Denver Metro Region

Report provided with permission of the
Colorado Division of Wildlife

October 21, 2008

Arvada Reservoir -- Fishing for trout from the shore has improved. Night crawlers and multi-colored Power Bait off the bottom have been the most effective.

Aurora Reservoir -- The water temperature is 58 degrees. Inspection of all watercraft including belly boats before launching is required. Boats must be clean, and bilge and livewell areas dry. Gas motors must be drained of all water. Trout action generally is rated fair to good. The best areas from shore have been the dam, east shore and coves, using Power Bait, Kastmasters and brown and olive Woolly Buggers. Trolling with night crawlers, spoons and Rapalas has been producing trout for boaters. Walleye action is fair to good on bottom bouncers and jigs. By some reports, boaters also are catching perch on jigs and minnows. The limit for trout is two fish. Boating is restricted to electric motors. Reservoir hours for October are 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. For more information call 303-690-1286

Barr Lake -- The water level is at five feet below full. Plenty of open shoreline exists. The boat ramp is open with 20 feet remaining, and both the fishing dock and courtesy dock are in place. The water temperature is approximately 65 degrees. Fishing from shore is good for perch, with trout action getting better every day. Fishing from boats is slowing down. Carp fishing remains consistent. Boaters, please be aware of afternoon storms, and how quickly the wind can increase.

Bear Creek -- The stream between Evergreen Lake and Bear Creek Reservoir has a fairly good population of 10- to 12-inch rainbow and brown trout. Though the best fishing months may be May and June, anglers can have some close-to-home fun through the summer. Trout will take a variety of dry flies, nymphs and small spinners. Fishermen may use only artificial flies and lures, and all rainbows must immediately be returned to the water alive. The limit for other trout is two fish.

Bear Creek Reservoir -- Fishing in the reservoir has been good. Rainbow trout have been caught on green Power Bait and night crawlers, or spoons from a boat. Saugeye fishing has been good using night crawlers. The water level is down two feet.

Berkeley Lake -- The 40-acre lake is stocked with trout in the spring and also has largemouth bass, bluegills crappie and channel catfish. Boats are not permitted. A recreation center, playground and other amenities are available on the south side of the lake.

Centennial Park Lake -- The lake is stocked with catchable-sized trout in the spring. The lake also has warm-water fish including bass, crappie, catfish and perch, which provide most of the summertime activity. No boats are allowed on the 15-acre lake. A playground, restrooms and handicapped-accessible fishing pier are available.

Chatfield Ponds -- The ponds support fairly good populations of largemouth bass, catfish and panfish. Try soft-plastic grubs, small crankbaits or spinnerbaits for the bass; night crawlers or cut baits for catfish, especially in the evening. Fishing with minnows off a bobber can be another effective technique. Only belly boats are permitted. Though a state parks pass generally is required, some free parking may be available off Highway 75.

Chatfield Reservoir -- A mandatory boat-inspection procedure to control the spread of zebra mussels is under way. The surface water temperature is in the low 60s. Fishermen have been taking walleyes near the dam on leeches and crankbaits. Fishing for mostly small smallmouth and largemouth bass has slowed a little but remains fair to good near the south ramps. Some trout still are taken on night crawlers by Massey Draw. The minimum size for bass at the reservoir is 15 inches. The minimum size for walleyes is 18 inches, and only one exceeding 21 inches may be kept daily.

Cherry Creek Reservoir -- The water level is normal and the temperature is in the mid-60s. The lake recently was stocked with catchable-sized trout. Boating fishermen have been catching some walleyes along the dam on Rapalas, night-crawler harnesses and leech-tipped Lindy Rigs. Night crawlers and jigs also have produced some wipers. Night fishermen have been catching channel catfish off the bottom. Chicken livers, dead minnows and stink baits have been effective.

Clear Creek (above Hwy. 119) -- The creek holds a surprising number of trout, but few of the predominantly browns exceed 10 inches. Fly fishermen can have some fun with No. 16-18 Hare's Ears, RS-2s, olive caddis and Pheasant Tails. Effective lures include small Mepps spinners. Respect private property along the creek.

Clear Lake -- The lake south of Georgetown off the Guanella Pass road generally offers fair to good fishing for catchable-sized rainbow trout, and also has some brook trout and a few browns. Fishing can be fairly good on a variety of baits and lures, but success largely depends on periodic stocking. The north shore often is the best location. No boats are permitted on the lake.

Evergreen Lake -- The lake offers fair fishing for stocked rainbow trout, as well as some browns and splake. The usual array of baits and lures can be effective, and fly-bubble rigs are popular in late afternoon. Tiger muskies are another attraction; try large Rapala-type crankbaits, jigs or streamer flies. Boaters must have an Evergreen permit. No power boats are allowed.

Georgetown Lake -- The lake is periodically stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout and also supports some brown, cutthroat and brook trout. Most common baits and lures work quite well here. Fishermen willing to walk a little distance from the primary access points sometimes do a little better. The lake has a handicapped-accessible fishing pier. Nonmotorized boats are permitted.

Gross Reservoir -- Fishing for mostly catchable-sized trout has been slow to fair. Kokanee snagging is permitted through Jan. 31, but the run is just beginning. Some fairly large tiger muskies also might be seen near the inlet. A large Rapala might tempt one. A hand-launched boat, subject to inspection for zebra mussel control, makes them more accessible.

Jim Baker Reservoir -- The 80-acre Adams County lake offers fishing for catchable-sized trout early in the season. It also has smallmouth bass, walleyes, panfish and tiger muskies, all of which become more active during the summer months. Boats are not allowed. Fishing hours are sunrise to sunset.

Ketring Park Lake -- The 15-acre lake offers fishing for a variety of mostly small warm-water fish. Boats are not allowed.

Main Lake -- Late-summer fishing has been slow to fair for bass and fair to good for sunfish. Bass have been taking leeches; small crappie and bluegills have been hitting bead-head nymphs along the west side. The fluctuating 45-acre lake has bass up to 18 inches, crappie, bluegills, catfish and other warm-water species. No boats are allowed on the lake.

Quincy Reservoir -- Inspection of all watercraft including float tubes before launching is required. Check in on the east side before launching on the west side. The water level is low and shoreline conditions are muddy. Trout action is fair to good on Woolly Buggers. Bass action is slow to fair using soft plastics and jigs. 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. Reservoir hours through October are 6:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Quincy Reservoir will close for the season on Nov. 1. All boats must be hand-launched. Only electric motors are permitted. For more information, call 303-693-5463 or 303-690-1286.

Rocky Mountain Lake -- The lake is stocked with pan-sized trout in the spring. A variety of warm-water fish including largemouth bass, panfish and catfish provide fairly good fishing through the summer. Boats are not allowed. The minimum size for largemouth bass is 15 inches. A playground and restrooms are nearby.

Sloans Lake -- The urban lake has some bass, catfish and a few crappie, but carp comprise much of the fish population. The carp are big and strong, and have a growing following among anglers.

Smith Reservoir -- The 45-acre lake has crappie, largemouth and smallmouth bass, bluegills, catfish and perch. No boats are allowed on the lake.

South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) -- The river through Waterton Canyon has an exceptional population of brown trout. The section from Strontia Springs Dam downstream to 300 yards above the Marston diversion structure is restricted to artificial flies, with a two-trout limit, offers the best fishing. The most effective lures for spin-fishermen often are small Panther Martins, Mepps or Blue Fox spinners. Night crawlers usually are the most effective bait in the unrestricted lower stretch, which has fewer but somewhat larger trout.

Standley Lake -- The 2008 boating season has ended. Fishing hours are from sunrise to sunset and will be strictly enforced. No ice fishing is allowed. Winter fishing usually is fair with worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs fished off the bottom, directly from shore. Aquatic bait no longer is allowed at Standley Lake; this includes salamanders, leeches, crayfish, frogs and minnows. A $6 fee is charged for drive-in traffic. Walk-ins are free. For more information, contact the Standley Lake Nature Center at 303-425-1097.

Washington Park Lakes -- The lakes are stocked with trout in the spring. Otherwise, crappie running up to 10 inches, bass, bluegills and catfish can provide some interesting fishing in an urban-park setting. Try a small, green or white plastic grub or a live minnow below a bobber about 3 feet down for the crappie.

Webster Lake -- The lake offers fishing for catchable trout in the spring, and for bass, perch and catfish through the summer into fall. No boats are allowed. A handicapped-access fishing pier, playground and other facilities are available.