Keep in mind that fishing conditions change on a constant basis. A lot can change in a week from the time this fishing conditions report is produced. If the water you are interested in knowing more about is not listed here or if you're looking for the most current information, we encourage anglers to explore some of the numerous private websites that offer fishing condition reports. Examples include: http://www.fishexplorer.com/, http://www.coloradofisherman.com/, http://www.fishhound.com/ and http://www.sportfishcolorado.com/. Many other fly shops and marinas also offer fishing condition reports on their websites as well.
Metro Denver Area
Aurora Reservoir (City of Aurora)
Aurora Reservoir is open to boating. Water temperature is 66 degrees. All watercraft must be inspected prior to launch in the lower parking lot near the boat ramp. Trout fishing is slow to fair at this time, but showing signs of picking up. June can be a great month for trout. From shore, try PowerBait using a slip rig and fishing deeper water. From boats, try trolling slowly with spoons and Rapalas. Some reports of walleye being caught using jigs and trolling with bottom bouncers. Smallmouth bass fishing is fair to good using jigs and swim baits off the points and around the weed lines close to shore. Some success from shore on walleye using slip floats and crawlers fished shallow. Slow on all other species. Watercrafts are restricted to electric motors only. For more information call 303-690-1286. Park hours for June are 5 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Arvada Reservoir (City of Arvada)
No new updates.
Barr Lake State Park (Adams County)
Trout are biting near the boat ramp; trolling the buoy line works well for walleye. Some 18 to 20 inch walleye have been caught there recently; a 25-inch wiper was also hauled in in that area over Memorial Day weekend. Water temp is 68 degrees -- perfect for walleye. A state parks pass is required in addition to your valid fishing license.
Chatfield State Park (South of Littleton in Douglas and Jefferson Counties)
Fishing has been very good lately. The water temperatures are reaching the high 60s and the water level is down five feet. Since the water levels are dropping quickly, the fish will begin to scatter around the lake and make it more difficult to fish. Smallmouth bass have finished with their spawn but are still being caught along the dam using jigs and minnow lures. Sizes for smallmouth bass are larger than in years past with many keeper sized fish landed on a regular basis. Many largemouth bass have been caught in the swallow areas in the gravel ponds. Also, sizes have been very good with several keepers being reported. Walleye reports have been scarce but the few received have been at night from shoreline. Trout have been steady throughout the last few weeks. Shockers have been popular in the large gravel pond. The lake has been productive as well with fewer being caught, but the fish’s are larger in size. Most anglers have been using worms, salmon eggs, and corn colored PowerBait. Carp have been the big story lately. Many anglers have been fly fishing for them with some luck. In Roxborough Cove there have been many carp caught with sizes over 10 pounds and up to 38 inches in length. Carp are in their spawn cycle right now and are seen in the swallows jumping but are pickier about what they feed on. Kingfisher was very productive a few weeks ago with nice walleye and largemouth bass being hooked but has slowed down very much so since the water levels have dropped.
Cherry Creek State Park (South of I-225, East of I-25 in Arapahoe County)
The water temperature is 68 degrees. At Dixon Grove, bass and walleye are being caught using worms. From mid-lake, walleye and crappie are being caught with worms, bottom bouncers and jigs. The West Shades are reporting walleye and trout using worms. 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. No launching is permitted outside those hours without previous inspection.
Quincy Reservoir (City of Aurora)
Water temperature is 68 degrees. Fishing is restricted to artificial flies and lures only. Only watercrafts capable of being launched by hand are permitted; electric motors only. All watercraft must be inspected prior to launch. Trout fishing is fair to good using spoons and flies. Bass fishing is good using soft plastics, buzz baits and jigs. Smallmouth reports using jigs and swim baits off the dam. No other reports at this time. For more information call 303-693-5463. Park hours for May are 5 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 66 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 a.m. to sunset. For more information, contact the Standley Lake Nature Center at (303) 425-1097.
Northeast
Antero Reservoir
No update this week.
Boyd Lake State Park (North of Loveland, Larimer County)
Largemouth bass fishing is good using worms in shallow water on the southwest side of the lake. The smallmouth fishing is also good using worms on the southwest side of the lake. White bass fishing is fair right now, using small white jigs on a float or plastic minnows at Inlet Shore. The blue gill fishing is poor, and there is no report lake-wide. Carp fishing is good, although there is no more to report. Catfish are fair – also no report lake-wide. Crappies are fair using Gold Kastmasters at the South End. The trout fishing is also fair using all baits lake-wide. Walleye is fair using a worm harness in about 15 feet of water. Yellow perch is poor, and there is no report. The current water temperature is in the low-to-mid-60s, with a depth of 38 feet. The lake is approximately 1000-plus surface acres. Please remember, any Live fish collected for use as bait may only be used in the same body of water from which they were collected. All live baitfish from a commercial source and transported by anglers must at all times be accompanied by a receipt for the source. See the Colorado Fishing Regulation for further clarification and information.
Carter Lake (Larimer County)
Walleye have been hitting hard near the North Pines boat ramp and back into Green Cove on crawler harnesses being jigged across the bottom at 12 to 15 inches.
Eldorado Canyon State Park (South Boulder Creek, Boulder County)
South Boulder Creek is running high around 311 CFS near the Ranger Station. Fishing conditions are good with stones, caddis and midges with pheasant tails.
Eleven Mile State Park (Park County)
Trout fishing is very good right now. The hot spots this week appear to be Coyote Ridge through North Shore to Rocky Flats, Suckers Cove and Witchers Cove. Early to late afternoon is showing the best results. Try lures with a meal worm, spoons, Kastmasters, or orange PowerBait with sprinkles. For night fishing, try a nightcrawler floated with a Marshmallow. The worm should be suspended in the water and not lying on the bottom. The salmon fishing is good. They are running 15 to 40 feet down. The best location is in the channel from the islands to the closure line. Try late morning to early afternoon. Try spoons tipped with meal worms, Swedish Pimples, jigs, or Kastmasters. Red and pink are the hot colors. The pike fishing is fair. Action is being found at Coyote Ridge, North Shore, Rocky Flats, Stoll Mountain, Cross Creek and Witchers Cove. Try spoons, waterdogs or tube jigs. Dream Stream is good. Large fish are being caught with Midges, Barr’s Emergers, San Juan worms and egg patterns.
Flatiron Reservoir (Larimer County)
Last week, 3,800 10-inch trout were stocked. They have been hitting hard on salmon eggs, PowerBait and worms.
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)
Who likes trout? If you like them we have them, plenty of them. So please come out to Horsetooth Reservoir and help yourself to your daily bag limit. Trout are hitting everything from spinners to worms. While rainbow trout are still the most prevalent, the smallmouth bass are hitting like freight trains. Warmer temperatures and clear water are providing some of the best smallmouth fishing so far this season. From the rocky banks in the coves to the main lake, the smallmouth are showing their splendor. Crank baits, minnows, jigs and worms are producing solid numbers.
Jackson Lake State Park (Morgan County)
The reservoir is full. Surface water temperature is approximately 71 degrees. Fishing has been fair to good on carp, wipers, walleye, trout and channel catfish; it's usually best to fish in mornings or evenings. There continues to be nice sized wipers and walleye being caught. For wipers and walleyes, the bait has been nightcrawlers. From the boat, people have been trolling with Rapalas, nightcrawlers and other crankbaits. There were some trout stocked this past week.
Jumbo Reservoir (Logan and Sedgwick Counties)
The water level has dropped 2 feet. Fishing has been slow, but some anglers are catching a few walleye, trout, catfish and crappie. Jumbo requires an annual fishing/hunting license, or an annual state wildlife access permit to enter Jumbo, per person ages 19 to 64. The minimum size for walleye andwipers is 15 inches.
North Sterling State Park (Logan County)
Crappie fishing is very good along the dam and marina areas on jigs and minnows. Best fishing has been in the mornings and evenings. There is not a place to buy minnows in the Sterling area. Some wiper are being caught in early morning hours on mussel. Several large catfish have been caught on the mud flats on cut bait. Water temperatures are in the 70s.
Pinewood Reservoir (Larimer County)
Fishing has been great in Fisherman's Cove and below the Windy Pines Campground. Trout have been hitting on green and pink PowerBait as well as salmon eggs. An 11 year old boy caught a 20-inch Tiger Muskie near the cove on PowerBait.
Prewitt Reservoir (Washington County)
Water levels are beginning to drop. Fishing has been slow for most species. The boat dock has now been installed. Prewitt requires an annual fishing/hunting license, or an annual state wildlife access permit to enter Prewitt, per person ages 19 to 64. The minimum size for wipers and walleye is 15 inches.
Spinney Mountain State Park (Park County)
The trout fishing is good. Fishermen are reporting the most success in the deeper waters. Good catches are being seen in the inlets and closer to the dam. Try using small emergers, chironomids and egg patterns which seem to be the most productive flies. Rapalas in gold and green seem to be doing well, too. The pike fishing is also good. Try using spoons or tube jigs.
St. Vrain State Park ponds (Weld County)
If you're looking for bass, catfish, crappie and bluegill, St. Vrain State Park is the place to be this week. Lots of 12 to 14 inch catfish being caught (although bigger exist!) on the standard worm setups and some on stink bait. All the ponds here have catfish! Late evenings and into the night are the best times. Bass and bluegill fishing on Bald Eagle pond is definitely going strong. Be precise with your retrieves and be sure to be as natural as possible. Lucky tip: There are tiger muskie in Bald Eagle Pond, and if you're lucky enough to hook one, it could be the ride of a lifetime. See the Park's homepage for the latest "big catch." Bluegill and crappie are still producing fun afternoons in Mallard and Sandpiper ponds. Try salmon eggs and floating flies, they seem to be producing good numbers. Hope to see you out here! Please remember that Bald Eagle pond has the following restrictions: Flies and Lures only (no bait); all bass must be returned to the water immediately; scented plastic/rubberized baits must be one-and-a-half inches or longer. As the summer comes along, the more the fish are pressured. Being as natural as possible with both your lure and bait presentations is going to be key. Hope to see you out here!
Southeast
Adobe Creek Reservoir/Blue Lake (Kiowa and Bent Counties)
Catfish are good, but all other species are poor. The lower boat ramps are still useable. Please note that there is a fire ban in effect.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area /Arkansas River (Lake, Chaffee and Fremont Counties)
Here's an update from Greg at ArkAnglers: "Flows on the upper Arkansas River have been falling dramatically, giving us readings of 400 CFS in Hayden Meadows, 980 CFS at Granite, and 1440 CFS in both Browns Canyon and Bighorn Sheep Canyon. The river is now in excellent shape from top to bottom and will only get better over the next week as flows continue to recede and summer hatches strengthen. Currently, we are enjoying the emergence of both golden and yellow sally stoneflies, plus a fair number of small caddis. Pale morning dun mayflies should be adding to the mix any day now. With flows at these levels, anglers should still focus on edgewater pockets and slow lanes forming downstream of structure as these places will provide velocity shelter for brown trout. Rainbows can now be found working the seam lines of eddies and off shelf lines midstream."
Brush Hollow Reservoir (Fremont County)
Some anglers have been catching some largemouth bass along the shallow weed beds. We expect the water level to begin to drop as irrigation demands downstream increase. Currently the boat ramp is still in the water and accessible for launching boats.
Clear Creek Reservoir (Chaffee County)
Clear Creek Reservoir boat ramp is open Thursday through Monday, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Fishing has been good from boats and shore. Shore fishermen using various bait including worms and power bait. Most fishermen are bait fishing as the insects have not really come out yet. Most common bait is PowerBait. Here is an update from Jerry Hornbuckle: "This past week has been a continuation of the previous ones. Smaller stockers have been caught at rates between 5 and 15 per hour per person from both shore and boats, and a few larger sized rainbow trout were caught every day. From shore, PowerBait and worms continue to produce good numbers of rainbow trout all around the lakeshore with no distinct difference based upon location. Lures were spotty. Some days almost any lure did well; on other days, certain ones worked well but not others. This past week, Kastmasters seem to have been better than others, although Tasmanian Devils, and Montero Marvels or Pistol Petes fished with a water-filled bubble on spinning gear did just as well. Just as with last week, color preferences tended to be blue and silver, or red and gold patterns. In general terms, your favorite lure fished in your lucky spot seems to be the best combination. From boats, small spinner lures trolled or cast worked well. Those trolling with worms on a bare hook beneath pop gear produced fun results and numbers. Winds have, in general, suppressed fly fishing, but the few fly fishermen have seemed to do well with wet flies doing better than dry. Pheasant tails were reported to do well, and San Juan worms, too. Morning hatches of gnats were observed, not other insect species. Please note that when people report large numbers of fish caught, the majority of those caught are “catch and release,” subject to state regulations for daily catch limits and total possession limits."
DeWeese Reservoir (Custer County)
No recent reports.
Henry Lake (Crowley County)
Catfishing at Henry Lake is good, but all other species are poor. The boat ramp is still unusable. There is currently a public fish salvage operation at Lake Henry. The fish salvage is due to low water conditions. Bag and possession limits have been lifted at Lake Henry. The prohibited methods of take at Lake Henry are: use of poisons, explosives, firearms, electricity. Anglers must have a current and valid fishing license to participate in the salvage. Fishing is restricted to day light hours only.
John Martin Reservoir State Park (Bent County)
Fishing is starting to pick up on the reservoir and below the dam. The stilling basin and the Arkansas River below the dam have produced large catfish, saugeye and striper. The reservoir has produced a few crappies using bright jigs along the rocky coves on the north and south shores near the dam. White bass and wiper are being caught by the dozens out of the reservoir on similar jigs as crappie. Drum bluegill, carp, and walleye have also been caught in the reservoir, but with varying frequency. Good Luck!
Lake Pueblo State Park (Pueblo County)
The fish are being cooperative and letting everyone alike join in on the fun! Walleye have been especially fishing well, with good numbers and sizes being caught all over the lake, mostly in coves and along rocky structures. Stripers and trout are also being brought in, with the North Wildlife area being the hottest area. Elsewhere in the park, the Arkansas River is roaring right now, causing the fishing to be slow. Tubers, kayakers and canoe users are enjoying the high flows as a good way to beat the summer heat, but everyone is reminded to use caution due to highly fluctuating flows. Valco ponds and Anticline continue to be stocked and offer great family friendly fishing. During the busy season, please be considerate of all other users here at the park and know they are out enjoying our natural resources just as you are. Also 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 stocked trout are still biting, and provide a fairly easy catch both on shore and on the water. Mostly crawlers are being used, and most fish are being caught on Horseshoe, with Martin now being used primarily for recreation. The muskie are being seen around the southwest side of Horseshoe, but nobody has had any luck getting them to bite. Have seen a lot of cat fishermen at night, and have received fairly good reports of people having a fair amount of luck. The water is sitting around 62 degrees on both lakes. Good luck, and stop by the visitor center to share you catch. The Horseshoe Dam is closed for maintenance for the week. There is no access along the Horseshoe Dam from June 16-20. This includes fishing along the dam; please stay off the dam.
Meredith Reservoir (Crowley County)
Catfishing is good, and the occasional wiper is being caught – all other species are poor. The boat ramp is still unusable.
Mt. Elbert Forebay (Lake County)
Fishing conditions at Mt. Elbert Forebay have been good. A majority of the anglers reported landing at least one fish with very few anglers not catching any fish at all. Bait anglers enjoyed tremendous success using pink PowerBait and worms on the southern part of the reservoir. The overall catches were mostly comprised of rainbow trout between 8 and 12 inches. Lake trout were generally caught on the eastern side of the reservoir on jigs coupled with sucker meat during the morning. Midday water surface temperatures were in the low 50s.
Nee Gronda Reservoir (Kiowa County)
Nee Gronda fishing has been slow. Fishing for wiper and catfish is expected to be good. Water levels continue to drop making boat access "hand launch only."
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 and access to the boat ramp will remain closed to vehicle traffic. No reports on fishing.
Turquoise Reservoir (Lake County)
Fishing (catching) remains good from shore on spinners and all baits. The boat ramp opened at Matchless on Friday as water level continues to rise.
Trinidad Lake State Park (Las Animas County)
Trinidad Lake is approximately 434 surface acres and the surface temperature is around 64 degrees. Anglers are still catching rainbows on various colored PowerBaits and homemade dough baits. The recent warm temperatures seem to have turned on the warm water species. We seen more walleye, bass, perch and catfish caught this week. The catfish were biting on chicken liver. The walleye, bass and perch were hitting on various colored jigs with either a nightcrawler or mister twisters. The boat ramp is open for the season. Boaters beware of floating debris and unmarked hazards. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for bass and walleye.
Twin Lakes Reservoir (Lake County)
Fishing conditions at Twin Lakes Reservoir have been slow for both boat and shore anglers. Boat fishing for large lake trout in the inlet area of the lower lake and near underwater structure has been very productive lately. Ravenous mackinaw are cruising shallow water looking for forage. Fishing early and late in the day with large Rapalas at the surface of the water has worked well. Shore anglers fishing near the power plant fared better when compared to other fishing spots across the lake. Fishing the bottom with worms yielded a high rainbow trout catch rate near the power plant. Anglers participating in active fishing experienced success with gold daredevils coupled with worms. The dock is now setup at the Dexter Point boat ramp to facilitate boat launching. Midday water surface temperatures were in the mid 50s.
Northwest
Colorado River at Glenwood Springs (Garfield County)
No recent updates.
Delaney Buttes, Cowdrey and Lake John (Jackson County)
No recent updates.
Elkhead Reservoir State Park (Moffat County)
Visibility at the Lake is increasing daily. The lake is a hot spot for fishing right now. One angler reports 25 fish in a day with his fly rod. A 40" fish weighing in at 25lbs was reported caught over the weekend. Water temperature is 65-70 degrees.
Fryingpan River (Eagle County)
Here's a report from Taylor Creek Fly Shop: "Flow is at 115 CFS. The water is gin clear and flowing nicely. Short and Sweet: New hatches abound this week, the Fryingpan now has pale morning duns (PMDs) hatching in earnest along with blue-wing olives (BWOs), midges, caddis and stoneflies. On the lower river you will find very healthy caddis hatches mid-day followed by a lightning round of egg-laying females near dark. Stoneflies are also popping off along the lower miles, big dries are sticking plenty of fish. On the upper reaches, PMD spinners are falling from dawn until 10 or 11 a.m.; bring plenty of rusty spinners to float up high or even sink on a nymph rig. BWOs are still strong river-wide mid-day, sometimes later if it’s really hot. Midges are still going strong in the top mile all day long, and the toilet bowl has been switching up its releases between the two different chutes below the dam, causing the fish to move around and munch on the millions of mysis shrimp spilling out with reckless abandon. Try streamers if you are on the Fryingpan late, and staying late on the river is HIGHLY recommended right now."
Harvey Gap State Park (Garfield County)
Lots of trout are being caught throughout the lake, especially at the dam.
Highline Lake State Park and Mack Mesa Reservoir (Mesa County)
Fishing is always fun at both Mack Mesa and Highline Lakes! Both lakes have been stocked this spring, so come out and drop a line or two. Bring the gang, or come solo for the peace and quiet -- any day fishing is a good day! Boats must use the East (Visitor Center) park entrance for timely ANS inspections.
James M. Robb Colorado River State Park (Mesa County)
Trout and catfish are biting in the morning at Fruita and Corn Lake using worms near the bottom. You might have some luck catching catfish at night as well. There have been a few small bass caught at Connected using worms or spinner bait. Remember that bass have to be 18 inches and the limit is two at Connected. At Island Acres, people have been catching trout about two feet off the bottom in the afternoon. Most have been fishing from the northern shores of the lakes at Island Acres using PowerBait.
Lake Granby (Grand County)
Here's an update from Tracy Featherston, the Lake Granby skipper from fishexplorere.com: "Lake Granby is still filling. Water clarity is 1 to 2 feet, the lake depth is minus-30 feet and surface temperature is 58 degrees. Sunset Point is still the only ramp open. The summer bite is starting, and the larger Lakers are heading to deeper water, hitting small spoons and crank baits. Kokanee are being caught in 10 to 30 feet of water on wedding rings and corn. Shore anglers are still fishing the areas with incoming water.
Pearl Lake State Park (Routt County)
Blue Kastmasters in the evening have been doing well; wooly boogers, crawdad type flies have been hitting well also, according to our guests.
Rifle Falls, Rifle Gap State Park (Garfield County)
In Rifle Gap, pike and perch are being caught near the dam as well as on the east end of the lake. For Rifle Falls, rainbow and cutthroat trout are being found in East Rifle Creek which flows through Rifle Falls. Fish up to 19 inches long have been taken, with 6-to-9-inch fish being the average size. Brown and black flies or spinners work the best. Bait, except for live fish, can be used.
Roaring Fork River (Garfield County)
Latest info from Taylor Creek Fly Shop: "Flow is 1400 CFS in Basalt and 3500 CFS in Glenwood. Water Conditions: Running high and dirty, but the Fork peaked a few days ago and fishing is improving, big time! Short and Sweet: We are through the worst of the runoff conditions, and the river is steadily dropping every day at this point. Be ready, folks, the next two to three weeks are the absolute best fishing of the year for the Roaring Fork, hands down. Evening floats are the most effective way to approach this water, getting on the river by one or two and floating until near-dark. Our world famous green drakes are just around the corner, perhaps by the end of the week or so if we are lucky! These bugs are early evening hatchers, be on the water for the last few hours of daylight once they start to emerge. The main fare for trout will be caddis, stoneflies and pale morning duns this week, epic hatches are so close we can feel it. The streamer bite is vastly improving: try tandem setups with one dark and one light fly. As with the lower Fryingpan, the evening female egg-laying caddis lightning round is sublime and improving on a daily basis. The higher up-valley you are on the Roaring Fork, the clearer the water will be, and the opposite is the case down low, especially below the Crystal River confluence."
Stagecoach State Park (Routt County)
Anglers trolling the inlet have been landing plenty of 14 to 18 inch trout. PowerBait, wooly buggers, tazmanian devils and worms seem to be working well. Shores are a little muddy. Pike are spawning and a handful of smaller size pike have been caught. 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)
Four fish in bag, eight in possession at the lower lakes. Flies and lures only on the high alpine lakes, two fish in bag limit. North Michigan Reservoir is free of ice. North Michigan Reservoir stocked on May 23. Good fishing!
Steamboat Lake State Park (Routt County)
Meadow Point is pretty hot right now with most anglers using worms, eggs or PowerBait. A 20-inch rainbow was caught at Bridge Island on a crawdad lure; the inlets are still very heavily fished with fly fisherman doing well.
Sylvan Lake State Park (Eagle County)
The lake was stocked with catchable rainbows May 15, and 12-inch cutthroat on May 20. Anglers are trying to match a variety of hatches. Gold spinners and PowerBaits are working well for rainbow, cutthroat and brookies, too. East Brush Creek is running fast. Try the beaver ponds on West Brush Creek.
Vega State Park (Mesa County)
Fishing has been excellent so far this season. Anglers are catching rainbows and Snake River cutthroat in the 16 to 22 inch range on PowerBait, worms, salmon eggs and spinners. Please remember to have your boat inspected prior to launching. Citations will be issued to boaters who launch without an inspection. Clean, drain and dry is what we are looking for on boats leaving and entering the lake. We sell fishing license at the Visitor Center 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Yampa River State Park (Routt County)
The Yampa River has been dropping since last Monday and is at 2,000 CFS near Hayden and Craig; pools are showing up on both sides of the river. Fishing continues to improve.
Southwest
Big Meadows Reservoir (Rio Grande County)
No recent reports.
Blue Mesa Reservoir (Gunnison County)
Salmon fishing remains excellent across the whole lake. Limits of fish are being caught on squids and spinners in pinks, oranges and greens from surface down to 45 feet. Trout fishing is good along the shorelines using bait near the bottom during the day and spinners or spoons early and late in the day. Lake trout have become deeper and harder to target. Surface temps have risen to the low 60s and the water level has come up about 16 vertical feet in the last month. Boat ramps are open 5:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.
Crawford State Park (Delta County)
Catfish and pike are both being caught on a regular basis. Crappie seem to bite when the weather is warmer, and slow down some when the temperature drops. There are still reports of an occasional perch or bass. No reports of bass caught that are large enough to keep.
Echo Canyon Reservoir (Archuleta County)
No recent reports.
Gunnison Gorge, Gunnison River (Gunnison - Delta County)
No recent reports.
Mancos State Park, Jackson Gulch Reservoir (Montezuma County)
Jackson Gulch reservoir continues to have inflow from snowmelt. However, outflow has also begun so the lake is still quite low. The water level has been fluctuating about six inches either direction depending on inflow and domestic demands on the outflow. In spite of the low lake level, fishing has been excellent for 10 to 12 inch rainbow trout and six to seven inch yellow perch with an occasional large brown trout. Early each month throughout the summer, 10,000 rainbow trout will be stocked. When the inlet is flowing, it is a favorite area for the trout to hang.Trout enjoy various PowerBaits, worms, and some inline spinners such as panther martins and crocodiles, and Kastmasters have seen some success. Fly fisherfolk have had luck with small dry flies such as Irresistibles, especially in the early morning and late evening hours along the dam and near the inlet. Perch love nightcrawler, mealworm or waxworm. Perch are small, averaging about six to seven inches, but anglers should keep them if they’ll eat them. There is no limit on the number of perch you keep; the daily limit for trout is four. A park pass is required when utilizing the park. Daily park passes are available at the self-serve pay post at the park entrance. Park passes and fishing licenses are on sale at the Mancos entrance station during staff hours. For fishing rules/regulations and information please click on the "Fishing" link on our website.
Navajo State Park (Archuleta County)
The crappie have been biting well in Bancos and Uells Canyons. Folks have been catching their limit. Catfish are also biting in Colorado. Water temperature is currently approximately 64 degrees, but was 68 earlier in the week. Colorado and New Mexico fishing licenses 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 94 percent full and continues to rise this week. Our most recent stocking of the reservoir, with 2,000 catchable rainbow trout, occurred on May 7. 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 86 CFS and will increase soon. 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)
No recent updates.
Anglers wishing to contribute information to the weekly fishing report should submit their fishing tips or conditions reports to fish.reporter@state.co.us. The deadline for the weekly fishing report is Mondays at 5 p.m.
Have a suggestion for the fishing report, email us at fish.reporter@state.co.us.