Information is provided by Colorado Parks & Wildlife employees and local fishing enthusiasts. Fishing condition change on a constant basis. Much can change from the time this fishing conditions report is produced.
Metro Denver Area
Aurora Reservoir
The water temperature is 71 degrees. The trout fishing from shore is slow to fair with an occasional good report. Most of the trout are being caught from the dam using PowerBait casted out 40 to 50 yards from a slip rig. Boat anglers are reporting fair to good success on trout while trolling with pop gear, crawlers, and silver bright colored spoons and spinners. The walleye fishing is slow to fair for anglers trolling with bottom bouncers and jigs tipped with crawlers and leeches. The perch fishing from boats and shore is good using jigs and worms.
Chatfield Reservoir
The water temperature is 76 degrees with 2 to 3 feet of visibility. The trout fishing has been the most consistent throughout the lake for both boat and shore anglers. The fish are ranging from 13 to 18 inches in length and anglers are having luck using worms, PowerBait, and Kastmasters. Anglers going after walleye are experiencing fair success near the outlet, Marina Point, and Massey Draw. Crank baits and worms are working the best for walleye. The bass and pan fish have slowed down recently, but anglers are having some luck using worms, minnows, and jerk baits.
Quincy Reservoir
The water temperature is 72 degrees and the water level is low. The aquatic vegetation is heavy along the shoreline. Fishing for trout is slow. The bass fishing is rated as slow to fair. We have received reports of soft plastics, spinner baits, and top water lures working in the early morning and evenings. Boat anglers are getting into some bass in 10 to 15 feet of water just outside of the weeds beds using soft plastics and chatter baits. The perch action is slow to fair using jigs.
Northeast Colorado
Dream Stream
Recent heavy rainfall in the South Park area has put the water levels on the Dream Stream at about normal historic values. Currently nymphing is your best bet with the higher flows. Effective patterns include No. 14 San Juan Worms, No. 14 Scuds, No. 10 Pine Squirrel Leech, No. 18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails, No. 18 Buckskins, caddis larva, No. 18 Barr’s Emerger (PMD) and No. 16 Barr’s Graphic Caddis. Anglers can expect to see excellent hatches of pale morning duns, caddis, and tricos. The slower pools, back channels, and tail outs are providing some good surface activity. Flies of choice are: No. 16 Elk Hair Caddis, Nos. 14 to 16 yellow Stimulators, No. 16 Mathew’s Sparkle Dun (PMD), No. 10 Amy’s Ant, and No. 24 Stalcup’s Trico. Crowds have been heavy.
Eleven Mile Reservoir
The fishing is best early in the day, but has a tendency to slow down around 10 a.m. Boat anglers who are trolling are still doing well on Needlefish, Kastmasters, Krocodiles, and Tasmanian Devils. The color of the day changes frequently so if you are not catching fish, change it up or check that you are not dragging a weed. Those who are drifting bait with long leaders out of their boats are doing great on the west end. Jigging is also starting to pick up. If it is calm, you can pick your favorite spot, drop a tube or Marabou down to the bottom and just do the vertical ice fishing thing near the bottom and you will catch fish. Shore anglers are doing well at night and sundown. PowerBait in green, chartreuse, salmon, peach, and garlic work well. Do not forget the crawler and marshmallow setup on your second rod. The kokanee salmon fishing is rated as slow to fair. Action is very sporadic. Anglers are getting the most bites early and late in the day. The best chances to catch kokanee are still near the North Shore of Duck Island. The fish are still hugging the bottom in whatever depth you are in. Every now and then you might get surprised to find them up high in the teens. Green and pink with an occasional orange are the best colors. Dodgers and pop gear are still working. Mack’s Wedding Rings and Kokanee Killers are a good choice and anglers can never go wrong using Kastmasters.
Monument Lake
The lake is 65 degrees. Fishing is rated as fair to good for both fly and spin anglers. The fish can be found near the weed beds and night crawlers are the most effective bait. The pan fish are hitting a variety of lures, but fly anglers are having better success using nymphs and streamers. The fish are concentrated in deeper water, so not many anglers are catching fish directly off the shoreline.
North Sterling
The lake is 78 degrees and about 18 feet down. The wiper are coming out at the South Ramp and Balance Rock for anglers using worms, minnow mimics, and mussels. The walleye and crappie fishing has been slow. The catfish are coming out at the West Trailhead and off the South Ramp mostly at night off of mussels, chicken liver, and shrimp.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
The reservoir is full and the fishing has been good. Fly anglers are having luck catching trout in 6 to 9 feet of water using nymphs with weight. Hares ears and mayfly imitations are working the best in the morning, then the fish transition into feeding on the surface for elk hair caddis and attractors. The weeds are getting bad in some areas, so choose your fishing location carefully. Be prepared for a late afternoon rain storm and windy conditions.
Tarryall Reservoir
The reservoir was recently stocked with rainbow trout and anglers are reporting great fishing conditions with plenty of bites. The southeast side of the reservoir is fishing the best for anglers using flies and Kastmasters. The trout averaged 9 to 14 inches in length. Switching lures periodically has been productive since the fish seem to refuse presentations that they have seen multiple times. Gold, red, silver, and blue are all effective lure colors. The mosquitoes are thick, so make sure to bring plenty of bug spray.
Southeast Colorado
Arkansas River Headwaters
The upper river is in excellent shape, and the fishing here has been really productive lately. Through the releases at Clear Creek and Twin Lakes have increased some due to the recent rains, this is still the best place for the wade angler to get in the water, especially when compared to the higher flow rates of the lower river. We are seeing a lot of caddis and yellow sally stonefly activity mixed with late drakes through Hayden Meadows down to Granite. Grasshoppers are beginning to become more important as the larger aquatic insect activity in the river slows down. Flows at the middle river have risen considerably due to recent rainfall, but the river is still fishing extremely well. Chalk Creek has settled back down and clarity is immensely better than this past weekend. Though challenging to wade in places at this flow, the corresponding movement of the fish back towards the banks can make for great shoreline fishing opportunities. The fish are still responding well to large dry flies, as grasshoppers and terrestrials have begun to take the place of golden stoneflies in the category of big food.
Clear Creek Reservoir
The trout fishing at Clear Creek Reservoir remains fair from both boat and shore. Shore anglers targeting trout enjoyed success on rainbow PowerBait and worms. A majority of boat anglers reported catching 2 to 4 rainbow trout per boat. The size of the rainbow trout ranged from 8 to 12 inches. Successful boat anglers caught trout by trolling worms and flashers. Landing a kokanee salmon from a boat has been a herculean task. No boat anglers reported catching a kokanee salmon this week. The reservoir is closed to trailer motorized watercrafts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The current boating hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Lake Pueblo
The surface temperature is 76 degrees. Fishing has been fair to good lately. Look for the walleye in deeper water now that temperatures have gone up. Lindy rigs, grubs, worms, and live bait are producing walleye. The bass fishing has slowed down, so anglers will have to work a little harder. Soft plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits will still produce a few fish. Top water baits are working well early and late in the day. Fishing early and late in the day will produce better results now that the water has warmed up. We have not received many reports on trout fishing lately. The catfish are being caught on the west end using chicken liver and worms. The wiper have been far and few between.
Lathrop
Martin Lake is 68 degrees and Horseshoe Lake is currently around 64 degrees. The water level is full on both lakes. The fishing has been steady in the park, but the northern pike fishing has been excellent at Martin Lake. One angler caught a 13 pound pike. The catfish are biting on normal catfish bait and liver at Horseshoe Lake.
North Gateway Park
The fishing is slow to fair for all species. Anglers are still catching catfish at night and during the day some bass and bluegill are being caught. The trout fishing has slowed down due to high temperatures and constant pressure.
Trinidad Lake
The surface temperature remains near 70 degrees. Fishing from the south shore has been slow. Anglers are catching fish around the lake using worms and PowerBait. The Reilly Canyon inlet has slowed down and some catfish are being caught with worms and chicken liver. Boat anglers have been catching mostly trout and walleye. Worm harnesses and trolling have worked for boat anglers fishing around 15 to 20 feet in depth.
Northwest Colorado
Delaney Buttes
The lakes continue to fish well during the mornings and evenings, but the fishing slows down considerably in the afternoon unless there is good cloud cover. Anglers are reporting large midge, mayfly, and caddis hatches near the weed beds. The trout like to stay near the edges of the weed beds to feed on these hatching insects. Fishing at the right depth is more important than fishing with the right fly. Damsel fly nymphs and streamers are working well when the fish are not feeding on the other hatches. The surface activity increases later in the day when the trout start feeding on damsel fly and callibaetis adults.
Lake Granby
The water temperature is 70 degrees and the fishing has been fair. The lake trout have been biting at around 70 feet down on tube jigs tipped with bait. Spoons and spinners are working well while trolling from a boat. Crank baits are working well when casting from a boat or the shoreline. The lake was currently stocked with catchable size rainbow trout and shore anglers are catching the fish near the banks using PowerBait and worms.
North Platte River
The river is flowing around 250 cubic feet per second near the canyon section. This section of the river is fishing well at these flows and wade fishing is now the best option. The fish have moved away from the banks and can now be found throughout the river in shallow riffles and deep holes. Anglers are reporting good hatches of yellow sallies, red quills, golden stoneflies, caddis, pale morning duns, and tricos. This section of river should provide excellent fishing conditions and hatches until late fall.
Stagecoach Reservoir
The reservoir is 75 degrees and the pike fishing has been good. The pike are being caught the most frequently near the edges of weed beds, but they are spread out throughout the reservoir so be sure to cover multiple areas. Shallow running baits are currently the most effective lures. Fly anglers are catching trout near the inlet and the calm coves using streamers and damsel fly nymphs. The dry fly action is good during the day until the late afternoon storms come in.
State Forest State Park
The fishing has slowed down recently at North Michigan Reservoir. Some anglers are catching rainbow trout and cutthroat trout using worms. Ranger Lakes have been fishing well for rainbow trout. Anglers are getting bites on PowerBait and salmon eggs. The high alpine lakes have come alive and the fish are biting like crazy. Most anglers are catching cutthroat trout on silver spinners and elk hair caddis dry flies.
Williams Fork Reservoir
The reservoir is at 68 degrees and the fishing has been good. Boat anglers are having luck fishing with jigs tipped with bait in around 100 feet of water. The shore fishing has been slow but anglers are reporting catching trout near the bottom using worms and PowerBait. Spoons and spinners are also working well for the trout. The kokanee salmon and pike fishing is slow. Some anglers are catching pike late in the evening when the afternoon storms provide cloud cover and lower light levels. Anglers are reporting that the pike will bite almost any lure, you just need to find them first.
Wolford Mountain Reservoir
The reservoir is 70 degrees and the lake level is full. Boat anglers are reporting good kokanee salmon fishing throughout the reservoir. Trolling with a boat using dodgers is the most effective method. The fish are focusing on pink and orange lures in the deeper water. The fish are averaging small in size and the males seem to be biting more aggressively. The fishing has a tendency to turn on and off at Wolford, so be prepared for either a slow or an action packed day.
Southwest Colorado
Blue Mesa Reservoir
The reservoir is 70 degrees and the reservoir is full. The fish are biting the best during the early morning before the water heats up. Trolling has been good on the north and south side of the reservoir using dodgers with a lead core to get the lures down. Jigging has also been effective recently. The kokanee are being caught in 50 to 60 feet of water for anglers using pink and green colors. The lake trout and trout fishing has been slow and inconsistent for a majority of the anglers.
Navajo Reservoir
The fishing is rated as fair to good for bass, pike, and kokanee salmon. The bass are biting finesse worms, tubes, and jigs. Crank baits and spinners are also working for the bass. Fly anglers are having some luck using woolly buggers. The northern pike are biting on swim baits, jerk baits, and spoons. The kokanee salmon are focusing on double whammies and Arnies tipped with PowerBait and corn.
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.
