CPW lifts Yampa and Elk river voluntary fishing closures near Steamboat Springs

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is lifting the full-day voluntary fishing closures on the Yampa River from Chuck Lewis State Wildlife Area to the western edge of Steamboat Springs, and on the Elk River, starting Friday, Oct. 30. CPW announced the change Oct. 29, citing cooler nights and better river conditions.

The closures began in July during a hot, dry summer with very low flows. On July 19, staff found more than 300 dead mountain whitefish on the lower Elk River after water temperatures reached 82 degrees. CPW kept the closures in place into October to protect spawning whitefish. Early surveys found whitefish on spawning grounds at 10% to 20% of the historical average.

Some restrictions remain. A mandatory closure at the Fish Creek confluence with the Yampa runs through Nov. 15. A voluntary closure stays in place from the top of Sarvis Creek SWA through the BLM stretch below Stagecoach Reservoir, and a mandatory 0.6-mile closure applies below Stagecoach State Park dam. CPW expects those two closures to last until spring 2027. The city of Steamboat's separate recreational closure is not part of this change.

This is a The Gillnet news desk summary, not a reprint.

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife: CPW lifts voluntary closures on portions of the Yampa and Elk rivers (Oct. 29, 2026).