“There were a few kids that were there most weekends,” said the 42-year-old Denverite, who fished at City Park’s 24-acre Ferril Lake in the mid-1990s. “Some of us fell in while trying to get to the ledge under the gazebo, when the water was low enough to pull ourselves under (the deck).”

Scrappy and impatient, he and his friends even used baseball bats to crack through the ice when the lake froze. Of course, safety standards have evolved over the last three decades, but fishing in Denver’s public lakes, reservoirs and waterways has remained a popular, all-ages pastime that requires very little travel or gear to enjoy.

“We are so fortunate in Denver to have a rich and diverse wildlife resource, including our aquatic resources,” said Eliza Hunholz, director of the Park Ranger program for the City and County of Denver. “There are some wonderful streams, reservoirs and lakes — some with state records — that provide a variety of opportunities for fishing.”

Local and and encourage the free, public activity, educating kids and their parents with fishing clinics and distributing equipment to youngsters through summer and programs like Denver’s Fishing is Fun! The latter is made possible by up to $650,000 in yearly matching grants from Colorado Parks & Wildlife, distributed to local and county governments, park and recreation departments, angling organizations, water districts and others. Since launching in 1989, the program has supported 375 “angling improvement projects” across the state, according to officials.

For city fishers at close-in locations, following a few guidelines will help protect the water, its fish and the overall tradition for future generations, experts said.

“Make sure you have a fishing license, know the regulations for the water body and follow them,” said Aubrey Pelletier, Denver Aquatic Biologist for Colorado Parks & Wildlife. “Some waters have special regulations on tackle types, bag limits, etc., so bringing the correct equipment for the location and target species is important.”

Colorado Parks & Wildlife offers all of that in , which covers March 2026 through March 2027. Links to permits, a list of nuisance aquatic species, stream-by-stream regulations, stats, and maps fill the 45-page document.

In Denver, popular metro-area spots over the years have included Ferril Lake, Sloan’s Lake, and Washington Park’s Grasmere Lake and Overland Pond. But as water quality has shifted in some public waterways, anglers have flocked to the South Platte River in downtown Denver, or set up at Cherry Creek or Aurora reservoirs for deeper-water species.

The variety is impressive. In Ferril Lake alone, fishers have caught bluegill, bullhead, carp, channel catfish, crappie, gizzard shad, green sunfish, largemouth bass, yellow perch and even rainbow trout (catchable-size, stocked in spring, according to Denver Parks & Recreation).

Urban fish are generally not for eating, and in fact need more care than you might think in order to maintain their robust presence, said Jodie Marozas, Park Ranger Manager for Denver Parks & Recreation.

“Practice catch and release to support the conservation of the local fish population,” she said. “Minimize the time you keep a fish outside of water, especially cold-water species like trout.”

Among her other recommendations:

• Check weather conditions before heading out
• Wear appropriate clothing and sun protection (sunscreen, hat)
• Scan the area for hazards (steep banks, submerged vegetation)
• Bring a first aid kit
• Check local fishing regulations and carry a valid fishing license
• Practice safe fish handling  (wet your hands first, handle gently)
• Fish responsibly — follow the bag and possession limit
• Review and follow water quality and fish consumption advisories

Just as important, she added, was taking a photo to capture the moment. Because what’s a great catch without proof?

Denver resident Gunnar, 14, didn’t have time for that on a recent weekday at Ferril Lake, where he had just stashed his bike along a fence before decamping to the shore with friends. He started fishing in various parks three years ago, and switched to Ferril Lake a year and a half ago because he could ride his bike there from home.

“You can easily catch some good stuff here,” he said, having hooked a pair of carp that day. One was 10 pounds, he said, and the other was 40 pounds — so big that he couldn’t reel it in.

There’s always next year.

Learn more from Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s online Fishing Atlas (), including details on which fish are stocked where, mapping locations from your home, and real-time weather and water-quality updates.

Four river events for kayaks, rafts and stand-up paddleboards have been moved from Gore Creek in Vail to river venues that are 35-60 miles away. Four other river events involving kayaks and rafts have been canceled. A fishing event also will be moved.

This year’s Mountain Games are scheduled June 4-7. The event, a major annual happening in the Vail Valley, dates back to 2002 when it was founded as a local whitewater festival known then as the Teva Mountain Games. In its current iteration it includes mountain and road cycling, running, climbing, yoga and disc events.

River events being moved will take place either at the Glenwood Whitewater Activity Area in Glenwood Springs, 60 miles from Vail, or the Upper Colorado River in Bond, 35 miles from Vail.

“Contingency planning is part of every Mountain Games, as water levels fluctuate from year to year, which is why our team has spent the last several months monitoring conditions and working to find solutions,” said Peggy Wolfe, operations director for the Vail Valley Foundation which organizes the event, in a news release. “We’re now putting that plan into action to ensure athletes and spectators have a safe and memorable experience.”

During the Rockies’ 9-6 victory over the Dodgers on Sunday afternoon at Coors Field, Hunter Goodman, Troy Johnston, Edouard Julien and Jake McCarthy all hit doubles, and they all pantomimed a fisherman casting his line and reeling in a catch.

Clearly, it was a clever celebratory response to the comments made by Dodgers backup catcher Dalton Rushing after the Dodgers’ 4-3 loss to Colorado on Saturday. Rushing made some veiled accusations, saying the Rockies made some “fishy” swing decisions.

On Monday, when asked about the Rockies’ act at second base, Johnston didn’t take the bait.

Rockies’ Antonio Senzatela embraces change and it’s paying off | Journal

"What was it all about? Fishing," McCarthy answered Monday as a big smile spread across his face. "We all like to fish, and we like the outdoors. This is Colorado."

So, it had nothing to do with Rushing comments?

"Well, I mean, that's open to interpretation," he said, flashing another big grin. "It's a team bonding thing. It's all in good fun."

Goodman, Colorado's All-Star catcher, as it turns out, is also a big fisherman in his home state of Tennessee.

"I enjoy bass fishing," Goodman said. "And Colorado is an outdoor state. And one of the best players to ever play here, Chuck, fishes all of the time. I'm sure he loves it."

Goodman was referring to Rockies icon Charlie Blackmon.

So, did Goodman's air casting have anything to do with Rushing's fishy comments?

"I mean, I'll leave that up to other people to decide," he said.

Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer added, "Sometimes guys just say things, that's all. I mean, we are the highest percentage 0-0 swing team in the league, and I think everybody knows that. It is what it is. (Rushing) is free to say whatever he wants."

And what was Schaeffer's response to his players' second base celebration?

"I don't know anything about that," he said.

The utility — which serves 1.5 million people across the Denver metro — on Monday announced its plans to drain the Park County reservoir, located on the Middle Fork of the South Platte River south of Fairplay. Recreation at the reservoir will close through the end of the year, including camping.

Denver Water officials did not give an exact date when the draining would begin or when recreational access would close.

The water in Antero Reservoir will be moved downstream to Cheesman Reservoir, southwest of Deckers. The move will save 5,000 acre-feet of water from evaporating from the surface of Antero Reservoir, which has the highest evaporative rate of Denver Water’s reservoirs.

An acre-foot of water equals the approximate annual water use of three to four households, according to the utility. When full, Antero Reservoir can hold more than 20,000 acre-feet. It was 88% full on Monday.

“Antero is a drought reservoir, designed to provide water to our customers during a severe drought,” Nathan Elder, the manager of water supply for Denver Water, said in a news release. “Consolidating this water into Cheesman will help us make the most of the water we have.”

Water managers will work with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to minimize fish deaths in the reservoir, according to the news release. Antero is popular with anglers year-round.

Denver Water officials will decide when to refill the reservoir based on drought conditions.

The reservoir was last drained in response to drought in 2002. Denver Water also emptied the reservoir in 2015 for dam rehabilitation.

That, too, was a severe drought year. Those who worked Colorado’s rivers in those days remember low river flows and steep declines in business. Now stories about their experiences are echoing through the industry, which has an annual economic impact on the state of more than $200 million, according to the Colorado River Outfitters Association.

“I was not here in 2002, but I’ve definitely heard the horror stories,” said Kyle Johnson, business manager and co-owner of Rocky Mountain Adventures, which operates on the Poudre River west of Fort Collins.

User days in 2002 tumbled 40% from the previous year, according to figures compiled by the outfitters association, from more than 502,000 in 2001 to 298,000 in 2002. The following year, they rebounded with 448,000.

Duke Bradford was a river manager that summer on the Arkansas River, the heart of Colorado’s rafting industry. User days there numbered 139,000, down from 252,000 in 2001. Bradford recalls how the river “channelized” with a narrower stream than normal years, like a two-lane road restricted to one lane.

“The river was very runnable, but it was also very channelized,” said Bradford, the owner of AVA Rafting, which runs trips on the Arkansas, the Upper Colorado and Clear Creek. “There was only one channel to go down. That made it challenging if you had several boats. If one gets stuck, it could be a little bit of bumper boats.”

Outfitters insist there will be a rafting season this year, but the same lack of snowfall that negatively affected ski resorts over the winter — forcing many to open late and close early — will also hurt rafting since there has been less snow to melt. That, along with ongoing drought, means the low-water conditions typically found in late summer may come much earlier than usual. To make it work, river guides plan to adjust in ways they hope will help them make the best of what they have.

“The water’s not going to get to be high, boat-flipping water,” said David Costlow, executive director of the Colorado River Outfitters Association. “Usually, we try to get to the middle of July before we start entering low water. It will probably be early this year. It could be the end of June, first of July, but it depends on the next few weeks.

“We’re hoping that low-water season doesn’t start until after July 4,” Costlow added. “It depends on temperatures and how much moisture we get between now and then.”

March ‘failed to deliver’

The winter snowpack is currently well below average across the state; in fact, it is about a quarter of what Colorado usually has at this time of year, according to the USDA National Water and Climate Center. That’s the lowest since record-keeping began in 1941. Meanwhile, warm spring temperatures triggered a much earlier runoff than normal.

Outfitters are hoping spring rains will improve the situation, but three-month weather projections from the Climate Prediction Center of the National Weather Service are calling for above-normal temperatures and below-normal moisture through June.

March is normally Colorado’s snowiest month, so outfitters were hoping for a boost last month. It didn’t come.

“Up until about spring break, we were seeing really similar patterns to this time last year,” Johnson said of the picture in the Poudre. “Coming into (spring) last year, things didn’t look fantastic, but then March and April really saved the day. We get our most snow at altitude in the month of March historically. March (this year) grandly failed to deliver.”

Outfitters are used to adapting when confronted with low-water years. Many of the strategies they will employ early this season track with what they normally do in the late season. They’re also trying to think of creative ways to bridge the gap.

“We just ordered 20 inflatable kayaks, which are great for lower water conditions — more agile and fun — and it expands the options for our guests,” said Travis Hochard, chief operating officer of River Runners rafting and president of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association. “Inflatable kayaks are perfect for low water. They’re nimble, interactive, and give guests a more hands-on experience.”

Bradford said his company will run smaller boats to deal with channelized flows. That will mean 14-foot boats on the Upper Colorado instead of 16-footers, and 12-footers on the Arkansas instead of 14-footers.

“Normally, you could put six people in a boat, but when it����ap channelized, that����ap not realistic,” Bradford said. “We’ll cut those numbers down quite a bit to navigate that single lane. We’ll run small loads and we’ll make it happen. We’re going to make it a good year, no matter what happens.”

Rafting on Clear Creek is almost entirely dependent on rainfall during the season, even in good snow years, because it’s situated in a relatively small drainage. Outfitters there are hoping Colorado’s monsoon season, typically mid-July through August, delivers this year.

“If it rains, that river goes up substantially,” Bradford said. “If we get the monsoons, it can double (its flow) overnight.”

The Upper Colorado draws on runoff from a much larger basin that includes the west side of Rocky Mountain National Park and the Never Summer Range. Reservoirs in that drainage include Grand Lake, and flows are controlled by water managers. Rafting on the Upper Colorado is concentrated west of Kremmling.

“The Colorado River, when that water needs to flow to Utah and Nevada, it����ap going to flow, and we’re going to be there to ride it,” Costlow said. “It will not be a high-water season, it’ll be a mid-water season for a while, and then we’ll probably enter low-water season earlier than normal.”

On the Poudre, Johnson said his company is focused on providing quality experiences for as long as there is enough water to do so.

“Looking at the snowpack per drainage, we still sit better than most, but unfortunately, we’re all looking at pretty low snow totals,” Johnson said. “The Poudre is a very long canyon with a lot of navigable whitewater. There will be a season.”

‘Fish are pretty resilient’

Below-normal stream flows and above-average temperatures are also likely to impact fish populations. The Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife on federal land, includes a 152-mile stretch of the Arkansas. Not only is it Colorado’s busiest area for rafting, but it includes more than 100 miles of Gold Medal trout fishing.

Josh Nehring, a CPW deputy assistant director who focuses on aquatics and fish management, believes the impact of low water will be felt more by rafting businesses than fishing interests.

“Fish are pretty resilient, especially in the Arkansas,” Nehring said. “In the majority of the Upper Arkansas Basin, fish can freely move upstream and downstream to find better habitat.”

With lower stream flows and higher temperatures, though, the level of dissolved oxygen in the river could be reduced, affecting fish activity.

“There have been some studies done with increased water temperature and related stress where fish will end up feeding less, because they’re more in survival mode as opposed to actively feeding,” Nehring said. “One thing anglers might see is lower catch rates. As temperatures get up toward 70 degrees, one option would be to go to higher elevations where the stream is cooler. Trout need cooler water, so head to higher elevations where there’s maybe more flow, cooler water temperatures, better conditions.”

Nehring also suggests anglers consider visiting reservoirs in eastern Colorado that contain fish that are more tolerant of warm water.

Those in the rafting industry insist there still will be enjoyable rafting in the state this year despite the drought.

“The message we’re putting out is, recognize that it����ap going to be a lower-water year, but you can still have fun with your family and friends on the river,” said Bob Hamel, executive director of the Arkansas River Outfitters Association. “It����ap hot, and you’re going to want to be near water. Outfitters are buying smaller boats; they’re doing inflatable kayaks, SUPs (stand-up paddleboards). It����ap a good year to learn to kayak. People are looking to operate under those guidelines and adapt.”

The state agency’s maritime emergency response team recovered the boater’s body at 9:23 p.m. Friday, according to the agency. A dog’s body was found underneath the capsized boat, state officials said.

Pueblo County coroner’s officials will identify the boater and the cause of death at a later date.

The search started Friday afternoon, shortly after a boat of people waved down Parks and Wildlife officers responding to the capsized boat on Lake Pueblo, according to a from the agency. The group had rescued a survivor who swam about 100 yards from the capsized fishing boat to shore and was taking him into the marina, but the other person from the boat was missing.

Officials said the fishing boat capsized near Pedro’s Point on Lake Pueblo about 12:45 p.m. The boat had lifejackets, but they weren’t worn, according to Parks and Wildlife.

Wildlife officers and other first responders, including a helicopter crew, searched the lake for hours before finding the boater’s body, according to the agency.

“Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers our condolences to the family and friends of the victim, and everyone involved in this tragic incident,” Lake Pueblo State Park Manager Joe Stadterman said in a statement.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife offers hunting licenses for 10 big game species: elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, desert bighorn sheep, mountain goats, moose, pronghorn, black bears and mountain lions.

Hunters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday, April 7, to apply for Parks and Wildlife’s primary draw application. Corrections to submitted applications can be made until this deadline.

Colorado’s big game draw uses a preference point system to determine who gets limited licenses for hunting. Hunters can apply for up to four hunt choices per species. If a hunter doesn’t nab a license in the primary draw, they can apply in the secondary draw, with applications open starting June 18.

Last year, the Parks and Wildlife Commission rolled out new season structures for big game hunting from 2025 to 2029 and will implement a new draw system in 2028. Additionally, there are a few new big game hunting changes for 2026.

Read the full story from our partner at .

Faber started fishing at about 2 years old, when his father, Mark Faber, would carry him down to the river in a backpack. There, Ty would stand at the riverbank while Mark assisted the tyke’s fly-fishing rod with one hand, and used the other hand to hold onto the back of Ty’s pants to keep the river from sweeping him away.

By the age of 4, he was casting his own line, without assistance from his pops. Those moments foretold an impressive bass fishing career by the Pagosa Springs native, who kicked off another season on the Bassmaster Opens series with a tournament at Sam Rayburn Reservoir in Texas last weekend.

“Every time I went, he wanted to go, and he was in love with fishing from a very young age,” Mark Faber said. “We fished for trout all the time when he was little, then one time (around middle school), we went to Echo Lake just south of town, where we would put a canoe on and bass fish.

“He was throwing a spinner bait and a big, nice bass chased it and (bit), and he caught the fish. It was maybe four, five pounds. But he was really fired up, and that was pretty much the end of his trout fishing.”

is one of several Colorado anglers competing in Division 2 of the 2026 Bassmaster Opens. Three others from the Centennial Bass Club of Northern Colorado, Joey Punko, Evan Cox, and Nate Caldwell, are also competing in the four-tournament Opens series.

For Faber, who this season could be the breakthrough that sees him earn a bid to the Bassmaster Elite Series. The top 50 finishers from each of the two Opens series earn a chance to compete in the three-tournament Elite Qualifier series in the fall. The top 10 in the EQs make the Elite Series, which is the

The 40-year-old finished 31st in the standings in 2024 and 19th in ’25, following the EQs. No Colorado angler has ever qualified for the Elites.

Faber, who is also an accomplished big-game hunter, said his career goal is to make the Bassmaster Classic, a.k.a. the Super Bowl of bass fishing. Winning an Opens tournament would qualify him for the Classic.

“I would probably say that I like fishing more than hunting, but I think hunting is more special to me just because you don’t get to do it all year long,” Faber said. “But I’m just very lucky and thankful to get to do what I do and I just enjoy it a whole lot.”

Entering 2026, Faber has won $88,937 in career earnings on the Bassmaster Opens circuit, with seven top 10s in 38 tournaments, and three wins in team competitions. In Major League Fishing, he has $61,476 career winnings across 33 events and five top 10s. He’s also won multiple boats from tournament wins.

All of which is why Caldwell, Faber’s close friend, believes Faber is “knocking on the door” of earning a promotion to the Elite Series.

“It’s not a talent thing — the chips just have to fall in his lap,” Caldwell said. “He’s an elite-caliber angler, but it’s going to come down to a little bit of luck. The big fish that doesn’t get off (the lure). Late in the season, it will come down to that — who didn’t lose a big one or who randomly caught a big one that will carry to you to a top finish in a tournament. His stars just have to get aligned, and eventually they will.”

Until then, Faber is content with the pursuit. He owns a plumbing company in Pagosa Springs, which gives him the financial freedom and flexibility to pursue his dream on the water.

Caldwell, 50, owns a landscaping company to fund his angling habit, and the youngsters Punko (20) and Cox (21) are grinding to finance their fishing dreams. Both Punko and Cox work for their parents’ companies, while Punko also runs a guide service.

Punko estimates that last year, his first season on the Opens circuit, he spent around $15,000 on travel and entry fees. Neither he nor Cox made any money in 2025, but in an era where is accelerating young anglers’ development — “video-game fishing,” as Caldwell calls it — a coming-out season for either could be imminent.

Count Faber as one of their biggest supporters.

“I love that they’re out here doing it, and making sacrifices to compete, because it’s not easy and it’s not cheap,” Faber said. “I wish I could’ve done it at their age. I’m proud they’re giving it a go, and am rooting for them to succeed.”

Saturday. Winter Park Resort’s sassy side, the Mary Jane base area, is marking its 50th anniversary this season with a celebration on Saturday, Jan. 10. It includes a kickoff party with celebratory first laps, a ski-down parade and a birthday toast with cake at The Jane’s base area. Festivities in town will include fireworks and a free concert by Big Gigantic, an EDM duo from Boulder.

The concert takes place at the outdoor Rendezvous Event Center, 78821 US Highway 40, in Winter Park. Visit for resort lift tickets and more information. — John Meyer

Josiah Hesse’s “On Fire”

Tuesday. Denver journalist and author Josiah Hesse, who’s written about topics ranging from cannabis in exercise to conservative politics, has a new book called “On Fire for God” that traces his personal history with evangelical Christianity while growing up in Mason City, Iowa. “One part ‘Educated,’ one part rebuttal to ‘Hillbilly Elegy,’ ‘On Fire for God’ explores the ways evangelical Christianity has preyed upon its followers while galvanizing them into the political force known today as the Christian right,” according to a statement.

Hesse will celebrate the incendiary tome’s Denver release with an all-ages event at the Tattered Cover Colfax from 6 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 13, at 2526 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver. A $7.25 ticket is required and includes a signed hardcover copy of the book, or a $5 Tattered Cover gift certificate (in addition to event admission). Visit for tickets or for more details. — John Wenzel

A legend in the making

Friday-Saturday. Texas native Charley Crockett is a modern-day troubadour cut from the same cloth as Outlaw Country greats but also the poignant folk-rock of Bob Dylan and the raw Americana of Lucinda Williams. The tireless touring artist and songwriter finds his true calling on stage, typically performing more than 20 songs from his dozen-plus albums over the past decade, including “One Trick Pony” and “Alamosa.”

Crockett will headline RiNo’s Mission Ballroom on Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10. Tickets for the 16-and-up shows at 4242 Wynkoop St. in Denver are $78.84-$182.07 via . — John Wenzel

International Sportsmen’s Expo

Through Sunday. The massive International Sportsmen’s Expo returns to the Colorado Convention Center this weekend for all things hunting, fishing and traversing the land. New this year for the trade show: pontoon boats and an expanded RV section, along with the usual seminars and workshops features, a kid-friendly catch-and-release trout pond, live birds from the Raptor Education Foundation, and Stay the Trail’s RC off-road test track.

Tickets are $18 for ages 16 and up. Active military with ID and those 15 and under can get in for free. Noon-7 p.m. Friday; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. The event takes place at 700 14th St. in downtown Denver. Visit for tickets and more information. — John Wenzel

Colorado’s rivers are well-loved by both whitewater enthusiasts and anglers. Yet, as whitewater parks have been constructed throughout the state, researchers say the potential impacts on fish and anglers have not always been taken into consideration.

“Essentially, they’re kind of at odds,” said Eric Richer, an aquatic research scientist with the state wildlife agency and one of the lead authors of the study. “Fish want slow, deep water and whitewater parks, to create the hydraulic wave, are constricting water into a steep chute or drop, often over a surface that has been grouted to try to make it as smooth as possible to get those velocities elevated.”

The state wildlife agency first began looking into the impacts of white water parks on fish passage a number of years ago after one scientist who is an avid angler was fishing near the white water park on the Arkansas River near Buena Vista, Richer said. The researcher noticed that he was catching more fish downstream of the man-made structure than he was as he worked his way upstream through the structure.

Researchers identified more than 40 white water parks across Colorado that are either already built or are in the planning stages. There are whitewater parks on the Colorado River near Glenwood Springs, the Roaring Fork near Basalt, the Ten Mile Creek in Frisco, the Pumphouse in Gore Canyon near Kremmling and dozens of other locations.

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