A problem with a headgate valve on a dam has forced Colorado Parks and Wildlife to enact an emergency public fish salvage at Summit Reservoir in Montezuma County, removing all bag and possession limits and allowing anglers to keep all fish they catch utilizing lawful angling methods currently allowed at the lake.
The fish salvage goes into effect on Thursday, July 10th, as the problem with the valve is preventing the closure of the dam and allowing water to quickly release. The lake level will be lowered to a point where the headgate and outlet can be inspected, resulting in poor water quality conditions and loss of refuge habitat for the fish. CPW has determined that a viable fishery cannot be maintained until the reservoir is refilled.
“Because of the rapid drawdown, accessing whatever dead pool remains to salvage fish alive to stock elsewhere is going to be extremely difficult. The public salvage is being announced in order to optimize use of the fishery resource in accordance with Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission regulations.” – CPW Southwest Region Senior Aquatic Biologist Jim White.
Fishing opportunities inside the reservoir include channel catfish, crappie, largemouth bass, perch, and rainbow trouts. In order to take advantage of the salvage, anglers must have a 2025 Colorado fishing license. Commercial angling is now allowed as part of the salvage.
As an important note, it is illegal to capture fish and transport them to another body of water.
“The dead pool area where fish will be salvageable will be near the dam. We recommend anglers utilize that area to avoid slogging through the mud.” – Jim White.
