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by Jesse Speer
Fishing Report
from the Colorado Department of Wildlife
These are excerpts from the DOW statewide report for April 14, 2009. Check the Northeast and Northwest sections of the full report for updates and more rivers and lakes. Also see the fishing report from Kirk's Flyshop for more details on fishing the east side of the Park.
Rocky Mountain National Park As of late last week, the park is starting to fish. The Roaring River is waking up and the cutthroats are feeding on midges and small black stoneflies. The water is clear and temperatures still are very cold, so sight fishing to spooky fish will be the way to go over the next few weeks. The runoff season has not yet started, but look to fish areas like Glacier Creek or the upper Big Thompson during those heavy flows. Stick to small patterns like those listed in the Big Thompson report. The midge hatch will be your best bet this week, so look for dark flies on the rocks or snow banks up in the park. Longer leaders with a 6X-7X tippet will allow you to present these small flies naturally, without spooking these early season trout.
Lake EstesThe early season fishing on Lake Estes has been decent. As the water temperature warms, the trout will become more active. Some midge hatches have started appearing. Look for rings and rising fish in the early morning or late evening. Fishing a streamer very slow can be productive. Fish dark patterns such as gray leeches or black Woolly Buggers on cloudy days. A sink-tip line might be a good idea. Small spoons fished low and slow might yield some trout. The rainbows will be looking for egg patterns within the next few weeks, and live bait is always a good option. Be sure to have a good selection of non-toxic split shot. A belly boat will get you into places that fishing from shore cannot.
Big Thompson RiverThe Big Thompson Canyon has been fishing great. Look for overcast skies when the water is low. Late last week flows were around 55 cfs and fish were feeding heavily on blue-wing-olive mayflies and midges. The best opportunity to hook up on some fish will be early or later in the day because of the sun and low water. The midge hatch can be very productive. Suggested patterns: Zebra Midge, 18-20; black Copper John, 18-20; Stuck-in the-Shuck, 18-20; Griffith's Gnat, 18-20. This time of year also allows the angler to fish the Baetis or BWO hatch. They appear as No. 18-24 emergers and adults. The morning will bring emergers, so look to fish flies below the surface. A gray RS-2 works well in these conditions. Most of the adults will be No. 20-24.
St. Vrain RiverFishing in the St. Vrain watershed will start to pick up this month. At the moment, an angler will want to fish the lower sections of this river. Much like the Big T, look for small midges and BWOs. These fish are hungry and will be feeding heavily. The water is low and around the 40-degree mark, so take your time and be observant. Standard spring midge patterns and small bead-head flies should get the job done. The rainbows will be spawning next month, so look for them to be stacking up for the pre-spawn feeding frenzy. Stick to good runs and pools due to low water. As the water warms, look to head upriver to find fresh fish and productive hatches.
Poudre RiverThe river has been flowing low and clear, and fishing has been in its early spring mode. Though still a little slow, the activity has been gradually getting better. Midges and a few blue-wing-olive mayflies have been on the water. Otherwise, stoneflies and other nymphs have been of some interest to the fish. The lower river, with somewhat warmer water temperatures, tends to be a bit more productive this time of year.
Colorado River (near Granby)The Parshall Hole has been fishing very well. Flows from Windy Gap Reservoir on Sunday were 205 cfs. Copper Johns, RS-2s and other emerger patterns are doing well. Egg patterns and San Juan worms have been effective and lure fishing also is good. In the immediate Granby area and downstream to the bridge at the lower end of Byers Canyon, bait fishing is permitted and two fish may be kept. From the east side of the bridge abutments (the west end of Byers Canyon) down to Troublesome Creek, including the Williams Fork River from the reservoir, it is catch-and-release, artificial fly and lure fishing only. Inquire in Granby for the latest conditions.
Granby ReservoirThe reservoir is still ice-locked, with some ice fishing continuing. However, the ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Extreme caution must be used if going onto the ice. A short period of pumping into Granby Reservoir from Willow Creek Reservoir has opened a small patch of water at the base of the spillway and created thin-ice areas at the south end of Rainbow Bay. Conditions, one way or the other, will change quickly depending on the weather. Increasing flows from all inlet streams will create open water and thin-ice areas. Fishing will be increasingly good as the ice moves out. Inquire in Granby for the latest conditions.
Grand LakeA lot of ice remains, but there is open water at the West Portal and the west end and channel area. Fishing has been decent. Consistent fishing on this deep, natural lake requires some learning and experience but it can be highly rewarding. The water level of this lake remains constant. Trolling, jigging, bait fishing, lure and fly fishing are productive methods of catching fish on Grand Lake. Prime bank-fishing areas are around the public dock, the west portal and the channel between Grand Lake and Shadow Mountain Reservoir. Fishing off the ledge along the east bank also can be good. Inquire in Granby for updates.
North Park Alpine LakesHigh lakes such as Agnes and Kelly remain ice- and snow-covered. Plowing of the Michigan Ditch road is beginning, and access to Lake Agnes and some other trails should be available a little earlier this year.
Shadow Mountain ReservoirThe canal and the area where it dumps into the reservoir are prime for open-water fishing when the pumps are on. Open water now extends from the south end of the reservoir to north of the islands, and at the north end through the channel to Grand Lake. Browns, kokanee and rainbows are being caught. Various fly patterns (sow bugs, RS-2s, Mysis shrimp) lures and baits are productive at different times. Slip bobber fishing is very effective. Full access now is allowed from Shadow Mountain Dam downstream. Inquire in Granby for the latest conditions.
Williams Fork ReservoirIce conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Increasing inlet flows will increase open-water areas and thin ice. Conditions will change quickly, one way or the other, depending on the weather. Rainbow and brown trout, lake trout, northern pike and kokanee are available. When boating accessibility is determined, it will be announced. Inquire in Granby for the latest conditions.
Willow Creek ReservoirThe lake still is ice-locked, but ice conditions are deteriorating rapidly. Extreme caution must be used if accessing the ice. Depending on the weather, one way or the other, conditions will change quickly. Nice-sized rainbow and brown trout and kokanee salmon are available. This is a beautiful area with easy fishing access. It's a good place to take kids, and generally gets less fishing pressure than other area lakes. Worms, Power Bait and salmon eggs are commonly used. This is a no-wake reservoir. Inquire in Granby for updates.
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