Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has lifted voluntary fishing closures on sections of three rivers in the Northwest Region, including a portion of the Colorado River near Rifle. The decision, announced by CPW, comes as cooler water temperatures have improved conditions for fish. For local anglers and visitors, this means access to previously restricted areas has reopened, though some rivers in the region remain under voluntary or mandatory closures due to ongoing high temperatures and low flows. This change directly affects those who rely on the region's rivers for recreation and local businesses tied to fishing tourism.
Specifically, all voluntary fishing closures on the Colorado River are now lifted in two key sections. One stretch extends from Windy Gap Dam downstream to the Williams Fork confluence near Parshall. The other significant area, closer to the Grand Valley, covers the Colorado River from Red Dirt Creek downstream to the Highway 13 bridge in Rifle. These areas were previously under voluntary closures to protect fish during stressful conditions caused by warm water and reduced flows.
Additionally, CPW has removed the afternoon voluntary fishing closures on the Fraser River. This applies to the stretch from County Road 8 in Fraser downstream to the Colorado River confluence outside Granby. This includes well-known fishing areas such as Fraser Flats, Fraser River Canyon, and all public waters located within Granby. The lifting of these afternoon restrictions provides more flexibility for anglers seeking to fish these popular waterways.
The White River also sees a relaxation of restrictions. Voluntary closures have been lifted on both the North Fork and South Fork from the White River National Forest boundary down to their confluence. Furthermore, the White River from the confluence of the North Fork White River and the South Fork White River downstream to County Road 5 is now open without the previous voluntary restrictions. These changes reflect an overall improvement in river health across these specific areas as temperatures have cooled.
Despite these improvements, CPW emphasizes that not all fishing restrictions have been removed. Full-day voluntary closures are still in place for other rivers within the Northwest Region. These continuing restrictions are a result of sustained high water temperatures and low flows that continue to stress fish populations. Rivers still affected by these voluntary closures include parts of the Eagle River, Crystal River, Elk River, and the Yampa River. Anglers planning trips to these waterways should be aware of these ongoing restrictions.
Beyond voluntary measures, a mandatory fishing closure remains active on a specific section of the Yampa River. This closure is located from the Stagecoach State Park dam downstream 0.6 miles to the park boundary. Mandatory closures indicate more severe conditions requiring strict adherence to protect the fish population.
