|
Regions: Denver Metro ... Southeast ... Southwest ... Northeast ... Northwest
Adobe Creek Res. (Blue Lake) -- The low-water ramp is the only usable boat ramp. Fishing for catfish and green sunfish is fair from shore. Small numbers of white bass are being caught. A fire ban is in effect for Blue Lake.
Antero Reservoir -- The drawdown phase is complete and the level is down two feet. The water is clearing. The temperature is about 61 degrees, and weed growth is becoming significant. Fishing remains generally good. PowerBait and Gulp produce for bait fishermen; small Rapalas and HDs for spin-casters. Large sedges and damselflies produce for fly fishermen. Fishing tends to be better away from shore. 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) -- The Browns Canyon area is in excellent condition and fishing very well. Daily hatches of Yellow Sallies and pale morning duns are focusing fish on the surface and upper levels of the water column, making them more accessible to anglers and apt to take a dry fly. While Sunday's flows were down to 1,520 cfs, the speed of the current is still keeping most fish posted along the edges. A dry-dropper or double-dry rig fished tight against the bank has been the most effective strategy.
Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) -- The upper river is in very good shape, with Sunday's flows at 391 cfs in Hayden Meadows and 1,200 cfs at Granite. Yellow Sally and golden stoneflies, pale morning dun mayflies, caddis and hoppers all are active in this reach, so the fish have become very surface-oriented. With the current still strong, expect fish to be found in velocity shelters, where they can lie out of the fast water but still feed effectively.
Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) -- Bighorn Sheep Canyon has been providing anglers with excellent fishing all week, the result of clear water and quickly declining flows - 1,650 cfs on Sunday. Caddis, Yellow Sally stoneflies, pale morning dun mayflies and terrestrials all are likely foodstuffs for trout that are still hanging tight to the edges but feeding opportunistically throughout the day. Flows will continue to drop during the week ahead, making the river even more approachable for the wade angler and opening up more usable habitat for the fish.
Bonny Reservoir -- Fishing is fair to poor for all species. The water temp is around 79 degrees and the recent heat has slowed down the fish bite. The best action is early morning and late evening, when the water is cooler. 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. All boats are launching without trouble even though some water has been released.
Catamount Reservoirs, North & South -- South Catamount Reservoir will provide anglers with good to excellent fishing. Fishermen are having their best luck fishing worms, both off the bottom, and under a few feet from the surface. Water at South Cat is lower than at Crystal and North Catamount reservoirs, but the fishery continues to hold strong numbers of catchable-size trout. North Catamount offers anglers exceptional opportunities to catch limits of catchable trout, with a good possibility of catching a fish in the 15- to 18-inch range. Anglers are having the most success using flies that represent various stages of the mayfly hatch. Water levels remain low in the reservoir, but the fishing remains good to excellent. Please remember that North Cat is flies-and-lures only.
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.
Clear Creek Reservoir -- Fishing has improved somewhat but still not to expected levels. Trolling produced catches of 8 to 23 fish for several fishermen in a few hours on gold Kastmasters and chartreuse and pink Tasmanian Devils. Those fishing for tiger muskies reported fish following lures to the boat, but none were hooked or landed. Fly fishermen have had some luck near the inlet on a variety of dry flies. From shore or cast from boats, brown-trout-colored 1/4-ounce Daredevles were best last week, followed by rust and red Thomas Buoyants of the same weight. Blue-and-silver Blue Devils also have been effective. PowerBait and worms from shore have not worked very well. A few kokanee have been caught on spoons and spinner baits fished deep in the middle of the lake. Perfect weather has attracted many fishermen.
Crystal Creek Reservoir -- Fishing at Crystal Reservoir should be good to excellent. Most anglers are having success with PowerBait and worms fished a few feet off the bottom. Water levels remain low, but that has not affected the fishing. Easy access and proximity to the Pikes Peak gift shop make Crystal Reservoir a great place for family outings.
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. Lots of those fish continue to be caught. Small browns were stocked in May and brook trout are present in lower numbers. Fishing results recently have improved. Submerged vegetation in this very shallow body of water makes it difficult to fish with lures except near the outlet.
DeWeese Reservoir -- Trout fishing has been good from shore using green, white or purple PowerBait, as well as salmon eggs and worms. The moss line is a bit early this year and fishermen have had better success if they can cast beyond it. Boat fishing has been most productive trolling lures. Smallmouth bass action has picked up using tube jigs, Rat.L.Traps and Rapalas. No size restrictions apply to smallmouths at DeWeese; five of any length may be kept. Anglers are encouraged to keep smaller ones as there is an over abundance of them. Some tiger muskies also have been caught on bait and lures. Remember that the tiger muskie limit is one fish 36 inches or longer. Most trout are in the 12-inch class but some occasional 16- to 18-inch fish also have been taken.
Eleven Mile Reservoir -- The north-shore and Witcher's Cove ramps are open. Trout fishing is good to excellent. Sunset to sunrise seems to be the most productive time, with great action between midnight and 2 a.m. on the south side of the reservoir. During the daytime, action seems best near the main boat ramp and Coyote Ridge. Various colors of PowerBait, Kastmasters, Tasmanian Devils, micro jigs, worms combined with marshmallows, and salmon eggs are producing the best results. Trolling with pink or orange Eppinger's Devle Dog Pup spoons has been very good. Kokanee salmon have been hitting on Wedding Rings with Pop Geer. Pike fishing is good. Some nice-sized pike are turning up, with the most productive area being the west end of the reservoir. Large tube jigs, Husky Jerks and rainbow Dardevles are working well.
Hayden Meadows Reservoir -- Fishing success over the weekend was fair with flies. Various baits did well early and late in the day. 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. A few catfish were caught over the weekend. The lake is open to boating from sunrise to sunset. All vessels must be inspected when entering and exiting the lake.
Hugo Ponds -- Bluegill, channel catfish and largemouth bass are beginning to show up in creels. Night crawlers seem to produce best for the warm-water species. Expect the best fishing success in the evening and at night.
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 -- Fishing for recently stocked and occasionally larger trout has been fairly good on night crawlers, salmon eggs, PowerBait and Dardevle-type spoons. Some mackinaw also are being taken from shore, but most have been relatively small. Larger ones are in deeper water and might be available to fishermen using float tubes.
John Martin Reservoir -- The water level is dropping 4-5 inches a day as Kansas draws its water from the reservoir. White bass have been hitting Mister Twisters early in the morning. Few saugeyes are being taken, but crappie are hitting small jigs and night crawlers around structure early in the morning. A few catfish are being taken in the spillway, primarily on shad. The west boat ramp no longer is open; the east ramp remains in use, but low-profile vehicles and deep-drafting boats might have some difficulty launching. All gasoline-powered vessels must be inspected prior to launching. All fires and fireworks are prohibited.
Karval and Kinney Lakes -- Fishing pressure is light at Karval Lake. The best fishing should be in evening and at night, using night crawlers for channel catfish and bluegills. A few anglers are taking stocker trout with Kastmasters. Anglers fishing Kinney Lake will be more successful in evening and at night. Night crawlers should be the bait of choice for bluegills and channel catfish. Another good choice for channel cats would be stink baits.
Lake Henry -- Water levels are good, although the water has dropped some due to irrigation needs. The boat ramp is in good shape. Fishing for catfish is fair to good. A fire ban is in effect.
Lake Meredith -- Water levels have recently increased due to runoff, but will likely soon decrease to meet irrigation demands. Fishing for wipers is slow to fair, with an occasional channel catfish also being caught. A fire ban is in effect.
Manitou Lake -- As of July 6, fishing at Manitou Lake has been slow. High pH levels currently have prevented stocking. Limits of catchable trout are still possible. Anglers are having marginal success using PowerBait and night crawlers fished a few feet off the bottom. Stocking will resume as soon as conditions are favorable
Martin Lake -- Trout continue to bite on various colors of PowerBait and night crawlers. The pike have been biting on silver-colored lures and spoons on the east end of the lake. Boaters are reminded that ramps are open from sunrise to sunset. All vessels need to be inspected when entering and exiting the park.
Midwestern Pond -- Midwestern Farms Pond is a 35-acre lake located six 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 fair for rainbow trout and slow for all other species. No fireworks are allowed.
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.
Mt. Elbert Forebay -- Fishing success for shore fishermen is good in the evenings and downright slow mid-day. Reports of a 40- to 42-inch-long, 25-pound mackinaw being caught within the last week are circulating. The fish was reportedly caught by a 14-year-old young man using PowerBait, color unknown, from shore. The lake is stocked with catchable-sized rainbows and cutthroats from late May through August. 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. All fires and fireworks are prohibited.
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. All fires and fireworks are prohibited.
Nichols Reservoir -- Nichols is accessed by a 1.8 mile-hiking trail leading down from the Rampart Reservoir dam. Fishing success is fair for pan-sized trout. Most anglers are reporting catches using PowerBait and night crawlers.
Pueblo Reservoir -- The water level has come down a little but remains very good. Clarity also is good. Fishing for all warm-water species has been good, especially in the west end. Bass, wipers, crappie and some walleyes have been hitting on jigs and leeches around the brushy areas. Walleyes also are being taken on worm harnesses and jigs near the dam. Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs and soft-plastic grubs along the rock walls. Recreational boating traffic on the main part of the lake has been very heavy.
Queens Reservoirs -- Upper and Lower Queens reservoirs are dry. Fires and fireworks are prohibited.
Rampart Reservoir -- Angling at Rampart remains fair to good for catchable trout, with the action slowing for lakers. Most success has been by fishing off the bottom with PowerBait or trolling spinners. The DOW would like to thank boaters for their cooperation in the watercraft inspection program.
Skaguay Reservoir -- Fishing is fair for rainbow trout and a few cutthroats and browns. Fish recently have been hitting flies, baits and lures. A few northern pike also are showing up in the bag, but most are small. The water level is dropping and is about 29 inches below full. Water in West Beaver Creek below the dam is very low. Fishing there is poor for small browns, but a few are being taken along with an occasional cutthroat.
South Platte River (btwn Spinney and Eleven Mile) -- The flow was down to around 250 cfs on July 24. Trout action had been good earlier but was tougher in the high water. Various fly patterns working: San Juan worms, scuds, caddis larvae and pupae, cranefly larvae, Barr's Emergers, Flashbacks and hoppers. The South Platte between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile reservoirs is catch-and-release fishing only, by artificial flies and lures only.
South Platte River, Deckers area -- Flows from Cheesman Dam have been steady, at 611 cubic feet per second on Tuesday and still above the long-term average. The water has been clear except for occasional rain runoff. Wading still is not easy, but the water no longer is up on the banks and anglers can get around more easily. A mixed bag of aquatic insects available to the trout includes some late blue-wing-olive mayflies, pale-morning duns, caddis, early Tricos and a few green drakes below Deckers. Grasshoppers and other terrestrials have been evident, and deep-drifted nymphs and streamers also have taken some fish.
South Platte River, Elevenmile Canyon -- Flows were gradually coming down, but suddenly shot back up and appear to be in flux. Flows, currently about 400 cfs, are more than double the 82-year average, so be careful wading. Blue-winged-olives, pale morning duns, caddis and lots of Tricos all are hatching. Flies: be flexible and ready to change patterns frequently from Parachute Adams, to Trico dry flies, to Elk-Hair Caddis and PMD dry flies, and then to the nymphs that go along with these dries, and don't forget your San Juan worms. Please remember that Elevenmile Canyon regulations are flies and lures, catch-and-release only, upstream of Springer Gulch Bridge. There are plenty of fish in the standard-regulation water and it's a lot less crowded.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir -- The lake is full. Both boat ramps are open. Fishing is good from the shore and from boats with Tasmanian Devils, Zebras, San Juan worms, Rapalas, Devle Dog Pups 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. 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. Fireworks are prohibited.
Trinidad Reservoir -- Trinidad Lake covers about 545 surface acres, with a surface temp of approximately 67 degrees. Rainbows and walleyes are still hitting on worms and PowerBait from shore. Boaters are still getting some good walleyes by fishing in deep water, and some catfish are being caught on either chicken or beef liver. Remember, you are not allowed to launch your boat without it being inspected first. 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 walleyes. The walleye size restriction was changed this year so that only one per day in the five-fish-limit aggregate can exceed 18 inches. All boaters are advised to wear their PFDs. For further information call the visitor 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 -- Catch rates have slowed with the near filling of the reservoir and the approach of August. Some better catch rates in spots. PowerBait still the preferred bait, but some claim worms are the only thing working. More-active fishermen still favoring lures. 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 -- Water levels in the two lakes are probably as high as they will get this year. Lots of previously shoreline vegetation now is submerged and attracting fish. Fishing around willows that are below the water line can be good. As usual, the catching still is fair to good for catchable-sized rainbows on worms and hardware below the power plant. 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.
|
