Information is provided by Colorado Parks & Wildlife employees and local fishing enthusiasts. Keep in mind that fishing conditions change on a constant basis. Much can change in a week from the time this fishing conditions report is produced.
Metro Denver Area
Aurora Reservoir
The water temperature is 68 degrees. The trout fishing from shore is rated as slow to fair. A majority of the trout are being caught from the dam using PowerBait from a slip rig. Boat anglers are reporting fair to good success on trout trolling with pop gear, crawlers, and bright colored spoons and spinners. The walleye fishing is fair to good trolling with bottom bouncers and jigs tipped with crawlers and leeches. The perch fishing is fair to good using jigs and worms.
Chatfield Reservoir
The water temperature is 72 degrees with about 2 to 3 feet of visibility. The fishing is good and anglers are catching mainly trout on worms, PowerBait, and Kastmasters. The trout are averaging 13 to 18 inches in length. The walleye and perch fishing has slowed down significantly in the past week. Anglers are reporting some good bass fishing near the north ramp using jerk baits and worms.
Cherry Creek Reservoir
The water temperature is 73 degrees. Anglers are reporting that the algae is growing by the day. The walleye fishing is rated as good for both shore and boat anglers. The fish are spreading out now and most of the fish are being caught in 10 to 15 feet of water. The pan fish have slowed down recently and we have received few reports of anglers catching crappie and bluegills. The weekend recreation activity is increasing, so be prepared for busy weekends.
Quincy Reservoir
The water temperature is 70 degrees and the water level is low. The aquatic vegetation is heavy along the shoreline. The trout fishing is currently slow. The bass fishing is rated as slow to fair. We have received reports of soft plastics, spinner baits, and top water lures working well.
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Northeast Colorado
Antero Reservoir
The water temperature is 65 degrees. The fish are the most active during early morning and late evening and can be found swimming in the shallows during these times. Spoons and jerk baits are currently the most effective method. Fly anglers are catching fish with nymphs presented near the bottom of the reservoir.
Barr Lake
The water temperature is 72 degrees. The reservoir water levels have dropped in the past week. Anglers are reporting that the green tint to the water clarity is quickly coming back. The wiper fishing is currently rated as good although they have been smaller in size. The walleye fishing has slowed down. The lake becomes very busy on the weekend, so expect to see plenty of kayaks and paddle boards on the water.
Clear Creek
The creek is flowing at 650 cubic feet per second near Golden. The trout fishing is rated as good with the dropping flows and clear water. Anglers are having the most success nymph fishing deep holes and the edges of the creek. Soft hackle pheasant tails and caddis emergers are working well. Spin anglers are having success using jigs in the pockets and deep holes. The water is clear, so approach the fish with caution to avoid spooking them. Some anglers are catching fish on dry flies, but nymph fishing is more effective at this time.
Dream Stream
Flows are considerably lower than normal for this time of year. The City of Aurora expects Spinney Reservoir to fill sometime in July. Currently the fishing is pretty good considering the low flows. Effective patterns include No. 18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails, No. 18 Buckskins, caddis larva, No. 18 Barr’s Emerger No. 16 Barr’s Graphic Caddis. No. 16 Elk Hair Caddis, Nos. 14-16 yellow Stimulators, No. 16 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (PMD), No. 10 Amy’s Ant, and No. 24 Stalcup’s Trico are fooling trout on the surface. Crowds have been moderate to heavy.
Eleven Mile Reservoir
The ferocious bite has cooled, but action is steady and consistent. Bite times are more specific than they have been. Water quality issues have a real effect. If you are dragging a weed you are not going to catch a fish. Check your line frequently if trolling. The bite has been early and most of the fish stop biting by 10 a.m. Kastmasters and Tasmanian Devils are always consistent. Use a night crawler and float it with a marshmallow after the sun sets. The kokanee salmon action is very sporadic. The fish are biting early in the day. The fish are holding near the bottom, so use a down rigger or a lead core. Vertical jig if conditions allow.
Fern Lake RMNP
The greenback cutthroat trout fishing is currently rated as excellent. There are plenty of fish feeding on the surface and anglers are catching them on small Elk Hair Caddis and Parachute Adam’s dry flies. Small streamers are also effective for anglers using a sink tip fly line. The fish are congregating near the inlet, but the fishing is excellent at any location on the lake.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
The northern pike action is hot right now. The fish are biting Rapalas, Zonkers, Daredevls, and Tazmanian Devils. The trout are hitting on almost anything for both spin and fly anglers.
Southeast Colorado
Arkansas River Headwaters
The upper river is in excellent shape and improving by the day. Water flows have risen due to rain this week and an increased release from both Twin Lakes and Clear Creek Reservoir, but conditions are still within the ideal range for the wade fisherman. Visibility is good on the upper river. We are already seeing good caddis and golden stonefly activity mixed with drakes through Hayden Meadows down to Granite.
Clear Creek Reservoir
The water temperature is 63 degrees. The trout fishing from boat and shore has been fair at Clear Creek Reservoir. A majority of the boat and shore anglers are catching groups of 8 to 12 inch rainbow trout. Shore fishing access at the boat ramp parking area is still limited because of both high water levels and willows right at the shoreline. Shore anglers may want to consider wearing hip boots or chest waders to fish the shoreline more effectively. PowerBait and salmon eggs fished off the bottom has been productive for shore anglers. Successful trout anglers trolled the southern part of the reservoir with bull frog colored Tasmanian Devil lures (1/4 oz). A few boat anglers caught tiger musky by fishing underwater structures with Rapalas. The best kokanee salmon fishing has been in the morning. A squid tipped with white corn is one of the best methods to land kokanee salmon at the eastern part of the reservoir.
Lake Pueblo
The water temperature is 73 degrees and the water is clear with a visibility around 8 feet in depth. Anglers are reporting seeing more algae growth and are frequently pulling in weeds off the bottom. Worms are working well in 20 feet of water on jigs. Use a slow retrieve if you are not getting many bites. Be cautious of weekend recreational activity if you plan on using a boat.
Monument Lake
The lake is full and the fishing is rated as good. The perch and bluegill are biting very well on almost anything you throw at them. Anglers are catching pan fish and bass using worms under a bobber. The trout fishing is slow during the day, but anglers are having a lot of luck catching trout during the last hour of daylight. Look for the trout to be swimming the shoreline and feeding on the surface.
North Gateway Park
A rise in temperatures has caused the trout fishing to slow down significantly. Anglers are having luck catching saugeye, bass, catfish, and crappie. The crappie are averaging very small in size.
Skaguay Reservoir
Anglers are reporting good trout fishing as of recently. The rainbow trout are actively biting green and brown wooly buggers off the shoreline. A majority of the rainbow trout being caught are in the 12 to 14 inch range. Some fish are rising to feed on the surface. Big dry flies and hopper-dropper rigs are becoming more effective as the water temperatures rise.
Trinidad Lake
The fishing from the south shore has been slow as of recently. Anglers are catching fish using worms and PowerBait. The fishing near Reilly Canyon has slowed down and we have not received any reports of anglers catching catfish at this time. Yellow perch are being caught around the lake near flooded vegetation. Boat anglers have been catching mostly trout and a few walleye. Worm harnesses and trolling have been the most effective methods for boat anglers.
Northwest Colorado
State Forest State Park
North Michigan Reservoir is fishing well for rainbow trout and cutthroat trout. Anglers are having the most success using PowerBait. The rainbow trout are biting very well at Ranger Lakes on PowerBait and salmon eggs. Worms are also working well. We have not received any reports from Lake Agnes this week.
Steamboat Lake
Fishing has been slowing down all over the lake. Boat, shore, and stream anglers are all reporting some action but overall slow fishing. PowerBait has been doing well from shore and Kastmasters have been working for the boat anglers. Early morning or later evening is the best time to fish.
Southwest Colorado
Blue Mesa Reservoir
The water temperature is 65 degrees. Anglers are reporting that the fishing is good, especially in the morning before 11 a.m. Boat anglers using down riggers are having the most success catching trout and kokanee salmon. Pink, green, and orange Arnies are working very well. Shore anglers are having luck using jerk baits and Gulp minnows.
Navajo Reservoir
The water temperature at Two Rivers Marina is 75 degrees. The fishing has been excellent as of recently. Anglers are catching small mouth bass and northern pike near the shallow bays. Crank baits are the most effective method for catching bass right now and the northern pike are biting slightly bigger lures imitating bait fish.
Statewide
Rivers and Creeks
Summer fishing conditions have arrived and anglers are taking full advantage of the manageable water flows. It is officially dry fly season and the fish are actively feeding on the surface. It is also mosquito and horsefly season, so do not forget your bug spray. Large dry flies such as Elk Hair Caddis, Yellow Sallies, and Renegades are working well throughout the state. The fish are still biting on large nymphs such as San Juan Worms, Stoneflies, and Prince Nymphs, but be prepared to transition into smaller nymphs once the water temperatures rise. Anglers should start using smaller leaders and tippets since the water clarity will continue to improve into autumn. Rainfall will be the only factor that changes water conditions throughout the summer. As summer continues, it is important to focus on fishing during early mornings and late evenings, since the fish will become lethargic during the heat of the day.
