Western Slope Pike and Largemouth Bass (bass fishing, pike fishing)

The western Slope of the Rocky Mountains has been ground zero for smallmouth bass and pike eradication as part of a Federal effort to restore the Colorado River basin's native fish. In Colorado, CPW has been systematically stocking largemouth bass in their place to give anglers a similar species to target. Why largemouth bass? Because, unlike smallmouth bass and pike, largemouth will not successfully reproduce in the river if they escape impoundments. Regardless of how you feel about pike and smallmouth removals, we feel largemouth bass are a worthy replacement and based on what we've experienced in several "left slope" fisheries where they have been stocked, the future looks pretty bright for warm water anglers.