Gunnison Rotary Blue Mesa Fishing Tournament

At 7,519 feet above sea level, Blue Mesa Reservoir is Colorado’s largest body of water, a 20-mile reach of cold, deep blue pressed into the Gunnison Valley’s canyon country west of Gunnison, Colorado. Each winter and spring it becomes the setting for the Blue Mesa Lake Trout Tournament, a Colorado Parks and Wildlife harvest-incentive competition now in its fifth year. The 2026 edition runs January 1 through April 30, giving anglers four months to fish the reservoir’s ice-capped and open waters for a chance at a $3,000 top prize from a $10,000 total pool.

The mechanics are straightforward. Catch and legally harvest a lake trout measuring 24 inches or smaller, remove its head cleanly behind the gills, and drop it at one of three collection points: Elk Creek Marina, the Iola boat ramp, or Lake Fork Marina on the reservoir’s west end. CPW offices in Gunnison and Montrose also accept submissions. The angler who turns in the most heads earns first place at $3,000. Second place takes $1,500, third earns $1,000, and fourth receives $500. Every head submitted also earns a raffle entry for one of twenty $200 prizes. In 2025, anglers set a record with 2,770 heads turned in, helping Colorado’s Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery collect more than three million kokanee salmon eggs that fall, the best count since 2019.

Why the Numbers Matter

Blue Mesa has carried world-class credentials for decades. In 2023, Gunnison angler Scott Enloe landed a lake trout that weighed 73.29 pounds and measured 47 inches, a fish widely considered the largest ever recorded. But the reservoir’s smaller lake trout population grew unchecked through the 2010s, driving a sharp decline in kokanee salmon numbers. CPW aquatic biologist Giulio Del Piccolo has explained the math: lake trout under 24 inches are the heaviest kokanee predators in the system. Removing them protects the kokanee run and the conditions that grow those trophy-size lakers. The 2020 tournament removed over 4,000 small lake trout in its first year alone.

Who Should Come

This is a self-paced competition well suited to solo anglers and pairs who enjoy extended fishing trips. Families with older children who hold valid Colorado fishing licenses can participate fully. January and February mean ice fishing from the reservoir surface. By March and April, open water returns and boat fishing takes over. The Elk Creek Marina area, on the north shore off U.S. Highway 50, is the most accessible launch point and has the broadest on-site amenities. Gunnison, 15 minutes east, offers full lodging, dining, and gear.

Good to Know
All winners are notified by May 31. Only lake trout at or under 24 inches count. A valid Colorado fishing license is required for all participants 16 and older. Heads must be harvested legally from Blue Mesa Reservoir between January 1 and April 30, 2026.

For Families Making a Weekend of It

The Curecanti National Recreation Area surrounds the reservoir, and its visitor center near Elk Creek Marina is a good first stop for trail maps and geology exhibits. The Elk Creek Trail offers easy lakeside walking with canyon wall views. For a half-day excursion, Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park, roughly 45 minutes by car, drops 2,000 feet to the Gunnison River at its narrowest. Rangers lead rim walks and canyon interpretive programs that children consistently rate as a highlight of any Gunnison-area trip.

Where to Stay Near the Reservoir

Gunnison has several hotels and short-term rentals within easy range of the Elk Creek and Lake Fork access points. If you want to keep the reservoir close, look for rental properties near the Blue Mesa area on Lake.com. The towns of Cimarron and Sapinero along the south rim road offer the quietest approaches to the western end of the reservoir, ideal for ice fishing access early in the season.