Late spring and winter conditions have finally surrendered to warmer weather. With the lakes warming and water levels in good shape, the fishing has been taking off in North Park — a region of the state that doesn’t get the level of appreciation it deserves from the outdoor public. The hard-core fishing communities talk to one another about it, and fly anglers rave about the rivers. But all too often the area is out of sight, out of mind, and it shouldn’t be.
Lake John Resort resident Bill Wilcox feels the state’s entire region does not get the notoriety it deserves. The diversity of fishing offers something for anglers of all skill levels, from North Park’s Lake John and the Delaney Lakes and “sagebrush” lakes like , and , to nearby the mountain waters of North Michigan and Joe Wright.
“It’s easy access; it’s easy fishing,” Wilcox said. “It does have all the amenities that people need without having the rush, rush, rush. … It’s a paradise up here when it comes to the fishing community.”
Over the last few days, Wilcox said he has taken pictures of multiple large fish weighing more than 4 pounds caught at Lake John. The difficult part of fishing Lake John and the Delaney Lakes, “is catching a fish that will raise some eyebrows.” Anglers get spoiled by the number of large fish caught in North Park.
In addition to the large rainbows and cutbows from Lake John, North Delaney sees numbers of 6- to 8-pound browns caught on a regular basis, and also has large rainbow and cuts of its own, and the fishing has been equally good from shore or boat, Wilcox said. The Delaney Lakes are restricted to artificial baits only, and Lake John can be fished with a variety of presentations including bait, except for live minnows.
For steady action, Cowdrey and Seymour are good for a few fish for the pan, or a laid-back family outing. Colorado Parks and Wildlife manages the lakes for that purpose, and catches up to 18 inches are not uncommon. For the chance to catch a variety of species, drive a bit further down the road to Big Creek Lake; it not only has trout, but tiger musky, lake trout and grayling.
The North Park area can be a bit of a drive from the metro area, but thatap why it’s so special. It’s far enough away and large enough to not get crowded, but close enough and with sufficient amenities to make it worth the trip. Lake John Resort has a restaurant, general store (with bait and tackle), cabins, full RV hookups and lots of fishing advice. about the North Park area and Lake John.
Lake John Resort resident Bill Wilcox joined on Saturday to give an update on the fishing conditions in the North Park region of Colorado.
You can of Bill Wilcox’s full interview below.
