Denver metro region | Northeast region | Southeast region

Southwest region | Northwest region

DENVER METRO REGION

• Arvada Reservoir - Bait anglers are catching trout from boats and shore.

• Aurora Reservoir - Fair to good for trout. Best area has been the West Dam and shoreline using Power Bait and salmon eggs. Bass are hitting on soft plastics in Senac Cove. Schools of wipers have been seen in the Marina Cove feeding on recently stocked trout. A 25-pound channel catfish was caught in Senac Cove on a shiner.

• Barr Lake - Slow for trout, but bass are hitting on plastic worms in the weedy areas of the shallows.

• Bear Creek - Fly anglers should try egg patterns and a Renegade on clear days. Best lures are small Rapalas and Panther Martins.

• Bear Creek Reservoir - Fair for stocker rainbows using worms and rainbow or orange Power Bait.

• Berkeley Lake - Best trout action is with Power Bait fished on the bottom.

• Centennial Park Lake - Early risers are catching trout using three hooks on a line. Bait one hook with a worm, another with Power Bait Turbodough and the third with a Gulp Grub.

• Chatfield Ponds - Slow. Use plastic worms in dark colors and skirted jigs for largemouth bass.

• Chatfield Reservoir - Excellent for walleye, but many are below the 18-inch size limit. They are hitting leeches, crawlers and minnows, trolled on the bottom in 12 to 20 feet of water. Hot areas: off the swim beach and Catfish flats; out from Handicap Pier on the south; the old bridge; out from the marina; and the old ponds.

• Cherry Creek Reservoir - Wipers up to 10 pounds have been taken near the dam at the island on night crawlers, crawdads, Rat-L-Traps and Tormentors. Some walleye also have been caught on trolled leeches and crawlers in the old channel.

• Clear Creek (above Highway 119) - Fly fishers are picking up cutthroats and browns on small bright-colored nymphs.

• Clear Lake - Small night crawlers on a small hook have been taking brook and rainbow trout.

• Evergreen Lake - Large Rapalas work well for tiger muskies, but be sure to use a steel leader. Power Bait and Crave Bait work well for trout when fished on the bottom.

• Georgetown Lake - Use Power Bait, Crave Bait, salmon eggs, Power Eggs and small night crawlers.

• Main Lake - Many nice largemouth bass are being caught near shore.

• Quincy Reservoir - Good for bass. The fish are spawning along the shoreline and hitting on soft plastics, crayfish or lizard imitations on Texas or Carolina rigs. Fly casters also are catching bass on Woolly Buggers. Slow to fair for trout.

• Rocky Mountain Lake - Try Power Eggs, Crave Bait and night crawlers in the morning.

• Sloans Lake - Try live minnows for crappie, Power Bait for trout.

• Smith Reservoir - Use spinnerbaits, buzzbaits, tube jigs, plastic worms or skirted jigs for largemouth bass.

• South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) - Superb morning fishing in the upper reaches of the canyon. Best flies are Woolly Buggers, egg patterns, Copper Johns, Renegades and Blue Duns.

• Standley Lake - Slow for wipers, crappie and walleye, but stocker trout continue to be caught on Power Bait, worms and spinners.

• Washington Park Lakes - Slow. Try live minnows, Power Bait and night crawlers.

• Webster Lake - Slow to fair for trout.

Back to top

NORTHEAST REGION

• Barker Reservoir - Fair for trout using night crawlers, salmon eggs or Power Bait.

• Bellaire Lake - Good for trout using Sparkle Power Bait, Fireballs, Kastmasters, Little Cleos and small Tasmanian Devils.

• Big Creek Lakes - Best action is on the inlet side of the lower lake; easy to reach by canoe or bellyboat. Use olive or black Woolly Buggers, Pistol Petes or a double- fly rig with a Woolly Worm followed by a No. 10 Hare's Ear or Pheasant Tail nymph.

• Big Thompson Ponds - Catfish are biting in the back pond. Fair for bass using spinner baits or buzzbaits.

• Big Thompson River - Flow above Lake Estes is 174 cubic feet per second and 127 cfs below the dam. Upper river is very fishable with streamer flies such as Hornbergs, Matukas or Zonkers. Nymphing works on the lower river.

• Boulder Reservoir - Fair for walleye using white or chartreuse Twister tails.

• Boyd Lake - Fair to good for walleye. Trout are hitting on Thomas Buoyants, Krocodiles, Kastmasters and bait.

• Carter Lake (west of Loveland) - Walleye are being caught on harnessed crawlers, Erie Dearies and minnows. Fair to good for trout.

• Chambers Lake - Good. Try salmon eggs, Power Bait and worms.

• Cowdrey Lake - Slow.

• Douglas Reservoir - Good for trout with Power Bait, Fireballs and red worms.

• Dowdy Lake (Red Feather) - Good for stocker trout.

• Dumont Lake - Fair to good with Nos. 16-18 Mosquito, Adams and Hornberg dry flies.

• East Delaney Lake - Fair for trout.

• Hohnholz Lakes - Fair to good.

• Horsetooth Reservoir - Fair.

• Jackson Lake - Good for trout and slow for all other species. Anglers have been most successful on the west shore using night crawlers and Power Bait.

• Joe Wright Reservoir - Fair to good for trout with many catches being made near the inlet on Kastmasters, Thomas Buoyants and Little Tasmanian Devils.

• Jumbo Reservoir - Slow.

• Lake Estes - Bait fishers do best at the inlet with Power Bait, eggs and worms. Lure casters should use Z-Rays, Thomas Buoyants and Kastmasters. Fly casters are having fair results with Matukas, Zonkers and Woolly Buggers.

• Lake John - West shore is producing the most fish. Fly fishers are scoring with a No. 6 olive Woolly Bugger and two-fly rigs with a No. 16 Copper John followed by a No. 16 Olive scud. Fair to good with salmon eggs, crawlers and Power Bait.

• Laramie River at Hohnholz SWA - Fair with Panther Martin, Vibrax and Mepps Black Fury spinners.

• Lon Hagler Reservoir - Good for stocker trout on bait, crawlers or minnows.

• Lonetree Reservoir - Fair to good for walleye, wipers and crappie with deep-running jigs and worm harnesses.

• North Delaney Lake - Calibaetis hatches are coming off in huge numbers. Fish a two-fly rig with Nos. 12-14 Copper John in front and No. 16 Red Brassy or No. 16-18 Pheasant Tail as a dropper.

• North Fork of the North Platte River - Try a No. 16 Olive or Orange Scud. Also try dead-drifting Platte River Specials.

• North Michigan Lake - Good at the inlet using small Panther Martins, Mepps and Vibrax spinners.

• North Sterling Reservoir - Good for crappie on small jigs and minnows along the north end of the dam or Elks Bay; good for catfish drifting crawdads or night crawlers; fair for wipers along the dam and main points using crayfish tails, shrimp or night crawlers; fair for trout along the dam; slow for walleye and saugeye.

• Parvin Lake (Red Feather) - Fair to good using Little Tasmanian Devils, Thomas Rough Riders and Kastmasters.

• Pinewood Reservoir - Fair to good for stocked trout with bait.

• Poudre River - Fair to good above Rustic with Beadhead Hare's Ear, Stonefly and Copper John nymphs.

• Seeley Lake - Bass, crappie, panfish and a few trout are being caught on various baits and plastic worms.

• Seymour Reservoir - Good for trout.

• Slack Weiss Reservoir - Good for stocker trout using Panther Martin, Mepps Aglia and Vibrax spinners.

• South Delaney Lake - Consistently good on the South Lake. Best dry fly action has been early in the morning and late in the evening. Fish the coves.

• St. Vrain Ponds (formerly Barbour Ponds) - Green or yellow Power Bait, Power Eggs, Fireballs, night crawlers, small jigs and spinners all catch fish.

• St. Vrain River - Good with bait in pocket water. Fly fishers do best with Flashabou Olives, Beadhead Nymphs and small baetis dry flies.

• Teal and Tiago Lakes - Good.

• Union Reservoir (Calkins Reservoir) - Very good for wiper. Fish have been hitting on Twister tails, Marabou jigs, worms, shrimp, crayfish and mussels.

• Watson Lake - Good for smallmouth bass with some nice catches reported by anglers using small crankbaits, plastic worms, topwater plugs and spinner baits.

• Wellington Reservoir No. 4 - Good for stocker trout with bait.

• West Lake (Red Feather) - Good for stocker trout.

Back to top

NORTHWEST REGION

• Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir) - Caddis are hatching. Use Nos. 14-16 Elk Hair Caddis or a No. 10 Joe's Hopper. Blue Wing Olives are coming out on cloudy days, and nymphing is good.

• Blue River (Dillon to Green Mountain Reservoir) - Midges and baetis are hatching. Look for BWOs with more warm water coming in from Straight Creek. Many fish are still being hooked on small flies.

• Colorado River (below Parshall) - Caddis are out in force from Radium up into the Gore Canyon. Use Nos. 14-16 tan caddis patterns with Mosquitoes in the evening.

• Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle) - Slow. Recent float trips have yielded some fish on H&L Variants and Royal Wulffs along the banks.

• Colorado River (near Granby) - Nymphs and midges work. Dry/dropper rigs, Stimulator patterns and Irresistibles are working well.

• Elkhead Reservoir - Very good for crappie. Fair to good for pike.

• Freeman Reservoir - Fair to good for cutthroat and brook trout.

• Fryingpan River - Consistent hatches and rising fish are easy to find. Lots of fish on the surface are feeding on BWOs from noon to 4 p.m. Dry fly anglers use Nos. 20-22 BWO imitations fished on 7X tippets.

• Granby Reservoir - Very good for lake trout and rainbows. Lakers being caught on Rapalas, Kastmasters and tube jigs sweetened with sucker meat or shiners.

• Grand Lake - Good for trout at the river inlet, channel mouth and near the boat ramp. Some lake trout are being caught on sucker meat and large spoons.

• Green Mountain Reservoir - Shore fishing has slowed but anglers are catching a few trout on worms. Boaters are doing better with pink, red and green lures.

• Green River - Nymphing with Woolly Buggers, beadheads and scuds works best for fly fishers while lure casters do well with Blue Fox, Mepps or Panther Martin spinners and Rapalas.

• Harvey Gap Reservoir - Crappie are hitting on Gypsi Jigs on the east side. Hand- sized bluegills and sunfish are being caught on the western shore near the inlet. Perch are also hitting well.

• Highline Lake - Crappie can be caught on small jigs, mainly yellow and chartreuse with green sparkles. Sunfish also are hitting on jigs. Bass are being taken on imitation crayfish and 10-inch Power Worms.

• Lake Avery - Very good for trout with Panther Martin spinners.

• Mack Mesa Lake - Power Bait in assorted colors and pink or red salmon eggs are catching trout; worms work better.

• Muddy Creek - Use Woolly Buggers, Caddis, BWOs, Prince Nymphs and Joe's Hoppers. Spin casters successful on rainbow-colored Mepps spinners and Panther Martins in black with yellow spots.

• Pearl Lake - Fair for trout.

• Rifle Gap Reservoir - Extremely good for trout; many anglers reach limits on 14- to 18-inch rainbows. Use Rapalas, green or silver spinners, worms and Power Bait.

• Rio Blanco Lake - Very good for pike. Crappie and bluegill also hitting well.

• Roaring Fork River - Good despite increased runoff. There are good hatches of caddis and BWOs with the occasional stonefly. Dry/droppers work well along the banks; nymphing also has been productive.

• Shadow Mountain Reservoir - Tube jigs sweetened with waxworms and painted jigheads fished beneath slip bobbers work well, especially for Kokanee.

• Stagecoach Reservoir - Good for trout at the inlet; pike fishing is picking up.

• Steamboat Lake - Good with bait, spinners, Woolly Buggers and large emergers.

• Trappers Lake - Very good for brook trout.

• Vega Reservoir - The spawn is on at Park Creek. Trout fishing is very good, especially at upper Oak Point, the Grouse day-use area and the old boat ramp. Use pink and yellow Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms, flies and Woolly Buggers.

• Williams Fork Reservoir - Good for trout at the inlet using No. 7 Rapala in rainbow trout or black and silver. Good for pike using red and white Dardevils or sucker meat.

• Willow Creek Reservoir - Very good for rainbow and brown trout; brookies also can be found in the inlet area.

• Wolford Reservoir - Very good for splake, rainbows and brown trout. For trout, use copper and gold-colored spinners or night crawlers and Power Bait.

• Yampa River - Good for trout in the upper river around Steamboat Springs. Good for pike between Hayden and Craig.

Back to top

SOUTHEAST REGION

• Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) - Crappie has slowed, but catfishing is fair using dough baits, chicken livers or shrimp.

• Anticline Lake - Excellent for stocker trout.

• Arkansas River No. 3 (through Pueblo) - Good.

• Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) - Many tributaries are running clear and fishing well. Stoneflies are moving and getting ready to hatch.

• Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) - Some caddis and stonefly activity in the Hayden Meadows area.

• Arkansas River (Salida to Cañon City) - If flows stabilize this week, the river will clear up and fishing will turn back on.

• Beckwith Reservoir - Fair for stocker trout. Good for catfish and bluegills.

• Bonny Reservoir - A few walleye are being caught on night crawlers drifted slowly off boats. Also active along the north shore on worms. Shore casters have been catching white bass and wipers off the face of the dam near East Beach, and catfish have been taken on crawlers.

• Brush Hollow Reservoir - Fair.

• Clear Creek Reservoir - Good for stocker rainbow.

• Cottonwood Lake - Good BWO hatches at the upper end and inlet. Use Prince Nymphs and Pheasant Tails.

• Daigre Reservoir - Fair to good for stocker trout.

• DeWeese Reservoir - Good for stocker trout.

• Elevenmile Reservoir - Mayfly hatch is beginning and trout fishing is fair to good along the shorelines. Pike fishing is slow but salmon fishing is fair to good around Deer Island. Use white or brass Needlefish, Dick Nites, Cowbells, Tasmanian Devils or Dodgers with crappie jigs.

• Fountain Lake - Excellent for trout.

• Hale and Hopper Ponds - Good for stocker trout. Bass of up to 6 pounds have been taken on Sassy Shads and worm rigs.

• Hayden Meadows Reservoir - Very good for stocker trout.

• Horseshoe Reservoir - Several tiger muskies have been caught, including a 41 ½-inch monster over the weekend.

• Jefferson Lake - Good for rainbows and lake trout.

• John Martin Reservoir - Slow for crappie and wipers. Lake Hasty is yielding catfish, crappie and saugeyes.

• Martin Lake - Good for wipers and northern pike.

• Monument Reservoir - Excellent for trout.

• Nee Gronda Reservoir - Slow for wipers, saugeye and bass.

• Nee Noshe Reservoir - Slow.

• North Lake - Good for trout.

• Pueblo Reservoir - Wipers can be caught in deeper water on bait, trolling and spooning. Good for walleye.

• Runyon Lake - Excellent for stocker trout.

• San Isabel Lake - Good for stocker trout.

• South Platte River (between Spinney and Elevenmile) - Flow is 39.6 cfs, and fishing is very good. Use a No. 16 Light Tan Hare's Ear, Red Copper John, Pheasant Tail, red Midge Larva, pupa, para BWO, RS2, Brassy or red San Juan Worm.

• Spinney Mountain Reservoir - Best fishing is along the north shoreline and Homestake Canal entrance. Use a brown Woolly Bugger, red or brown Chironomid, San Juan Worm, Hare's Ear, black Marabou jig, peach or apricot egg patterns or a frog-colored Tasmanian Devil.

• Trinidad Reservoir - Excellent for trout. Good for catfish and bass.

• Turks Pond - Channel catfish and blues are providing good action on chicken livers and worms. Also good for bass, wipers and saugeye.

• Twin Lakes - Lake trout are biting well on Gitzits and large Rapala-type lures. Worms and salmon eggs work best on rainbows, which are being caught from shore east of the boat ramp.

• Twin Lakes Forebay - Lake trout are being caught on Montera's Marvels and HiRocky Specials tipped with sucker meat.

• Wahatoya Reservoir - Fair to good for stocker trout.

Back to top

SOUTHWEST REGION

• Beaver Creek Reservoir - Anglers are catching rainbows and browns.

• Big Meadows Reservoir - Good for trout.

• Blue Mesa Reservoir - Salmon fishing has improved. Troll Pink Jewels and Kokanee Killers in red, green and pearl/red at three to four colors. Lake trout fishing has tapered off. Fair for brown trout and rainbows at the Gunnison river inlet using Power Bait, worms and Rapala-type lures. A few perch are being caught in Soap Creek and Cebolla Creek inlets using small jigs tipped with meal worms or night crawlers.

• Echo Canyon Reservoir - Excellent for stocked trout and bigger rainbows.

• Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam) - Midging is good with caddis.

• Gunnison River (through the canyon) - Very good. Hot flies: Yellow Sally, PMDs, Caddis and just about any other dry.

• Gunnison River (Upper from Almont to Blue Mesa) - Colder weather dropped flows to 700.

• Jackson Gulch Reservoir - Good to excellent for stocker trout.

• La Jara Creek - Fair for brown trout.

• McPhee Reservoir - Anglers have been catching smallmouth bass of up to 17 inches on gray tube jigs.

• Mountain Home Reservoir - Good for trout.

• Navajo Reservoir - Fishing with worms and cut-bait for catfish and northern pike has been very good at Windsurf Beach and Arboles Point. Crappie and bass active near the Colorado/New Mexico line.

• Platoro Reservoir - Good for trout.

• Ridgway Fishing Ponds - Excellent for stocker rainbows.

• Ridgway Reservoir - Very good for recently stocked rainbows.

• Road Canyon Reservoir - Good for rainbow trout of up to 20 inches using wet flies and Panther Martin spinners.

• Sanchez Reservoir - Fair for pike, walleye and yellow perch.

• Taylor Reservoir - Very good for rainbow trout. Medium-sized lake trout are holding in about 50 feet of water and can be caught on sucker meat fished off the bottom with an open bail and slip sinker.

• Taylor River - Good below Taylor Reservoir. Willow Creek is yielding some nice brookies.

• Trujillo Meadows Reservoir - Good for rainbow and brown trout on flies, lures or bait.

• Vallecito Reservoir - Good for pike.

Back to top

Back to Top