Fishing Report: Pay attention to temp changes, and follow the stocking

Click to Enlarge Browse and Buy Summit Daily Photos Local angler Zeke Hersh has a handle on things while fishing on the Blue River in Silverthorne Friday. There's not much time before the bearable fishing temperatures will disappear and the wintry ones will move in for the next season. Summit Daily/Mark Fox

DAILY NEWS STAFF REPORT
September 11, 2007

Comments
Print Email

For warm-water enthusiasts, keeping an eye on weather patterns becomes especially important in the fall. Passing fronts, followed by returns to warm days, can quite literally bring more ups and downs than usual, and fishermen who adjust their tactics accordingly will improve their odds for success.

Tuned-in fishermen, for example, might fish near the surface when the weather is warm but look deeper as things are cooling down.

The pattern will prevail through early fall, but the season is fleeting. When water temperatures approach the mid-50s, the shad activity pretty much is finished. Fish become progressively less active and return to deeper water for ever-longer periods.

Trout fishermen also keep an eye on the changing seasons. Though the main summer hatches are pretty much finished, blue-wing-olive mayflies have reappeared on many streams. Fly fishermen still enjoy excellent action on hoppers and other patterns that suggest terrestrial insects, but that will end with the first heavy frosts of the season. Midges will provide most of the activity later in the year.



High Country stocking

Fishermen trekking to the high country during the next few weeks might be surprised to see a small airplane buzzing their favorite alpine lake.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife stocks selected high-mountain lakes with young-of-the-year cutthroat trout in late August and early September. The young trout are delivered by specially modified Cessna aircraft that can be flown in tight quarters at altitudes within 125 feet of the lake surface.

This year, 284 lakes will be stocked with greenback, Colorado River or Rio Grande strains of cutthroats. A total of 325,000 young fish will be stocked.



Denver Metro

Clear Creek (above Hwy. 119) - Fish the edges next to main currents with San Juan worms, Prince Nymphs or black Woolly Buggers. Respect private property along the creek.

South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) - The river has been unusually high and discolored. 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 often are small Panther Martins, Mepps or Blue Fox spinners. Night crawlers usually are the most effective bait in the unrestricted lower stretch.



Northwest

Blue River (below Green Mountain Reservoir) - Flows below Green Mountain Dam on Tuesday morning were 870 cfs. Catch-and-release provisions went into effect May 1 for the river from Green Mountain Dam to the Colorado River. The river holds its share of trout, but through much of this section courses through private property.

Blue River (Dillon to Green Mtn. Res.) - Tuesday's flow was 225 cfs. Fishing through Silverthorne continues to be most productive using small midge and mysis patterns. In town, fish Randy's or Solitude Mysis along, with Tony Danzas, Miracles, JuJuBees, Randy's Baetis, Brook's Sprouts, No. 24 Adams, UV Emergers or Black Beauties. North of town, clarity has been an issue because of construction around the elementary school. Baetis, Hoppers, Stimis, Pheasant Tails, Copper Johns, Prince Nymphs, King Princes and other standard nymph patterns seem to be producing. As of the weekend, no word on the kokanee had come in.

Colorado River (below Parshall) - The flow at Parshall, below the Williams Fork tributary, on Tuesday was 243 cfs. Near Kremmling, below the Blue River confluence, the volume was 1,260 cfs. Though the flow and clarity can vary depending on rain and tributary flows, conditions generally have been good and the river has been fishing well downstream as far as State Bridge. Caddis remain the primary hatch, though some BWO activity is possible. Grasshoppers and other terrestrials also have been on the water. Muddler Minnows have been effective in some of the faster water, and spin fishermen report results on silver-bladed Mepps spinners.

Colorado River (Glenwood to Rifle) - The Colorado River has been flowing at 2,580 cfs in Glenwood Springs and has been too discolored to fish effectively because of recent rains. As the river clears, look for some of the year's best streamer fishing from Glenwood Springs to Rifle.

Colorado River (near Granby) - Flows on Tuesday were 95 cfs below Windy Gap, 243 cfs below the Williams Fork confluence near Parshall and 1,260 cfs near Kremmling. Several very nice rainbows have been caught and released on the stretch by the DOW offices. Caddis, mosquito and many other dry fly patterns have been working, as have the normal wet flies such as Prince Nymphs, RS-2s and Copper Johns. Hopper action has been reported. In some areas, the fish have been gorging on small caterpillars. Make sure you have insect repellent; the real bugs out there still are very hungry. 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. Inquire in Granby for the latest conditions.

Crystal River - The Crystal River is flowing at 123 cfs in Carbondale and is clear along its length. Some good hatches of green drakes are being seen above Marble during afternoons and evenings. Caddis are the dominant hatch from Carbondale up to Redstone. Dry/dropper/dropper setups are best. Hot flies include: Marshmallow Hoppers, Head Turning Hoppers, BDE Drakes, Hairwing Drakes, Princes, PTs, Copper Johns, BLMs and STDs.

Fryingpan River - The Frying Pan is clear along its length, with river flows hovering around 246 cfs. The green drake hatch is all the way up to the dam, where the dry fly fishing has been nothing short of outstanding. Heavy hatches of PMDs are also out along the river. Nymphing has been good on BWO, PMD and drake patterns before and after the hatches. In the evenings, look for good rusty spinner falls, along with some sporadic caddis. This time of year easily ranks as the most consistent dry fly fishing of the year. Light fluorocarbon tippets of 6X and 7X are mandatory for the large, picky fish.

Grand Lake - Consistent fishing on this deep, natural lake requires some learning and experience, but can be highly rewarding. As the weather cools and water temperatures drop, fishing will improve. Spinners, Rapalas, vertical jigging, fly fishing, trolling and bait fishing all can produce brown and rainbow trout, large lake trout and kokanee. Boat access between Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir is possible. The water level of this lake remains constant. Fishing off the public dock area and in the channel between the lakes remains good. Trolling is also productive. An early rising angler has a good chance of catching fish. Inquire in Granby for updates.

Green Mountain Reservoir - The lake is receding and the fishing still is slow. Mornings and evenings are better. The salmon run has not started.

Roaring Fork River - The Roaring Fork River is clear and fishing well from Aspen all the way down to Glenwood Springs. Recent river flows have been at 85 cfs in Aspen, 483 cfs in Basalt and 837 cfs in Glenwood Springs. Nymphing has been exceptional all day long, though solid streamer fishing is also occurring in the mornings. Fall is in the air, as the large flies of summer are giving way to smaller attractor patterns and BWO nymphs and emergers. The float fishing below Carbondale has been top-notch the past week. Above Basalt, the fishing has been equally good, but focus on tiny (No. 18-22) flies such as RS-2s, Johnny Flashes, Engle's Baetis Emergers and STDs.

Williams Fork Reservoir - The lake remains full. Fishing for kokanee salmon and a few rainbow trout has been fair, but with hot daytime temperatures has been slowing down. A few mackinaw have been taken from deep water. The reservoir also has some large northern pike that prowl shallow areas of the lake into early August. Large streamer flies, spinnerbaits and crankbaits are suggested.

Williams Fork River - The flow below Williams Fork Reservoir on Tuesday was 130 cfs, down a bit from last week. Look for mixed hatches of midges, caddis, and blue-wing-olive, pale-morning-dun and red quill mayflies. Effective fly patterns generally are small, size 18-22.

Yampa River (Stagecoach through Steamboat) - Flows remain satisfactory and clarity generally is good, though tributaries might carry in some turbidity. Blue-wing-olive mayflies are the primary hatch, though plenty of grasshoppers still are around, and terrestrial patterns should remain effective until a major frost. A handful of mahoganies - large brown mayflies - have been observed and should become more evident in the next week or two.


Southeast

Arkansas River (Buena Vista to Salida) - Flows Sunday were about 300 cfs in Buena Vista, 422 cfs in Browns Canyon and 465 cfs at Wellsville, with excellent clarity throughout. Some red-quill mayflies still are hatching but they are quickly being eclipsed by the return of the blue-wing-olive hatch. That and hoppers comprise the meat of the topwater action, while mayfly nymphs and midges are the main subsurface attraction.

Arkansas River (Leadville to Buena Vista) - Clear flows of 200 cfs at Granite make the upper end of the river an angler's delight. Hoppers and other big attractors are good lead flies, trailed by small bead-head nymphs in the morning and small mayfly and caddis dries in the afternoon. Look for blue-wing-olive mayfly hatches whenever clouds obscure the afternoon sun.

Arkansas River (Salida to Canon City) - Bighorn Sheep Canyon is in prime form this week, with flows of 465 cfs at Wellsville and 511 cfs at Parkdale. The water is clear and accessible for waders and floaters. Hoppers, blue-wing-olive mayflies, caddis and some final red quills make up the insects that are apt to be found on the river surface at this time of year.

Elevenmile Reservoir - Overall trout-fishing success is fair. With recent stocking, fishermen are doing well along the coves near the marina. The best reports are coming from shoreline fishermen along the south side of the reservoir. Worms combined with marshmallows, various Power Baits and assorted spinners seem to be working the best. Trout that have been caught recently are ranging from 12- to 20-plus inches. Water temperatures are reaching up into the 60's. Kokanee fishing has picked up for boaters. Northern pike fishing is great. 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. Boating is permitted daily from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.

South Platte River (btwn Spinney and Elevenmile) - The Trico hatch is occurring between 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. Pale morning duns have been coming off later, and many micro caddis still are around. Flows have come down a little, and on Tuesday morning were 142 cfs. Some good-sized trout still are being reported. A good number of browns in the 10- to 18-inch range have been caught and released. Pheasant Tail nymphs, caddis and San Juan worms have been effective in the higher water, along with the usual midges. Fishermen may use only artificial flies and lures on the stream, and catch-and-release rules apply. As usual, this area attracts large crowds.

Spinney Mountain Reservoir - Spinney fishing is good. Fishing at Spinney is by artificial flies and lures only, with a bag and possession limit of one trout at least 20 inches long. Midges, Callibaetis mayflies and damselflies have been evident on the water. The surface water temperature is in the mid-60s. Both boat ramps are open. Fishing has been good throughout the day, with average trout catches in the 16- to 22-inch range. The most successful flies have been various nymphs, midges, scud patterns and streamers. As usual, tube jigs and lures also are productive. This is a day use park, opening 1/2 hour before sunrise and closing one hour after sunset. Boating is permitted daily from 1/2 hour before sunrise to 1/2 hour after sunset.



Southwest

Gunnison River (below Crystal Dam) - Flows jumped up to 1,080 cfs last weekend. The river has been off-color and is settling down. The routine has been streamers, San Juan worms, then back to normal nymphing. Try Halfbacks, Pheasant Tails, Hare's Ears and other traditional patterns. A nice sulfur dun hatch has been coming off early to mid afternoon. Try a pink Cahill. Use a Stimulator as a strike indicator in the hopper-dropper combination. Midges, especially a red midge, are doing well in the afternoon into the evening. Scuds in olive and orange, Copper Johns and GB Prince Nymphs are some other patterns to have with you.