Lakes closing for the season

Hope this isn't an indication of things to come:  Colorado Parks and Wildlife has announced that "due to the annual seasonal closure of the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection station, motorized boating at Jumbo Reservoir closed on Sunday, Sept. 16 for the remainder of the season." 

Boating, both from gas and electric motors, will cease until it reopens next spring. You can still fish from the bank or a kayak or float tube.  Exclusions include hand-launched rafts, kayaks, belly boats, float tubes, canoes, windsurfer boards, sail boards, stand-up paddleboards or inner tubes.

Meanwhile, Pinewood was closed this summer to all trailered watercraft because Larimer County Parks and Open Space didn't have inspectors onsite there.  You can still use a float tube there.  Boedecker Reservoir is also shut down to boating; the gate to the parking lot has been padlocked since mid August, but that appears to be because of drastically lowered water levels.

Meanwhile, boating access at the two big lakes under control of Parks and Open Space, Horsetooth and Carter, remains open under reduced hours.  Currently the South Bay and Inlet Bay ramps are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and Satanka ramp from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.  Carter's North ramp is open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, but South Ramp is closed for the season and North Pines ramp is only open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday and on holidays.

At Boyd Lake, inspections will continue and ramps will remain open through Oct. 31, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Boat access will continue through the end of November from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. (dependent on ice conditions.) 

  

Starting next year, Colorado boaters will be required to buy a $25 ANS stamp for our boats. Non-residents must purchase a $50 stamp.  How this will impact the now-inconsistent policies on access to Colorado fishing waters remains to be seen.