Northeast Region

Report provided with permission of the
Colorado Division of Wildlife

January 17, 2012

Antero Reservoir: This 2200 acre impoundment is located north of US Highway 24 between Antero Junction and the town of Hartsel. Currently, catch rates are moderate with a better bite occurring in the morning hours. Rainbow trout are averaging 14-18” with an occasional larger fish being seen. Brown trout, cutthroat trout, splake and brook trout are also present. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, please contact the Division of Wildlife Northeast Region Service Center (303-291-7227), Hondo Arms (719-836-7235), or The Jefferson Market (719-839-2389).

Aurora Reservoir: This 820 acre impoundment is located on Quincy Avenue, one mile east of Gun Club Road. The potential for nice rainbow trout and large walleyes is good here. Check out the fishery survey summary for more information. As of January 13, the back portions of Senac, Lonetree and Marina coves have 5-6” of ice. There is some open water near the dam.  Anglers are having better success fishing early or late in the day.  Fishing for trout has been fair, other species slow. For updated boating conditions, contact Aurora Reservoir Park (303-690-1633). 

Bear Creek Reservoir: This 205 acre impoundment is located on Morrison Road, just east of C-470 in Lakewood. Fish that can be caught include saugeye over 20” and rainbow trout. Check out the updated fishery survey summary for more information. This early in the season ice conditions can still be unsafe! As of January 13, the lake has 6” of ice.  Saugeyes have been caught with jigs tipped with minnows. For updated ice conditions, contact Bear Creek Lake Park (303-697-6159).

Boyd Lake: This 1700 acre reservoir, located in Loveland, also serves a state park. The lake is closed to boating for the season.  Nearly 30,000 trout (10 inches) were stocked this fall. Anglers have been doing well for trout in the marina cove. Ice thickness was about 4-5 inches in the cove. For additional updates contact Boyd Lake State Park (970-669-1739). 

Chambers Lake: This 250 acre impoundment is located seven miles east of the top of Cameron Pass on Highway 14. Chambers offers opportunities to catch cutthroat, rainbow, Kokanee salmon and lake trout through the ice. Expect lake trout 16-18” though much larger fish are present as well. Recent reports are of catches of multiple smaller lakers. Ice thickness is over 12”. Anglers have been getting into fish with tube jigs in depths over 40 feet. The inlet bay at shallower depths is usually best for trout. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Fort Collins DOW office (970-472-4300).

Chatfield Reservoir: This 1,100 acre impoundment is located on South Wadsworth Boulevard- about 0.5 miles south of C-470. Fish which can be caught include rainbow trout 15-18”, walleye over 24”, smallmouth bass, bluegill and black crappie. Check out the updated fishery survey summary for more information. As of January 13, the ice is 6-8" thick.  The lake has open water in the northern half. For updated boating conditions, contact Chatfield State Park (303-791-7275).

Cherry Creek Reservoir: This 800 acre impoundment is located just east of I-225 and south of Parker Road. Fish that can be caught include rainbow trout, walleye over 24”. Check out the updated fishery survey summary for more information. As of January 13, the ice is 6-7” thick, but thinner ice near the outlet tower and on the east shoreline.  Anglers have been successful catching trout and a few walleye over the past few weeks. For updated boating conditions, contact Cherry Creek State Park (303-699-3860).

Cowdrey: This 80 acre reservoir is located along Highway 125, seven miles north of Walden. The lake is entirely frozen with 18" of ice.  With a couple seasons without a winterkill, Cowdrey has the potential to produce some bigger fish this ice fishing season. Expect rainbows, cuttbows and the occasional brook trout.  This is a great place to take kids for success. Anglers have been doing well jigging smaller lures tipped with waxworms. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the North Park Chamber of Commerce (970-723-4600).

Delaney Buttes: This State Wildlife Area is located 10 miles west of Walden. Please be aware of the special regulations that exist for fishing this property. Ice conditions are good with ice around 18". Expect to find smaller rainbows and browns at East Delaney (65 ac.), rainbows and snake river cutthroats in the 14-16” range at South Delaney (150 ac.) and larger browns that tend to be a bit more difficult to catch at North Delaney (165 ac.) Please refer to your fishing regulation brochure for special regulations. The South lake has been fishing well, with a few fish pushing toward 24 inches. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Lake John Resort (970-723-3226).

Elevenmile Reservoir: This 3400 acre impoundment is located south of US Highway 24 between Wilkerson Pass and the town of Hartsel. Elevenmile Reservoir is currently producing rainbow trout,rainbow x cutthroat hybrid trout, and Snake River rainbow trout in the 14-20” range with 5-6 pound fish showing up regularly. Fishing for brown trout will be slower than for rainbows and cutthroats. Kokanee fishing is fair for anglers that focus in the channel off of north shore.  For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact Elevenmile State Park (719-748-3401).

Evergreen Lake: This 42 acre impoundment is located just upstream of downtown Evergreen, on State Route 74 (Evergreen Parkway). Fish that can be caught include rainbow trout, brown trout, and an occasional tiger musky. As of January 13, the lake has over 10 inches of ice.  Try wax worms or meal worms on an ice fly or jig.

Georgetown Lake: This 54 acre impoundment is located on I-70 just north of the town of Georgetown. Fish that can be caught include rainbow trout and brown trout. As of January 13, the lake has over 12 inches of ice.  Some nice brown trout have been caught there within the past week.  Be careful of the ice near the current area north from the bridge toward the spillway.

Hohnholz Lakes: These three lakes are located west of the Laramie River Road (CR 103) 30 miles north of Highway 14. The eastern lake, Hohnholz #1, has had water now for two years and should be good for fat 12” cutthroat and rainbows. Hohnholz #2, is 37 acres and has rainbow trout and snake river cutthroat trout ranging 12-16”. Hohnholz #3 is 40 acres and has snake river cutthroat and brown trout up to 18”. Ice at both lakes is over 12 inches and solid. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact West Laramie Fly Store (888-745-9565).

Jackson Reservoir: This 2,967 acre reservoir is located approximately 32 miles east of Greeley and 10 miles north of Wiggins.  Some 12-14 inch trout have been caught through the ice near the inlet. Though the inlet ice was adequate for ice fishing just before the new year, warm weather and strong winds have created dangerous ice conditions again. Please exercise caution when venturing out on the lake. For more information, please see the fishery survey summary. For up-to-date ice conditions, visit the park's website or contact the park directly at 970-645-2551.

Jefferson: This 145 acre impoundment is located northwest of Jefferson. After the first decent snow fall of the season, the road to Jefferson Lake will become impassable for vehicles except snow machines. Depending on snow drifts, many times by mid-winter the road becomes impassable for snow machines. The ice usually recedes from Jefferson Lake the last week of May. This winter anglers can seek to catch rainbow trout in the 12-14” range, mackinaw averaging 12-18” with a few large fish and possibly a few brook trout. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Jefferson Market (719-836-2389) or Hondo Arms (719-836-7235).

Jumbo Reservoir: This 1,570 acre reservoir is located 35 miles northeast of Sterling and six miles west of Sedgwick. Prior to the new year ice anglers were catching fair numbers of trout and fewer numbers of walleye through the ice. Though 7 inches of ice formed on the reservoir prior to the new year, warm weather and strong winds have created dangerous ice conditions again. Please exercise caution when venturing out on the lake. For more information, please see the fishery survey summary. 

Lake John: This 565 acre impoundment is located 15 miles northwest of Walden. Ice conditions are good with thickness around 18 inches. Lake John grows fat rainbow trout, snake river cutthroat trout and cuttbows.  Anglers have been catching lots of fish in the 10-16” range with an occasional fish in the 3-5 lb range on a variety of lures and baits. Fish are dispersed throughout the lake so try keying into a specific depth. Bait is allowed at Lake John but no live minnows. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Lake John Resort (970-723-3226).

Lon Hagler Reservoir: This reservoir covers about 580 acres at full pool and is open year round to fishing. Bass must be 18 inches in length to keep at Lon Hagler; the limit for bass is 1. Thousands of 10-inch have been stocked in anticipation of the ice fishing season, but conditions are currently not safe as of January 11. Visit the fishery survey summaries page to learn more about this reservoir.

Red Feather Lakes: Red Feather Lakes is northwest of Fort Collins about 20 miles west of Livermore. Parvin, Dowdy and West lakes are located on the east side of town. Bellaire Lake is a bit further south off of CR 162, and there is a short walk into the lake. Bellaire is 10 acres and has rainbow trout. All of the lakes have about 12 inches of ice, and that will change quickly depending on conditions, so take care when going out. Bellaire has been slowing down, but anglers are still for 10-12" fish. Dowdy Lake is 115 acres.  Fishing remains steady with rainbows around 10” and occasional larger 'bows and browns. West is 25 acres and fishing is starting to slow down a little there. Parvin is 63 acres. Expect fat browns and decent fishing for rainbows 12-16”.  Note that Parvin is fly and lure only and has a different bag limit from other lakes in the area. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Fort Collins DOW office (970-472-4300).

Seymour: This lake is 81 acres and located about 15 miles south of Walden.  Seymour has rainbows ranging up to 16” and the ice thickness is about 18 inches. Fishing has been decent but is starting to slow down. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Lake John Resort (970-723-3226).

St. Vrain State Park Ponds: Sandpiper, Coot and Mallard ponds were heavily stocked with 10" trout for the benefit of ice anglers. The ice measures 4-5 inches. Anglers on Sandpiper and Mallard have been doing very well catching trout. For additional information contact the St. Vrain State Park entry station (303-678-9402).

Tarryall Reservoir: This 175 acre impoundment is located along Park County Road 77 between Jefferson and Lake George. This winter anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout averaging 12-14” with a few large fish here and there, such as brown trout, cutthroat trout and northern pike up to 36”. Catch rates are currently excellent, limits are being had. We encourage the harvest of all northern pike caught. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact The Jefferson Market (719-836-2389) or Hondo Arms (719-836-7235).