Here’s what they’re thinking in North Park

During a normal early spring, Colorado’s most fanatic anglers follow every rumor about “ice out” in the high country, that brief period when big trout crowd the shorelines. The fish may not notice, but this spring coronavirus is changing everything else about our sport.

Around Walden, near the Wyoming border, rivers and streams are starting to open, and shoreline fishing is reportedly beginning in some area lakes. But camping is banned until at least April 26 at all the area’s State Wildlife Areas, and similar bans are in place in all National Forests and Bureau of Land Management properties.

Even privately owned Lake John Resort, offering year-round cabins and camping and other fishing services, is closed until at least the 26^th.

North Park Anglers in Walden, the area’s only fly shop, hopes to open by May 1^st. As of this writing, there was no restriction on fishing itself in Jackson County. But here’s the advice we have from Scott Graham at North Park Anglers:

“I am recommending that any anglers wanting to travel and fish to do so with caution. Be prepared to be self-sufficient and plan day trips only. The more visiting anglers can limit their impact on small communities, the better. 

“Walden is a small town and doesn’t have the support to deal with this virus.  We  don’t have the human resources to support individuals coming here to fish that get stuck, get hurt, have issues, etc.  I understand how much we’re all getting cabin fever, but the more of us that stick home and wait this out, the better off we will be in the coming months.”

North Park’s online store IS operational, https://shop.northparkanglers.com/, and Scott can handle curbside service for things like tippets and flies. Walden’s reliably friendly restaurants are closed except for carryout.

Meanwhile, fishing is still possible in nearby Wyoming and you can buy an out-of-state license – but out-of-state residents are expected to quarantine themselves for 14 days after entering the state. It’s just as restrictive elsewhere – in New Mexico, the Department of Game and Fish is telling all anglers “stay home, mend equipment and prepare for the upcoming fishing season.”

If ever there was a time to be like Ghandi, and view the world through someone else’s eyes, this is it. Let’s realize that folks in the High Country depend on and welcome visitors’ business, but maybe not right now.