Conditions Report – Statewide
Rivers and Creeks
As we are approach the spring season, we will begin seeing increased flows and decreased clarity in our waters. This means anglers must use a bit larger and flashier presentations when fishing these conditions. The spawn beds from the Rainbows may still be active, so be cautious of redds when wading along the rivers. There are still waters that are iced over at higher elevations and shaded portions of canyons, so anglers will have to primarily rely on tailwaters–the waters below dams or other structures that regulates water flow. The regulated water flow keeps the spots from freezing over and provides warmth for the cold-blooded trout. Even with the warmer conditions of these waters, the fish will still behave sluggishly. Fish diets in the winter are made up primarily of midges and an assortment of small blue-winged olive nymphs and are occasionally supplemented by larger mayflies, annelids, trout eggs, stoneflies, and even caddis larva. Winter fishing typically consists of a lot of nymph fishing since the trout are not overly active due to the cold water temperatures, so try using stonefly nymphs and imitation midges. Remember that the hatches are much smaller in the winter, so keep your flies in the #16 to #20 range. It is also important to be mindful of your split shot usage. With the fish being sluggish, they aren’t going to divert too much energy for food, so making sure those flies drift directly in their path is important. Be sure not to use too much split shot though because the last thing you’ll want to do is to have to retrieve a snag in those cold waters. As the trout continue to get a later start, anglers should mirror that and look for ideal times to be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Colorado Fishing Atlas
Conditions Report – Northeast Colorado
Eleven Mile State Park
As of 4/10/2018 Fishing has been picking up, trout have been caught both from shore and boats. Fishing from shore has been productive using both bait and lures. Lures such as Tasmanian Devils and other spoons have been producing nice fish. Fishing for pike remains slow, try the shallow portions of the reservoir to target the pike.
Eleven Mile State Park
Bear Creek
This 103-acre impoundment is located in Bear Creek Regional Park off Morrison Road in Lakewood. Note that this is a City of Lakewood park, so a CPW parks pass does not work here. As of 4/8/2018 water temperature has reached the low 50’s. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good using baits such as PowerBait, worms, or salmon eggs. A few smallmouth bass have been caught. Fishing for saugeye has been tough with most fish being caught on the east end of the reservoir. For updated conditions, contact Bear Creek Lake Park (303-697-6159).
Bear Creek Reservoir
Jackson Reservoir
This 2,967 acre reservoir is located approximately 32 miles east of Greeley and 10 miles north of Wiggins. As of 4/2/2018 the water clarity is low and the weather patterns recently have slowed the fishing for all species. The lake level is full with a surface water temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit. For up-to-date fishing and ice conditions contact the park directly at 970-645-2551.
Jackson Reservoir
Boyd Lake
Boyd Lake is open to boating, Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspection hours for the month of April are 7:00 am-7:00 pm daily. As of 4/12/2018 water temperatures are in the low 50’s and fishing for bass was fair using worms and crankbaits. Fishing for crappie and white bass is expected to pick up as the water continues to warm. Trout fishing has also been fair using spoons and spinners. Reports of walleye being caught have been few and far between. Reminder – No fishing from marina slips or docks (next to is okay but can’t use them in any way. PLEASE NOTE: Any live fish collected for use as bait may only be used in the same body of water from which they were collected. All live bait/fish from a commercial source and transported by anglers must at all times be accompanied by a receipt for the source. See the Colorado Fishing Regulations for further clarification and information.
Boyd Lake
Clear Creek
As of 4/12/2018 flow was around 57 CFS at Golden with visibility beginning to be affected by increasing flows. Fishing has been fair for browns, rainbows, and cuts using Stimulators, Griffith’s Gnat, Midges, Pheasant Tails, and Prince Nymphs in black or dark colors.
North Sterling
As of 3/24/2018, fishing has been good in the hours near sunrise and sunset. The Reservoir is open to boating as of Saturday March 17th, 2018. The Inlet is ON and the Outlet is OFF. The water temperature is 42 degrees with some warmer temps in the shallow coves. Fishing has been fair for all species.
North Sterling
Horsetooth Reservoir
As of 4/12/2018 the Inlet Bay ramp is open to boating 7:00 am- 7:00 pm seven days a week. With water temperatures near 45 degrees fishing for walleyes and smallmouth bass has been tough with a few being caught on slower presentations. Look for the warmer water in the backs of coves for the most active fish this time of year.
Horsetooth Reservoir
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Spinney Mountain Reservoir opened to boating, at the North Shore Boat Ramp only, on Saturday April 1, 2018 at 6:17 am. As of 4/10/2018, water temperature is in the mid 40’s and visibility is around 5 feet into the water. Water levels are low but fishing for trout has been fair with wooly buggers with some reports of large fish being caught. Trolling crankbaits has also been reported to be productive. Pike fishing has also been fair using larger jerk baits trolled slowly. Fishermen are reminded that only artificial flies and lures are permitted at Spinney Mountain Reservoir and that items with any scent are prohibited, regardless of whether a scent is added by the manufacturer or by the angler after the item is purchased.
Spinney Mountain State Park
Antero Reservoir
This 2200 acre impoundment is located north of US Highway 24 between Antero Junction and the town of Hartsel. Antero Reservoir is open to the public. As of this report there is no ice at Antero. Fishing has been slow, but patient anglers have been catching fish 16″+ Cutbows and Rainbows.
Antero Reservoir
Saint Vrain State Park
There are 11 fishable ponds at St. Vrain that are stocked on a regular basis. Bald Eagle Pond is artificial flies and lures only. Bald Eagle Pond and Blue Heron Reservoir are trophy bass fisheries: all bass caught on these 2 ponds must be immediately returned to the water! Only 1 catfish in your standard bag and possession limit can exceed 20 inches on Blue Heron Reservoir. Blue Heron has been producing some good sized Black Crappie, Largemouth Bass, and Saugeye on jigs and lures. Trout fishing is very productive in spring and fall depending on stocking. Stocked trout are only 8-10 inches in length and we do not recommend keeping them until they have matured and are of a healthy size: around 12-24 inches. Overfishing these waters results in smaller, less productive populations.
St. Vrain
Conditions Report – Southeast Colorado
Arkansas River
April 6th – Upper River: The cold nights on the upper river will make fishing the upper Arkansas challenging this time of year, but not impossible. There is some open water at Hayden Meadows and near Buena Vista, but quite a bit of the upper river has iced up above the Twin Lakes confluence and some through the Numbers. It’s possible to still find a bit of slush flowing down the open areas of river first thing in the morning, but mid-morning through the afternoon is all clear. Focus on the deeper, slower winter water and fish will respond to stoneflies, caddis larva, and midges. Excpect subtle takes! Better conditions will be found further to the south below Buena Vista and near Salida throughout the winter. April 6th- Middle River: With blue wings starting to emerge below Salida, we should begin seeing mayflies on the water above town any day now. With any cloud cover this week, be prepared for a blue wing hatch in the afternoon with duns and emergers in #16-18! The river is all clear between BV and Salida, and though fishing has been most consistent down near Salida, we’ve had a good reports from the BV area as well. Nymphing is still key here, with morning stonefly molts, caddis larva and midge drifts getting fish moving around before lunch. Afternoons have brought more blue winged olive nymphs onto the menu, as the nymphs drift in a daily fashion. April 6th – Below Salida: Spring blue winged olives are finally here! For those waiting out the winter (if you can call this a winter) to finally fish dry flies, the wait is over. Trips this weekend and Monday reported good blue winged olive hatches below Salida. Guides are reporting blue winged olive duns on the water in the afternoons as big as #16. Look for Gulper Specials, Parachute Adams, Sprout Baetis, Extended Body BWO’s, and Don’s BWO in #16-18s to entice fish feeding on top when the mayflies are out. Subsurface mayfly nymphs and emergers can be imitated with Two-bit Hookers, Pheasant Tails, Jujubaetis, Darth Baetis, Bat-wing Emergers, RS2’s, etc., also in sizes #16-18. With fish moving into shallower runs, riffles, and edges to intercept drifting baetis nymphs and midge pupa in the afternoons, dry-dropper fishing is becoming more and more effective to match food on or near the surface. Beautiful weather in the forecast this week, with highs in the high 50s and 60s! We’ve seen consistently strong midge drifts mid-day, with enough bugs on the water that rising fish in the afternoons have been a lot more plentiful. Any more cloud cover this weekend should continue promote some strong blue wing activity, so be prepared with duns and emergers in #16-18! A shallow dry dropper rig in the afternoon can be a great way to find fish picking up emergers in shallower riffles and drop-offs, so don’t hesitate to change things up as the day progresses. Underneath, golden stonefly nymphs work well as attractors all day, though molting insects are typically most vulnerable in the mornings. Morning caddis larva drifts round out a diverse buffet for our local fish, so don’t hesitate to experiment throughout the day as we are seeing opportunistic feeding at times. Float fishing is challenging at these low flows, but not impossible. Current flows require you to boat right on top of lots of the best holding water, whereas wade fisherman can target the prime lies without disturbing fish. Make sure you are aware of public/private land transitions so you don’t end up in a bad spot while fishing.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Trinidad Reservoir
The lake is at 1010 surface acres with a surface elevation of 6205.79 feet. Shore anglers are catching trout on homemade dough bait and PowerBait (green color) all along south shore and Reilly Canyon. No reports of walleye as of 04/06/2018. Boating is open for the season. Please be advised that all boats must be inspected prior to launching.
Trinidad Reservoir
Clear Creek Reservoir
Located north of Buena Vista. As of 4/2/2018 the reservoir is more than 90% open water. Fishing for trout has been fair using a variety of methods including spinner baits and bait. Fishing is better near the boat ramp. For updated fishing reports and conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office (719-530-5520).
Clear Creek Reservoir
Lake Pueblo
As of 4/12/2018 both the North and South ramps are open as the water level has started to drop. Fishing for walleye has been good using jerk baits in 10 to 15 feet of water. Bass fishing has been fair with jerk baits and soft plastics. Main lake points are a good place to look this time of year for active feeding fish.
Lake Pueblo
Lathrop
As of 4/3/2018 the surface temperature on Martin Lake is around 40 degrees. The surface is currently open water, but ice will form on colder nights. Temperatures this winter have not been cold enough to produce ice thick enough to fish on. Use extreme caution before attempting to traverse any newly formed ice. Wear a life jacket and make sure to measure the thickness of the ice every 10-15 feet as you move away from shore. Ice fishing is not recommended. Most fishing is done from shore due to the very windy conditions and rough water we have been experiencing over the last month. Trout have been biting pretty well with some in the 18-23 inch range. Both artificial lures and bait have been successful. Pike have also been active lately with anglers catching a 39 and 42 incher. Spoons and large spinner baits are best. There have also been reports of some nice smallmouth bass being caught out of Martin Lake as well. The surface temperature of Horseshoe Lake is about 41 degrees. Horseshoe Lake is currently free of ice. Visitors have reported less success in Horseshoe, but some smaller trout are being caught. Variations of PowerBait including rainbow and cheese styles have been used to catch fish recently.
Lathrop
Staunton
Our ADA accessible fishing pier is complete and ready to be fished from. Please contact the park about how we can provide an accessible fishing experience. Access to the ponds is from the main parking areas only. There is no public access below the dams on Elk Creek Road. Do not drop people or equipment off at this location. Violators will be ticketed. For more information contact staff at 303-816-0912.
Staunton State Park
Conditions Report – Northwest Colorado
Delaney Butte Lakes
As of 4/9/2018 all the Delaney’s are open water. The roads to the lakes are accessible but can be muddy. The boat ramp areas of both North and South Delaney are slick and muddy. Several fishermen are reporting good fishing on all the Delaney’s with flies and some anglers are reporting catching sizeable fish at South Delaney.
Delaney Butte Lakes SWA
Highline Lake/Mack Mesa Lake
Highline Lake was stocked with rainbow trout in early February as well as early and mid-March so fishing should be good. Mesa was also stocked with rainbow trout in early February and early and mid-March so fishing should be good. Highline and Mack Mesa were both stocked with 800 12 inch trout and another 1,000 in early March. Highline Lake and Mack Mesa are both open for boating. Please stop at the Visitor Center at the East Entrance or call 970-858-7208 to request an ANS inspection before launching. Anglers may contact Highline State Park for updates on fishing conditions.
Highline Lake/Mack Mesa Lake
Granby Lake
As of 4/1/2018 the lake was reported to be frozen with a water temperature of 38 degrees, with warmer temperatures the ice could begin to deteriorate quickly, be sure to have all safety equipment when fishing late season ice. Success has been reported catching lakers on tube jigs tipped with meal worms or wax worms.
Harvey Gap Reservoir
As of 4/9/2018, perch of all sizes along with some pike and trout are reported being caught.. The water level in Harvey Gap was very low for much of the fall of 2017 as a result of a reservoir drawdown conducted by Silt Water Conservancy District to inspect the reservoir’s outlet. During this period of low water level, CPW put a public fish salvage regulation on the lake in which bag and possession limits were removed for all fish species. This public fish salvage is no longer active as it was removed once the reservoir started to refill. Conversations with anglers and a survey conducted by CPW in the fall immediately prior to the lake beginning to refill showed that the same species were present in the reservoir following the drawdown compared to prior to the drawdown (i.e. tiger muskie, rainbow trout, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, northern pike, and smallmouth bass). In addition to stocking tiger muskie, rainbow trout, and channel catfish, CPW will be stocking increased numbers of bluegill and black crappie in 2018 to help the fishery recover from the drawdown more rapidly. Special fishing regulations at Harvey Gap Reservoir include a minimum size of 15 inches for largemouth bass and a bag and possession limit of 2 for channel catfish. Standard bag and possession limits apply for all other species. Bag and possession limits for smallmouth bass and northern Pike are unlimited. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISTINGUISH TIGER MUSKIE FROM NORTHERN PIKE. ALL TIGER MUSKIE LESS THAN 36 INCHES MUST BE RELEASED ALIVE. For more information regarding tiger muskie, please contact CPW Area Aquatic Biologist Ben Felt at benjamin.felt@state.co.us. Anglers may contact Harvey Gap/Rifle Gap State Park, 5775 Hwy. 325, Rifle, CO, 81650; Phone: 970-625-1607 for updates on fishing conditions.
Harvey Gap Reservoir
Lake Avery
As of 3/23/2018 fishing continues to be very productive for rainbow trout with an average size of about 12 inches. As warm temperatures continue ice has melted quickly. Please contact the CPW Meeker office at 970-878-6090 for the latest conditions and information about accessing the State Wildlife Area.
Lake Avery
Rifle Gap Reservoir
The east half of the lake is open water. Pike crappie, and trout are being caught on the east end. Special fishing regulations at Rifle Gap Reservoir include a bag and possession limit of 1 walleye 18 inches or greater; bag and possession limit for yellow perch is 20.
Rifle Gap Reservoir
Vega
As of 4/3/2018, the road to Fisherman’s Flats has been closed due to slush and muddy conditions. With warmer temperatures the lake is melting significantly around the edges and re-freezing at night. Please use extreme caution when accessing the ice this time of year. There is open fishable water at the feeder canal near Marmot Knoll. The Visitor’s Center is open daily from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Anglers may also contact Vega Reservoir State Park, 15247 North 6/10 Road Unit A, Collbran, CO 81624; Phone: 970-487-3407 for weekly updates on ice conditions and angling success. The entrance station is closed; please use self-serve or come to the Visitor Center for passes. The Visitor Center’s winter hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, seven days a week.
Vega
James M. Robb
As of 4/12/2018 all lakes are free of ice and offer ample shoreline fishing opportunities. Old Orchard, Roan’s Pond, and Corn Lake have all been recently stocked. Anglers have reported success on a variety of different baits and flies. Send in a fishing report and let us know what you are finding success with!
James M. Robb
Lake John
As of 4/9/20018 Boats have started to arrive on Lake John as the lake is all open water and boats can access the whole length of the lake. None of the boat docks are in yet. Fish have been active for both boaters and shore anglers with lures and flies.
Lake John
Sylvan Lake
Beginning the end of March and through the summer of 2018, the lake will be drained for construction.
Sylvan Lake
Conditions Report – Metro Denver Area
Aurora Reservoir
This 762-acre impoundment is located off of E. Quincy Avenue, two miles east of E-470. As of 4/10/2018 Open to boating with a water temperature of 45 degrees. Trout fishing from shore has been slow to fair. A few reports of trout being caught using PowerBait and flies from the dam. Walleye action from shore and boats is slow. Should start to see fishing pick up as the water warms. Restricted to electric motors only. For more information call 303-326-8425. Park hours for the month of April are 6:00 am-8:30 pm.
Aurora Reservoir
Cherry Creek
This 881-acre impoundment is located in Cherry Creek State Park, in Aurora. There are two entrances to the park, the east entrance off S. Dayton St. and the west entrance off S. Parker Rd. The Walleye Spawn is March 15th – April 15th. During this time there is no fishing within 100 feet of the tower or net. The area will be a marked. Trolling the deeper water has been producing fair for walleyes during the day with multiple reports of 20 inch plus fish being caught.
Cherry Creek Reservoir
Quincy Reservoir
Open to boating and the water temp is 45 degrees. As of 3/31/2018 the water level has come up but is still down. Bass fishing is slow to fair with a handful of some good reports. The current weather patterns have made the bass fishing difficult. Some reports from boaters and shore anglers using jigs, jerk baits, and crawdad soft plastics and wooly buggers fished slowly Trout fishing is slow to fair using spoons and spinners. Park Hours for April 6:00 am-8:30 pm. Restricted to artificial flies and lures only. Electric motors only and hand launched watercraft only-trailers and vehicles prohibited in the water. For more information call 303-326-8424. Boat rental is closed due to low water levels.
Quincy Reservoir
Chatfield Reservoir
This 1,356 impoundment is located in Chatfield State Park, in Littleton. There are two entrances to the park the west entrance is on S. Wadsworth Blvd, one mile south of C-470 and the east entrance is off of Titan Rd. Both the North and South Boat Ramps are now open. As of 4/12/2018 water temperature is 51 degrees and increasing. Walleye fishing has been getting better using jerk baits or shad style crankbaits in the low light periods of the day. Trout have been caught using a variety of baits from shore. Smallmouth Bass have also been active along rocky shores in the lake. Please note that due to the Chatfield Reallocation construction fishing access from the west side of the park (Massey Draw – Kingfisher) is closed. Please access the lake from the east side of the reservoir.
Chatfield Reservoir
Conditions Report – Southwest Colorado
Blue Mesa Reservoir
This 8,900 acre reservoir is located west of Gunnison. As of 4/6/2018, Trout fishing has been very good, Kokanee Salmon fishing has been good 20 to 50 feet below the surface. Lake trout fishing has been slow with the occasional fish being caught. While the entire lake is open water, the Lake Fork Marina is the only ramp open to boating. Anglers can check on current conditions and boat ramp inspection schedules by contacting Curecanti National Recreation Area at (970-641-2337).
Blue Mesa Reservoir
Crawford
As of 4/11/2018 The Peninsula boat ramp is open, be sure boats are clean, drained, and dried for mandatory inspections. Pike have been reported to be caught in the shallows as they prepare to spawn. Water temperature remains too cold for the crappie to have begun spawning. Some reports of large catfish being caught. Let us know what you are catching!
Crawford State Park
Mancos
As of 4/10/2018, The lake is open water and has been stocked with raimbow trout already this spring. Additional stockings will occur through the summer.Mancos is a great place for consistent action from trout and yellow perch. Most of the trout action is from 10-12 inch fish, but there’s very good opportunity at an 18-20″ trout and a few 12″-plus perch. Great opportunity for kids to catch fish. Most anglers are finding success with bait (PowerBait, eggs, and crawlers) fishing just off bottom or under a slip bobber. For a chance at the yellow perch and trout, a small jig fished under a bobber on a long leader and tipped with a piece of worm is a good bet. Casting or trolling typical in-line spinners (Panther Martins, Mepps) from boats is another approach at the trout. Hand-launchable boats (non-motorized kayaks, canoes, belly boats, etc) are a great way to fish the lake in this off-season. This is the first year in more than 15 years that the lake has not gotten decent ice to fish.A park pass is required on vehicles in the park. Daily park passes are available at the self-serve pay station at the park entrance.
Mancos State Park
Ridgway
Due to ice free conditions, as of 3/30/2018 fishing in the reservoir has been good for rainbows and a large brown and splake have been pulled in recently. Tail waters and ponds at Pa Co Chu Puk have been good but very crowded, we recommend coming off hours and days to maximize fishing experience.
Ridgway State Park
Originally posted at Kiowa County Press on Apr 14, 2018.
Image courtesy Kiowa County Press.