CPW’s kokanee giveaways: Oct. 9 at Roaring Judy was canceled, Fridays run through Nov. 20

Colorado’s kokanee giveaway calendar is underway, and the first date already dropped off. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Oct. 5, 2026, release says the Oct. 9 giveaway at Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery was canceled. Friday giveaways there, north of Gunnison, are scheduled from Oct. 16 through Nov. 20. People who want fish are supposed to be in line by 9 a.m. CPW says to call the hatchery at 970-641-0190 or 970-641-7070 the day before, because a date can be canceled or added depending on the run.

Aquatic biologist Giulio Del Piccolo, in Gunnison, said he had been on the Gunnison River the previous few days and had not seen many kokanee running up from Blue Mesa toward Roaring Judy. “People should definitely call before the scheduled giveaway days to make sure we are going to have fish,” he said. Fall 2026 is the fourth year of a captive kokanee spawn at Roaring Judy. Those fish are raised at the hatchery for three years and given away on the same weekly schedule as fish returning from Blue Mesa.

Other dates in the release: Lake Nighthorse in Durango at 3 p.m. on Fridays from Oct. 30 through Nov. 20, with the lot typically open around 2 p.m., and Joe Rowell Park in Dolores at 3 p.m. on Oct. 29. Dolores and Nighthorse questions go to 970-247-0855. Granby, Shadow Mountain, and Wolford questions go to 970-725-6200. A 2026 Colorado fishing license is required. Up to four youth may get fish with a licensed adult. Southern Ute and Ute Mountain Ute tribal members may show a tribal ID, a Brunot license, or a state license. Most kokanee are 10 to 13 inches. Southwest region senior aquatic biologist Jim White said many Lake Nighthorse fish end up around 10 inches or less.

In 2025, CPW collected nearly 10.5 million kokanee eggs at seven spawning sites and later stocked 29 waters. The Dolores River produced 31,880 eggs in 2025 and had no giveaway; in 2023 that river produced 922,383 eggs and several giveaway days. This release is separate from the Gunnison River kokanee-release rule already on the desk.

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

Source: Colorado Parks and Wildlife — Kokanee salmon giveaway days for 2026 (Oct. 5, 2026).