Colorado Fishing Reports

For fishermen seeking a bit of solitude along with some pretty good trout fishing, mid-October can be the time.

Many popular lakes that attracted crowds of anglers through the summer now are all but deserted. Fall colors still are evident in much of the surrounding high country, back-country roads remain clear and campgrounds are uncrowded, except in some big-game hunting areas. Best of all, the fishing can be quite good.

Most of the lakes were stocked through the summer, and though fishermen caught many of the fish, plenty of others remain. They have grown larger in the lake, and some now are very nice-sized.

Such late-season opportunities can be found in moderate to higher elevations across the state.

A few of the possibilities include the Hohnholz and Red Feather lakes in northeastern Colorado and the lakes rimming North Park. To the south, the list may include Jefferson Lake and Tarryall Reservoir in South Park, Rampart and Nichols reservoirs west of Colorado Springs, and North and Monument lakes west of Trinidad.

A trip to the mountains may not be necessary to find trout, however. With the cooling temperatures of fall, a number of lakes and reservoirs up and down the Front Range and at other lower elevations are receiving catchable-sized trout from the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s hatchery system. They will provide fishing through the fall and into the winter.

October also is the time for brown trout to become more aggressive and for mackinaw to move into shallower water, where they are accessible to shoreline fishermen with standard tackle.

Though the hatches of summer are pretty much finished, stream fishermen still can find some good surface activity on many rivers with the return of blue-wing-olive mayflies and the usual midges. Though most anglers focus on the major streams, smaller mountain creeks and beaver ponds may hold brook trout, alive in brilliant spawning colors.

Spawning kokanee salmon are on the move. The run is well under way above Blue Mesa and Green Mountain reservoirs, but not yet in full swing at the Granby Reservoir complex of lakes.

Warm-water fishing as a rule is slowing down with cooler weather, but anglers still can find their share of willing walleyes, wipers and channel catfish. Wipers and white bass still may boil the surface of eastern-Colorado reservoirs, and the activity should continue until young-of-the-year shad disappear.

SALMON GIVEAWAYS
The Colorado Division of Wildlife collects spawn from kokanee salmon at several locations in the fall, and usually gives the spawned-out salmon to licensed anglers. The Roaring Judy hatchery plans to give away salmon on the final three Fridays of October and possibly Nov. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. People with valid Colorado fishing licenses will receive salmon as supplies permit. Giveaways near Shadow Mountain Reservoir and other locations may be announced as the season progresses. For specific information, contact DOW area offices in Hot Sulphur Springs, Gunnison or Durango.

RAMPART CLOSES TO BOATING
Rampart Reservoir near Woodland Park has closed to boating. Shoreline fishing is permitted.

QUAGGA MUSSELS FOUND IN PUEBLO RESERVOIR
Recent monitoring has discovered both zebra and quagga mussel veligers in Pueblo Reservoir. Zebra mussels initially were found in January. Sampling efforts were expanded last summer, resulting to the new discovery. Colorado State Parks has an inspection and decontamination program in place at the reservoir to prevent the spread of mussels to new waters.

ADDITIONAL MUSSELS FOUND IN GRANBY COMPLEX
A cooperative federal and state initiative has confirmed the presence of invasive mussel larvae in Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain and Willow Creek reservoirs in Grand County. All are connected to Granby Reservoir, where quagga mussels were found earlier this summer. Both zebra and quagga mussels are present in Grand Lake. Only quagga mussels were found in Willow Creek, Shadow Mountain and Granby reservoirs. The reservoirs are part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, which diverts water from the state’s Western Slope to the Eastern Slope. The Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are cooperating with local partners to develop an appropriate plan for each of the reservoirs. A boat-inspection program for Granby was enacted during the summer.

GRANBY WEEKEND BOAT INSPECTIONS
The Colorado Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, has begun weekend boat inspections at Granby Reservoir in an effort to curb the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive aquatic organisms. Inspections are conducted randomly at the Stillwater and Sunset Point ramps from sunrise to sunset Friday through Sunday, when 95 percent of the reservoir’s boating typically occurs. The Arapaho Bay ramp is closed during that time. The reservoir will remain open and all ramps will be accessible at other times. Expanded inspections are planned as additional staffing and resources become available. Boaters should make sure their vessels are clean and dry before entering and when leaving the reservoir. Vessels identified as “at risk” for spreading mussels and other nuisance species will be cleaned and decontaminated at an on-site hot-water wash station.

WILLIAMS FORK BOATING AND CLOSURE
Boat-inspection hours at Williams Fork Reservoir near Parshall have been changed from earlier in the season. The east boat ramp is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The hours could be further reduced, depending on traffic early and late. The west ramp will remain closed the remainder of the season. A closure to all fishing and snagging from a buoy line in the inlet cove upstream to the county road bridge is in effect through Nov. 30 for kokanee spawn taking.

ANTERO BOAT INSPECTIONS
Trailered boats are permitted on the lake from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset seven days a week. All trailered boats must be inspected at the north ramp before launching. Boats must be off the water ½ hour after sunset.

TARRYALL BOAT INSPECTIONS
A boat inspection procedure for the control of zebra and quagga mussels at Tarryall Reservoir is in place. Trailered boats are allowed on the lake from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Before launching, trailered boats must be inspected at the north ramp off Park County Road 77. Hand-launched craft such as float tubes, canoes and nonmotorized rowboats are permitted at all times. Boaters may not create a white-water wake.

ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS AND CLOSURES
A mandatory boat-inspection program is under way at Chatfield Reservoir southwest of Denver, in the ongoing effort to control the spread of zebra mussels. Boaters are asked to arrive with their boats clean, drained of all water and dry. Boats also should be drained before leaving, and cleaned and dried before launching into another body of water. Inspection procedures also are in place at Pueblo, Elevenmile, Spinney Mountain, Aurora, Quincy, Ridgway and Tarryall reservoirs and Standley Lake. Jefferson Lake north of Fairplay is closed to trailered boats and gasoline-powered boats, but open to hand-carried craft including belly boats, canoes, rowboats and boats powered by electric motors with no more than 55 pounds of thrust. Trailered and all motor-powered boats are prohibited on Clear Creek and Gross reservoirs. Sailboats also are prohibited at Gross. Dillon Reservoir is open to all boats, but only though the boat-launching areas at the Dillon and Frisco marinas.

MUSSEL PRECAUTIONS
Zebra and quagga mussels are non-native invasive mollusks that are harmful to the environment.
They can be transported over land from one body of water to another by hitchhiking on recreational vehicles including boats, jet skis and boat trailers. Unchecked, these organisms will quickly spread and out-compete native species. They have no effective predators and have detrimental impacts on the environment, recreation, water quality and the water-transport facilities of municipal providers and irrigators. All boaters are encouraged to follow these practices to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species:
Before leaving any body of water, boaters should:

Drain the water from the boat, livewell and lower units of the engine.
Clean the hull of the boat
Dry the boat, fishing gear and equipment
Inspect all exposed surfaces
Remove all plant and animal material

JERRY CREEK RESERVOIRS CLOSURE
The Jerry Creek Reservoirs northeast of Grand Junction again are closed to public access for a final phase of construction on the dam and spillway. A date for reopening has not been announced.

HABITAT STAMPS
All people ages 19-64 must have a habitat stamp to enter a state wildlife area or a state trust land leased by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The stamps are necessary to use state wildlife areas for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and any other purpose. Stamps cost $5 and are required on the first two hunting or fishing licenses an individual buys in a calendar year. Purchased without a hunting or fishing license, the stamps cost $10. Lifetime stamps are available for $200. People under 19 and over 64 are not required to have the stamps.

BE BEAR AWARE
Fishermen and campers are reminded that many of their favorite waters are in bear country. Taking simple precautions such as not leaving food out where bears can find it and keeping a clean camping site can avoid potential problems for people and bears alike. The Colorado Division of Wildlife offers brochures and other information for reducing the risk of bear encounters. They are available at DOW offices statewide.

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119136 total hits since Friday January 25 2008 1270 hits today.

119136 total hits since Friday January 25 2008
1270 hits today.