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Regions: Denver Metro ... Southwest ... Northeast ... Northwest
Adobe Creek Res. (Blue Lake) -- Irrigation releases are under way. The low-water ramp is the only usable boat ramp. Fishing is still fair to good for crappie from a boat. Fishing for catfish is beginning to improve.
Antero Reservoir -- Winds remain an issue and the water has been discolored but fishing has been very good. Heavy hatches of Chironomidae midges have been coming off and fly fishermen have been doing well on nymphs suspended in 5 feet of water. The best activity has been in the morning before the wind kicks in. Tasmanian Devils and Kastmasters have worked for spin-fishermen. Bait fishermen do OK with PowerBait and salmon eggs. To accommodate research associated with the drawdown, operation of the south boat ramp has been reduced to Friday through Monday. The north ramp remains open seven days a week. Only small trailered boats, canoes and other small craft can access the south ramp. Boats of any size can use the north ramp. Boating hours are 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.
Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) -- Flows are high, over 3,000 cfs, and turbid in Browns Canyon at this time. One can do well late in the day working the edges with a dry-dropper rig. Stonefly adults and nymphs both are effective right now.
Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) -- On Monday, the upper Arkansas River was flowing 1,240 cfs in Hayden Meadows and 2,270 cfs at Granite. Visibility is fair, but the current velocity is high and water temperatures are in the mid to lower 40s. Anglers working inside corners and backwater pockets have been taking nice-sized fish on stonefly nymphs and Princes. Big dries in the side channels also have been effective.
Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) -- Monday's flows were 3,510 cfs in Bighorn Sheep Canyon and very turbid. At these levels, fishing is not very productive or safe. Anglers should stick to tributary streams or mid-elevation lakes for the time being.
Bonny Reservoir -- Fishing is good for all species. Water temp is around 65 degrees during the day. A good number of decent-sized white bass being taken off the face of the dam with crank baits, jigs and shrimp. Walleyes can be good one day and slow the next. Worms seem to work best. Quite a few catfish taken on typical baits. Emergency fishing regulations are in effect: No daily bag, possession or size limits apply to any game fish. Any taking over the standard bag or possession limit requires filling out a form when leaving the lake. Forms are available at the Visitor Center, Foster Grove and the northeast corner of the dam on self-serve signs. Campground reservations are recommended for any weekend. All boats are launching without trouble.
Brush Hollow Reservoir -- The water level has dropped dramatically. The boat ramp is out of the water and unloading large boats is difficult. Trout fishing is poor. Crappie dropped off but still good. Bass are starting to hit more frequently. Fishing for catfish at night has been good.
Catamount Reservoirs, North & South -- Both reservoirs have been relatively uncrowded in recent days. The water temperature on North Cat has been around 54 degrees. Fly-rod fishermen have enjoyed some good success on midge patterns. A variety of hardware also has been effective. On South Cat, where bait fishing is permitted, trout are being taken on night crawlers and PowerBait, as well as small spinners.
Cheesman Reservoir -- Cheesman Reservoir will remain closed to public access through 2011 while Denver Water completes upgrades to the dam. The Gill Trail through Cheesman Canyon remains open for walk-in access to the South Platte River. The reservoir is expected to reopen next year.
Cottonwood Lake -- Bait fishing has been good, especially with PowerBait. Good catches in evenings on flies from belly boats or hand-propelled boats. Some success with smaller lures. The lake has restrictions that allow hand-propelled boats only; no motors or sails.
Crystal Creek Reservoir -- Little has changed. PowerBait in various colors and an assortment of spinning lures have been taking mostly catchable-sized rainbow trout.
Crystal Lake -- This small, flies-and-lures-only lake is just a few miles south of Leadville on Highway 24. It is stocked with catchable rainbows and sometimes cutthroats. Small browns were stocked in May and brook trout are present in lower numbers. Fishing results have improved to fair and better late each day. Submerged vegetation in this very shallow body of water makes it difficult to fish with lures except near the outlet.
Eleven Mile Reservoir -- The north-shore and Witcher's Cove ramps are open. Trout fishing is fair to good. Nighttime is the best time, with great action between midnight and 2 a.m. on the south side of the reservoir. Daytime fishing remains hit-and-miss, but seems to be producing more near the main boat ramp and Coyote Ridge. PowerBait, Kastmasters, Micro-jigs, worms, and salmon eggs are producing the most results. Kokanee Salmon are seen few and far between with no new report. Pike fishing is fair. A few nice pike are turning up but you have to work it hard. Large tube jigs, Husky Jerks and Dardevles are working. Midges and mayflies are hatching strong in early morning and midafternoon.
Hayden Meadows Reservoir -- Fishing success is mostly only fair with baits or artificials, but better in most evenings. This small reservoir is just off Highway 24 at the Arkansas River crossing south of Leadville. The reservoir is stocked heavily each summer and fish carry over to the following spring. Fishermen's success is usually good after stocking.
Holbrook Lake -- Fishing is slow for all species. Holbrook has had various stages of water levels the past five years, ranging from completely full to almost dry. Currently the level is low. As a result, fisheries management has been very difficult. From year to year, various fishing opportunities may exist at Holbrook as fish enter through the canal system, but formal fisheries management will only resume when the risk of lake depletion has been minimized to the point where fish stocking can be successful.
Horseshoe Reservoir -- Shore fishermen are catching trout on various colors of PowerBait and worms. Catfish reportedly are starting to bite, and another large tiger muskie was caught over the weekend. The lake is open to boating from sunrise to sunset.
Hugo Ponds -- Stocked rainbow trout are still being taken with PowerBait and night crawlers, although at a slower pace than earlier in the spring. Bluegills, channel catfish and largemouth bass are beginning to show up in creels. Night crawlers seem to produce for the warm-water species.
Jacksons Pond -- Jackson's Pond is an 8-acre pond immediately south of the town of Eads. It is seasonally stocked with catchable rainbow trout. Other species available include largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and carp. Fishing has been fair for trout and slow for all other species
Jefferson Lake -- The road is open and although some ice remains on the lake it has adequate open water around the edges for fishing. Night crawlers and salmon eggs have produced some catches of trout.
John Martin Reservoir -- Fishing has improved with warming water temperatures. Some good-sized crappie have been taken off the dam and south shore. Minnows and white and pink jigs are working best. White bass have been taken near drop-off points across the lake on jigs and crank baits, and some saugeyes have been taken on night crawlers. A few large catfish have been taken below the dam. The water level is about 12 feet lower than at the same time last year. Both ramps at present are OK but in a couple of weeks only the east ramp might be usable. All trailer-launched boats are required to launch from the ramps.
Karval and Kinney Lakes -- Few fishermen are visiting Karval Lake. Those sampling the water have been rewarded with catches of rainbow trout, channel catfish and bluegills. All species have been taken with night crawlers. Fishing pressure has been light at Kinney Lake. Anglers who visit the lake are taking rainbow trout in the 10- to 12-inch range with night crawlers and PowerBait.
Lake Henry -- Water levels are good. The boat ramp is in good shape. Fishing for crappie is fair to good; fishing for other species should improve as water temperatures continue to rise.
Lake Meredith -- Water levels are decreasing to meet irrigation demands. Fishing is slow for crappie. Fishing for wipers is still good, with an occasional channel catfish being caught.
Martin Lake -- Trout are still biting from shore on PowerBait and worms. More warm-water species are biting. A few catfish were caught last weekend, as well as walleyes and saugeyes. The youth pond has been stocked with trout. Boaters are reminded that ramps are open from sunrise to sunset. All boats must be off the water by sunset.
Midwestern Pond -- Midwestern Farms Pond is a 35-acre lake located 6 miles east of Granada on Highway 50. This deep pond has been stocked with rainbow trout, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, saugeye, crappie, wiper, striper, yellow perch and bluegill. Fishing has been good for rainbow trout throughout the spring, especially after stockings, and has been slow for all other species.
Montgomery Reservoir -- The small lake at the foot of Hoosier Pass will remain closed to fishing through 2011 so that repairs to the outlet can be completed.
Monument Reservoir -- Fishing generally has been good. Monument Lake management is planning to stock additional larger fish from certified private hatcheries to supplement DOW stocking. Chartreuse PowerBait seems to always be popular, as do doughballs. Make sure you review your 2011 fishing regulations because no live minnows may be used as bait in waters above 7,000 feet to protect the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem. Remember to be 'Bear Aware' while fishing or camping at Monument Lake. Bear Aware info is available on the DOW web site or from the local District Wildlife Manager.
Mt. Elbert Forebay -- Fishing has been fair to good, and mackinaw are starting to show up in shore fishermen’s' creels. The lake is stocked with catchable-sized rainbows and cutthroats from late May through August. The Forebay has the best population of mackinaw in the Arkansas River basin. They average 17 inches but run up to 40-plus. The mack limit is one fish, and all fish between 22 and 34 inches must be released. Carry-on boats and float tubes are permitted on the Forebay, but boaters should be aware of possible dramatic fluctuations of the water level.
Nee Gronda Reservoir -- Currently, there is no usable boat launching facility available at Nee Gronda; hand-launch boating only. Following the severe fish kill of 2009 - 2010, the lake has been restocked with all species. Spring sampling revealed fair numbers of channel catfish and wipers available to anglers.
Nee Noshe Reservoir -- Nee Noshe is very low. Currently, no boat launching facility exists at Nee Noshe. Fall inventory sampling by DOW aquatic staff revealed no fish present. Water quality is very poor. If no fresh water is added, Nee Noshe could go dry in the near future.
North Lake -- Fishing has been good for rainbows and splake. Success reported on Elk-Hair Caddis, black or green Pistol Petes, Krocodiles and Kastmasters near the inlet. North Lake is restricted to artificial flies and lures, so be sure and check the 2011 fishing regulation brochure or DOW web site for definitions. Boating by electric, wind or hand- propelled craft only. Be bear aware in western Las Animas County
Pueblo Reservoir -- The water temp is 67 degrees. The level is down a little from last month's high-water mark but remains high. The upper end has not yet been discolored by runoff. Fishing for crappie, wipers and smallmouth bass around the submerged brush of the west end has been very good. Leeches have been especially productive bait, but fish also are taking an assortment of shad imitations. Trolling for walleyes with crawler harnesses near the dam also has been quite good, though most are below the minimum (18-inch) legal size.
Queens Reservoirs -- Upper and Lower Queens reservoirs are dry.
Skaguay Reservoir -- Fishing is poor to fair for stocker and carryover rainbow trout and a few cutthroats and browns. Most are being taken along the west side on PowerBait or worms. A few northern pike also are showing up in the bag. The water level is normal (full). West Beaver Creek below the dam has been poor to fair for small browns on assorted dry fly patterns. The flow in the creek is low and with a 60-degree water temperature, moss is starting to cover most surfaces.
South Platte River (btwn Spinney and Eleven Mile) -- Trout action is fair to good. Various fly patterns working: Woolly Buggers, scuds, RS2's, Barr's Emergers, streamers and Flashbacks. The South Platte between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile reservoirs is catch-and-release fishing only with artificial flies and lures only.
South Platte River, Deckers area -- Recent flows from Cheesman Dam have been about 100 cfs and the water remains ultra clear, keeping the Platte as possibly the most fishable river in the state. Though no major hatches have been occurring, a mixed bag of aquatic insects is available to the trout. Some blue-wing-olive mayflies still are around, and some pale-morning duns have been observed. While some caddis activity has been occurring, the hatches have not been as heavy as in recent years. Even so, caddis patterns and attractor dries can take some fish. Hoppers and other terrestrial insects are beginning to appear. The Platte is living up to its reputation as a tough river, demanding a careful approach and skillful presentation.
South Platte River, Elevenmile Canyon -- Flows in the Canyon are consistently around 100 cfs. Blue winged olives are still hatching and the same small dry flies - 20-22 Parachute Adams or Sparkle Duns are still working. The BWO's are coming off earlier now so it's best to be there by 8:00 AM to catch the hatch. Small (size 20) nymphs like Stan's Black Shucking Midge, Pheasant Tails, Barr's BWO Emergers and WD 40's are working. Also working are egg patterns and small tan streamers. Please remember that Elevenmile Canyon regulations are flies and lures, catch-and-release only, upstream of Springer Gulch Bridge. Below that point you can keep 4 fish a day and use bait. There are plenty of fish in the standard regulation water.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir -- The north ramp is open; the south ramp is now open. Fishing good with Halfbacks, egg patterns, Zebras, San Juan worms, Rapalas and tube jigs. Pike action is spiking, with trophies being produced every week. Good fishing on the Dream Stream below the dam using San Juan worms, scuds, midges, Woolly Buggers and caddis pupae. No report on the river above the reservoir. Spinney Mountain Reservoir fishing is with artificial flies and lures only. Bag limit for all species of trout is one fish 20 inches or larger. No limit on northern pike. Spinney is open 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset, with no boating or fishing past half-an-hour after sunset. Boat inspections are required for all trailered vessels before entering the state park.
Thurston Reservoir -- Thurston Reservoir currently has good water levels. Fishing has been fair for largemouth bass; slow for all other species.
Trinidad Reservoir -- Trinidad Lake is at approximately 610 surface acres, with the surface temperature about 58 degrees. Fishing remains great, with lots of great fish still being caught. Several wildfires are burning in the area of Trinidad, but the state park currently is not affected by any of them. The park remains open. Boat inspections for ANS are under way and someone is at the boat ramp entrance every day to inspect boats. Boaters beware of floating debris and unmarked hazards as the water level continues to lower. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for bass and walleye. The walleye size restriction has been removed. Boaters also are advised to wear their PFDs. All facilities on the park are open. For further information call the visitors center at 719-846-6951.
Turks Pond -- Turks Pond is open to anglers. Water levels have improved significantly due to over-winter filling. Fishing is good for stocked rainbow trout and fair for catfish and crappie.
Turquoise Lake -- The lake is ice-free and the road around the lake is snow-free. Campgrounds are open, as is the Matchless boat ramp. Lots of fish are being caught, with bag limits being a mixture of mackinaw, rainbows and cutthroats. Bait fishermen claim worms are best, with shiny lures favored by the more-active fishermen. The reservoir is still very low but filling fast. The lake is stocked on a regular basis during the summer with catchable-size rainbows and cutthroat trout. The south and east shorelines usually offer good fishing for mackinaw. The limit for mackinaw is two out of the total four-fish limit, with no size restriction.
Twin Lakes -- Both lakes have risen but still have very low water levels. Fishing has improved over most of the lower lake. As usual, the catching is still best for catchable-sized rainbows, and some bigger, on worms and hardware below the power plant to the last parking area east of the Big Mac access area. Boat inspections are conducted at the Dexter Point ramp from 6 a.m. to dark, seven days a week during the summer season. The mackinaw population continues to improve.
Two Buttes Reservoir -- Two Buttes Reservoir currently is dry. When the lake refills, fish stocking will resume. Anglers can still fish the Black Hole pond below the dam for trout (seasonal), bass, bluegill and catfish.
Wrights Lake -- Wrights Lake, six miles west of Nathrop, is flies-and-lures only. Fishing has been very consistent from May through the early part of June. Most anglers use flies with a fly rod or fly-and-bubble setup. Lure fishing has been slower. The extreme west shore is private, so avoid that end of the lake.
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