Editor's note: Dave Coulson is the Colorado state editor for FishExplorer.com. He contributes a weekly fishing report to the Summit Daily News. For more local and regional fishing information, visit www.fishexplorer.com.

Changes are occurring rapidly as we transition into winter — some are manmade, such as ramp closures at reservoirs across the state. By the end of the month boating opportunities will be few, especially as Mother Nature is starting to cap waters in the high country and it won't be long before ice fishing season is in full swing.

Reports are that a few brave souls have ventured out onto the ice at Mary's Lake. Any smaller water will be capped soon if it isn't already. Antero is reportedly icing over, so it should be fishable by Thanksgiving.

For those not yet ready for hard water fishing, several waters will remain open for a few more weeks, such as Dillon Reservoir, Green Mountain, Wolford, Granby, and Grand Lake. Granby's water temperatures have just recently dropped below 50 degrees, the magic number for lake trout to start moving shallow. While action has been somewhat slow for larger fish, that should be changing soon. The good news is even if the lakers aren't hitting, the rainbow action remains steady. And the Granby-Shadow Mountain canal has been producing good action.

Nearly every river currently reporting — the Blue, Eagle, Arkansas, Poudre, and Colorado — is fishing well. While streamers and minnow-style lures continue to produce, action from nymphs is picking up. As the waters cool, the fish are dropping back into the deeper runs, which is where you should concentrate your efforts until the rivers start flowing ice in a few weeks.

Enjoy the open water while you can, as ice fishing will soon be the norm.