Colorado Fishing Report for August 20, 2013

Fishing Report upgrades: new tools added
This week, and for the foreseeable future, we will be linking as many fishing locations as possible in both the stocking report and the fishing report to our interactive Fishing Atlas. The Fishing Atlas provides a host of information, including driving directions, stocking details, and locations of the nearest license retailer. To use this resource, click on the provided link, and the atlas will open in a separate window. Once the atlas is open, you can zoom in or out, or click on the location to display detailed information. Feel free to play around with the options on the far left of the atlas for other types of information and displays. Any questions or feedback are greatly appreciated. Contact us at dnr_fish.reporter@state.co.us. Thanks, from the fishing report crew.

Check out Colorado Parks and Wildlife fishing videos
Did you know that Colorado Parks and Wildlife has created a series of videos offering month by month fly fishing tips?

“Fly Fishing Colorado” is a feature length video journal highlighting major fly-fishing events and top destinations throughout the state. Fly fishermen of all skill levels will benefit from this comprehensive look at Colorado’s year-round fly-fishing opportunities. Each monthly entry is filled with action at recommended destinations, fly-fishing techniques, major insect hatches and proven fly patterns. This week, we’ve got a video with fishing tips for the fall: fishing the green drake hatch on the Fryingpan River. For more videos, visit our video page, or check out the next video in the “Fly Fishing Colorado” series.

Boat launching difficult at Jackson Lake State Park
The water level at Jackson Lake State Park has dropped to a level that makes it difficult for larger vessels to launch. Water levels at the end of the boat ramp are currently at a mere two and a half feet. Users should be aware that the water stored in Jackson Lake is for irrigation of crops. The drawdown of the reservoir is the result of area farmers need for the water. Around Nov. 1, water should begin to flow into the reservoir again. Smaller vessels such as small aluminum fishing boats and jet skis can still launch at Jackson Lake State Park. However, larger vessels with a deep hull or a trailer that sits high above the ground will have difficulty or be unable to launch. Hand launched craft such as canoes and kayaks will be allowed until the water level drops to a level that Park personnel cannot launch rescue craft onto the water. Inspections for aquatic nuisance species are still in effect until the reservoir closes to boating. Hours for the station have changed effective Aug. 12. The new hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Denver Teen Backcountry Angling Clinic
To help give anglers the skills and confidence needed to take that next step, Colorado Parks and Wildlife is joining with Backcountry Hunters and Anglers to present “A Taste of Backcountry Angling,” on Aug. 24 near Empire. This day-long clinic is designed for intermediate anglers ages 14 to 18 and a parent or mentor and will offer presentations on safe backcountry travel and camping, tips on catching trout in lakes and streams, and hands-on instruction in spin- and fly fishing. Participants will also have an opportunity to fish two high-country lakes during the morning and afternoon bite. Registration is limited to youth ages 14-18. All youth are required to be accompanied by an adult or mentor and participants over the age of 16 must have a valid 2013 CPW-issued fishing license. Because space is limited to 25 youth, participants will be selected through a random lottery. Because access to the site is restricted, participants must be at the rendezvous point near Empire by 7:30 a.m. sharp. The clinic will last until 5:30 p.m.

Stocking Report
The following waters were recently stocked with catchable (approximately 10″) trout:

Metro Denver
Aurora Reservoir	Aurora
Cherry Creek Reservoir	Cherry Creek State Park
Northeast Region
No stockings this week.
Northwest Region
Chapman Dam	Norrie
Southeast Region
Buena Vista Kids Pond	Buena Vista
Chalk Creek Lake	Chaffee County; 10 miles southwest of Nathrop
Hayden Meadow Reservoir	Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Wrights Lake	Chaffee County; 8 miles southwest of Nathrop
Southwest Region
Columbine Ponds	Montrose County; near Columbine Pass
Mix Lake	Platoro
Platoro Reservoir	Platoro
Pothole Lake #2, Upper	Gunnison County; 10 miles north of Taylor Park
Ridgway Reservoir	Ridgway State park
Taylor Park Reservoir	Taylor Park
Vallecito Reservoir	Vallecito

Conditions Report – Metro Denver Area

Aurora Reservoir (City of Aurora)
Aurora Reservoir is open to boating. Water temperature is 68 degrees. All watercraft must be inspected prior to launch in the lower parking lot at the entrance of the boat ramp. This includes all hand launched watercraft. Trout fishing has slowed down some lately and is rated slow to fair at this time from the dam using PowerBait and crawlers casted out deep using a slip rig. Boaters have been doing slow to fair trolling with various spoons and crawlers. Walleye action is slow to fair trolling with bottom bouncers and trolling near the weed lines with swim baits. Most are undersize but we have been seeing some keepers caught. Shore fishing for walleye is fair using leeches off a slip float fished shallow and with swim baits. Perch action is fair to good using jigs tipped with worms. Slow on all other species. Restricted to electric motors only. For more information call 303-690-1286. Park hours for August are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Arvada Reservoir (City of Arvada)
Fishing remains fair with catches of all species. Water level is remaining steady and the temperature is on the rise. People reporting the best success are fishing deep with worms and orange PowerBait. In boats small jigs near the bottom are working best. For the early morning fly fisherman try a hopper-dropper combination. A good combination is a Madam-X or some type of stimulator on top and a hare’s ear or copper john as the dropper and be patient.

Barr Lake State Park (Adams County)
No new reports.

Chatfield State Park (South of Littleton in Douglas and Jefferson Counties)
No new reports.

Cherry Creek State Park (South of I-225, East of I-25 in Arapahoe County)
The water temperature is 71.3 degrees. The water level remains about 3.2 feet low. Tower Loop anglers are catching trout using night crawlers. Along the dam face, walleye are being caught in about 10 to 15 feet of water. On the west side by the Marina, bass and crappie are being caught with worms. Mountain Loop is reporting bluegill and trout using worms. At Dixon Grove, trout are being caught with power bait. Just a reminder, boaters must stay at least 60 feet away from in front of the tower structure at Tower Loop. Both ramps are open 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. Due to the low water levels, small water craft are being asked to launch at the West Ramp and Larger craft at the East Ramp. Also, due to the low water levels, be aware of unmarked hazards and shallow areas. No launching is permitted outside the posted hours without previous inspection.

Quincy Reservoir (City of Aurora)
Water temperature is 70 degrees. The water level is good at this time. Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures only. Only watercraft capable of being launched by hand permitted and electric motors only. All watercraft must be inspected prior to launch. Trout fishing is slow to fair in the morning and evening using spoons and flies. Bass fishing is slow to fair using top water lures and soft plastics. No other reports at this time. For more information call 303-693-5463. Park hours for August are 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Standley Lake (City of Westminster, Jefferson County)
Standley Lake is open for day boating and permit holders. The current lake temperature is approximately 73 degrees. Fishing times are 6:30 a.m. to sunset and will be strictly enforced. Aquatic bait is not allowed at Standley Lake; this includes salamanders, leeches, crayfish, frogs and minnows. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) regulations are in effect. Call for more details. A $7 fee is charged for all drive-in traffic. A $15 fee for daily boating is required for canoes, kayaks and small fishing vessels. No belly boats are allowed. Any trailered boat must meet ANS program protocols and are subject to a fifteen day quarantine. Drive-in access is available from 7:00 a.m. to sunset. For more information, contact the Standley Lake Nature Center at (303) 425-1097.

Conditions Report – Northeast Colorado

Boyd Lake State Park (North of Loveland, Larimer County)
No new reports.

Carter Lake (Larimer County)
Carter Lake was recently stocked with trout in July. Fishing for walleye remains good in the evening and morning from shoreline using worms. Anglers are having the most luck using trolling harnesses on boat. Fishing restrictions have changed for lengths and possession limits of walleye so be sure to check signs prior to keeping any fish. Trout are biting on everything.

Eldorado Canyon State Park (South Boulder Creek, Boulder County)
The flow in South Boulder Creek is flowing about 35 CFS, and fishing conditions are good. Fishermen are having success with caddis, stones and gold spinners.

Eleven Mile State Park (Park County)
Trout fishing is good. The weed beds floating around the lake make for difficult trolling. Check your lines frequently. It is also a good time to look at other techniques like jigging tubes or marabous which have been very productive. Anglers drifting PowerBait or Gulp with a long leader have caught big fish and have done it consistently. Colors do matter, but they often change daily. Orange, green and pink are the most popular. Stoll Mountain west up the overflow channel has been a good spot. Bite times are moving back to early morning, although the afternoon change can still be productive. Mid-day is still slow, especially for shoreline anglers. Salmon fishing is slow. The good salmon bite appears to be over for now. They can still be caught, but it is definitely more difficult. Try the deeper parts of the lake. Pike action is fair. Action is up and down. White spinner baits and tube jigs are doing well. Work Deer or Goose Island or Rocky Flats to Stoll Mountain. Decent numbers of medium size fish showing up in the 4-7# category. Big ones are on the prowl. Fishing on the Dream Stream has been very good this week. Early morning hours have been producing large swarms of Trico’s with a mix of caddis, Midges, Pale morning duns, and even an occasional Blue wing olive – you name it and it’s in the air! Surface activity has been plentiful on non-windy days – a caddis or hopper with a Trico spinner off the back has been very productive. Watch the take, to determine your fly selection. If the trout sips showing a full nose, put on a Trico or midge. If you see a splash tight to the bank, try a hopper or caddis. If a bump in the flow occurs, expect some weeds coming down river and clarity to diminish. Go back to nymphing with a caddis larva/pupa trailed with a soft hackle peasant tail.

Flatiron Reservoir (Larimer County)
Both lakes were stocked in July with trout and have been fishing well. Flatiron produces best with power bait and worms from the shoreline. Cheyenne day use is open and allows for fishing from the southern shore of Flatiron. Pinewood continues to fish very well from the cove with flies especially midge imitations. Use Griffin’s Gnat and small zebra midges in the evening. A 40 inch muskie was reported from Pinewood and the possibility remains to catch the largest fish of the year. Other parts of the lake fish best with baits and worms and a limit of fish can be caught from the shore.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park Ponds (Jefferson and Gilpin Counties)
Golden Gate Canyon State Park offers five fishing ponds open year-round to all park visitors. The ponds are Kriley, Slough, Ranch Ponds East and West, and Dude’s Fishing Hole. Each angler is allowed four fish per day with eight being the maximum number in possession. No live baits are allowed with the exception of worms. Please call the Visitor Center for directions at 303-582-3707.

Horsetooth Reservoir, Lory State Park (Larimer County)
Trout have remained at a low to medium density continuing to go after spinners to worms. Bass are still out in force. Large bass are moving out of the coves early in the morning with the small ones staying in the coves during the day. Warmer water temperatures are continuing to provide very good smallmouth bass fishing. They are going after crank baits, minnows, jigs and worms. Walleye are still hitting hard with a majority of activity in the coves especially in Inlet Bay.

Jackson Lake State Park (Morgan County)
Water levels are low and boating is by hand launch only. Canoes, kayaks, etc. that can be carried to the water are allowed. There is not enough water at the ramp to allow a trailered vessel to be launched. Surface water temperature is approximately 80 degrees. Fishing has slowed down some but people are still catching carp, wipers, walleye and trout. It’s usually best to fish in the early mornings or late evenings. For wipers and walleyes, the bait has been nightcrawlers from the shoreline.

Jumbo Reservoir (Logan and Sedgwick Counties)
The boat dock is no longer in the water and has been removed. No other reports.

North Sterling State Park (Logan County)
Water levels are good with both boat ramps still in the water. Crappie fishing is fair along the dam, marina and outlet areas on jigs and minnows. Best fishing has been in the mornings and evenings. Lots of catfish are being caught at Balanced Rock and Elks Bay on worms.

Prewitt Reservoir (Washington County)
Water levels are still dropping. Prewitt is closed to boating, only hand launched boats are allowed. The ramp and dock are out of the water. Fishing has been slow for all species. A few wiper and walleye are being caught at night off the dam. Prewitt requires an annual fishing license or a State Wildlife Area access permit for anyone ages 19-64. The minimum size for walleye and wipers is 15 inches.

Spinney Mountain State Park (Park County)
Water levels are typical for this time of year, down about five vertical feet from spillway elevation, which offers plenty of boating, belly boating and shore fishing opportunities. Trout are fair to good. Leech and streamer patterns from #6 to 12 – olive, brown, black; chironomid pupae (‘ice cream cone’) patterns from #16 to 20; egg patterns #16. Trolling is also seeing success with Rapalas and Dare Devils. Good catches are being seen in the inlets and closer to the dam and fishermen are reporting the most success in the deeper waters. Pike is good. Try using spoons, stickbaits or tube jigs. The best reports are coming from those fishing 100 to 150 meters from the shoreline.

St. Vrain State Park ponds (Weld County)
If you’re looking for a warm-water fishery, St. Vrain is definitely the place to be this time of year. Pelican, Killdeer, Red Tail, Coot and Bald Eagle Ponds are all stocked full of exciting fish! The sunfish are definitely biting. Bluegill bite best with a worm below a bobber. The crappie like flies and small spinner baits/roostertails and the occasional worm too! The bass have been playing the avoid-a-hook game for months now so be as natural as you can be – or, lucky tip: be as bright as you can be. Something “different” might be the key. The catfish have also been biting. Try stink-bait, liver, mussels or worms for the best success. There are catfish in most of our ponds so if one is not producing, try another! Luck Tip number two: The south-west corner of Pelican Pond might be worth a shot at some nice catfish, if you can figure out a way to get there. Please do not cross any of the orange fences – they are marked and the areas behind them are closed to public use (enforced) because of a prairie dog relocation project. If trout are more to your liking, Coot, Mallard, Sandpiper and Red Tail Ponds are where you should concentrate your efforts. All four ponds received fish in the spring, however, have been fished hard, so be as natural as possible! Please remember that Bald Eagle Pond has the following restrictions: 1) Fishing with artificial flies and lures only, 2) Scented plastics must be one and a half inches long or longer, and 3) ALL bass must be returned to the water immediately. On that note, the bass are still producing. Try senko’s, drop shots, and crawdad immitations (weedless) for some good morning/evening results. The mid-day bite is slow. Lucky Tip: The bass have been biting on flies too (be as natural as possible and try dragon-fly immitations). The sunfish are still playing the “take the worm” game and can be caught in every accessible pond on our park. Try worms below a bobber around the shorelines and rocks/structure. Good Luck! If you’re planning on coming out, please bring your fishing license and keep it with you. Also read the regulations manual! We look forward to seeing you this summer!

Conditions Report – Southeast Colorado

Adobe Creek Reservoir/Blue Lake (Kiowa and Bent Counties)
Slow for all species; occasional catfish are being caught.

Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area/Arkansas River (Lake, Chaffee and Fremont Counties)
Here’s an update from Greg at ArkAnglers: “As of Monday, summer recreational releases from Twin Lakes have been curtailed and the river is dropping back to native flow. Recent rains continue to feed the tributary streams, though, and the cumulative effect of that is a flow of 94 CFS in Hayden Meadows, 278 CFS at Granite, 392 in Browns Canyon and 432 at Wellsville. These lower flows make wading the river much more feasible while still allowing for float fishing below Browns Canyon. The river is clear from top to bottom today but projected monsoon moisture this week could impact visibility in lower Bighorn Sheep Canyon. Meanwhile, the fishing has been excellent, thanks to diverse hatches of caddis, red quills, pale morning duns, and midges, all coupled with the late summer feeding instincts of trout as they prepare for the fall spawn (browns) and the winter ahead.”

Brush Hollow Reservoir (Fremont County)
The water level has come up just a little; however, the boat ramp is still inaccessible. Fishing has been good for bluegill and a small number of bass have been reported being caught. The area around the shoreline is pretty muddy with the recent rains.

Clear Creek Reservoir (Chaffee County)
Clear Creek Reservoir boat ramp is open Thursday through Monday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Here is an update from Jerry Hornbuckle: “Improved weather conditions—lower winds, less rain, cooler temperatures—have brought a slight improvement in fishing conditions at Clear Creek Reservoir. Also, mayfly hatches continue in the upper region of the lake. From shore, PowerBait dominates artificial lures and flies and, for most people, worms. Four fish limits of trout are obtained by most people in two hours’ time. No kokanee were reported caught from shore, but two or three suckers were landed. From boats, both trolling and casting while drift fishing were successful for some boaters, but there were still some days that were not very productive. Those lures trolled that did well were Tasmanian Devils (both yellow and pink colors) and small Rapalas with brown trout and rainbow trout color patterns. For those casting lures, Kastmasters and Thomas Buoyant spoons have been reported to do well, too. Numbers of kokanee landed continue to increase slightly from week to week, although not in large numbers. Similarly, there are increased reports of tiger muskie sightings and of being ‘hooked but not landed.’ As for fly fishermen, the Adams and Adams Parachute patterns continue to be productive around the shoreline, whether fished from a boat or on shore itself.”

Lake Henry (Crowley County)
Henry Lake is closed to fishing and all other wildlife-related recreation.

John Martin Reservoir State Park (Bent County)
No new reports.

Lake Pueblo State Park (Pueblo County)
The continued afternoon rain showers here at Lake Pueblo have raised the water level, a welcome sight for boaters. This additional rain seems to be cooling off the fish just a little bit, with reports of slower fishing coming in. The bass and trout are still being cooperative in the reservoir and river, respectively. There are still claims of catfish and walleye coming out of the reservoir as well as long as you hit them at the right time. Just a few weeks away from the last big holiday weekend of the year we will start seeing some fish stocking occur in Anticline and Valco Ponds, so be prepared! As always please continue to follow the rules and regulations regarding method of take and bait use while on the river. If you have any questions please stop in at our visitor center or ask a ranger on the park. Tight lines everyone!

Lathrop State Park, Martin Lake and Horseshoe Lake (Huerfano County)
The fishing report remains much the same from previous weeks. A few pike were picked up along on Horseshoe along the dam and a few bass as well. Martin has seen an increase in fishing pressure, with a few having luck towards the dam side. This is a slower time of the year for any fish to be biting, which should pick up in a few weeks and the temperature begins to drop. The carp are still providing a fun catch along the south shore of Horseshoe. This is a reminder, though, that if you are fishing overnight, you must be actively fishing, and not camping on shore.

Lake Meredith (Crowley County)
Meredith Reservoir is closed to fishing and all other wildlife-related recreation.

Mt. Elbert Forebay (Lake County)
Fishing conditions are fair. During the morning, shore anglers landed several rainbow trout on pink PowerBait at both the northern and southern sections of the lake. Fly fisherman did not experience the same success at catching trout as the bait anglers did. Out of the four surveyed fly fisherman, none of them reported catching multiple trout on a fly. Under overcast condition, trout favored golden Kastmasters near the outlet of the reservoir. Midday water surface temperatures were in the high 50s.

Rampart Reservoir (El Paso County)
The U.S. Forest Service opened the reservoir to shoreline anglers and hand launched watercraft on May 24. The road across the dam is now open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sunday. It will not be open during the week. Motorized boats are not allowed across the dam and cannot be launched from the boat ramp. Fishing has been fair for rainbow trout and cutbows.

Turquoise Lake (Lake County)
According to locals, fishing is flat. There were very few fish caught this past weekend. Water level has been stable for several weeks, but the August doldrums have set in and the catch rate has dropped to slow. Catch rate from boats is a little better than shore. Catching seems to improve a little during and right after rains showers.

Trinidad Lake State Park (Las Animas County)
Trinidad Lake is approximately 506 surface acres and the surface temp is in the low to mid 70s. The water is still murky. The larger debris is working its way to the lake edges. We are still hearing of some catfish on chicken liver. Trout, walleye, and bass fishing has slowed down since the heavy rains. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for bass and walleye.

Twin Lakes Reservoir (Lake County)
Fishing conditions from shore has been fair. On the other hand, boat fishing has been very slow. A majority of boat anglers reported not landing a single trout. Near the power plant, successful shore anglers reported catching several rainbow trout by employing either yellow PowerBait or worms off the bottom. Most of the reported catches from shore anglers consisted of homogeneous groups of 10 to 14 inch rainbow trout. Without the assistance of a dock at Dexter Point boat ramp, boat launching might be a more onerous task. Midday water surface temperatures were in the high 50s.

 

Conditions Report – Northwest Colorado

Colorado River at Glenwood Springs (Garfield County)
Here’s the latest from the Taylor Creek Fly Shop: “Flow is at 2360 CFS in Glenwood Springs. The visibility has been a bit challenging on the Big Raddy this week; tons of rain have put this big water in the muddy column. There are moments of clarity to be found, especially late in the day. Hatches are still going strong despite the poor visibility; we are seeing tiny blue wing olives, caddis, pale mornings and golden stones around mid-day through twilight. Big, black streamers are the ticket when conditions are right, and we still suggest getting on and off the Colorado early to avoid stressing fish in hot afternoon water temps. Give us a call for up-to-the-minute details on the Colorado River.”

Crystal River (Gunnison County)
Here’s a report from the Taylor Creek Fly Shop: “Flow is at 145 CFS in Carbondale. Easy dry fly fishing awaits you on the Crystal, but keep an eye on the flows, especially the day after heavy storms. We are seeing very strong caddis and pale morning dun hatches mid-day, and rusty spinner falls early and late in the day. The farther up 133 you drive, the fewer people you will see over the course of your day. Hot spots are near Redstone, the RVR and of course, the ‘staircase’ in Carbondale. Keep some hoppers and streamers handy, too.”

Delaney Buttes, Cowdrey Reservoir and Lake John (Jackson County)
No recent updates.

Elkhead Reservoir State Park (Moffat County)
Smaller pike and smaller bass of the Largemouth variety were the reports coming in this weekend from Elkhead Reservoir. Water levels in the lake are dropping about one foot per week, and pike are cruising about seven feet below the surface.

Fryingpan River (Eagle County)
Here’s a report from Taylor Creek Fly Shop: “Flow is at 215 CFS. The hatches are here, folks! If you want a shot at green drakes, post up between mile 7 and 12 near one o’clock, and there are pale morning duns mixed in as well. We are seeing PMDs on the entire river mid-day, and spinner falls late in the evening until the next morning. Good hatches of blue wing olives are still popping off in the upper mile, and we are still seeing healthy numbers of golden stones, red quills and midges, too. There has been plenty of rain and cloud cover over the last week, which has accelerated the hatches and has been keeping us cool and wet. If you are fishing the lower river, caddis is the name of the game all day long, with stones and PMDs in the mix, too.”

Harvey Gap State Park (Garfield County)
No recent reports.

Highline Lake State Park and Mack Mesa Reservoir (Mesa County)
No recent updates.

James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (Mesa County)
Bluegill and catfish are biting at dawn and dusk at Fruita and Corn Lake on worms. There have been a few trout caught at Island Acres during the same time period. You might have some luck catching bass at Connected Lakes on spinners early in the morning.

Lake Granby (Grand County)
Here’s an update from Tracy Featherston, the Lake Granby skipper from fishexplorere.com: “Lake Granby is minus-27 feet below full; water clarity is to six feet; surface temperature has dropped to 66 degree. Lakers are on the move and can be found in shallower water early in the mornings before the sun comes over the ridge. I have found kokanee starting to school up, and they can be found in 10 to 30 feet of water in the main body of the lake.”

Pearl Lake State Park (Routt County)
Blue Kastmasters and Rapalas have been hitting well in the evening, as have wooly boogers. Crawdad type flies have been hitting well also according to our guests. A few brook trout have been caught in Pearl lately.

Rifle Falls, Rifle Gap State Park (Garfield County)
No new reports.

Roaring Fork River (Garfield County)
Latest info from Taylor Creek Fly Shop: “Flow is at 228 CFS in Aspen, and 668 CFS in Glenwood Springs. We have been blessed with plenty of cool, rainy weather, which has suppressed our concerns about high water temps in the afternoon. Caddis and pale morning duns are hatching heavily, with some golden stones, small blue wing olives and plenty of midges around as well. Streamers have been white hot on the cloudy days, with white being the optimal color right now. Nymphing has been productive with stonefly nymphs, caddis larvae and PMD nymphs until the hatches get rolling. There are still a few drakes hatching on the upper river near Aspen, look for these huge bugs as twilight approaches. A few of our guides have seen healthy numbers of craneflies also.”

Stagecoach State Park (Routt County)
The Tailwaters will be closed to all public access beginning Sept. 16, 2013 for the restoration project. It is expected to be closed through the end of the year. Contact the park office for more information. Trout have moved to deeper, cooler water. Orange or green PowerBait, wooly buggers, Tasmanian devils, and worms are working well for trout. Anglers have been successful fishing from the shore or a boat. Pike activity has picked up with a few 20-plus pound fish being landed in the shallows at the inlet. Buzz baits have been working well for pike. The harvest of pike at Stagecoach is encouraged. Please don’t throw them on shore or in the dumpsters but take as many as you like for the fryer. Algae are beginning to bloom. Emergers, midges, and prince nymphs in dark colors have yielded some beautiful rainbows at the tailwaters below the dam. Small sections of shoreline have been roped off to help prevent erosion. If the tailwaters parking lot is full, please park at the dam or come back another time to avoid overcrowding.

State Forest State Park (Jackson County)
No recent updates.

Steamboat Lake State Park (Routt County)
Bank fishermen have been hitting Meadow Point and Rainbow Ridge area pretty hard with worms and eggs being the bait of choice. SPinners have been working very well also I have not heard from boat fisherman lately, so no report for them.

Sylvan Lake State Park (Eagle County)
No new updates.

Vega State Park (Mesa County)
Fishing is steady. Early Settlers boat ramp is closed at this time. The Island and Oak Point boat ramps remain open. Please make sure to have your boat inspected prior to launching. Sealing your boat upon exit will make your next outing much quicker. Fishing licenses and boat registrations may be purchased at the visitor center open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The park is no longer under a Stage I Fire Ban.

Yampa River State Park (Routt County)
The Yampa River is fishing well due to the water releases from upstream dams. Browns and pike are continuing to dominate the angler reports coming in from the Yampa.

Conditions Report – Southwest Colorado

Crawford State Park (Delta County)
Catfish are still biting! There was a report of a 37-inch pike caught near the dam by a shore fisherman. Occasional reports of perch and crappie are still coming in. Crappie have been about 9 to 12 inches.

Gunnison Gorge, Gunnison River (Gunnison – Delta County)
The Black Canyon of the Gunnison Gorge is running around 536 CFS. The river is starting to clear with about four feet of visibility and improving every day. Flies that have been working are streamers, caddis emergers, and San Juan worms. The Lower Gunnison at the Confluence is running around 635 CFS. It is also clearing up and fishing well. San Juan worms, copper johns, streamers and Pat’s rubber legs have been working well.

Mancos State Park, Jackson Gulch Reservoir (Montezuma County)
No new reports.

Navajo State Park (Archuleta County)
Crappie fishing has slowed some; however, the smallmouth bass have been biting recently. Water temperature is currently approximately 75 degrees. Colorado and New Mexico fishing licenses for  2013-14 are available at the Visitor Center at this time. Please remember to bring sunscreen, insect repellent and clothes appropriate for changes in the weather.

Ridgway State Park (Ouray County)
The reservoir is 90.5 percent full and falling slowly. Our most recent stocking of the reservoir, with 2,200 catchable rainbow trout, occurred on July 16. Both shore fishermen and boaters are reporting very good fishing for stocker-sized fish (eight to 12 inches) with a few larger fish (18 to 20 inches) being caught. The catch is mostly rainbows, but there have also been some browns and smallmouth bass. Shore fishermen are doing well along the Dallas Creek day use area and Mears Bay shorelines. Shore fisherman should to try gold Kastmasters, rainbow or green PowerBait, or worms off the bottom. Boat fishermen are having luck with gold Kastmasters and black/silver sinking Rapalas near the dam, the west shore, and around the opening to Mears Bay. Fishing in the Uncompahgre River at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is excellent. Our most recent stocking of the river, with 200 cutthroat trout, occurred on May 1. The river flows are currently at around 217 CFS and will continue to increase. Fly fisherman are doing well on bead-headed nymphs, pheasant tails and brown wooly buggers; copper johns and small midges are also working. Spin fisherman are doing well with gold Mepps and yellow/black Panther Martins. Please remember that the Uncompahgre River in Pa-Cu-Chu-Puk is restricted to flies and lures only, and all fish caught must be returned to the river immediately. The ponds at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk have a good population of rainbows and some brown trout, and fishing in June has been very good. Fishermen have been doing well with worms and salmon eggs on top in the mornings and evenings, and various colors of PowerBait off the bottom in the afternoon.

Rio Grande River (Rio Grande County)
No recent updates.

Taylor Reservoir (Gunnison County)
Here’s an update from Dee Dee at Taylor Park Marina: “Fishing from a boat is about the only way to catch trout right now. Trolling with cowbells and night crawlers is best, getting your line down around 20 to 25 feet. Also, fishing off the bottom on the north end with worms and PowerBait has been successful. Even casting some Kastmasters in about 20 inches of water worked over the weekend from a boat Lake Trout are slow and light lipped. Some Northern Pike are biting on the east side of the lake off of Mepps Aglia with a squirrel tail.”

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