Colorado Fishing Report from Anglers

Please help fellow anglers by emailing your report.
It will be featured in this section.

We've had a request for reports on Golden Pond, Pela Crossing & Lageman Reservoir.
Also had requests for reports on Lemon Reservoir, Bayfield, Colorado.
If you fish those waters or any others for that matter, please email us some reports.

July 23, 2010 -Navajo Res (CO/NM)...(Tip is based on fishing in the past, may not be reliable today.)
Navajo Res. (CO/NM) has a lot better kokanee fishing in it than most folks realize...
In the New Mexico side,,,by Sims Mesa marina, troll Southerly towards the E corner of the dam, but stay along the vertical bluff just S. of the Simms Marina..Late July is a good time, the Kokes should be hanging around in 30-35 ft depth, but you will be in 180 ft of water.
Several lures should work, be we have found that a Kokanee King
worked about 18" back of willow leaf popgear (weighted) and about 3-1/2 to 4 colors of lead line out is good, Tip the lure with a single kernal of white shoepeg corn.. The kokes there run a more consistant nice size, and not so many smaller "shaker-offs" as Blue Mesa Res in CO.

June 27, 2010 -Barnes Meadow Reservoir - Went to Barnes Meadow Reservoir with a Church group on Sat. June 26th...I've never seen the lake so full of water, whatever debris that was reported on the lake is no longer there. We fished off to the right side of the earth dam starting about 7:00 AM...The first hour we caught one sucker and one 6 inch rainbow. around 8:00 the bite was on. Never had such a good day there. We fished until 11:30 caught around 20 nice Rainbows the fish averaged 12"-13". Using baby nightcrawlers mostly and a few caught on power bait. Great day, nice weather had a blast.

Greg Fotre/Fort Collins

May 11, 2010 -Navajo - Fished antero on Friday the 7th. It was a pretty slow day for most around us. A few fish here and there. There was a spot on the north end that seemed to be holding some fish. Most of the action took place very near a pipe coming out of the wall on the north side. Caught a few on olive scuds but that was it.

April 15, 2010 -Navajo Lake - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - I had two trips out on Navajo Lake last week. The fishing has been on the slow side with most of the water temps at 49 degrees. We did find some back, muddy water at 52. With the conditions being tough, we did still land some of our target species for those days. I was fishing with Tim Froelich who was out from NJ for a Merriam Turkey hunt. He tagged out on the first day with a nice TOM! Then he decided to get in a few days of fishing instead of just hanging out at camp, while his buddies were hunting.

Two of the Pike he caught were real nice. The bigger of the 2 had a 14-inch Kokanee Salmon in her throat, and still ate a 6-inch Mepps Musky Killer! Pike are pretty impressive eaters. We tried several times for Crappie, but just couldn’t make them turn on. As the water warms to 55 – 60 degrees, the post spawn Pike bite will be on. The Crappie should improve when the water is consistently 52. It snowed for a few hours yesterday, that didn’t help. Spring is in the air, and the post spawn Pike action should be on within 2 weeks.

Don’t forget all of our new areas that we are fishing in the San Juan National Forest.
The streams of the upper San Juan are not at ALL like the San Juan in New Mexico. These unspoiled rivers and creeks start just miles above where we will be fishing. The 10,000-foot peaks that are still packed with snow in July feed these intimate rivers on their way to the Navajo Reservoir and then the Tail water section of the San Juan that everyone knows. Some of the many streams that we are permitted on through the San Juan National Forest are the West Fork and East Fork of the San Juan, Quartz Creek, Wolf Creek, Turkey Creek, The Upper Piedra, and the Rio Blanco. These streams are great for beginners and experienced anglers alike. We will access most of the fishing areas on foot or on a 4 wheeler. The fish average 8 – 15 inches and are eager for dry flies and dropper rigs. Small steams will often give the beginner fly fisherman many more opportunities to hook fish on the dry fly.

Scott Taylor
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July 20, 2009 - Pagosa Springs Area - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - The fishing last week was a bit slow on the big rivers, but was on fire on the high country streams. The cooler, shaded waters on the creeks have been producing non – stop dry fly action. Ants, Caddis, PMD’s, and Humpy’s have been the best bugs. When a big fish would turn his nose at us, we would add a size 20 Bead Head Prince. It would fool him almost every time. The water levels in the creeks are starting to get low, not low enough to bother the fish, but some rain is needed.

The San Juan on Sunset Ranch has been tough for some anglers with the clear days and temps into the 90’s (that’s hot in the mountains). The key for success in these conditions is to down size your flies and leaders. I had some beginners out 2 days ago and they landed 9 trout on their first day of fishing. Some other guest at the ranch could not believe that this couple was into the fish. They were using flies from size 10 – 16 and 4 – 5 x tippets. The biggest fly we used was a size 20 rs2, and we were using 6x fluorocarbon. We were also using size 5 and 6 shot, and fishing suspended. Every one else was glued to the bottom.

I hope this tech tip helps.

The fishing should continue to be great in the high country, and the local rivers should improve as our rainy season is approaching. Rain at 5 pm, every afternoon.

Scott Taylor
http://highcountrycharters.com
970-946-5229

While you are in town make sure that you visit the following businesses!

Need Fly Fishing gear? See Pop's
Let it Fly
Located on Put hill, just West of Downtown Pagosa Springs.
970-264-3189
http://www.flyfishpagosa.com

Hungry for Adventure?
Pagosa Outside Adventures - Rafting, Biking, Kayaking, Tubing
Downtown Pagosa Springs
970-264-4202
http://www.pagosaoutside.com

July 11, 2009 - Pagosa Springs Area - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - Finally we can cross the river at Sunset Ranch. Last week the flows were at a wadeable 400 – 500 cfs, now it is at 247. The East Fork is at 270 cfs, and below the dam it has spiked to 839 cfs. The San Juan at the Ranch has been fishing good with a caddis dropper rig. The best dropper has been a size 20 bead head prince. On the East Fork we have been pounding the fish with red Copper John’s and Pickpockets (available at Let it Fly). We have also been doing good with large Para Adams, 16 and 18 caddis, and smaller stimulators.

June 14, 2009 - Pagosa Springs Area - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - The area streams are in great shape and are fishing very well with some nice mid day hatches. On the smaller streams there have been hatches of Slate Winged Olives size 14 and even some Western Green Drakes size 10. When they come off the fish are really keying in on them, and nothing else. When prospecting in-between hatches, we have been using Yellow Humpies, Para Adams, and Elk Hair Caddis. On the San Juan above town we have been having good success with Prince Nymphs, and Pop’s Turd flies. The water keeps dropping and more water is opening up for the wading angler, even with the water going down, still be careful wading.

Below the dam the water is back to 500 cfs and is fishing great. The next two weeks is usually some of the best fishing of the year below the dam. That is, the first two weeks after the high water is over. Two days ago there was a pretty descent ant fall. I missed it. Hopefully it was a teaser. That one was on the early side of June. I would guess that after the next big rain it is going to be the real thing.

May 27, 2009 - Pagosa Springs Area - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - The stream flow in Pagosa has been steadily going down every day from 2,600 last week to 1,400 this morning. This is great for fisherman as the levels are allowing fishing on areas of Williams Creek, and Turkey Creek. Echo Lake was also stocked last week.

The lower Juan is on a one-week ramp up period to 5,000 cfs from 500. It will stay at 5,000 for one week followed by a one-week ramp down to 500cfs. Some anglers stay away from the high water, but if you ask the guides in the area, you will find out that they love it. Most of my biggest fish of the year are caught with the flows at 5,000. Many anglers are used to the 500 cfs levels, and are unaware that in the 80's it ran at 2,000. If you are wading at high flows be careful, very careful.

The ramp up period also makes the fishing on Navajo Lake great. It creates currents where there was very little or none. Find these currents and you will find the fish. With run off almost over the conditions of the rivers and lakes should be great for the summer. For more information on area streams or guided trips in the Pagosa Springs area, give me a call or check out my website.

May 5, 2009 - Pagosa Springs Area - Submitted by Scott Taylor of High Country Charters - Run off is here and we will have high water for a few more weeks on the San Juan above the lake and it's tributaries. The ski area's last day was yesterday May 4th. So there is still, lots of snow in the high country. For guest coming to town, that stay in the Pagosa Lakes area, they can expect some great fishing for trout, bass and crappie. Echo Lake should be stocked shortly, and the ice is almost off of Williams Lake. Lake Vallecito is producing trout, and as always this is the time of year to look for some of the biggest pike in the state, as the north end of the lake floods with spring run off. Navajo lake has had a descent crappie bite, with some good reports of pike. The temps. were in the low 50's. The bass are jus starting to get more active, they like 55 degrees. Last week there was a tournament and 80 bass were weighed in, so things are looking great for Navajo.

The Quality Waters has been on fire. Lots of overcast days, had fish eating baetis emergers all day. Gray foam wings, poly wings, rs2's, Freemans Stuck in a Shuck, and black and cream midges all worked. We were mostly wadding, fishing the midges early, then switching to foam wings around 11.

May 5, 2009 - Prospect Park, Wheatridge - Finally got out from under the rain long enough to wet a line again. I have been fishing these three little ponds for more than a decade, never a dull moment, caught a 18" 4lb female 050309 using a finesse worm, texas rigged, 1/8 ounce, brown. my best was a 22" female about 6 years ago could fit my fist in her mouth w/o touching considering I am 6'2" and 240 lbs , she was breath taking

March 16, 2009 - Arkansas River near Salida - Submitted by www.eddylineanglers.com -Fishing this week has slowed down just a bit. The blue-winged olives will be hatching soon! I've seen one or two flying. There are thousands of BWO nymphs squirming around on rocks and sticks at the bottom of the river. I think the fish have a lot to eat and are becoming very picky. But once it warms up just enough for the nymphs to form wings and come to the surface, the fish go crazy on dry flies! A few caddis pupa and golden stone nymphs also found in the water. Midges are still present.

March 5, 2009 - Arkansas River near Salida - Submitted by www.eddylineanglers.com
Temps in the 40's-50's have made for great fishing! Fish are becoming more active and insect life is consistent. Midge patterns have been working for the past month. Bead head griffith's gnats, black beauties and any small midge pattern size 16-22. Also blue-winged olive nymphs have been populating the river. Bead head pheasant tails are the classic BWO nymph imitation. Golden stone nymphs and caddis pupa are also productive. Skiing is always fun, but this is some of the best fishing I've seen here in a few years. Come out with us for a trip!

February 24, 2009 - Douglas Lake - February 22nd, 2009 - Douglas Lake (outside Wellington CO) The fishing was very slow here last weekend. We talked to about 15 other fishermen on shore and on boats and for the most part nobody had caught much. I caught a 13 inch rainbow by the boat dock on a worm. We tried Kastmasters, spinners, worms, Powerbait, mealworms, and minnows and only caught one fish between the 4 of us. The lake had a little ice on the south end but is 99% open water now.
Paul

February 13, 2009 - Eleven Mile Reservoir - February 8th 2009. Eleven Mile Reservoir. The fishing was pretty good here. The ice is very thick (2 feet plus). We had the best luck within 4 to 5 feet of water using jigs tipped with meal worms and kastmasters. The guy who owns the marina store is also very knowledgeable and can tell you what has been working. Stop in for some free coffee.
Paul