The 10th edition of the Ridgway Smallmouth Bass Classic ran from July 5 to August 10, with $20,000 in cash on the line for anglers removing bass from the lake.
Smallmouths are considered a non-native invasive species in that part of Colorado, as biologists believe they compete with native and prized brook and lake trout. Bass are more aggressive than trout and other native fish in the state, so smallies must be removed and anglers are helping to get them out of Ridgway.
The tournament is held every-other-year, and this year the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Department (CPW) offered $20,000 in prize money to those fishermen removing smallmouths. Top prize for the fisherman catching the most smallmouths and turning them in to the CPW this year won $10,000. The second place angler received $5,000, and the third spot won $1,000.
Additionally, three tagged smallmouths each were worth $1,000 for anglers who caught and delivered them to the tournament site at Ridgway State Park, located 20 miles southwest of the town of Montrose. Every bass turned in also earned an angler a raffle entry with prizes ranging from $100 to $500.
Fishermen are allowed to keep bass meat to eat, but they must give CWP fish heads to be counted in the five-week long tournament.
Who won the top prizes, how many fish, and what size smallmouths were caught this year was not available to Wired2fish at this time. We will update the story as that information becomes available.
Obviously state fisheries folks are serious about getting smallmouths out of some of Colorado’s lakes and rivers. The 2022 Ridgway Classic tournament set a record with 5,500 smallmouths caught and taken out of Ridgway, according to the CPW. Angler Chase Nicholson was high hook, with 3,036 fish, also taking a purse of $1,600 for tagged fish caught.
State fisheries biologist Eric Gardunio says the event allows anglers to play an important role in the removal of invasive smallmouth bass. He hopes increased prize money in the tourney amps up angler participation in the event.
Ridgway has no bag or possession limits on smallmouth bass. Colorado officials are dedicated to removing smallies, which were introduced to the region from the Great Lakes by well-meaning persons years ago.
Smallmouths have spread widely in western Colorado rivers and lakes, such as the Uncompahgre, which feeds Ridgway Reservoir. Bass already have spread to Colorado’s Green and Yampa rivers.
Because smallmouths populate waters very quickly, removal of fish from Colorado waters is vital to protect native fish species, reports the CPW.
