John (Southwest Region host) and staff provided a regional aquatics update noting personnel changes, an economic study of fishing in Colorado, and early monitoring results from Ridgeway Reservoir.

John announced two new area aquatic biologists who began Jan. 6: Cade Jackson in the Durango area (filling Jim Weitzel’s former position) and Julio Del Piccolo in Gunnison (replacing Dan Brow). Both were described as having local knowledge and field experience; Julio was noted to be assisting with Blue Mesa and other projects.

CPW reported contracted economic analysis results (work contracted 02/2022) that will be released publicly in the coming weeks: in 2022 Colorado issued more than 839,000 fishing licenses, an estimated 686,000 anglers fished that year and fishing activity produced about $2.5 billion in total economic output, supported more than 15,000 jobs and generated roughly $860 million in salaries and wages. CPW said more detailed results will accompany the formal release.

On fisheries management, staff described the Blue Mesa lake trout harvest incentive tournament (ongoing through April) and Ridgeway Reservoir work where sterile walleye were first stocked last spring. CPW staff performed two weeks of night electrofishing last October and removed more than 2,400 illegally introduced smallmouth bass to reduce juvenile recruitment and aid tournament goals. The electrofishing also documented walleye recruitment with more than 70 walleye captured at 4–9 inches. Staff said the agency will monitor the sterile walleye population and continue an alternating-year harvest-incentive approach.

CPW also described a novel photo‑identification study of trophy brown trout at Ridgeway using software to identify individuals by spot patterns for mark‑recapture population and survival estimates. John encouraged anglers to look for forthcoming aquatics releases and to engage with the new area biologists at local meetings.

The aquatics update concluded with a reminder that the Blue Mesa tournament includes $10,000 in cash prizes and is active through April.