Antero on hold
The prospects for wetting a line this season in what once was Colorado’s best trout lake? Slim and none. At present, the lake is a scant 21 percent full, with only 80 cubic feet per second of in-flow from the South Fork of the South Platte River, the result of a low snowpack. Denver Water, which owns the reservoir, calculates it would reach only half capacity by Nov. 1 with normal rainfall. Colorado Division of Wildlife fisheries officials estimate the lake would need to be 85 percent full to have any chance against a winter kill of trout, which effectively precludes any fish stocking this year. Even with heavy precipitation, the 85 percent level wouldn’t be reached until Nov. 1, still making it problematic whether the wildlife agency would take the gamble on winter kill.
Tarryall reopens
After three seasons of water-related troubles, Tarryall State Wildlife Area has been opened to all public uses. The popular reservoir on Tarryall Creek, east of the hamlet of Jefferson in South Park, was drained in 2002 for dam repair. Drought conditions prevented refilling until recently. Anglers should mute their enthusiasm, however. A stocking program by the Division of Wildlife largely involves fingerlings and action will be slow until these young fish grow to acceptable size, probably next season.
