Fishing Report: Hints of fall starting to show up, which bodes well for anglers

Change is in the air. Ever so subtly, the dog days of summer are winding down. Though that proverbial hint of fall may not be in the air quite yet, the edge is off summer temperatures across much of the state and fishing is beginning to stir from its summer doldrums.

A pattern of afternoon rains has returned to much of Colorado. Rivers generally are flowing at or somewhat above normal levels for late August. The rains can temporarily discolor the water, but conditions otherwise are prime. Summertime hatches are coming off regularly, and terrestrial insects such as grasshoppers are readily available to the trout.

Spin-fishermen also are finding improved late-summer conditions, with trout active in riffles and pocket water, as well as the deeper pools.

Mountain creeks and beaver ponds are in prime condition, and late summer is a great time to visit the higher country. Alpine lakes also are accessible and though frequently temperamental, can provide some excellent fishing for cutthroat trout. A breath-stealing hike may be required to reach them, but the high-mountain setting, if not necessarily the fishing, makes the trek worthwhile.

Trout still are in relatively deep water in many mountain reservoirs, but with cooling water temperatures, they will be feeding in shallower areas for longer periods of time. Though most kokanee salmon still are in deep water, some are beginning to stage near inlet streams such as the Gunnison River at Blue Mesa Reservoir for their fall spawning run.

Warm-water fishermen may be noting some changes also. Though the heat still is on in many lower-elevation areas, wipers are increasingly active near the surface of several eastern-Colorado reservoirs. Walleyes and bass may be increasingly willing to chase crankbaits, and catfish still are prowling the shallows late in the day.

For the complete, statewide fishing report, visit http://wildlife.state.co.us/Fishing/Reports/StatewideConditions/.



Denver Metro

Clear Creek (above Hwy. 119) - The river has been running high but clear. Fish near the edges for trout holding off the bank. Use a San Juan worm or a Prince nymph, and fish deep.

Clear Lake - The lake south of Georgetown off the Guanella Pass road has catchable-sized rainbow trout and also 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. No boats are permitted on the lake. A campground is available one mile to the south.

South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) - The river has been discolored, making fishing difficult. The section from Strontia Springs Dam downstream to 300 yards above the Marston diversion structure is restricted to artificial flies and lures and offers the best fishing. The most effective lures for spin-fishermen are small Panther Martins, Mepps or Blue Fox spinners. Night crawlers are most effective in the unrestricted lower stretch.



Northwest

Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir) - Flows below Green Mountain Dam have come up a little more, and on Monday were around 645 cfs. The water remains generally clear. The river holds its share of trout, but through much of this section courses through private property.

Blue River (Dillon to Green Mtn. Res.) - The flow from Dillon Reservoir is 172 cfs, a good flow for this time of year. It's the dog days of summer, with no dominant hatches, but some caddis still are evident in the morning and blue wing olives come off in midafternoon on the overcast, rainy days. Mysis shrimp, midges and Barr's BWO emergers have been working well in town. From Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir, try caddis and blue wing olives on the surface or nymphing with Barr's Graphic Caddis, Prince nymphs, Flash-back Hare's Ears, etc.

Colorado River (below Parshall) - Early in the week, river flows were around 70 cfs below Windy Gap Dam and 1,180 at Kremmling. The water generally is clear, though rains can cause some discoloration. Fishing has been fair. With hot daytime temperatures, eary mornings have been the best time to fish. Afternoons have been slow; evenings somewhat better. Caddis and yellow Sally stoneflies still are the main hatches.

Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle) - The Colorado River is green/clear and is flowing around 2,500 cfs below Glenwood Springs. Fishing is picking up dramatically with the cooler weather. Good hatches of BWOs, PMDs, and caddis are taking place. Streamer fishing has been superb on overcast days and anywhere that shade is available on sunny days. Hot flies include: Autumn Splendors, Electric Buggers, Ziwi's, B/C Hoppers, Rusty Spinners, P-Tails, BLM's, Biot Baetis, and Red Copper Johns.

Colorado River (near Granby) - Caddis, mosquito and blue dun dry fly patterns, and Gregg's Emergers, RS-2s and black-midge wet patterns are still working. Hopper patterns have become effective. Hotter weather has made early morning fishing best. The flow below Windy Gap is running around 76 cfs. The Williams Fork near Parshall is flowing around 51 cfs (below the dam, it is around 297 cfs). In the immediate Granby area and downstream to the bridge at the west end of Byers Canyon, bait fishing is permitted and two fish may be kept.

Crystal River - The Crystal River is clear and flowing at 80 cfs in Carbondale. Fishing is good both for trout and whitefish, nymphing the deep pools with Princes, Copper Johns, BLM's, P-Tails, EthaWing Caddis, Stimi's, Para. Try drakes and Royal Wulffs on the surface.

Fryingpan River - The Frying Pan is fishing extremely well, with good hatches of green drakes, PMDs, and BWOs. Rusty Spinners and caddis are also available in good numbers during the evenings. Dry fly fishing is very good in the afternoons and evenings. Hot flies include: Sparkledun Drakes, BDE Drakes, Drake Cripples, Perfect PMDs, Pink No-Hackles, P-Tails, Biot Baetis, Sparklewing RS-2, Poxyback Baetis, and Epoxy Mysis. Current river flows are at 238 cfs.

Green Mountain Reservoir - Trout fishing has slowed. Early mornings and evenings are more productive than other times of the day. Kokannee salmon are still being caught toward the inlet by trolling from boats.

Rifle Gap Reservoir - The lake is 20 feet below full. The water temperature is 73 degrees. For bass, try bottom fishing in the shallow water east of the boat ramp with night crawlers or spinners. Brown trout are hitting near the East Rifle Creek inlet and the points off Cedar Campground. Try fishing with flies, Panther Martins or Rooster Tails in the early morning or around dusk. For walleyes, try fishing with night crawlers on the bottom. Lures resembling perch minnows are great for pike. The 2006 fishing regulations, fishing information and State Parks annual passes are available at the visitor center.

Rio Blanco Lake - Several good catches of crappie have been reported in recent days. Though white and yellow jigs have been the most effective, fly-rod fishermen also have enjoyed some action, mainly on small streamer flies. With the weed growth in the lake, a small boat or float tube is helpful.

Roaring Fork River - The Roaring Fork is fishing very well throughout it's entire length. Good hatches of PMDs, caddis, and stoneflies are common. River flows have been around 40 cfs in Aspen, 483 cfs in Basalt and 890 cfs in Glenwood Springs. Dry fly fishing is good in the evenings, with streamer fishing picking up daily. Cooler air temperatures have the fish feeding for extended periods during the day. Hot flies include: Princes, red Copper Johns, Biot Baetis, Batwing Emergers, Ethawing Caddis, Stimulators, and Rusty Spinners.

White River - The river remains low and clear despite some rain in its upper reaches. Fishing has been very good. Grasshoppers are abundant along much of the river, and hopper-dropper rigs have been producing well for fly fishermen. A bead-head gray Hare's Ear nymph trailing a Parachute Hopper has been especially effective. Red Copper Johns and similar nymphs also have worked well as the dropper fly behind a Dave's Hopper, Parachute Hopper or Irresistible. Rainbows and cuttbows also have been taking black gnats, ants and beetles. Some caddis activity has been occurring in the afternoons. Conditions should be prime and fishing should remain good through the summer.

Williams Fork Reservoir - With lake trout in deep water and trout action having slowed, heavyweight northern pike are the main event this time of year. Look for pike in relatively shallow water near weed beds or other cover. Large streamer flies including Bunny, Clouser Minnow, Lefty's Deceiver and Woolly Bugger patterns usually do well. Shallow-running Rapalas and similar crankbaits are good choices for spin-fishermen, along with spinnerbaits and buzzbaits. Midmorning through midafternoon tends to be the most productive time.

Williams Fork River - Flows below Williams Fork Dam early in the week were around 297 cfs. Anglers have reported fair to good activity for mostly small- to medium-sized brown trout and an occasional larger rainbow. With midges, Baetis mayflies, caddis and yellow Sallies the dominant hatches, most of the action has been on small flies. Effective patterns have included Flashback Pheasant Tails, Mercury Baetis, Buckskins, RS-2s and Parachute Adams in sizes 18-22. San Juan worms may be effective in faster water. With the higher, somewhat colder water, fishing activity tends to be slow early in the morning, gradually picking up into the afternoon. Days with subdued sunlight still are best.

Yampa River (Stagecoach through Steamboat) - The river is generally clear and fishing well, especially in the mornings before the heat of the day. Caddis and grasshopper patterns provide much of the action. Trico mayflies also have been evident in slower sections of the river. With cooler weather, periodic rain and the irrigation season winding down, the river should have decent flows through the remainder of the summer.



Southeast

Arkansas River No.3 (Through Pueblo) - The tailwater flow is about 450 cfs. Continued rains predicted throughout the week will keep the flows high and visibility poor. Some midge action should occur. Try a No.18-20 Griffith's Gnat or No.18-20 Parachute Adams, and drop a No.20-24 bead-head Pheasant Tail or Copper John off the dry and fish the edges of the flow. Fishing remains very challenging below the dam. Habitat improvements have created deeper pools and structure for the fish to thrive in even when releases from Pueblo Dam are minimal. Standard fishing regulations and limits are in effect on this section of the river.

Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) - On Monday,flows were 500 cfs at Buena Vista and 614 at Hecla Junction in Browns Canyon. Visibility has been good to excellent above Squaw Creek/Big Bend but a little more variable below Big Bend. On days following heavy rains in the Squaw Creek drainage, mornings have been slow as the river clears, but afternoons generally have been quite good. Stimulators, hoppers, and Parachute Madam X patterns, followed by small bead-heads, small caddis or mayfly dries have been very productive.

Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) - On Monday, flows in Hayden Meadows were 115 cfs, with 302 at Granite. Visibility has been good on the upper river, which has been spared much of the heavy rain that has hit the valley. Hopper/dropper and two-dry rigs have been the norm - lead with an attractor dry and follow with a small caddis or mayfly like a Parachute Adams.

Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) - On Monday, the flow at Wellsville was 700 cfs. While the summer flow augmentation period has ended, flows remain at above-average levels because of rain-enhanced streamflows. A slow decline in flows is anticipated as drier weather takes hold this week. Anglers and fish have had to contend with visibility challenges during the last two months on this section. And while the river has been clearing in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, side-canyon flash-floods continue to generate point source sediment that is murking up the river. On clear-water days, the fishing has been phenomenal on this section. However, calling ahead to check conditions before making the trip is recommended.

Clear Creek Reservoir - The water level is high and shoreline fishing for rainbow trout has been fair to good. Typically, the best actvity is in early morning and late afternoon. Night crawlers and salmon eggs have been productive baits, and Z-Rays and red-and-white Dardevles have been effective spinning lures. Boating fishermen have enjoyed fairly good action trolling along the dam and the south shore. Fly-bubble fishing with Renegade patterns has been fair, primarily around the inlet area in the late afternoon. The lake typically produces very good fishing for rainbow, cutthroat and a few large brown trout.

Elevenmile Reservoir - The reservoir is open to boating 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset. The bag and possession limit is 10 kokanee salmon and four trout, of which only two can be 16 inches or longer. No limit applies to northern pike. Trout action is fair to good. The lake has turned over, so trout action has slowed down a little. Hot-colored Power Bait, night crawlers, marshmallows and a variety of Kastmasters have been working best. Pike fishing should be heating up, especially using Rapalas, Dardevles, tube jigs and Pike Bunnies. Kokanee salmon action is fair to good from boats using Pop Geer and various pink, orange, and green trolling spoons.

South Platte River (btwn Spinney and Elevenmile) - Flows from Spinney Mountain Dam have been increased and are averaging 159 cfs. The river has been fishing well, with many anglers having success landing trout of 12 inches and up. The river is open to catch-and-release fishing with artificial flies and lures. Micro caddis, regular caddis and Tricos have been the prevalent hatches. Effective flies have included No. 18-20 scuds, No. 20-22 Miracle Nymphs, No. 20-22 RS-2s, No. 20-22 Midge Pupae (Black, gray and red), No. 18-22 Copper Johns, No. 20-22 Parachute Adams, No. 20-24 Mercury Midges, Callibaetis, Hoppers, and Woolly Buggers.



Southwest

Gunnison River (through the canyon) - The flow still is at 1,280 cfs and the water is clear. Fishing has been very good the past week. Anglers have been using bead-head Prince Nymphs, Size 12-14, and RS-2s. Also good are Flash-back Hare's Ears, size 18. San Juan worms, streamers and hopper/droppers are still working well. No motorized craft are allowed above the North Fork tributary. Other restrictions include: Gold Medal Water, catch-and-release, flies-and-lures only. No rainbow trout may be kept.