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DENTRY: Cutthroat trout board planes for high lakes

Published September 4, 2007 at midnight

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Trout reproduce in a few high lakes, but most of Colorado's 2,000 cold, clear snowmelt-fed chalices would be barren of fish without help.

So, if you are a backpacker who enjoys watching the rings of rising trout in some hallowed cirque, you might consider thanking a Division of Wildlife pilot.

The annual fly-in project has begun. For the next couple of weeks, the division's Cessna 185s will dive into sometimes impossible alpine crannies to release tiny hatchery-reared cutthroat trout low over the water.

High country campers who are lucky might even witness the air show. The airplanes are white with orange markings and a blue DOW seal.

When they are a few feet over the water, a canister bearing a prescribed number of 2-inch and shorter trout fry opens and releases the tiny fish.

In some tight spots, the real trick is for the pilot to climb out in one piece.

This fish mission can be a hair-raising experience. The rugged landscape, tight spots and erratic mountain wind currents can be unforgiving.

On Sept. 4, 2002, veteran pilot and biologist Jim Olterman, 57, was killed and a co-worker was injured when a freak wind shear tossed their Cessna onto a ridge in the Sangre de Cristo Mountains during a mission.

This year, 325,000 native cutthroat fingerlings will sky-dive into 284 high-elevation lakes. The planes will stock greenback, Rio Grande and Colorado River cutthroats in their respective historical drainages.

The aerial stockings strengthen the state's native trout populations at the same time they perpetuate backcountry fishing.

Anyone who values finding colorful, native fish in such special places shouldn't mind the occasional buzzing by the fish heroes.

FEEDING THE HUNGRY: Farmers and Hunters Feeding the Hungry is up and running again, thanks to financial donations and the dedication of its Colorado leader, Gregg Kay.

FHFH is the program that accepts elk, deer and antelope meat from hunters and delivers the meat to the Denver Rescue Mission.

"After not having enough funds to operate the program last year, I have put together sufficient donations to fund the program this year," Kay said.

He said operating funds came from the NRA Foundation and "private donations from some very fine Colorado hunters/philanthropists."

Hunters wishing to donate meat start by taking the elk, deer or antelope carcass to Steve's Meats, 5751 Olde Wadsworth Blvd. in Arvada. Owner Steve Hein, at stevesmeatmarket.com, donates half the cost of processing.

FHFH also can use cash donations. Contact GreggKay@hotmail.com or donate online at FHFH.org (use the program code CO-01 for Colorado).

CHATFIELD TOURNEY: Denver Bassmasters is looking for at least 30 teams of two anglers each to compete in its first Bass Open Team Tournament, Saturday at Chatfield Reservoir.

The team catching the heaviest bag of largemouth and smallmouth bass that are released alive will win $1,500. Others will win cash and other prizes.

Entry costs $100 per boat. Entry forms and tournament rules are posted at denverbassmasters.com.