For outdoors enthusiasts, Colorado is essentially a playground, which is why those who enjoy hunting, fishing, skiing, hiking, and rock climbing flock to the state. Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Blue Mesa Lake Trout TournamentIn 2026, the Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife will once again be offering a total of $10,000 worth of prize money to anglers who contribute the most to controlling the population of a predatory type of fish known as lake trout. In addition, any angler who participates in the contest and doesn’t catch enough lake trout to win any of the top four prizes will be entered into a drawing where 20 participants will each win a $200 prize. Lake trout are considered to be a predatory species of fish due to the fact that they prey on a species of salmon known as kokanee, which are also present in Blue Mesa Reservoir. Learn more about Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s 2026 Blue Mesa Lake Trout Tournament here.