Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

By JON KLEIS

Winter in Colorado means you can count on beautiful scenery, unpredictable weather and new residents waiting for the snow to fly before buying a good set of tires resulting in extremely spooky entertainment just in time for Halloween. As we dress up like monsters and go trick-or-treating or head out to a party, our rivers and lakes swell with genuine monsters looking for a bite to eat. I say genuine monsters because many of these fish seem to have come out of a twilight zone-esque worm hole that we can only guess exists without any living proof except for the occasional Nessy sighting.
Monster in size and stature, fall fish are toothy and colorful, boasting vibrant shades of red, yellow and brown. The best part about fall fishing is that, with a few exceptions, you don't have to worry about crowds. I say with a few exceptions because the South Platte River gets hammered with people. One stretch in particular gets more pressure than others and that is below Spinney Reservoir, a section of the river affectionately referred to as the "Dream Stream." If you are not a fan of combat fishing (a.k.a. fighting through crowds of people in an attempt to find a good spot), then you might consider the Dream Stream to be more of a nightmare in the spring and fall.

Brown Trout and Kokanee Salmon are fall spawners. As many of us know, Elevenmile Reservoir is home to some insanely huge trout and a population of Kokanee -- all of which migrate up the South Platte River below Spinney to spawn. When brown trout migrate to spawn, it's without question the best chance to catch the fish of a lifetime because they are the most accessible. Spinney Ranch is an amazing place, but I think many people miss out on great opportunities that fall fishing provides in the rest of the state.
I have two huge pet peeves as a professional guide and angler. The first is when people talk poorly about other people who fish the Dream Stream this time of year. Yes, I understand the frustration that comes from seeing the "Dream" so crowded during the spawn. Consider that if you catch aBrook trout, Brown trout, Mackinaw, or a confused Cutthroat trout anywhere else in the state this time of year, odds are still good you are harrassing a spawning fish, and that includes our lakes and reservoirs. My second pet peeve is when people think that the only places you can catch big fish consistently in the fall are the Dream Stream or the Taylor River. There are trophy fish all over Colorado, and October is a great month to get out and look for them.

The Arkansas River below the dam at Pueblo Reservoir is a great place to fish in the fall if you're trying to escape the crowds. The nature center and the Valco Ponds are the most popular places and seem to be the most productive. Click here to view map of the Valco Ponds. This place gets a ton of fishing pressure in the winter because of Pueblo's slightly warmer climate, but during the fall you'll be lucky to see another angler. If you're after big browns, the nature center area is the place to be. White streamers are still on the menu here. Anglers looking to throw tandem nymph rigs should use Baetis emergers such as gray Sparkle wing RS-2's in a size 22, and any kind of small red or black midge are used as your dropper.

Rampart Reservoir is a 35-minute drive from Colorado Springs and is a great place to fish for fall spawning Lake Trout a.k.a. Mackinaw. "Lakers," as they are sometimes referred to, prefer cooler water temps. Because water gets colder the further down you go in the water column, Lake Trout spend most their lives at a depth of 40-60 feet. As the water temperature drops in the fall, these fish that can weigh up to 60 pounds move shallow to spawn.

Lake Trout were stocked in Rampart to control the sucker population, which they do well. They also seem to put a dent in the trout population wherever they are stocked; there is an ongoing joke in places such as Rampart that when the stocking truck comes they are basically ringing the dinner bell. Spring after ice-off and in the fall before the freeze are the best times to fish from shore. I can't begin to tell you how fun it is to strip huge streamers to huge fish. If you need proof ,then pay close attention and you will see that there is an ever-growing cult of guys that only fish this way. Throw white streamers and orange egg patterns at these extremely aggresive fish. Meat Whistles, Zuddlers, and the Striptease are great streamer patterns to have in your box.

I have only named a couple of my favorite places to go where the fishing is absolutely epic in the fall and crowding isn't an issue. If you are interested in more fishing destinations to escape, here is my short list of the many places that seem to fade into the mist in the fall:

Tomahawk SWA

Badger Basin SWA

Brush Hollow Reservoir

Monument Reservoir

Rosemont Reservoir

Tarryall Creek Below Tarryall Reservoir

Cheesman Canyon

Almost the entire Arkansas River

Nichols Reservoir

Beaver Creek below Skaguay Reservoir

Antero Reservoir