Denver Metro
Region
Report
provided with permission of the
Colorado
Division of Wildlife
October
20,
2009
Arvada Reservoir --
The Stockers of 9/3 and 9/28 are starting to hit, but there is
only 12 more days to fish until the reservoir closes. The weather
has been beautiful this week and as my old friend, Mick Bolen,
used to tell me, "When
the winds from the West, fishing is best". And we've had some
winds from the west this week. Since this is the last fishing report
this year, thanks for joining in and hope to see all you fisher people
on April 1st, 2010. Remember, if you want to fish a lot, it's cheaper
to get an annual pass. Directions: go west on 64th Ave past the Arvada
Dog Park and the dam. Past the dam is the entrance to the reservoir.
The daily fee remains $5.00 per car and an additional $5.00 per boat.
Hours remain 7 AM til 7 PM.
Aurora Reservoir --
Open to boating and the water temperature is 56 degrees. All
vessels must be inspected prior to launch. A watercraft access
permit is required for all vehicles bringing in watercraft. Trout
fishing is fair to good using nightcrawlers off the Dam and East
shoreline. Boat action for trout is slow to fair trolling spoons
and crawlers. Walleye fishing is fair from the dam using crawlers,
jerkbaits and crankbaits from boats on the flats. We are also
starting to see Smallmouth Bass move into shallower water. All
other species are slow. We expect to see fishing improve over
the next few weeks with cooler temps setting in. The limit for
trout is two fish. Boating is restricted to electric motors.
For more information, call 303-690-1286.
Barr Lake --
The water level is going down (12 feet below full). The water temperature
is approximately 50 degrees. Trout from the shore is picking up
on Power Bait, and wipers are slow. Perch are slow. Fishing from
boats is good for trout. Walleye are slow. The Lake will close
for boating on Oct. 31st. Contact Ranger office for info on winter
ice fishing conditions (303)655-1495.
Bear Creek --
The stream between Evergreen Lake and Bear Creek Reservoir offers
an opportunity to enjoy fishing, great scenery, areas to have family
picnics, and free access to a giant stone Bar-B- Q.(on a first
come basis). With daytime highs dropping and cooler nights, fishing
has picked up. (All rainbows must be returned to the water immediately),
brown trout and occasional brookies are also on tap. Trout will
take a variety of dry flies and small spinners. Mepps Aglia # 0
or #00 and Mepps Black Fury with a black blade and yellow spots
in the same size are good choices. These lures have been producing
well over the last several weeks. Bag and possession limit for
trout is two. (Artificial flies and lures only). Updated the week
of 9/14/09
Bear Creek Reservoir --
Fishing for trout has picked up with cooler weather. Fishing during
the early morning and evenings has been the most productive. Good
numbers of catchable trout are being taken on a variety of baits
and lures. Tiger Muskies are on the prowl and have been hitting
Jointed Rapalas in Fire Tiger colors. Saugeye fishing has been
slow .The minimum size for walleyes and Saugeye is 15 inches, and
only one exceeding 21 inches may be taken daily.
Berkeley Lake --
Fishing has finally begun to pick up with cooler temperatures Catchable
sized rainbows are being caught on salmon eggs. Chartreuse Power
eggs have also been working well. Berkeley has largemouth bass,
bluegills, crappie and channel catfish. Channel Catfish 8 inches
in length are typically stocked late summer to early fall. Boats
are not permitted. A recreation center, playground, dog park and
other amenities are available on the south side of the lake.
Centennial Park Lake --
Fishing has improved this last week as water temperatures have
cooled... 600 Channel Catfish 8 inches in length were stocked in
early September. There have been reports of catfish being taken
on Stink Bait, nightcrawlers, and mussels fished off the bottom
using a Nightcrawler Harness. The lake also has warm-water fish
including bass, crappie, and perch, which become more active later
in the season. No boats are allowed on the 15-acre lake, maximum
depth 27 feet. A playground, restrooms and handicapped-accessible
fishing pier on the west and south sides are available. Park opens
at dawn until 11p.m.
Cherry Creek Reservoir --
The Cherry Creek Reservoir is turning over. This happens when lower
temperatures cool the water’s surface temperature, and in
turn causes it to sink to the bottom. This displaces the lower
water level in the reservoir, allowing the bottom layer to be exposed
to air, and causes plentiful amounts of nutrients and natural fish
food to be present. Those who are up to the challenge have found
that worms seem to be the most sought-after bait by our fish population.
The current water temperature is 60 degrees and the water levels
are normal. The lake is open to boating through November 30. Inspections
are conducted daily from 6 am to 6 pm at the East Boat Ramp. The
West Boat Ramp is open Fridays - Sundays, 6 am to 6 pm. No launching
is permitted outside those hours without previous inspection.
Clear Creek --
The spawn is on for browns. So please avoid wading on redds (cleaned
areas of gravel where trout lay their eggs) and don’t fish
to spawning trout. Instead fish the deeper, slow pools and pockets.
Purple para-wulff BWOs in #14 and 16 are drawing strikes on top.
Other effective top-water flies are royal wulffs and caddis patterns.
Underneath, you can trail psycho princes (#16 or 18), egg patterns,
small golden stones, RS-2s or red midges (#18 or 20). This should
continue for at least several more weeks. After that, try casting
black or olive woolly buggers to post-spawn browns. Cast directly
across to within a foot or two of the far bank and strip the fly
as it swings down and back across, and be ready for aggressive
strikes!
Clear Lake --
This lake lies south of Georgetown, off Guanella Pass road. This
road is now open from Georgetown to Clear Lake. Beyond this point,
the road narrows to one lane to the town of Grant. Parking may
be a problem depending on how many vehicles there are. The road
construction starts just past the lake. Rainbows mostly in the
10 to 12 inch range have been taken on salmon eggs fished off the
bottom. Fishing can be good on a variety of baits and lures. Natural
baits like grasshoppers can work very well when fished with a fly
and bubble. No boats are permitted on the lake.
Georgetown Lake --
The Lake is stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout and is home
for some brown, cutthroat and brook trout. Salmon eggs and worm
combinations are still working on both sides of the bridge in deeper
water. Chartreuse Power Eggs have been producing the best. The
south side of the lake offers good fishing along with natural windbreaks,
which can come in handy in this typically windy canyon.
Gross
Reservoir -- A few Tiger Muskies have been
reported in the shallows. Trout fishing has started to pick back
up. Try the typical baits along with Power Eggs in chartreuse and
orange. Rapalas are also showing results. Gross Reservoir is open
to boating beginning Memorial Day thru September 30. Only hand
carried watercraft are permitted, no motors allowed (hand powered
only). Gross requirement: A wearable floatation device (PFD) a
whistle or air horn, your name, address, and phone number must
be written inside the craft. Gross is still full to capacity which
is a treat for this late date.
Jim Baker Reservoir --
Fishing for Rainbow Trout has picked up. Eight hundred Channel
Catfish, eight inches in length, were stocked in mid September.
It also has smallmouth bass, walleyes, panfish, and tiger muskies.
A few bass have been caught using spinnerbaits and Jig- and- Pig
setups. Boats are not allowed. Fishing hours are sunrise to sunset.
Ketring Park Lake --
Fishing has been fair for Bluegill and Crappie. An occasional Bass
has been taken in the weedy areas of the lake or with top water
baits and worms fished on a Texas rig. Worms and small shrimp fished
off the bottom for catfish has produced well. Boats are not allowed.
Main Lake --
This urban reservoir has a surface area of 45-acres.This is an
ideal lake for "Close to Home" fishing located in the
Lakewood area. Bass fishing has started to pick up. Catchable size
trout are hitting salmon eggs, and Power Bait. Remember to use
bright colors on bright days and dark colors on dark or overcast
days. Crappie, bluegills, channel catfish, rainbow trout, smallmouth
bass, suckers and yellow perch are all on tap. No boats are allowed
on the lake. Park opens at dawn and closes at 10.30 p.m.
Quincy
Reservoir -- Quincy is open to boating
and will close for the season November 1st. The water temperature
is 56 degrees. All watercraft must be inspected before launching.
All vehicles bringing in watercraft are required to have a Watercraft
Access Pass. Trout fishing is slow. Fly casters have reported little
success with a variety of flies. Bass fishing has been slow, but
some reports recommend using soft plastics and jigs. Anglers are
finding shoreline access becoming more difficult due to dropping
water levels. Quincy is restricted to fishing with artificial flies
and lures. The limit for trout is two fish. Bass must be 18 inches
or longer to possess. All boats must be hand-launched. Only electric
motors are permitted. For more information, call 303-693-5463.
Rocky Mountain Lake --
The lake will be stocked again this year with rainbow trout in
early October. Channel catfish and blue gill are typically stocked
the middle of September (weather and water conditions permitting).
Fishing for catfish has picked up this last week. A variety of
warm-water fish including largemouth bass, panfish and catfish
provide fairly good fishing throughout the summer, with improved
fishing beginning in early fall. Boats are not allowed. The minimum
size for largemouth bass is 15 inches. A playground and restrooms
are on site.
Sloans Lake --
This urban lake has a good population of Rainbow trout and channel
catfish. Trout fishing has been slow. The crappies are fewer in
numbers but can be taken off the south shoreline using a bobber
with a minnow suspended 24-36 inches below the surface. The carp
are big and strong, and have a growing following among anglers.
Dough balls flavored with anis or garlic fished off the bottom
with a loose line has been working well. Corn flakes mixed with
grape soda and molded onto a treble hook (with the bait holder
spring) is a good bet for carp and catfish.
Smith Reservoir --
Smith Reservoir may have extreme water level fluctuation. Largemouth
and smallmouth bass action has been sporadic. Blue gills have become
more active, hitting jigs suspended from a bobber with a minnow.
This 45-acre lake also has bluegills, channel catfish, crappie,
bluegill, yellow perch, pumpkinseed, carp and sucker. No boats
are allowed on the lake. Open dawn to 10:30 p.m.
South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) --
The cooler temperatures have helped to stimulate the bite. Rainbows
to 14 inches have been taken on a variety of small spinners and
dry flies. Mepps Aquila is working well. The section from Strontia
Springs Dam downstream to 300 yards above the Marston diversion
structure is restricted to artificial flies and lures. There is
a two-trout limit for this section of river. Night crawlers and
garden worms usually are the most effective bait for browns in
the unrestricted lower stretch, this section of river has somewhat
larger trout.
Standley Lake --
Fishing times are sunrise to sunset and will be strictly enforced.
Boat season ended September 30th. Trout fishing from shore has
been good using worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs off the bottom.
No ice fishing is allowed. Aquatic bait is no longer allowed at
Standley Lake; this includes salamanders, leeches, crayfish, frogs
and minnows. Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) regulations are in
effect. All boats in 2010 must be sprayed off and quarantined for
11-15 days to be allowed onto the lake. A $6 fee is charged for
all drive-in traffic. Drive in access is available from 7am to
sunset. For more information, contact the Standley Lake Nature
Center at (303) 425-1097.