J.W. Wilder took a tour around Eleven Mile Reservoir on Monday and found not one soul standing on the ice staring down a hole.

"That made me very happy," said Wilder, senior ranger at Eleven Mile State Park. He said he'd rather not call out the rescue team.

Springtime in the Rockies is hastening along, and Eleven Mile is turning to mush. In some places, the ice is 16 inches thick. But thick ice doesn't always mean sound ice for angling.

The auger augurs poorly for any kind of extended ice fishing season.

"The ice has air bubbles in it," Wilder said. "If you run an auger into it, it will come out in chunks. It is basically in a state of deterioration."

Similarly, at Green Mountain Reservoir, anglers Monday reported foot-thick ice covered with slush. And the ice has been relatively quiet.

Never trust quiet ice. Healthy ice cracks, booms and sings.

So this might be a good time to run some fuel stabilizer through the old borer and hang it up in the garage. An arctic front always could slip in and refreeze everything.

But don't bank on it.

"We'd prefer people not be on the ice," Wilder said.

He said the ice at Eleven Mile is retreating from shore in places. At Cross Creek, it has receded as far as 150 yards, which should suggest some open- water fishing options from shore.

("The big rainbows are just getting ready to spawn," Wilder said.)

Meanwhile, wagers are being placed on opening dates for Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the Gold Medal star upstream from Eleven Mile.

Before Parks announces the celebrated opener, every stitch of ice needs to have melted off Spinney.

"The average date is April 22," Wilder said. "But I wouldn't be surprised to see it happen earlier."

Last year, Spinney opened April 12. In 2004, the gates swung open as early as April 1.

Cabela's coming

Cabela's last week announced it will start building its new megastore in Wheat Ridge this summer. The opening is scheduled for late summer 2008.

So the giant outfitter stores will face off after all. Bass Pro Shops Outdoors World has enjoyed being the only big band in town since it opened in November 2005 at Stapleton. Now, it seems, the competitive sparks will fly.

For more than a year, while Cabela's waited for state/federal highway plans to be approved, there was speculation that the Sidney, Neb.-based outdoor gear store would back out of its plans for a Wheat Ridge store.

Cabela's spokesman Joe Arterburn said environmental and traffic studies have been approved and Cabela's will break ground on its 185,000-square foot building this summer.

The store and outdoor center will be located at Interstate 70 and Colorado 58. It is expected to draw as many as 35,000 people on Saturdays.

Lakes open

North Sterling and Jackson Lake state parks opened to boating last week, with warnings that boaters wear life jackets and be prepared for cold water and seasonal high winds.

Jackson Lake is full, while North Sterling Reservoir is still filling. The reservoirs, in Morgan and Logan counties, are among Colorado's most popular fishing destinations. Information: www.Parks.State.CO.US.

dentrye@RockyMountainNews.com

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