Southeast Region

Report provided with permission of the
Colorado Division of Wildlife

January 17, 2012

Brush Hollow: This is a 200 acre lake located near Penrose off of Highway 115. The lake is currently 75% ice covered but ice is extremely thin and unsafe. Fishing success is unknown at this time. The boat ramp is open. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

Clear Creek Reservoir: This 400 acre reservoir is located between Buena Vista and Leadville and is a consistently good ice fishing lake. The lake is totally frozen with 9-10 inches of ice Trout catch near the boat ramp has been fair using ice jigs tipped with meal worms, wax worms, or night crawlers. Kokanee fishing has been good for fish up to 13 inches using Sweedish Pimples fished in less than 10 feet of water on the north side just west of the boat ramp. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida Area Office (719-530-5520).

Cottonwood Lake: This 40 acre reservoir is located west of Buena Vista on U.S. Forest Service land. The lake is completely ice covered with about 10 inches of ice Fishing success has been good for trout using ice jigs tipped with meal worms For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

De Weese Reservoir: Located near Westcliffe. The ice is 12 inches thick, and fishing is good with trout averaging 12 inches but some in the 14 to 16 inch range. Swedish pimples, kastmasters, and assorted plastic jigs tipped with meal worms, wax worms, and night crawlers are good bets. For current conditions, contact the Pueblo Area Office (719-561-5300).

Frantz Lake: This lake has 8-10 inches of ice in most areas. Use caution however, particularly in the inlet area where ice may be thin. Warm weather can create unsafe ice conditions on a daily basis. Fishing success has been good using ice jigs tipped with salmon eggs. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida Area office (719-530-5520).

Hayden Meadows Reservoir: This is a small (5 acres) lake located along Highway 24 just south of Leadville. The lake is completely frozen and thickness is good. Fishing success is unknown. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

Hugo SWA: Ice is unsafe.

Karval Reservoir: Ice is unsafe. 

Kinney Lake: Ice is unsafe.

Lake Isabel: Also called San Isabel Reservoir, this 30 acre lake is on U.S. Forest Service land off of Highway 165 just west of Rye. Fishing for trout and Kokanee has been very good. The ice is approximately 14 inches thick and anglers are doing well with fireballs, wax worms, and night crawlers. Swedish pimple jigging spoons, Ratso's, Rat Finkee's, and bucktail jigs are all producing fish. For updated ice conditions, contact the Pueblo Area Office (719-561-5300).

Manitou Reservoir: Located just north of Woodland Park, this 16 acre reservoir is situated on U.S. Forest Service lands. Lake is capped with ice, with an average thickness of 6-8 inches measured near the west shoreline. Caution is advised with warming temperatures. No report on angler success. A $5 entry fee at the gate from the USFS must be paid in order to fish. Anglers are encouraged to contact the USFS at 636-1602 for current conditions as well as hours of operation. Contact the Colorado Springs office (719-227-5200) for current conditions.

Monument Lake (El Paso County): This 40 acre lake is located just west of the town of Monument. Ice should be considered unsafe Ice fishing is not recommended. Contact the Colorado Springs office (719-227-5200) for current conditions.

Monument Reservoir (Las Animas County) (last updated 1/24/2012): This 40 acre lake is located at the Monument Lake Resort about 30 miles west of Trinidad. The ice is approximately 2-3” and has broken apart leaving some open water around the shore. The surface is spider webbed with cracks and open water across the entire lake. The ice is UNSAFE. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact DWM Bob Holder (719-680-1410).

Mt. Elbert Forebay: ThThis 200 acre reservoir is located just north of Twin Lakes above Highway 82. This is a productive lake that has better than average sized rainbow and cutthroat trout. Anglers also target mackinaw. This reservoir fluctuates considerably and is ice free most of the time, creating open water opportunity in the dead of winter. Ice conditions change daily at this reservoir due to hydropower operations so use extreme caution throughout the winter. It is ice free at the time of this report. Fishing for lake trout has been good using small tube jigs tipped with sucker meat and fished on the bottom. Rainbow trout catch has been good using Pistol Pete's. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

North Lake SWA (last updated 1/24/2012): This 100 acre lake is located just east of Monument Reservoir (west of Trinidad). The ice is approximately 2-3” and has broken apart leaving some open water around the shore. The surface is spider webbed with cracks and open water across the entire lake. The ice is UNSAFE. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact DWM Bob Holder (719-680-1410).

O’Haver Lake: This small (14 acre) lake is located southwest of Poncha Springs on U.S. Forest Service lands. The lake is accessible via County Road 200 (Marshall Pass Road). The road is snow packed due to recent snows, and 4-wheel drive vehicles with good tires or chains or snowmobiles are needed to reach the lake. Ice is 12-14 inches thick but use caution near the middle of the lake where a spring has created open water or thin ice. Fishing has been good using ice jogs baited with meal and/or wax worms or salmon eggs. The lake will be open to ice fishing until April 1 but closed thereafter through the summer and fall for USFS campground re-construction. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

Riverside Ponds (Mt. Ouray State Wildlife Area): These two ponds are located northwest of Salida off County Road 160. These lakes have 8-10 inches of ice, but use extreme caution in the inlet area where ice may be thin. Warm weather can create unsafe ice conditions on a daily basis. Both require about a1/4 mile hike, as vehicles are restricted to the parking areas. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida Area office (719-530-5520).

Skaguay Reservoir: Located just east of Victor (near the town of Cripple Creek), this 114 acre reservoir is part of the Skaguay State Wildlife Area. The reservoir is 100% ice covered. The ice thickness is between 12 and 18 inches. Fishing for rainbow trout with chartreuse jigs tipped with mill worms or power bait has been good. No vehicles allowed on ice. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).

Trinidad Lake: Located just west of Trinidad, this 1000 acre reservoir is part of Trinidad State Park (entry fee required). The ice is approximately 6 inches thick near the dam and south shore and deteriorates to the west. Fishing has been fair. High temperatures can deteriorate ice conditions, and anglers should be aware of changing conditions and have the proper equipment and ice safety knowledge. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact Trinidad Lake State Park (719-846-6951).

Twin Lakes and Turquoise Reservoirs: These are larger reservoirs (Twin - 2000 acres, Turquoise - 1600 acres) located on U.S. Forest Service lands west of Highway 24 near Leadville. Twin - The upper lake is completely ice covered with 12-14 inches of ice. The lower lake iced over late this year but thickness is unknown. Driving vehicles onto the lower lake is not recommended. There is almost always open water near dam, power plant and channels. Proceed with caution. Mackinaw catch has been very good with several reports of fish taken up to 38 inches. Anglers are most successful using tube jigs tipped with sucker meat and fished on the bottom. Trout action has also been very good with typical baits off the south shore of the upper lake. Turquoise - The lake is completely iced over but thickness, fishing conditions and vehicle access are unknown at this time Snow fall can make access available only by foot or snowmobile from established parking areas. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the DOW Salida office (719-530-5520).