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.