Latest News – June 1

Attention Leadville Anglers! FREE Fishing Weekend

Leadville children and their families have been getting outside and enjoying all of the incredible recreational opportunities that Lake County has to offer for years. In fact, enjoying the great outdoors is something that has been passed down from generation to generation, and shared with newcomers in an enthusiastic manner. After all, who else is going to tell you where the fish are biting?!

Fishing has been a family tradition in Leadville for generations, like Dawn Todd-Flores and her daughter Madison Fisher who have been casting their lines out at Turquoise Lake for years! Photo: Leadville Today/Kathy Bedell

So listen up all you anglers and fly-fishing fanatics it’s time to grab the poles, and pack up the family for a day out by the water.  And what better time than this weekend because the Colorado Parks and Wildlife is inviting anglers of all ages to participate in its annual Free Fishing Weekend: June 3 – 4. The free fishing weekend is a great w?ay to get outside with family and friends and take adva??ntag?e of Colorado’s extensive opportunities to fish for a myriad of cold and warm water fish species??.?

Never fished before? Don’t worry, the Colorado Outdoors “Quick Tips” video will show you the basics to setting up a rod. 

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Colorado Parks and Wildlife reminds the public that although a license is not required on Free Fishing Weekend, all other rules and regulations will apply. Anglers should consult the ?Colorado Fishing Brochure????? for specific regulations and restrictions. 

Fishing licenses can be purchased at an??y Colorado Parks and Wildlife office or from one of the more than 600 license agents across the state. Licenses can also be purchased online. Anglers may also purchase a fishing license over the phone by calling 800-244-5613. To purchase a license online or for more information. 

Abby Marcella pictured here with her Mom Kayla, shows off her award-winning rainbow trout that she caught in last February’s Twin Lakes Ice Fishing Tournament. Abby’s catch took third place in the kids competition. The annual event is a true family tradition with three generations of the Marcellas out on the ice Drillin’ and Droppin’. Photo: LeadvilleToday/Kathy Bedell.

Last year over one million fishing licenses were sold in Colorado. The sale of fishing licenses allows CPW to maintain and conserve fish habitat that promotes better fishing in Colorado.?

If you decide that the FREE fishing weekend made you a caster for life, then you can pick up an official license at the following local outlets: Twin Lakes General Store, Sugar Loafin Campground, Saturday’s Discount on Hwy 24 south of Leadville and of course, Colorado Fly Fishing Guides located downtown.

?Fishing in Colorado means the opportunity to land some 35 species of both warm- and cold-water fish. You can fish for the famed rainbow trout in a cool Rocky Mountain stream or troll for walleye on a sunny reservoir. And Colorado offers everything in between, too. There are 6,000 miles of streams and more than 2,000 lakes and reservoirs to choose from. Which one is your favorite? Or maybe you need to find a new fishing hole? Then check out the new interactive Colorado Fishing Atlas map.

CLICK to the official Colorado Fishing Guide

Colorado’s excellent fishing opportunities are made even better by the efforts of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) 19 hatcheries. CPW stocks 3.5 million 10-inch fish every year. An additional 58 million warm-water species and 13 million subcatchable cold-water species are stocked. It costs $1.05 to raise a catchable fish for stocking. So, please conserve this precious resource by returning the fish you do not plan to eat to the water promptly. 

Of course, if you live in Leadville Today then you’ve probably been to the Leadville National Fish Hatchery, located off Hwy 300, south of town. While there is no fishing at the facility, it is a favorite among locals and visitors for all things “fish-y.” From how they incubate and hatch the fish eggs to the process of stocking the rivers and lakes, the hatchery is a educational, fun way to introduce children to the gilled, underwater world.

A Visual Tour of Leadville Fish Hatchery & Nature Trail

After you are done with touring the hatchery’s facility, be sure to catch the Nature Trail that leads up to the beautiful Evergreen Lakes! Interpretive signs and clearly marked trails make this an easy walk for everyone in the family! Take along a picnic, it’s the perfect spot!

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