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Summit County Fishing Report: Ice fishing season is in full swing

Dave Coulson

South Park waters are seeing heavy fishing pressure, and though action at Tarryall Reservoir has slowed, fair numbers of smaller trout are being caught. Pike are scarce. Antero Reservoir is producing some of the nicer fish, up to 20 inches, but you’ll have to put in your time. Most parties are catching a fish or two per hour, with anglers favoring small tube jigs tipped with wax, meal, or earthworms. Eleven Mile Reservoir has put on a good coat of ice. Those doing best have been concentrating on shallower water near shore, under 20 feet or so.

There’s better action in the Granby area, where all the reservoirs are now sporting a coat of ice, mostly 4 inches or better. Watch out for thin spots and areas around pressure ridges. Grand Lake has been producing a few rainbows and lake trout. Shadow Mountain Reservoir is a good choice to pick up some decent rainbows and an occasional kokanee. Granby has been slow for lake trout, but it helps to move closer to shore in shallow water, under 30 feet and work small ice jigs tipped with some sort of worm to find consistent action. For sheer numbers, head over to Willow Creek where just about anything will produce fish. Just don’t expect much over 12 inches.

Green Mountain Reservoir is fully capped, but use caution over the deeper water. Anglers are marking lots of fish from 40 feet down. The problem has been getting them to commit, but it is likely the action will pick up soon. Tube jigs to 5 inches tipped with a strip of sucker is always a good choice, but when things are slow, don’t hesitate to use spoons.


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