ANTERO JUNCTION — By all indications, the current ice-fishing season is the most dynamic in recent memory.
Through a kaleidoscopic progression of cold nights, followed by warm days, winds — then a return to subfreezing temperatures when the sun is down — ice conditions have been changing daily, if not by the hour.
While parts of Colorado’s high country have received bountiful snow and true winter weather, other regions have remained dry and unseasonably mild. Ice on metro-area waters such as Chatfield, Cherry Creek and Aurora reservoirs has been virtually nonexistent, but many high-mountain lakes have frozen right on schedule. Somewhere between those extremes, conditions on traditional early winter favorites in South and Middle parks, among others, have been highly variable, ranging from good ice, to you’re taking your life in your hands if you go out on it, to fully open water.
Cabin-weary ice fishermen, perhaps a bit impatiently, have been itching to get out. Their building anticipation has been intensified by reports of good activity and large fish on waters such as Elevenmile Reservoir and several others. For many, however, reality sets in amid reports of unsafe ice, patches of open water and postings on fishing websites of having fallen through the ice.
For some, the hard-water season doesn’t truly begin until the new year. If so, the weather forecast for the weekend holds considerable promise. An arctic blast is expected to move into the state later in the week, and it just might bring a permanent ice cap to some waters that so far have remained marginal.
In the meantime, remembering that no ice is ever 100 percent safe, that ice thickness can vary significantly in a short distance and that taking along safety gear, including a length of rope, ice picks or a similar device to pull oneself back onto the ice in case of a fall-through is a prudent idea, hard-water enthusiasts still can find their share of interesting possibilities. They include:
Antero Reservoir: The usual great expectations for the early ice season on the lake for the most part have not materialized. Though ice appeared on schedule, its thickness has remained inconsistent, with numerous weak spots and even some patches of open water. As usual, the lake has attracted a large number of fishermen. While a few have reported good success, many others have been disappointed, reporting slower action and smaller fish than in recent years. By one theory, with very little snow on the ice and heavy fishing pressure, the trout have been exceptionally wary. By another, the fishery has declined since the boom years that followed the reservoir’s refilling.
Elevenmile Reservoir: Though some areas of open water remained visible in the middle of the lake on Tuesday, and sheets of thin, unsafe ice covered some other areas, most of the coves had up to 10 inches of solid ice. Fishing there has been good for rainbow and cuttbow trout averaging 16 to 19 inches, according to Larry Falk of the 11 Mile Marina. A wide gamut of jigs, spoons and tube jigs have been productive. As an example of the constantly changing conditions, the south shore that three weeks ago had the best ice opened up and at present has some of the weakest. With that shift, the best ice now is along the north shore from Stoll Mountain to Coyote Ridge. Pressure ridges remain especially hazardous. The region had almost no snow Tuesday.
Tarryall Reservoir: Ice thickness is variable, but across much of the surface it is quite good. Fishermen have enjoyed some good activity on jigs for primarily rainbow trout.
Twin Lakes: A favorite of mackinaw fishermen, the lakes at last report still had unsafe ice.
Georgetown Lake: Though some open water has been evident near the inlet, several fishermen have reported much of the surface has reasonably good ice. Fishing for pan-size trout has been fair to good.
Granby Area: According to the Budget Tackle shop in Granby, ice fishing is possible on all nearby lakes except Granby Reservoir. Ice has appeared in the coves and an ice cap may be imminent, but the main lake at present remains unfishable. Willow Creek Reservoir appears to have the best ice; William Fork and Wolford Mountain reservoirs appear fishable in the coves but also have weak spots and areas of open water.
North Park: Lake John, Cowdrey and the Delaney Buttes reservoirs have produced the most reliable fishing of the season for those willing to travel a bit farther. The ice thickness should be about 12 inches, according to the most recent report from the Lake John Resort, and growing thicker. Tube jigs and mealworm-tipped Rat Finkies have produced some exceptionally large rainbow and browns.
