Divers with spearguns won't be swimming and fishing in more Colorado waters anytime soon.

That's after the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission's recent, nearly unanimous decision to deny a petition to expand spearfishing around the state.

CPW officials supported the petition that would have launched a three-year pilot allowing spearfishers more opportunities at 16 popular fisheries, including Lake Pueblo, Horsetooth Reservoir, Lake Granby and Twin Lakes. But CPW's rules-setting body declined to move the pilot forward, siding with opposition that has long stood against the spearfishing effort.

The effort goes back about a decade, said Austin Rickard, who has led the push the past few years. He manages a Grand Junction dive shop and leads the Colorado Spearfishing Club. The club is sma

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