HARTSEL, Colo.--Spinney Mountain State Park opened to shore fishermen and boats on Wednesday, April 30, providing anglers with one of their coveted, annual spring fishing rites.   The opening officially marked the beginning of the 2008 Spinney Mountain Reservoir fishing season. 

According to Park Manager Kevin Tobey, “The reservoir is down 4.5 vertical feet below the spillway elevation, so boats were allowed to launch at both the North and South Boat Ramps.” 

Nearby Eleven Mile Reservoir remains closed to boating due to significant ice, but does offer large areas of open water along the shoreline for shore fishing as the ice cap melts. It will open to boating when the ice clears off.

Colorado State Parks annual passes were sold at the gate from 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on opening day. Annual passes cost $60 and are valid at all Colorado State Parks for 12 months from the date of purchase. Daily park passes are available for $6.

Each season, opening day at Spinney Mountain State Park attracts anglers from Colorado and surrounding states.  Fishermen are reminded that only artificial flies and lures are permitted at Spinney Mountain Reservoir, and that items with any scent are prohibited, regardless of whether scent is added by the manufacturer or by the angler after the item is purchased. 

The bag and possession limit and minimum size for trout caught in the reservoir is one fish, 20 inches or longer.  There is no bag or possession limit on pike, and anglers are encouraged to harvest all pike they catch to help maintain a proper balance between trout and pike.  

Trout fishing is expected to remain very good this year, thanks in large part to the Division of Wildlife’s annual fall stocking program in which large trout are stocked shortly before ice covers the reservoir. 

Tobey said, “The Division of Wildlife stocks 12-14 inch trout each fall, enabling them to continue to feed and grow during the winter.  They are less likely to be preyed upon by the northern pike in the winter since the pike’s metabolism slows down and they become less active, while the trout remain active throughout the winter.”

With the recent discovery of zebra mussels at Lake Pueblo, Colorado State Parks are asking boaters and anglers help to protect Colorado waters from all aquatic invasive species (AIS).

Zebra mussels are a non-native, invasive species that spread very quickly, causing harmful effects to the environment. All boaters, belly boaters and people wading into water are advised to take a few simple, precautionary steps – every time they go to a lake, river or stream.

Before leaving a lake or other waterway, boaters should:

·         DRAIN the water from the boat, live well and the lower unit of the engine

·         INSPECT all exposed surfaces.

·         REMOVE all plant and animal material.

·         CLEAN the hull of your boat.

·         DRY the boat, fishing gear, and equipment.

Attracting more than 11 million visitors per year, Colorado's 42 State Parks are a vital cornerstone in Colorado's economy and quality of life, offering some of the best outdoor recreation destinations in the state. Colorado State Parks manages more than 4,000 campsites, 57 cabins and yurts, encompassing 246,000 land and water acres.

For more information, call the park office at 719-748-3401 or access information at www.parks.state.co.us.