COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE

Fishing ReportFishing Regulations

Friday October 18th, 2019 Review News and Information

Upcoming Tournaments and Events

Kokanee Salmon Regulations and Giveaways Roaring Judy Give-Away will take place at the Hatchery north of Gunnison on October 18, 2019. Individuals will need to be in line by 9:00 a.m. to receive fish. Please check out the flyer for additional Give-Away dates, locations, and details!

Boat ramps at Grand Lake, Green Mountain, Lake Granby, Williams Fork, Wolford, and Shadow Mountain Reservoirs are closing for the winter As the fall season progresses and temperatures drop, Parks and Wildlife reminds boaters headed to the Grand Lake, Green Mountain, Lake Granby, Williams Fork, Wolford, and Shadow Mountain Reservoirs that they are closing to boating for the winter. Concurrently, aquatic invasive species watercraft inspection and decontamination stations at these reservoirs will stop running through the winter after their last days.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists provide online survey summaries by water to the public Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) fisheries biologists are now providing to the public online survey summaries by water. The first page of the documents provide general information about fishing particular waters, such as location and access. A second page highlights detailed information regarding management aspects. More waters will be added over time, and updates will be provided for waters that are currently available. CPW conducts hundreds of lakes and streams surveys each year. High priority and brood waters such as Chatfield, Pueblo, Horsetooth, and the Gunnison River are surveyed annually while smaller, more remote, or lightly used lakes or streams may only be surveyed once every 5-10 years.

Try the CPW Fishing App The CPW Fishing App is the official fishing app of Colorado Parks and Wildlife, providing you great journaling, learning and scouting capabilities, even with no connection.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife encourages anglers to submit condition reports to the DNR Fishing Reporter. Conditions, comments, and questions can be submitted to the Fishing Reporter’s email at [email protected]

The Fishing Report is for all Colorado anglers of every experience level, and anglers just like yourself provide many of the conditions you read.

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Check out our CPW community on Facebook. Colorado anglers can “like" the CPW Facebook page to get tips, share stories and more. If you love the outdoors, this is the place to be. Before you head out, head for facebook.com/ColoradoParksandWildlife/.

Fish with us on Twitter Colorado anglers can get updates directly from CPW on Twitter. Follow @COParksWildlife.

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Stocking Report

Body of Water Region Report Date

KOA Lake – Boulder Northeast 10/7/2019

Wonderland Lake Northeast 10/7/2019

Boyd Lake Northeast 10/7/2019

St. Vrain State Park Coot Pond Northeast 10/7/2019

St. Vrain State Park Sandpiper Pond Northeast 10/7/2019

Groundhog Reservoir Southwest 10/7/2019

Severance City Pond Northeast 10/8/2019

Poudre Ponds #1 Northeast 10/8/2019

Jackson Reservoir Northeast 10/8/2019

Stratton Pond Southeast 10/8/2019

Hale Pond #1 Southeast 10/8/2019

Hale Pond #2 Southeast 10/8/2019

Hale Pond #3 Southeast 10/8/2019

Island Lake Southwest 10/8/2019

Vallecito Reservoir Southwest 10/8/2019

Robert’s Lake Northeast 10/9/2019

Mead Pond #2 Northeast 10/9/2019

Echo Canyon Reservoir Southwest 10/9/2019

Georgetown Lake Northeast 10/9/2019

West Lake Northwest 10/9/2019

Snooks Bottom Lake Northwest 10/9/2019

Monument Lake Southeast 10/9/2019

Palmer Lake Southeast 10/9/2019

Confluence Lake Southwest 10/9/2019

Olathe Kids Pond Southwest 10/9/2019

Harvey Gap Reservoir Northwest 10/10/2019

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Sweetwater Lake Northwest 10/10/2019

Gypsum Ponds Northwest 10/10/2019

Bel Aire Ponds Northwest 10/11/2019

Sleepy Cat Pond Northwest 10/11/2019

Roan’s Pothole Northwest 10/11/2019

Old Orchard Northwest 10/11/2019

Catch of the Week

Joe Hazard enjoyed a gorgeous day at Windsor Reservoir, hooking into this beautiful rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) on the fly rod this week.

Have a fish you are proud of? Share your photo! Email [email protected] and put “Catch of the Week” in the subject line

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Conditions Report – Metro

Aurora Reservoir This 762-acre impoundment is located off E. Quincy Avenue, two miles east of E-470. Open to boating. As of 10/18/2019, the water level is low and the public dock is completely out of the water. Water temperatures are being reported in the mid to high 50’s. Fishing access throughout the reservoir is good due to the low water levels. Trout fishing from shore has picked up and is fair to good using power bait from the dam. Boaters are reporting anywhere from fair to good success on trout with pop gear and crawlers. Walleye reports are slow to fair with an occasional good report using jigs and trolling with bottom bouncers. Fly casters try the olive leech pattern. There are reports of large perch being caught! For more information, call 303-326-8425. Park hours for September are 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Restricted to electric motors only. Aurora Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir This 1,356-acre impoundment is located in . As of 10/18/2019, the water temperature continues to drop and is in the high 50’s to mid 60’s, with the water level down about 5 feet. Walleye fishing has been good as shad populations across the lake have decreased, making it easier to find them. Walleyes are still being caught by trolling a slow death rig or spinners with a crawler harness. Try vertical with chartreuse or orange jigs with plastics or worms on the gravel beds. Additionally, Rapallas that mimic perch can catch large walleyes and try trolling these in deeper water or jigging them and slowly retrieving them on the gravel pits in the slow wake area. Anglers are getting into some good bass catches in your usual spots such as the gravel pits and sunken boulder fields. Mid-sized crank baits are working well off shore or trolling. Early morning will also be key to having good success. Bass are beginning to move into deeper water so keep that in mind as water temperatures continue to drop at the reservoir.

Cherry Creek This 881-acre impoundment is located in , in Aurora. There are two entrances to the park, the east entrance off S. Dayton St. and the west entrance off S. Parker Rd. As of 10/18/2019, water temperatures are in the high 50’s to mid 60’s. The cold weather has reduced shad populations, to an extent, and walleye are less spread out across the reservoir. As a result, try fishing regular summer hot spots based on structure (drop-offs, humps, points, etc.) that walleyes usually find appealing. If you are trying to get into some walleye in the coming days, it is crucial that you hit the water early in the morning and use reactionary baits in the shallows as the walleye are chasing the shad in 6-15 feet of water or so. Suggested methods include blade baits and jigging Rapalas. Reports of a few wipers are also coming in and using the same reactionary techniques as walleye should give you a good shot at them as well. Cherry Creek Reservoir

Quincy Reservoir As of 10/18/2019, Quincy Reservoir is continuing to experience water quality challenges concerning blue green algae. Out of an abundance of caution, Quincy Reservoir is CLOSED for the season. The season typically ends October 31st. For more information, call 303-326-8425. Quincy Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado

Bear Creek Reported 10/18/2019, this creek has great accessibility and is only a short drive from Denver. There has been great water clarity and no runoff to report. Keep an eye on rainstorms because they can greatly reduce water clarity at this creek. Hopper dropper rigs are catching the most fish. Generally, use the double rigs in deeper pools with slower moving water and single flies in shallower water. Caddis, black streamers, PMD’s, and Yellow Sallies are also good selections. Flows: 13.5 CFS at Morrison (10/18/2019) Bear Creek

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Big Thompson River As of 10/11/2019, fall is here and the water is low and clear. The water clarity makes this a great river for sight fishing and spotting rising trout. Be sure to have a careful approach and not spook fish because if you can see them, they can usually see you. Smaller bugs (16-20) are starting to be more effective on this river and Pheasant tails as well as Price Nymphs are a great option. Use 5 or 6x tippet to get picky fish to take your fly. Midges and Blue Wing Olives are great options this time of year. Pay attention to the stage of insect’s life cycles when trying to match the hatch. Have numphs, emergers, and adults to match it as closely as possible and increase success on the river. Flows: 24.3 at Loveland (10/18/2019) Big Thompson River

Cache La Poudre River As of 10/18/2019, flows have been low with clear water near Fort Collins. This makes it easy to spot fish but also makes it easy for them to spot you. The best stretch of the river to fish has been through the canyon. Water temperatures reported getting into the mid 50’s during the warmest part of the day. The Poudre has a diverse insect ecosystem for a smaller river so paying attention to the surroundings will aid in what to tie on your rigs, especially in the fall. Right now, you can still see hatches of caddis, blue winged olives, pale morning duns and tricos. Pause and take a minute to take in the surroundings and look for hatches, fish feeding in deeper water or faster runs, and if the conditions favor a streamer then take advantage. A good rule of thumb for the Poudre this time of the year is smaller and darker colored bugs for your rigs. Some specific flies that are a good choice right now are Blue Poison Tungs, Mercury Midges, Griffiths Gnats, and a leach or San Juan worm as an attractor followed by a nymph. Large, flashy streamers can also produce a bite and catch larger trout! Flows: 71 CFS near Fort Collins and 74 near the Canyon Mouth (10/11/2019)

Deckers and Cheesman Canyon As of 10/18/2019, there has been good water clarity for Deckers on the . The flows have greatly dropped over the last couple of weeks and fishing success has varied greatly. There are reports that fishing has become difficult and slowed down greatly. Fishing pressure and warm waters have made it difficult to catch trout who are hiding and not going for the normal fly presentations. Use small flies and light tippet! Effective patterns are your Juju Baetis, Stalcup Baetis, Mercury Midges and tricos in the #20-22 sizes. With small flies like these you will need to use small tippet as well, the 5-6x fluorocarbon will work on these educated fish. Redds are present so please be on the lookout and avoid trudging through or near them while leaving their parents be as they spawn and produce your future trophy catches. Flows: 57 CFS (10/18/2019) Deckers and Cheesman Canyon

Eleven Mile Reservoir As of 10/17/2019, report from the Eleven Mile Marina weekly fishing report. Trout fishing reported as good to very good and its trophy season! It’s hard to catch a fish below 16 inches. Many techniques and methods are succeeding from shore and boat. We really like jigging this time of year and pitching or trolling Rapala’s. Jointed and X-Rap some of our favorites. Rapala has a number of different jigging Raps for winter that really do well. Kokanee fishing has been extremely slow. Lots of them moving up river so there are still four year olds out there. Nothing out of the boats. fishing has been excellent and trophy season is here. October is one of the best months and that seems to be the case as action continues to be lots of fun. Most fish in the 24 to 33 inch range but the big ones are on the prowl. Big Sticks with orange bellies continue to be their favorite. Action has been found all around the lake. One of our favorite, and least mentioned spots, is the cove to the right of the buoy line. Lots of rocks and drop offs. Our biggest fish come from that cove and have usually been between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. with noon being the best. The Eleven Mile Marina is located at the North Shore in , Lake George Colorado. A CPW Park Pass is required on all vehicles entering the Park. Eleven Mile State Park

Horsetooth Reservoir This reservoir is 1900 acres and provides quality fishing for walleye, smallmouth bass, and the occasional trout. Anglers may also catch splake, white bass, crappie, bluegill, and perch. The lake is open year round to fishing. As of 10/14/2019, fishing is being reported as slow as bait fish are throughout the lake making located fish difficult. There has been some decent bass caught around the reservoir but finding them is hard. The water level is high for this time of year and temperatures have been reported in the high 50’s to low 60’s. Try using Ned rigs with pumpkin or watermelon colored plastics for smallmouth. Crayfish imitations should also work and bass will chomp on a crayfish crank but walleye and trout may also be tempted. If fishing from shore, move around a lot to find fish and also try altering retrieval rates to put your lure in different depths to see where the fish are located. Horsetooth Reservoir

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Jackson Lake As of 10/15/2019, surface water temperature is approximately 55 degrees and visibility has been reported has extremely poor with less than 6 inches of visibility across much of the lake. The fishing has been slow over the past month or so. Walleye are doing fair to good, while Wipers reported as good. Anglers reported the water was cloudy with low visibility. Wiper action slow when trolling crank baits. Shore anglers reported success using bottom bouncers from shore. On 8/29/19, CPW released 26,000 channel catfish (size 3-1/2 inches) into the lake. The minimum size for wipers is 15 inches in length. The minimum size for crappie is 10 inches in length. The minimum size for walleye/saugeye is 15 inches in length. No more than one walleye/saugeye in the aggregate greater than 21 inches may be taken per day. Fishing in the outlet ditch immediately below the dam, around the rotary screen structure, is prohibited. Jackson Lake

Prewitt Reservoir This 2,431 acre reservoir is located on the Prewitt Reservoir State Wildlife Area and wakeless boating is permitted. As of 10/15/2019, the water level was reported as low (5 to 6 feet down) and water temperatures have decreased into the high 50’s and low 60’s with poor visibility. When fishing for walleye, the areas near the boat ramp, the south shore, and the northeast corner of the reservoir represent traditional hot-spots. Walleye and crappie have been caught on cranks in deeper water. In terms of channel catfish, shore anglers generally do as well as boat anglers. Try using cut carp, cut shad, or shrimp. Later in the year when the reservoir is drawn down, try fishing for crappie along the east dam. The fishing has been reported as extremely slow lately. Prewitt Reservoir

Spinney Mountain Reservoir As of 10/16/2019, Spinney Mountain State Park will close to boating 10/31/2019 at 6:33 p.m. for the season. Only vessels listed under Parks Chapter 8, Regulation #800K will be allowed after that time until the Park closes for the season. Spinney Mountain State Park will close for the season 11/15/2019 one half hour after sunset. If the reservoir ices over before then, it could close earlier. Fishing has been reported as good with nothing specific in terms of what has been working. Spinney Mountain Reservoir

South Platte – Charlie Meyers As of 10/18/2019, the main story here are the crowds. It only takes a couple pictures of lake run browns to be posted online or on social media to attract the masses up to the Dream Stream so set your expectations accordingly. If you are targeting browns, the typical nymph rigs are going to be the best bet for fly options. These flies include chironomids, egg patterns, midges and leaches. You also might want to try out a streamer for some aggressive, spawning browns. If you are looking to get into some salmon, try some bigger, red copper johns, eggs and San Juan worms. Whether you are a guide with and handful of clients or just out on the river on your own, please be respectful of others as no matter when you go, you will be fishing with several neighbors. Help do your part in keeping this section of the South Platte world renown by cleaning any trash and , be aware of the REDDS and be careful not to disturb them and do not fish the spawning browns that are protecting them! Flows: 76 CFS (10/18/2019) South Platte – Charlie Meyers

Conditions Report - Southeast Colorado

Arkansas River – Salida to Canon City As of 10/18/2019, water clarity has been reported as clear on this stretch of the river. Temperatures are decreasing making the action good throughout the entire day. Temperatures reported in the 40’s and 50’s. There are still a few terrestrials around but this will decrease as temperatures continue to drop. Fish can be found in softer water (banks, pockets, riffles) and nymphing should produce the most consistent bite on sunny/bright days. Anglers should focus on using bigger flies and spin anglers should concentrate using lures with more vibration to catch the attention of the fish on the cloudier days of fall. Streamers have been working for large brown trout and should continue to improve. Identify structure such as logs and sunken trees where large trout may be waiting for smaller trout and baitfish. Try stripping streamers through these areas and use a combination of speeds and movements to catch the attention of a hungry fish. Flows: 280 CFS (10/18/2019)

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us – Buena Vista to Salida As of 10/18/2019, water temperatures are in the 40’s and 50’s and clarity is continuing to improve with recent reports at 4 plus feet. Dry flies have been working well along the shoreline. Try using a caddis, sallies, golden stones, or red quills. Smaller tricos (#20-24) have also had success. Float and wade anglers are having the usual success expected around this time of year! Use heavier leaders and tippet material for better success when fighting against faster flows in the middle of the river. Target the areas below rapids in warmer parts of the day. Fish are moving into deeper pockets as temperatures increase. Blue wing olives should work well around this time of year and will be best on cloudy days when they are typically hatching. Terrestrial activity will decrease with lower temperatures. Flows: 260 CFS (10/18/2019) Arkansas River

Arkansas River – Leadville to Buena Vista As of 10/18/2019, water temperatures are in the high 30’s to low 50’s with excellent visibility on this stretch of the river. This stretch of river is also extremely wader friendly but these fish can spook easily so it is best to use a cautious approach. Target fish in deeper runs along the river, as well as, pools along the shoreline with slower currents. Fish are sitting in these areas waiting to strike so try baitfish imitation streamers to induce a bite. They are holding in these deeper areas with slower moving water. It is the time of year to use blue winged olive nymphs! Spawning browns will be in shallow riffles and look for areas where rocks have been cleaned and avoid your step to protect Redds for future catches! Flows: 100 CFS in Hayden Meadows and 120 CFS at Granite (10/18/2019) Arkansas River

Pueblo Reservoir As of 10/16/2019, the fishing is nearing the “good season” but the overall bite has been reported as slow lately. Much like most of the reservoirs along the Front Range, anglers and guides are waiting for another good, cold snap to kick off the fall fishing where conditions and bites will dramatically improve. This should happen this weekend as a cold front is coming on Sunday and Monday. Water temperatures are being reported in the mid 60’s for most of the day and there has been poor water clarity. The water level has also been reported as low compared to the summer months. Shad populations are high which has led to a random distribution of fish across the reservoir. The walleye are suspended over very deep water right now, about 20 feet over 120 feet of water or so. This allows for some trolling opportunities. Anglers are having success trolling around these depths using lead core line with jointed crank baits. Wipers are mainly found in the flats this time of year as they chase the schools of shad. Fishing in about 60 feet or so of water in the flats should house some decent wiper numbers. Having a depth/fish finder will make searching for the wipers a lot easier than blindly casting in various flats. The minimum size for smallmouth, largemouth, and spotted bass is 15 inches in length. The bag/possession limit and minimum size for walleye/saugeye is five fish in the aggregate, 18 inches in length. The bag/possession limit for crappie is 10 fish and the minimum size is 10 inches in length. The bag/possession limit for wiper is 5 fish and no more than one wiper greater than 21 inches, in length, per day can be taken. Underwater is allowed for the take of channel, blue, and flathead catfish with an aggregate bag and possession limit of 5 fish. Pueblo Reservoir

Trinidad Reservoir As of 10/15/2019, the lake is at 699 surface acres with a surface elevation of 6182.58 feet. All shorelines are currently open for fishing. Water temperature is in the high 50’s to low 60’s with clarity at about 2 feet. Fishing reported good all around the lake. South shore anglers have been catching trout with PowerBait and Dough bait off the bottom. Anglers catching 12 to 15 inch trout have been common, good numbers of bass/perch reported as well. Grass has choked much of the shallower coves around the lake. Boaters having success targeting all species in mid to shallow water. Bass/perch caught during cooler hours and trout are caught all day. In Reilly Canyon, there have been reports of catfish caught with worms and liver. Perch are being caught with worms and trout have been common as well. Boaters have had success catching trout and walleye. Trolling with worms or spinners seems to be working the best. There have been reports of walleye caught in 10 to 15 feet of water. The smallmouth bite has been the best in the early mornings and evenings. Trinidad Reservoir

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Conditions Report - Northwest Colorado

Blue River – Silverthorne As of 10/15/2019, the flows have been steady with slight water turbidity. The lower flows have made trout more selective but easier to spot. This also means it is easier for them to spot you so try approaching cautious to ensure you don’t scare them away. Blue River at Silverthorne 103 CFS As with many times throughout the year, sight fishing with nymph rigs will provide anglers with the best chance of success in this stretch of river. Although the flow is not very strong currently, lead mysis shrimp will still produce and trailing them with Juju Baetis, BTS Nymphs, and eggs will be productive. Be sure to move slowly and be prepared with a quality pair of sunglasses in order to spot fish in tight pockets. This report brought to you by Austin Parr, of Discount . Look for cloudy days to try Blue Wing Olives! Flows: 103 CFS below Dillion (10/18/2019) Blue River

Colorado River – Near Kremmling As of 10/18/2019, flows have continued to reduce some, which has improved visibility on this stretch of the river. The river has shifted into fall mode with trico and blue winged olives being the dominate hatches. Have an indicator rig ready for deeper pools where fish will be stacked. Brown trout are spawning so look for clear, shallow areas where their Redds are located and avoid stepping on them. Anglers are not only getting away with dry dropper rigs but doing very well with them as we edge past mid-October. Even when dries are not really a viable option, using a dry as an indicator is sometimes a better, and more stealthy option than bulky, traditional indicators. It really depends on the bodies of water you are targeting and if you are in skinny or wide waters so just adjust accordingly to what you are fishing. The hatches are blue winged olives, midges, tricos and October caddis. Bug selection is very similar to recent reports and guides are suggesting a dry dropper rig using Tungsten bead headed nymphs such as Tungsten Torpedos, Guide’s choice Hare’s Ear, Z Winged Caddis and Iron Sallies. Streamers for those overcast days will pretty much remain the same throughout the season such as an Autumn Splendor, Barely Legal, Cheech Leech and a Baby Gonga are some trademarked flies that have been getting catches according to recent reports. Flows: 1090 CFS (10/18/2019) Colorado River

Delaney Buttes As of 10/18/2019, fishing continues to be very good and the brown trout are spawning. We’ve heard that Rapala’s, chironomid, damsel nymph and leech imitations are all doing good here. Fishing is by artificial flies and lures only. Scented flies or scented lures may be used on this water if they are 1.5 inches or longer. The bag and possession limit for trout is two fish. Fishing is prohibited from the dam and within 100 feet of the dam from September 15th through November 15th. All brown trout between 14 and 20 inches in length must be returned to the water immediately upon catch. Fishing is prohibited in the inlet, upstream of the standing water line. All rainbow trout, cutthroat trout and cutbows between 18 and 22 inches in length must be returned to the water immediately. Delaney Buttes

Frying Pan River-Ruedi As of 10/18/2019, fishing should continue to be good moving forward this next weekend and week. The flows are being cut back and getting to that steady, winter level. Recommended flies for this next week are your midges and egg patterns. It’s a good idea to look for Redds as they are often easier to spot than actual trout. A Redd will tell you a couple things. The first is yes, there is a good chance of some spawning browns so do not disturb them or their nest. The second is that there are also likely scavengers stacked downstream of the nest, cleaning up on dislodged eggs. Target these feeders once you can insure they are not actually the residents of the egg sites. During the sunny days tie on some midge patterns such as Bling midges, Rainbow Warriors and midge larvae in the #18-22 sizes. As you see the hatches coming off include an emerger on your rig such as Biot Emergers, a Red Jujubee or a Shuck Midge in a black and/or cream pattern. Flows: CFS 81.9 (10/18/2018). Frying Pan River

Lake Granby As of 10/18/2019, water temperatures have been reported in the low 50’s with the water level down about 10 feet. Look for inlets and try spoons and cranks to catch aggressive rainbows and browns. Baitfish imitations are also great this time of year for catching larger trout. Try different retrieval speeds to produce a bite. The laker bite has been reported as good and jigs tipped with sucker meat have still been catching fish. Lake trout are spawning and can be found in shallower water (25 to 40 feet) than they were previously. Try jigging tubes and spoons as well as retrieving cranks. Boat ramp hours are 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Lake Granby

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Lake John As of 10/18/2019, the fishing is great right now for those anglers looking for quality fish. If you are seeking quantity, you might find yourself disappointed. Anglers are doing great from both shore and boats right now and we are seeing 19 to 22 inch fish caught regularly. Bait is still all over the board right now: black leech and wooly bugger flies, PowerBait in garlic, gulp night crawlers, shrimp, rainbow Kastmasters, Tasmanian devils in pink, gold spoons… the list could go on and on. The bag and possession limit for trout is four fish. Lake John

Rifle Gap Reservoir As of 10/18/2019, the fishing for most species has been decent at the reservoir. Anglers are catching pike and trout throughout the lake and bass fishing has been good near the Cedar Campground areas as well as closer to the dam. Look for smallmouths holding near those boulders or gravel pits by the dam and try using some crankbaits in a baitfish imitation or even a crawfish color. Anglers are catching trout on spinners, Kastmasters and spoons. First try heavier sized lures to explore different depths. Use fish-colored spoons and Kastmasters to entice some aggressive and bigger sized browns that are getting ready for their spawning season. The summer is winding down and our inspection hours at the boat ramp have changed. We are now inspecting vessels from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. All boats launching outside of these hours must have been pre-inspected and the seal and receipt must be placed in the tube at the inspection station. Thank you for your compliance. Rifle Gap Reservoir

Williams Fork Reservoir As of 10/18/2019, the surface temperature has been in the low 50’s and the water level is dropping with good clarity. The bite has been slow but patience will lead to plenty of fish being caught. The inlet is open to fishing. Small lakers are still being caught with tube jigs, tipped with sucker meat, off the bottom in 50 to 80 feet of water. It can take some time to find them but once you do the bite has been consistent. Rainbows are slowing down but some have been reported to be hanging around the area where the river and reservoir meet. Try using PowerBait or worms off the bottom. There have been reports of anglers catching trout from shore with PowerBait, salmon eggs, and spinners. Larger trout should also be moving into shallower area of the reservoir and baitfish imitations may produce a bite. The pike and kokanee bite has been slow. Pike should also be in shallower areas now and retrieving a spoon may grab their attention. Trolling is the best option for kokanee and try casting and retrieving jerks and large spoons/daredevils for pike. The ramps hours are from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Williams Fork Reservoir

Conditions Report - Southwest Colorado

Blue Mesa Reservoir As of 10/18/2019, the main fish that anglers are talking about right now are the spawning browns. The browns are really focusing on the spawn and anglers are seeing more and more show up in water depths of about 3 to 13 feet of water. Jigs and spinners are doing well along shorelines. The trout are spawning and active and the pike are consuming as many calories as they can before winter hits. Lake trout are piscivores, meaning they only eat other fish and not insects, so if you want to try for lake trout, toss some large streamers. Guides even suggest saltwater patterns to earn some big fish. For brown trout, jigs and in-line spinners are doing well along shorelines. The big females are now starting to come up from the depths to feed on other fish as they go on a feeding binge to prepare for the winter. Again, if you want to try fly fishing for some big pike, throw big streamers with bright patterns and colors such as yellows, chartreuse, and bright oranges. For spinning anglers, cast big and busy swimbaits or high vibration spinners. Anglers can check on current conditions and boat ramp inspection schedules by contacting the Curecanti at (970-641-2337). Blue Mesa Reservoir

Crawford Reservoir Located 2 miles south of the town of Crawford on Highway 92. As of 10/17/2019, no new reports have been submitted. This is known as a quality perch and crappie fishery. Anglers may reel in a lunker channel catfish, a dandy largemouth bass or a nice northern pike. Generally, good baits include small tube jigs and worms. Channel catfish can be caught near the dam, on the north side of peninsula cove, with night crawlers, stinkbaits, and dead minnows. Largemouth bass are hitting crankbaits, spinners, and soft plastics in rocky areas near the dam. Remember that there is a lake specific limit on the bass. They must be 18 inches or larger to keep, and you can only keep ONE. Statewide limits pertain to all other species. Pike were introduced illegal to this reservoir and have had a negative impact on the fishery. Anglers can help CPW by keeping their legal bag and possession limit which is unlimited. Crawford Reservoir

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us East River As of 10/15/2019, flows have been steady, and caddis and stones have been catching fish but the overall fishing has been slowing down. From the upstream property boundary at the Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery and downstream to the Roaring Judy Hatchery outlet: fishing is only allowed with artificial flies/lures, the taking of kokanee salmon is prohibited, and the bag/possession limit and maximum size for trout is 2 fish that are at least 12 inches in length. From the Roaring Judy Hatchery outlet downstream to the southern Roaring Judy SFU boundary: fishing prohibited from August 1st until October 31st. Flows: 75 CFS (10/18/2019) East River

Gunnison River – near Gunnison As of 10/18/2019, the suspect nymph patterns are really producing for most anglers. With the colder temperatures, the hatches have died off some so focus on nymph rigs and streamers on the cloudy days especially. Baetis nymphs and midge pupa are the main food source right now. Make sure to use smaller flies and longer leaders this time of the year since the water is low and clear. Egg patterns are working well still. If targeting kokanee, look for them in deep runs where you can spot large groups of them moving together. Flows: 300 CFS (10/18/2019) Gunnison River

Taylor River – Below Taylor Park Reservoir As of 10/15/2019, this river has still been fishing well but temperatures are dropping in the area. Try using nymphs and large streamers in the morning in deeper pockets of water. Flies and light tippet are the name if the game on this river. Fish can be found in pockets, runs, and various riffles along the river. This section does get a lot of fishing pressure so the fish are well educated. It is also important to be aware of stretches of private land and make sure to access the river where there is public access. BWOS and terrestrials have been working well! Make sure to look for Redds and avoid them to protect spawning fish and their eggs. Flows: 229 CFS below Taylor Park Reservoir (10/18/2019) Taylor River

Taylor Park Reservoir As of 10/18/2019, anglers need to keep an eye on the pike and lake trout action as they are the next species of interest as we get into fall. Gunnison County is generally pretty cold in the winter months so expect the fall season to mature faster than a lot of the state. Look for pike, especially the bigger ones, to become more apparent in the shallower waters as they hide in the weed beds and hunt for bait fish and trout. Vibration lures should be considered in order for them to come out of hiding as they often do not rely on eye site when waiting in ambush and instead pick up on vibrations. The lake trout will also be cruising and hunting in shallower waters. They will be after bait fish, kokanee and trout and are attracted to structures and edges. Taylor Reservoir

COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us Conditions Report – Statewide

Temperatures are dropping on Sunday with cloudy conditions expected across much of the state. Night time temperatures have dropped significantly, creating better fishing opportunities throughout the day. Water levels will stay low and steady until winter, unless we experience some substantial rain storms or snow storms in the high country. Brown trout and kokanee salmon both spawn during the fall and this is a great time of year to fish the annual run. Spawning activity is sporadic and difficult to time, so anglers should plan multiple short trips rather than one long trip to a specific location. Streamers are very effective flies for getting territorial strikes from spawning fish. Fishing during the early morning and late evening hours will begin to slow down due to cooler temperatures, but anglers can expect good fishing throughout October. Pike are also going to be more active and start to move around more with the cooler temperatures as they hunt to stock up before winter. A large portion of the diets for fish in Colorado will be midges and blue winged olives. That means a lot more nymph fishing. With a larger shift towards nymphing, split shot and fluorocarbon lines will play a bigger role in your rig. The calm and clear water will cause the fish to become spookier, so being stealthy is important. Presenting delicate casts becomes more important this time of year. Anglers will need to start focusing on using lighter leaders and tippets to ensure the fish do not see their fishing line. This is when using fluorocarbon fishing line becomes more important than monofilament. Although your fishing line should be small, your flies and lures can still be big. Good luck to everyone, stay warm, and send us picture of your catches!

Tip of the Week

Barometric Pressure

Most anglers are aware of the impact weather conditions, such as temperature and wind, can have on fishing success. But what many anglers are unfamiliar with is barometric pressure and how/why it can affect fishing conditions. Barometric pressure is the pressure exerted by the weight of air in the atmosphere on Earth. This affects everything from the water itself to the fish inhabiting that water. By understanding how barometric pressure works, you will have an idea of whether the fish are likely to be biting. A fish can sense pressure through its air bladder. Species with larger bladders, such as trout, are more affected by barometric changes. When there is a drop in pressure, there is less force exerted on their bladder. This causes their bladder to expand in order to compensate for the lack of pressure. This makes the fish uncomfortable and causes them to become less active and move lower in the water column in order to absorb extra gas into their bladders to relieve some of the discomfort. As for high pressure, the fish are much more comfortable so they move more freely within the water column and feed more actively. Keep in mind that bait fish are also affected by barometric pressure. Low pressure will cause the bait to hold deeper and become less active. This makes for poor bait. You can always check barometric conditions and forecasts online, or purchase a barometer at a local hunting store. They are relatively inexpensive. As with all weather conditions, keep in mind that they are only indications of how the fish will be behaving, and not one hundred percent certain.

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COLORADO PARKS & WILDLIFE ▪ 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203 ▪ (303) 297-1192 ▪ cpw.state.co.us