Following is the latest statewide fishing report issued Tuesday by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife department.
Metro Denver Area
Aurora Reservoir
The reservoir is open to boating and the water temperature is 56 degrees. The water level is starting to rise but is still low! The boat ramp is almost completely out of the water. Boaters with large boats should expect difficulty with loading and launching. Trout fishing currently from shore is rated as fair to good and has started to pick up. Trout are being caught using power bait and crawlers from a slip rig at the dam. Boaters are having good success fishing for trout by trolling with rapalas, spoons and pop gear with crawlers.
Walleye fishing is anywhere from fair to good. Most walleye are being caught from boats trolling with bottom bouncers with crawlers, jigs and drop shots. There have been some anglers catching walleye from shore using swim baits and jigs. There is good fishing for yellow perch when using jigs and worms in the coves from boats. Anglers have also had success fishing for perch from shore in the Marina cove using crawlers. Fishing for smallmouth and largemouth bass is fair to good using swim baits and jigs.
Quincy Reservoir
This will be the last report for the season. The reservoir is open to boating. Water temperature is 57 degrees and levels are good. Fishing for bass is rated as slow. Some anglers are catching bass when using soft plastics, jigs and crank baits. There have been a few smallmouth being caught from the dam using jigs. Perch fishing is fair to good using jigs. The trout fishing has been slow. Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures only. Only watercraft capable of being launched by hand permitted and electric motors only. All watercraft must be inspected prior to launch. For more information call 303-326-8424. The park hours in October are 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Quincy will close for the season Sunday.
Northeast Colorado
Eleven Mile Reservoir
Baits were hot all week including night crawlers, powerbait and salmon eggs. Everything else was difficult with the water conditions so poor. Presentation is the key. Any kind of organic matter on your rig or line close to the lure or fly will destroy the presentation. Most of those trolling were coming up short. The fish being landed are for the most part high quality, running 18-22″ and fat. Shore action is picking up as the big ones move in to the shallows to feed and put on size before winter. Kokanee salmon fishing continues to be slow. Northern pike fishing has been fair, the weeds in the water also make pike fishing difficult. The biggest fish known to have been caught were on power bait from shore. The big pike are moving in close, but it has been hard to keep lines clean. The dream stream fishing has been good and anglers can expect to see hatches of midges, BWO’s, and trico’s. During the non-hatch periods, effective nymphs have been #18-20 buckskins, #18-20 mercury pheasant tails, and #20 barr emergers (BWO). Lake-run fish are in the river now. Egg-midge combos and streamers are effective in fooling these migratory fish. Effective patterns include #18 ,micro San Juan worms, #10 leeches, #18 hot tail flash eggs, #18-22 mercury pheasant tails, #18-20 buckskins, #20-22 barr emergers, #20 jujubaetis, 20 top secret midge, 20 mercury blood midge, #20 foam wing chocolate emerger, #22-26 parachute adams, and #20-24 stalcup’s trico.
John Martin Reservoir
Fishing is fairly slow on the reservoir and the river. Anglers on the shore are having some luck using shad, worms and some soft baits catching a few drum and small catfish, but not in great numbers. Very few crappie and walleye are being caught on the reservoir. Fishing has been slow in the stilling basin and Arkansas River as well. Hasty lake was recently stocked with rainbow trout. Main boat ramps will close on Nov. 1, 2015. Road 19 boat ramp will remain open, ANS inspection is still required prior to launching and upon leaving.
North Sterling Reservoir
The water level is about 20 feet lower with the inlet on and the outlet off. Many large walleye were caught in the outlet using emerald shiners, worm, and and colorful curly tail grubs. Crappie have been caught just off the dam by floating bait and lures at 10 to 15 feet depths as well as in the outlet also on curly tail grubs and minnows. Catfish fishing is still going strong. Many catfish have been caught using chicken liver, stink bait, and cut bait mostly during the night.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
The trout fishing has been great. Large stick baits are continuing to produce nice fat trout for trollers. Jigging action on the south side has slowed somewhat for trout. Belly boaters in the Northwest corner are still finding success with halfbacks, hares ears, wooly buggers, and scuds. Fish are hanging between 15-25 feet deep. The northern pike fishing has been good and the big pike are moving around right now and lots of action is being seen along the cove shorelines. The fishing in the river above Spinney Reservoir has been good. Lures, streamers, woolies, and eggs are all effective right now.
Southeast Colorado
Lake Pueblo
Surface temperature on the reservoir is around 63 degrees. Fishing for all species has slowed somewhat in the last two weeks. However, as water temperatures continue to fall, the fishing should pick up. There have been a few reports of anglers catching walleye on bottom bouncers and leeches, as well as trolling various lures and crankbaits. Bass are occasionally putting the bend in rods that are fishing texas-rigged plastics and jerkbaits. Boaters are reminded that the park’s winter boat ramp hours are now 5 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Arkansas river tailwater below the dam has seen an increase in flows in the last few days due to rain. As a result, clarity in the river has dropped. There are still mid-morning trico hatches occurring as well as caddis in the afternoon. Winter water storage is just around the corner, beginning on Nov. 15. This will have a marked impact on the improvement in clarity and overall fishing in the tailwater.
Lathrop State Park
The fall fishing continues to be somewhat hot on both lakes. Martin is providing great northern pike fishing, while Horseshoe has been a reliable spot for bass and trout. Fall is a hot time to fish, as the water cools off the fish are getting hungry.
Midwestern Farms Pond
Fishing has been slow during the heat of the day. The lake has recently been stocked with rainbow trout.
Nee Gronda Reservoir
The reservoir has extremely low water levels, no surviving fish suspected to be in the reservoir at this time due to the poor water condition.
Nee Noshee Reservoir
The increased water levels allow for launching of boats from the south ramp. Preliminary stocking has continued, and will have a lot more in the spring dependant on water levels. It will take a year or more for these fish to grow to a catchable size.
North Gateway Park
Anglers are having luck catching the recently stocked 10 inch rainbow trout. Not many other species of fish are being caught.
Queens Reservoirs
The increased water levels allow for launching of boats from the south and west ramps. Preliminary stocking has begun with fingerling and fry sized fish, stocking will continue throughout the fall and spring with warm water species. It will take a year or more for these fish to grow to a catchable size. Boaters are urged to use caution as there is floating debris and unmarked obstacles.
Turks Pond
The area is closed through the end of waterfowl season. Trout will be stocked again this fall enhancing the spring fishing once the area re-opens to public access. Trout will also be stocked mid-spring along with bass, crappie, and wiper.
Two Buttes Reservoir
Anglers are catching fair numbers of catfish up to 17 inches on the east end of the lake off of the southside bluffs. Anglers seeking bass, bluegill, and crappie should target areas with structure and cover. Submerged trees on the east end of the reservoir can provide solid action for these warm water species. Great baits to try are crayfish imitations and green pumpkin senkos.
Northwest Colorado
James M. Robb Colorado River
Fruita was stocked with rainbow trout in March, April, and October. Corn Lake was stocked with rainbow trout in February, March and April. Island Acres was stocked in late March and April. Island Acres, Fruita and Corn Lake were all stocked with brooders in mid-April. Popular fishing spots are the north east side of Red Rocks Lake at Fruita, the south west side of Corn Lake and anywhere on Old Orchard or Roan’s Pothole at Island Acres.
State Forest State Park
Finally the warm month of October is starting to cool down, the park experienced its first snowfall this past Thursday. As could be expected, the trout seemed to be really going for it in those couple of days leading up to the storm. As the weather settled this weekend it seemed that the action slowed down quite a bit. This time of a year can prove to be a bit tricky, so don’t be discouraged if you’re not reeling them in like you were earlier in the season. Anglers are encouraged to do their homework and look at weather forecasts to assist in finding that optimum day for fishing. Warmer days where you see lower pressures and calmer winds helps encourage the fish to the surface. The water has been lowered in North Michigan to conduct studies on the damn. So far this has not affected the fishing negatively as people still seem to be finding success though it looks as if anglers have fared better while working Ranger Lakes. Most streams throughout the park have slowed down and the water has grown clear. To try to stay ahead of the educated trout look into getting some newly designed patterns for your lures and flies, something the trout have yet to see. It is encouraged to visit the alpine lakes as it promises for a great day of hiking. Lake Agnes hasn’t been fishing too well as of late though we did hear of another angler catching some good sized cutthroat up in Kelly Lake.
Sylvan Lake
Anglers have been catching 12-14″ rainbow and brook trout. Power bait and worms, small kastmasters and gold/silver spinners rooster tails have been doing the trick. Green/black wooly buggers seem the most consistent pattern especially in mornings and evenings when the fish have been rising. The Inlet Creek is closed Sept. 1 to Nov. 30.
Southwest Colorado
Blue Mesa Reservoir
The fishing has been excellent! Rainbow trout and brown trout can be found cruising steep rocky shorelines in about 5-15 feet of water. Popular ways to catch any trout species has been using jigs, jerk baits, and spoons. The yellow perch fishing has been excellent as well most anglers are catching perch in 10-30 foot of water and the bait of choice has been a spoon tipped with a night crawler. Some mature kokanee salmon have been spotted along the shorelines, but they have proven hard to catch.
Navajo Reservoir
Fishing has slowed at the reservoir and the fish are making the transition into their winter habitats. Colorado and New Mexico fishing licenses are available at the Visitor Center. Social security numbers are required for purchase. Remember to bring sunscreen, insect repellent and clothes appropriate for changes in the weather.
Pa-Co-Chu-Puk Ponds
Fishing in the Uncompahgre River at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is excellent. The river flows are currently at 128 cubic feet per second below the dam, and 176 cubic feet per second coming into the reservoir. Fly fisherman are doing well on bead-headed nymphs, wooly buggers, copper johns, pheasant tails, and small midges. Spin fisherman are doing well with gold mepps and yellow/black panther martins. Please remember that the Uncompahgre River in Pa-Cu-Chu-Puk is restricted to flies and lures only, and all fish caught must be returned to the river immediately. The ponds at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk have a population of rainbows and some brown trout. Fishing in the ponds has been good. There have been several larger fish (18″-20″) caught. Fishermen have been doing well with worms and salmon eggs on top in the mornings and evenings, and various colors of Power Bait off the bottom in the afternoon.
Ridgway Reservoir
The reservoir is at 71 percent capacity and dropping slowly. Both shore fisherman and boaters are reporting good fishing for stocker-sized rainbows (8″-14″) with a few larger fish (18″-20″) being caught. The catch is mostly rainbows, but there have been some bigger browns and smallmouth bass caught. Shore fishermen are doing well along the Dallas Creek day use area and Mears Bay shorelines. The Kokanee Salmon are running in Dallas Creek and the Uncompahgre River above the reservoir at this time. Shore fisherman should try gold kastmasters, green and rainbow power bait, or worms off the bottom. Boat fishermen are having luck with gold pop-gear and black/silver sinking rapalas near the dam and around the opening to Mears Bay. Bag and size limits have been removed for smallmouth bass in Ridgway reservoir. Fishermen are encouraged to take smallmouth from the reservoir to protect the rainbow and brown trout fishery.
