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Colorado fishing report
Published May 19, 2004 at midnight
DENVER METRO
Arvada Reservoir - Good for rainbows up to 18 inches. Most are being caught on Power Bait, but always have night crawlers and salmon eggs as a fallback.
Aurora Reservoir - Good for trout, and bass and wipers are becoming more active. Large schools have been seen all over the lake and a few nice fish have been caught on Rapalas, crankbaits and rainbow-patterned plastics. Fair for walleye using bottom bouncers and jigs.
Barr Lake - Smallmouth bass are showing up along shore in 5-foot depths. Use live shiners on a spinner jig for bass, Power Bait for trout.
Bear Creek - Fly casters can get nymph action early in the morning before the water gets too dirty. Lure casters do well with small Blue Fox gold and silver spinners.
Bear Creek Reservoir - Good for stocker rainbows using worms and rainbow or orange Power Bait.
Berkeley Lake - Good for rainbow trout using Zeke's Floating Bait or a Pistol Pete fly behind a bubble.
Centennial Park Lake - Rainbows are very active. Most are being caught on Power Bait and Crave Bait.
Chatfield Ponds - Catfish are being caught in several of the ponds on crawlers, stinkbait or frozen salted shiners. Some largemouth bass are being caught on spinner baits in the daytime and surface lures at night.
Chatfield Reservoir - Fair to good for walleye with harnessed leeches or crawlers. Smallmouth bass are hitting on shiners along the rocks at the base of the dam and around Massey Draw. Trout are hitting near Swim beach, the north boat ramp cove and around the south side marina.
Cherry Creek Reservoir - Walleye are biting in the old Cherry Creek channel. Slow troll a leech or night crawler on the bottom about 20 feet deep. Put a fluorescent floater on the line next to the hook.
Clear Creek (above Highway 119) - Water is discolored and fly fishing is difficult at best. Try a streamer fly with a bright silver body or switch to small silver spinners.
Clear Lake - Anglers are still doing well on trout with Power Bait and Crave Bait.
Evergreen Lake - Try the east side close to the dam. Use Power Bait or worms and fish from early morning until noon.
Georgetown Lake - Worms or Power Bait fished on the bottom are about all that will work at this time.
Gross Reservoir - Slow. A few lake trout have been caught.
Jim Baker Reservoir - Best fished in the morning. Gulp maggots below a bobber will catch many small bluegill.
Main Lake - Good for trout using Tasmanian Devils and small Kastmasters. Bass are active in the shallows.
Quincy Reservoir - Bass fishing is good and getting better every day. Use crankbaits or soft plastics, especially crayfish or lizard imitations on Texas or Carolina rigs. Slow to fair for trout.
Rocky Mountain Lake - Salmon eggs, Power Bait or worms will catch a limit of stocker trout.
Sloans Lake - Slow. A few crappie have been caught on minnows and some stocker trout on Power Bait.
Smith Reservoir - Try Texas rigging a plastic worm for largemouth bass.
South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) - Lure casters are doing well with small spinners, Rapalas or Garcia Tormenters. Standley Lake - Good for wipers and crappie at the inlet. Use live minnows for both. Stocker trout continue to be caught on Power Bait, worms and spinners.
Washington Park Lakes - Anglers are catching crappie on live minnows.
Webster Lake - For trout use minnows or Power Bait. For bass, toss out a dark-colored plastic worm and retrieve slowly on the bottom.
NORTHEAST
Barker Reservoir - Fair to good for trout near the inlet and along the north shore using night crawlers, salmon eggs or Power Bait.
Bellaire Lake - Good for trout using Sparkle Power Bait, Kastmasters, Little Cleos and small Tasmanian Devils.
Big Thompson Ponds - Catfish are biting on chicken livers, popcorn shrimp and a variety of other baits in the back pond.
Big Thompson River - Flow above Estes Lake is 185 cubic feet per second and 120 cfs below the dam. Upper river is still very fishable with streamer flies such as Hornbergs, Matukas or Zonkers. Lure casters are doing well with Panther Martin, Vibrax and Stream-a-Lures. Nymphing works on the lower river, but there is also good dry fly action.
Boulder Reservoir - Anglers are having better luck catching walleye with white or chartreuse tube jigs. Bass will bite on minnows and worms, as well as white jigs. The inlet is a great place for catfish.
Boyd Lake - Fair to good for walleye with several fish weighing more than 3 pounds caught on Shadraps, harnessed crawlers and white Twister tails.
Carter Lake (West of Loveland) - Some walleye have been caught on Rat-L-Traps and Short Warts. Fair for trout.
Chambers Lake - Fair to good at all three inlets with bait and spinners.
Douglas Reservoir - Good for stocker trout with Power Bait, Fireballs and red worms.
Dowdy Lake (Red Feather) - Good for stocker trout.
East Delaney Lake - Fair for trout with shrimp, scud and Prince Nymph patterns. Hohnholz Lakes - Fair to good. Horsetooth Reservoir - Fair for all species.
Jackson Lake - Good for trout, fair for wiper and poor for other species. Silver Kastmasters and silver Mepps produce the best results for lure casters, while night crawlers are the most effective bait.
Jumbo Reservoir - Slow for stocker trout. Fishing is poor in Jumbo Annex, a 60-acre lake beneath the main reservoir.
Lake Estes - Good for trout at the inlet with Power Bait, eggs and worms.
Lake John - Fishing is fair to good with salmon eggs, crawlers and Power Bait. Laramie River at Hohnholz SWA - Good with Panther Martin, Vibrax and Mepps Black Fury spinners.
Lon Hagler Reservoir - Good for stocker trout on bait, crawlers or minnows.
Lonetree Reservoir - Fishing for walleye, wipers and crappie has improved. Deep-running jigs and worm harnesses are most effective.
North Delaney Lake - Damsel nymphs, emergers and dry flies are working well over the weed beds, along with beadhead shrimp and scud pattern.
North Michigan Lake - Good at the inlet using small spinners or Hornberg, Halfback and Spruce Fly streamers. Evening hatches are well matched with Blue Dun, Adams Wulff and Mosquito dries. North Park Streams - Anglers are doing well with Panther Martins, Mepps Black Fury and Vibrax. Fly fishers do best nymphing with Stoneflies, hellgrammites, Prince Nymphs and Hornbergs.
North Sterling Reservoir - Very good for wipers along the dam and main points using crayfish tails, shrimp or slow-trolled crankbaits and jigs; fair for walleyes and saugeyes jigging grubs tipped with live bait or trolling along the dam; fair for crappie using small jigs and minnows from the dam or Elks Bay; fair for trout near the boat ramps on worms and other typical baits.
Parvin Lake (Red Feather) - Good using Little Tasmanian Devils, Thomas Rough Riders and Kastmasters.
Pinewood Reservoir - Fair to good for recently stocked trout with bait of all kinds.
Poudre River - Flow is 503 cfs, clarity poor but runoff has stabilized. Fair to good in the upper part, above Rustic, with Beadhead Hare's Ear, Stonefly and Copper John nymphs. Lower end is still discolored and fly fishing is difficult.
Seeley Lake - Fair to good for trout with Power Bait, Power Nuggets and salmon eggs.
Seymour Reservoir - Good for trout with bait.
Slack Weiss Reservoir - Good for stocker trout using Panther Martin, Mepps Aglia and Vibrax spinners and bait.
South Delaney Lake - Good for 10- to 14-inch cutthroats using silver Kastmasters and Thomas Buoyants.
St. Vrain Ponds (formerly Barbour Ponds) - All three ponds were stocked with rainbow trout last week and fishing is good. The most effective baits are green or yellow Power Bait, salmon eggs and night crawlers.
St. Vrain River - Flow is 232 cfs, roily and rising. Fair with bait in pocket water. Fly fishers are still doing well with Flashabou Olives, Beadhead Nymphs and small baetis dry flies.
Union Reservoir (Calkins Reservoir) - Good for small wipers with worms, shrimp, crayfish or mussels. Crappie have started biting on minnows around the pier. Trout fishing is good from shore using worms or Power Bait.
Watson Lake - Good for smallmouth bass using small crankbaits, plastic worms and topwater plugs. Trout anglers are doing well with Thomas Buoyants, Panther Martins and Vibrax spinners.
Wellington Reservoir No. 4 - Good for stocker trout with bait. Catfishare being caught on typical stinkbaits.
West Lake (Red Feather) - Good for stocker trout. Small Kastmasters and Thomas Buoyants have caught the most fish on the east and south side.
NORTHWEST
Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir) - Flowing low and clear out of the dam. Mayflies and miller moths have been providing good surface action for fly fishers.
Blue River (Dillon to Green Mountain Reservoir) - Flowing at a steady 52 cfs and fishing is good. Midge and baetis hatches have been augmented by the emergence of Blue Wing Olives, and mysis shrimp provide good action in the tailwater below Dillon Reservoir. Suggested nymphs: Barr's BWO Beadhead Emerger, Barr's BWO Flashback Emerger, gray or olive Baetis Nymph and Baetis Big Bear Emerger, all Nos. 20-22. Suggested dries: Blue Dun, Para-Baetis, Gulper Special and Hackle Dun Baetis, all Nos. 18-22. Colorado River (below Parshall) - Running low and clear at 332 cfs near Kremmling and the famed salmonfly hatch has begun. Nymph in the morning with Nos. 6-8 Beadhead Black Spandex or Stonefly Nymphs. Switch to big dries in the afternoon, Nos. 4-8 Sofa Pillows, Bird's Stonefly, Double Humpy, Mystery Meat Salmonfly and large yellow or orange stimulators.
Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle) - Still high, muddy and not very fishable.
Colorado River (near Granby) - Nymphs and midges work, but surface action is starting to pick up with caddis, Pale Morning Dun and Blue Dun patterns. Dry/dropper rigs, egg patterns and black or olive Woolly Buggers all catch fish.
Crystal River - Flows dropped dramatically, to 476 cfs in Carbondale. Lower river is somewhat discolored and fishing is best from Redstone to Marble, where there have been good hatches of caddis, Blue Wing Olives and Golden Stones. Hot flies include Peacock Caddis, Stimis, 20-Inchers, Princes and BLMs.
Fryingpan River - Clear with great flows of 122 cfs below Ruedi Reservoir. Blue Wing Olives are hatching in great numbers and midges are still active below the dam. Best time to hit the hatch is from noon till 4 p.m., and 7X tippets are a must for those fishing dries. Hot flies include Harrops Thorax BWO, Fryingpan Emergers, CDC Comparaduns, Sprout Midges, Jujubees, Poxyback Baetis, CDC Loopwings, Will's Epoxy Mysis and Tim's Mysis.
Granby Reservoir - Excellent for lake trout and rainbows. Anglers have been catching many 17- to 18-inch lakers on Rapalas, Z-Rays and tube jigs sweetened with sucker meat. Wax worms work well on kokanee, and fat rainbows are plentiful.
Grand Lake - Good for trout at the river inlet and near the boat ramp. Some lake trout are being caught on sucker meat and large spoons.
Green Mountain Reservoir - Shore fishing remains good with night crawlers or Power Bait. Good colors are red or green. Green River - Running clear and fishing well. Nymphing with Woolly Buggers, beadheads and scuds works best for big German browns.
Harvey Gap Reservoir - Excellent for trout, good for crappie, fair for pike and bass.
Highline Lake - Lake has been stocked and trout fishing is improving. A few 18- and 19-inchers have been caught. Crappie and bass are starting to hit on Brush Hogs and 10-inch Power Worms.
Mack Mesa Lake - Good for 12- to 18-inch rainbows.
Muddy Creek - Good for trout with Woolly Buggers, White Grizzly Coneheads, Blue Wing Olives and Mosquito patterns.
Rifle Gap Reservoir - Excellent for trout using Rapalas, green or silver spinners and waxworms. Fly fishers have done well nymphing the east inlet.
Rio Blanco Lake - Good for pike. Crappie have started biting on white and yellow jigs.
Roaring Fork River - Flows and water clarity are significantly better this week. Best fishing has been from Carbondale up to Aspen with large hatches of caddis and Blue Wing Olives coming off daily. Hot flies: Princes, Wired Stones, P-Tails, 20-Inchers, BLMs, Lite Brite Caddis, Z-Wings, CDC Comparaduns and Parachute BWOs.
Stagecoach Reservoir - Good for trout at the inlet. Improving for pike. Steamboat Lake - Good for trout. Woolly Buggers and worm/marshmallow combinations have been most successful.
Vega Reservoir - Very good for trout using Power Bait, salmon eggs, worms, flies and Panther Martin spinners.
White River - Fishable with Woolly Buggers, Copper Johns, streamers and other high-visibility flies.
Williams Fork Reservoir - Good for pike in the shallows.
Williams Fork River - Excellent for rainbows and brown trout using caddis, Mayflies, Blue Wing Olives and PMDs.
Willow Creek Reservoir - Very good for trout, with rainbows of up to 22 inches reportedly being caught.
Wolford Reservoir - Good for splake and rainbow trout in lower lake.
SOUTHEAST
Adobe Creek Reservoir (Blue Lake) - Some crappie are being caught along with some nice blue and channel catfish.
Anticline Lake - Excellent for trout.
Arkansas River No. 3 (through Pueblo) - Excellent for 10- to 17-inch trout.
Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) - Flows in this reach were 350-400 cfs over the weekend. Caddis are hatching from the top of Browns Canyon through Buena Vista, as are Blue Wing Olives. Stonefly nymphs also are very active. Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) - Caddis should progress above Buena Vista this week, and Blue Wing Olives continue to hatch on this section.
Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) - Flows have receded to 420 cfs and the river is running clear. Anglers have had great action on streamers, stoneflies, dry-dropper combos, and, on cloudy days, Blue Wing Olive hatches.
Beckwith Reservoir - Fair to good for stocker trout.
Bonny Reservoir - Fair to good. Shore casters have been catching white bass and wipers off the dam near East Beach.
Brush Hollow Reservoir - Fair for most warm-water species.
Clear Creek Reservoir - Excellent. A lot of trout are being caught on salmon eggs, rainbow Power Bait or night crawlers. Kokanee are still hitting on Needlefish.
Elevenmile Reservoir - Fair for all species. Boaters are having better action toward the east end of the lake and off Roger's Mountain; shore casters at Lazy Boy and Sucker's Cove. Most effective baits are salmon eggs, spawn sacs, worms and pink or green Power Bait. Best lures are split-jointed Rapalas in gold, black or peach colors, Needlefish and Dick Nites. Pike fishing is picking up.
Fountain Lake - Excellent for trout.
Hale and Hopper Ponds - Stocker trout can be caught on salmon eggs, night crawlers, Power Bait or small spinners. Bass up to 6 pounds have been taken on Sassy Shads and worm rigs.
Hayden Meadows Reservoir - Excellent for trout.
Horseshoe Reservoir - Excellent. John Martin Reservoir - Crappie bite has slowed but some are being caught on live minnows fished beneath a bobber in the riprap at the base of the dam. Good for wipers and bass.
Martin Lake - Good for trout with spinners, salmon eggs and Power Bait. Fishing for northern pike is also good.
Monument Reservoir - Good with all methods for stocker trout.
Nee Gronda Reservoir - Fair to good for wipers using Rat-L-Traps, jigs with Twister tails or live minnows fished under a bobber. Crappie are also starting to bite.
Nee Noshe Reservoir - Spotty. Some wipers have been caught on worm rigs.
North Lake - Good for stocker trout.
Pueblo Reservoir - Smallmouth bass and wipers are becoming very active. Fish are being caught on a variety of lures. Walleye fishing also is improving.
Runyon Lake - Excellent for trout.
San Isabel Lake - Good to excellent for trout.
Skaguay Reservoir - Anglers have been catching rainbows of up to 16 inches left over from last year's stocking.
South Platte River (between Spinney and Elevenmile) - Running at about 44 cfs between Elevenmile and Spinney Mountain Reservoirs and fishing is very good. Cutthroat and rainbow trout are hitting on Sparkle Wing RS2s, orange or gold Scuds, peach and apricot egg patterns, gray or brown Chironomids and black or olive Woolly Buggers. Hatches include small midges and Blue Wing Olives.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir - Anglers are still seeing good action along the dam and shoreline from the South Ramp to Buffalo Cove. Many 18- to 24-inch trout are being caught in 5 to 15 feet of water. Top flies: green or black Woolly Buggers, gray or brown Chironomids, San Juan Worms and Blood Worms with an egg.
Trinidad Reservoir - Improving for warm-water species.
Turks Pond - Fair to good for bass, wipers and saugeyes.
Turquoise Lake - Shore fishing in the open areas has been very good with some real nice rainbows caught on bait.
Twin Lakes - Very good for rainbow trout using salmon eggs or Power Bait.
Wahatoya Reservoir - Good for trout.
SOUTHWEST
Beaver Creek Reservoir - Anglers are catching rainbow and brown trout, mostly with bait but some with lures. Kokanee are also active.
Big Meadows Reservoir - Trout are hitting well on bait of all kinds.
Blue Mesa Reservoir - Big lake trout are becoming more active. Fish 20- to 40-foot depths with light-colored tube jigs sweetened with sucker meat or troll large Flatfish or Bombers.
Conejos River - Good for wild brown trout but runoff has started.
Echo Canyon Reservoir - Excellent for stocker trout.
Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam) - Good to excellent, with consistent caddis and Blue Wing Olive hatches.
Gunnison River (through the canyon) - Fishing in the upper river to Smith Fork has been exceptionally good. Big stone nymphs are starting to move and there are lots of caddis coming off after 2 p.m.
Gunnison River (Upper from Almont to Blue Mesa) - Fish are hitting on streamers, nymphs, dries and spinners.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir - Good for trout.
McPhee Reservoir - Good for stocker rainbows.
Ridgway Reservoir - Anglers are making nice catches of 10- to 14-inch rainbows.
Rio Grande River - Upper river is fishing fairly well with stonefly nymphs.
Vallecito Reservoir - Very good for pike.
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