Bridge (Gold Medal Section, between South Fork and Del Norte) FISH SURVEY INFORMATION 1200 Fish per Mile 1000 Brown Trout Rainbow Trout 800 600 400 200 0 2007 2011 2015 2022 Figure 7. Aquatic Technician displays a Figure 8. Histor ical density estimates for Br own Tr out Brown Trout surveyed in the State Bridge and Rainbow Trout in the Rio Grande at State Bridge. section. This 1.6 mile sampling station was last surveyed in 2021 using two electrofishing rafts. 120 Brown Trout Rainbow Trout Number Sampled 100 80 60 40 20 0 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Length (Inches) 17 18 19 20 21 22 Figure 9. Br own Tr out and Rainbow Tr out length-frequency for the Rio Grande at State Bridge in 2021. There was an estimated 97 lbs. per acre of Brown Trout and 12 lbs. per acre of Rainbow Trout.

Management Notes - Rainbow Trout populations in the Rio Gr ande exper ienced drastic decreases in density and biomass in the early 1990’s through the 2000’s due to their susceptibility to whirling disease which was first documented in the river in 1993. However, Rainbow Trout populations have been increasing at most sites since 2008 which is when Colorado Parks and Wildlife switched to the stocking of whirling disease resistant Rainbow Trout. Biomass and density of trout at Marshall Park, Coller State Wildlife Area, State Bridge, and La Garita Ranch exceeded Gold Medal minimum requirements in the most recent surveys conducted at each site. The Rio Grande from Marshall Park to Del Norte is a popular fishing area for visitors and locals alike. Access for bank, wade, and float fishermen is good through most of this stretch. The best fishing usually runs from June into October when the water is warmest and the fish are most active. Bank fishing success typically improves by July, after peak runoff. There is usually a good salmon fly hatch during the last couple of weeks in June. The first two weeks in July frequently see a mayfly hatch and caddisfly hatches occur off and on from May into September. Recommended flies include: Rio Grande king, green drake, stimulator, sofa pillow, pheasant tail, halfback, girdlebug, gold ribbed hare’s ear, Campbell stonefly, elk hair caddis, adam’s, and coachman trude. Spinners such as Panther Martins and Mepps are also a good choice. The Rio Grande provides outstanding fishing opportunities much of the year and, due to its more remote location, is less crowded than many other Gold Medal waters in Colorado.

and Rainbow Trout in the Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area. Figure 6. Brown trout and rainbow trout length-frequency for the Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area in 2017. There was an estimated 62 lbs. per acre of Brown Trout and 1 lb per acre of Rainbow Trout. Figure 4. Rio Grande at Coller State Wildlife Area. This 2.2 mile stretch .