The following fishing and stocking report is produced by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. For further information, call 303-291-7534.
Denver metro
Arvada Reservoir: Water level is high and fishing is good from shore or boat.
Aurora Reservoir: Fishing for trout has been fair to good from shore near the dam using Power Bait.
Barr Lake: Trout are being caught on live minnows and Power Bait.
Bear Creek: Trout fishing should be good in back eddies and pocket water.
Bear Creek Reservoir: Fishing for stocker trout has been good; most are being caught on salmon eggs, worms or Fireballs from the fishing pier or Pelican Point.
Berkeley Lake: Fishing for stocked trout is good using Power Bait, Nitro Bait, small night crawlers or live minnows beneath a bobber.
Centennial Park Lake: Trout fishing is excellent. Use live minnows, salmon eggs or chartreuse Power Bait.
Chatfield Ponds: Some nice largemouths have been caught on spinnerbaits, buzzbaits and plastic worms.
Chatfield Reservoir: Walleye fishing is good if you don’t mind catching undersized fish. Most are being caught on live bait such as leeches, night crawlers and minnows.
Cherry Creek Reservoir: Fishing is very good evenings and after dark.
Clear Creek (above Colorado 119): Still running high but the lower reaches are clearing.
Clear Lake: Power Bait and Nitro Bait work best.
Evergreen Lake: Water temperature is around 50 degrees and trout fishing is fair.
Georgetown Lake: Fishing for trout is excellent with fish of up to 14 inches being caught on Power Bait (pink and green most effective) and salmon eggs.
Gross Reservoir: Shorecasters have been having fair success on trout up to 18 inches using Kastmasters, Dardevles and Tasmanian Devils.
Jim Baker Reservoir: A good lake for catching small perch on ultralight tackle baited with a small night crawler or Gulp Grub.
Main Lake: Bass fishing is fair to good using black or brown tube jigs and plastic worms.
Quincy Reservoir: Bass fishing is excellent early mornings and evenings using soft plastics, buzz baits and top water plugs.
Rocky Mountain Lake: Stocked with rainbow trout last week and fishing for them should be good using Power Bait, Nitro Bait, small night crawlers and salmon eggs.
Sloan’s Lake: Try live minnows below a bobber in weedy areas about 3 feet deep for crappie.
Smith Reservoir: Fishing is fairly good for postspawn bass.
South Platte River (Waterton Canyon): Dry fly fishermen have enjoyed good action far up the canyon with Blue Wing Olives, Adams and Pale Morning Duns.
Standley Lake: Lake is full and anglers are catching plenty of stocked trout.
Washington Park Lakes: Crappie have been biting well on small tube jigs tipped with a minnow.
Webster Lake: Best baits for trout are Power Bait and salmon eggs.
Northeast
Barker Reservoir: Fishing for stocked trout is good with Power or Nitro Bait, worms and salmon eggs. Spinners work well early and late in the day, and flies are particularly effective near the inlet and shallow grassy areas on the west end.
Bellaire Lake: Flycasters should use damsel nymphs and emergers, size 8-10.
Big Creek Lakes: Grayling are biting on midge dries and midge nymphs fished in the surface film.
Big Thompson Ponds: Fishing for bass is fair but few are keepers.
Big Thompson River: Flows are 139 cubic feet per second (CFS) through the canyon and 443 CFS above Lake Estes. Water is murky but clearing.
Boedecker Reservoir: Fishing remains slow.
Boulder Reservoir: Fishing is fair to good. Anglers had been catching walleyes on minnows or black and chartreuse Twister tails, and trout on worms and Power Bait.
Boyd Lake: Fishing is slow for all species.
Carter Reservoir: Trout fishing remains good with anglers doing best slow-trolling Dick Nites, Needlefish and Andy Reeker spoons along the west side.
Chambers Lake: Fishing at the three inlet streams is good using Panther Martins, Mepps Aglia and Vibrax spinners.
Cowdrey Lake: Fishing for stocked trout is fair to good with bait of all kinds.
Douglas Reservoir: Fishing is good for trout with Power Bait, night crawlers and Fireballs just south of the boat ramp and off the dam face.
Dowdy Lake (Red Feather): Fishing is good for trout using Thomas Buoyants, Little Cleos and perch scaled-pattern Dardevles or Devledogs.
East Delaney Lake: Midges are hatching in profusion and callibaetis Mayflies are starting to show.
Estes Lake: Lake is full but muddy at the inlet end, somewhat clearer near the dam.
Flatiron Reservoir: Reservoir is stocked and trout are biting well on bait and lures.
Hidden Lakes: Stambaugh Reservoir has produced some nice rainbows and cutbows of up to 3 pounds for anglers using Kastmasters and Little Cleos.
Hohnholz Lakes: Lake No. 2 has been stocked with rainbows and will produce good catches for bait fishermen using Power Bait, Fireballs and night crawlers.
Horsetooth Reservoir: Walleyes, trout and smallmouth fishing has been great. Boaters do best casting shad imitation crankbaits along the east side.
Jackson Reservoir: Wiper action is good from the dam, west shore and from boats.
Joe Wright Reservoir: Grayling and trout are biting well on midge dry flies, nymphs and small metal lures.
Jumbo Reservoir: Fishing for all species is slow.
Lake John: Midges hatch in profusion on windless days, providing good dry fly action for anglers who don’t mind fishing No. 22-26 flies.
Laramie River at Hohnholz State Wildlife Area: Flow is down to 304 CFS but still muddy.
Lonetree Reservoir: Fishing will remain slow until the weather warms.
Long Draw Reservoir: Ice is off, but the road and campground remain closed.
Lon Hagler Reservoir: Fishing for stocked trout remains good with Power Bait, Nitro Bait and night crawlers.
Lost Lake (at Chambers): Most ice is off and fishing has improved.
North Delaney Lake: Midges are hatching and callibaetis are starting up. When the bugs aren’t active, Woolly Buggers, Matukas, Hornbergs, Muddler Minnows and Scuds catch fish.
North Fork of the North Platte River: Running high, muddy and unfishable.
North Michigan Lake: Fishing is fair to good for anglers drifting black Woolly Buggers, Halfbacks and Hornbergs.
North Park Streams: The Illinois River is high and muddy. Most other North Park streams are discolored by runoff and difficult to fish.
North Platte River: Flowing at 5,200 CFS and unfishable.
North Sterling Reservoir: Fishing for wipers, walleyes and catfish is fair to good; slow for crappie.
Parvin Lake (Red Feather): Fishing has been good in the north half of the lake using Kastmasters, Tasmanian Devils and Fiord spoons.
Pinewood Reservoir: Heavy stocking has provided great trout fishing. Night crawlers are most effective on rainbows.
Poudre River: Flowing high and fast and unfishable.
Prewitt Reservoir: Fishing is very slow for all species.
Ranger Lakes: Fishing has been poor but should improve as both lakes will be stocked several times this summer.
Seeley Lake: Weed growth provides great habitat for trout and bass, but also robs anglers of many lures.
Seymour Reservoir: Lake has been stocked with rainbow trout and fishing for them is very good with night crawlers, Power Bait and Nitro Bait.
Simpson Ponds: Anglers have been catching small bass on spinnerbaits, mostly in the back pond.
Slack Weiss Reservoir: Trout fishing is generally slow.
South Delaney Lake: Midges are swarming on warm, sunny days and callibaetis are starting.
St. Vrain River: Muddy and unfishable.
Teal and Tiago Lakes: Trout fishing is good using Thomas Buoyants, Cyclones, Devledogs and large Hornbergs.
Union Reservoir (Calkins): Wiper action is picking up with most fish ranging from 16 to 19 inches and several up to 24 inches.
Watson Lake: Smallmouth bass have started biting on crankbaits and plastic worms and spinnerbaits.
Wellington Reservoir No. 4: Anglers can catch catfish on stinkbaits.
West Lake (Red Feather): Fishing is good with small Kastmasters, Thomas Buoyants and Tasmanian Devils on the east and south sides.
Northwest
Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir): Fishing remains excellent with midges and Blue Wing Olives hatching on cloudy days, larger Mayflies on sunny days.
Blue River (Dillon to Green Mountain Reservoir): Midges and Mysis Shrimp remain the flies to use.
Colorado River (below Parshall): Very difficult to fish at this time.
Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle): High and muddy.
Colorado River (near Granby): Fishing is extremely good as increased flows below Shadow Mountain Reservoir are attracting many fish to the fast-moving, food-laden water.
Crystal River: High, muddy and unfishable.
Elk River: Unfishable.
Freeman Reservoir: Ice is off and the road is open.
Fryingpan River: Some incredible Blue Wing Olive hatches from noon to 3 p.m. Nymphing also has been very consistent before and after the hatches.
Granby Reservoir: Fishing for lake trout is good trolling spinning/spoon lures, jigging with tube jigs or bait fishing with shiners or suckers.
Grand Lake: Rainbows and some browns have been hitting on Rapalas and Kastmasters.
Green Mountain Reservoir: Big lake trout have moved to the deeper water but smaller macks still can be caught from shore on night crawlers.
Green River: Trout fishing remains very good with Woolly Buggers.
Harvey Gap Reservoir: Trout have been hitting well on Kastmasters, yellow jigs and minnow imitations.
Highline Lake: Largemouth bass are becoming active.
Lake Avery: Trout fishing remains excellent. Shorecasters have been catching trout of up to 16 inches on worms and Power Bait (rainbow, orange and yellow).
Mack Mesa Lake: Fishing for stocked trout has slowed.
Muddy Creek: Unfishable above Wolford Reservoir.
Pearl Lake: Typically, Panther Martins work best.
Rifle Gap Reservoir: Walleyes and perch are starting to bite. A few bass are being caught near the boat ramp and the dam using small minnow lures.
Rio Blanco Lake: Bass and crappie continue to provide most of the action. Largemouths are hitting on light-colored plastic worms; tan and yellow work best.
Roaring Fork River: Above Carbondale is fishable again. Use BWO and Caddis patterns.
Shadow Mountain Reservoir: Nice brown trout are being caught from shore around the dam.
Stagecoach Reservoir: Fishing remains excellent for pike using Triple Clickers, black and white Dardevles, Black Fury spinners or dead minnows.
Steamboat Lake: Baitcasters do best with Power Bait while silver spoons have been productive at Placer Cove.
Trappers Lake: Fishing is outstanding. Good spring flies include Caddis, Mayflies, Blue Wing Olives, Renegades and Muskrats.
Vega Reservoir: Fishing has slowed at the inlets but trout of 12 to 18 inches are being caught all over the lake on Power Bait, worms and flies.
White River: Flows are 2,210 CFS at Buford and 2,670 CFS at Meeker, muddy and unfishable.
Williams Fork Reservoir: Fishing for spawning pike remains good in the shallows and fingers.
Williams Fork River: Main hatches remain Blue Wing Olives, midges and small olive Caddis.
Willow Creek Reservoir: Fishing is excellent for rainbows, browns and kokanee salmon.
Wolford Reservoir: The lake has been clearing and trout action is picking up around the inlet.
Yampa River (Hayden through Craig): Blown out by runoff.
Yampa River (Stagecoach through Steamboat): Muddied by runoff and unfishable.
Southeast
Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake): Spring fishing for catfish has been good, with many blue and channel cats caught on night crawlers, shrimp and cut carp or shad.
Anticline Lake: Fishing for trout should be good.
Arkansas River No. 3 (through Pueblo): Frequent stocking of this stretch of river makes for excellent fishing.
Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida): From Buena Vista to Texas Creek, Golden and Yellow Sally stoneflies are hatching along with good numbers of hoppers.
Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista): The river is low, clear and in great shape. Prolific caddis hatches continue.
Arkansas River (Salida to Cañon City): Stoneflies and hoppers are doing best on top, stonefly nymphs and streamers beneath the surface.
Beckwith Reservoir: Fishing is slow for all species.
Bonny Reservoir: White bass and wipers being caught from the north shore and the dam on minnows and jigs.
Clear Creek Reservoir: Fishing is very good with a lot of recently stocked trout being caught on bait and lures.
Elevenmile Reservoir: Trout fishing is good trolling off Stoll, Rogers Mountain, Rocking Chair and Cross Creek.
Horseshoe Reservoir: Fishing for warm-water species such as bass, saugers, tiger muskies and catfish starting to pick up.
Jefferson Lake: Rainbows are hitting mostly on Power Bait.
John Martin Reservoir: Boaters catching wipers and white bass on jigs and Rat-L-Traps.
Nee Gronda Reservoir: Fishing is only fair for wipers but good for channel catfish, saugeyes and crappie.
Nee Noshe Reservoir: Water level is low in the big lake but the spring bite is starting to get good for wipers, saugeyes and crappie.
Pueblo Reservoir: Fishing is very good with anglers reporting good catches of keeper-sized walleyes and wipers all over the lake.
Quail Lake: Fishing is good for stocked rainbow trout, small bluegills and yellow perch.
Queens Reservoirs: Anglers catching more carp than other species.
South Platte River (between Spinney and Elevenmile): Midge hatch is starting to wind down but flycasters continue to enjoy great nymph fishing.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir: Fishing is very good from shore or boat for trout and pike.
Southwest
Animas River: Dirty and unfishable.
Beaver Creek Reservoir: Fishing is good for rainbow trout and brown trout of up to 15 inches using salmon eggs, worms, Power Bait and lures.
Big Meadows Reservoir: Fishing is good for brook and rainbow trout of 10 to 14 inches using typical baits and lures.
Blue Mesa Reservoir: Fishing is excellent for rainbows and browns.
Conejos County (high country lakes): Fishing is good but access may be difficult.
Conejos County (small streams): Fishing is fair to good in those streams that are fishable and will continue to improve.
Conejos River: Water is dark and fishing is poor.
Dolores River (upper): Still high and muddy.
Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam): East Portal continues to fish well.
Gunnison River (through the canyon): Fishing very well with anglers having the best success on Caddis in the morning.
Gunnison River (Upper from Almont to Blue Mesa): Float fishing has been good.
McPhee Reservoir: Fishing for bass is fair but improving.
Mountain Home Reservoir: Fishing has been good for rainbow trout of 10 to 14 inches using Power Bait, salmon eggs and spinners.
Navajo Reservoir: Pike, smallmouth bass, crappie and catfish are all biting on the Colorado side.
Piedra River: Blown out by runoff.
Platoro Reservoir: Fishing is somewhat slow.
Ridgway Fishing Ponds: Fishing for recently stocked rainbow trout is very good.
Ridgway Reservoir: Runoff has stained the reservoir but fishing is still good.
Vallecito Reservoir: Pike continue to hit on water dogs.
Williams Creek Reservoir: Fishing is fair for rainbow, brown and brook trout.
STOCKING REPORT
The following bodies of water have been stocked in recent weeks by the Colorado Division of Wildlife:
Anticline Lake, below Pueblo Dam; Arkansas River No. 3B, Interstate 25 to Pueblo Dam; Arvada Reservoir; Beaver Lake, east of Marble; Brighton City Park Lake; Camp Hale Pond, southeast of Red Cliff; Carter Reservoir, west of Berthoud; Catamount Reservoirs, North and South, south of Woodland Park; Chapman Dam, southeast of Norrie; Craig City Pond; Crystal Creek Reservoir, south of Green Mountain Falls; Crystal Lake, southwest of Leadville; Daigre Reservoir, northeast of La Veta; De Weese Reservoir, north of Westcliffe; Dinkle Lake, southwest of Basalt; Estes Lake, Estes Park; Evergreen Lake; Fairplay Kids Pond; Flatiron Reservoir, northwest of Carter Lake; Fruita Reservoir No. 2, southwest of Grand Junction; Haviland Lake, north of Durango; Lake Dorothey, southeast of Trinidad; Le Platt Lake, Bayfield; Manitou Reservoir, northwest of Woodland Park; Mann-Nyholt Lake, Adams County Fairgrounds; Marys Lake, southwest of Lake Estes; Memorial Park Pond, Woodland Park; Monument Reservoir, west of Trinidad; Mount Elbert Forebay, north of Twin Lakes; Nichols Reservoir, east of Rampart Reservoir; North Lake, west of Trinidad; Nottingham Lake, Avon; Pinewood Reservoir, northwest of Carter Lake; Quincy Reservoir; Rampart Reservoir, east of Woodland Park; Ruedi Reservoir, east of Basalt; San Isabel Lake, northwest of Rye; San Isabel Scout Camp Pond, northwest of Rye; Shadow Mountain Reservoir, south of Grand Lake; South Platte River South Fork No. 1, below Antero Reservoir; Sweetwater Lake, northwest of Dotsero; Trent Pond, Silverthorne; Twin Lakes, southwest of Leadville; Wahatoya Reservoir, east of La Veta; Webster Lake, Northglenn.
