Traveling with your tackle box will be in order for you and the family through July 31, 2021, as Colorado is giving away money for caught trout.

I've never been much of a fisherman, but I am a fan of money, so I'm really thinking about making this a part of my 2021 'Summer of Fun.'

Where is this happening?

Blue Mesa Reservoir which lies in between Gunnison and Montrose in beautiful southwestern Colorado. Blue Mesa is gorgeous; it's almost 20 miles long, as compared to Horsetooth's six miles.

How does this work?

It's the Blue Mesa Reservoir Lake Trout Tournament, put on by Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW.) There are giving away cash prizes for trout fished out of the reservoir. The angler who catches the most lake trout (under 24") before July 31, 2021, will get $1,000; the tournament began in February.

Second place for 'most fish' will receive $500 and third place will receive $250.

They also have tagged trout in the reservoir that are worth varying amounts of cash if caught and their heads are turned in; this is not a 'catch and release' tournament. They've set aside $10,000 for the tournament's prizes.

What's the entry fee?

There's no cost for competition and no need to register. Just bring those fish heads to the CPW representatives at the reservoir.

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How did this go the first year?

This will be the second annual event; the first one in 2020 saw about 340 anglers catching about 4,000 lake trout.

Why the tournament?

By having all the lake trout fished out, it helps the CPW maintain the amount of kokanee in the reservoir; they like to keep an equal amount of both fish in the reservoir. I have no idea what a kokanee is.

Get more on the tournament from Denver7 HERE.

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