Hartsel
Marc Weber received two surprises on his visit to Spinney Mountain Reservoir for last week’s much-anticipated start of fishing season.
“I arrived at 11 p.m. the night before and I was about 20th in line,” the Nederland resident said of an unexpectedly large turnout for Wednesday’s kickoff at the only Colorado lake that features an opening day.
The second came when the usual intense shoreline parade of fish along the east end of the reservoir failed to materialize, leaving many among the several hundred eager arrivals to wonder why they arose in the wee hours of the morning.
Weber did well enough, landing a dozen or so rainbows by midmorning. But on a day when 330 vehicles streamed through the gate, his fortune proved the exception rather than the rule.
In contrast to most years, hordes of the anglers who lined the steeper shoreline anticipating a typical bonanza of large trout cruising in an ice-out spawning ritual generally were disappointed. At the same time, others who broke the mold to try the shallow bays along the south shore or used hand-launched craft and kick boats to access open water reported grand success.
“Some did well, others caught nothing,” said Kevin Tobey, manager of Elevenmile State Park. Tobey, who kept watch as anglers gathered throughout the night, reported that three vehicles had arrived by 7 p.m. Tuesday, the earliest parks officials would allow a lineup.
A total of 17 were in the queue within the first hour. That set the stage for a rush that doubled the turnout of a year ago.
This excitement came from a continuing and often spectacular recovery of a reservoir that profits from a Division of Wildlife program to boost trout while controlling what had been a severe overpopulation of northern pike.
The result is a fishery that ranks as the best in the state and seemingly gets better each year.
Most of the trout taken Wednesday from a city of Aurora water supply reservoir drained so low that trailer boats could not be launched were 16-inchers stocked the previous autumn. A fair number of 20-plus-inch rainbow spiced the catch, along with the occasional trophy.
Disappointment ruled among anglers jammed in friendly combat in the area southwest of the dam.
“I thought I’d be halfway to the taxidermist by now,” lamented an angler who had gone fishless two hours into the proceedings.
Occasional bands of cruising trout signaled brief flurries of action, punctuated by extended lulls. Reasons for the change were as varied as the anglers.
Denver angler John Dillon blamed exceptionally low water, a condition that left gravel and rubble favored by trout high and dry.
Marc Wyman of Englewood speculated that the early departure of ice from the eastern end of the lake may have accelerated the pattern, ending the shoreline fun almost before it began.
“There’s not as many as usual, but when a pod comes through, you still can catch fish,” said Kathy Warner of Breckenridge, who landed more than her share.
For the remainder of the season, anglers who use kick boats to access deeper water will have the best of it, at least until the boat ramp opens.
Listen to Charlie Meyers at 9 a.m. each Saturday on “The Fan Outdoors,” radio KKFN 950 AM. He can be reached at 303-820-1609 or cmeyers@denverpost.com.
