Conditions Report - Metro Denver Area

Aurora Reservoir

As of 10/12/2020, there has been fair to good fishing for anglers throwing PowerBait off the dam. Boater have also had fair to good luck trolling for trout with worms and spoons. Walleye action is slow to fair while using jigs or trolling with bottom bouncers and crawlers in 25-35’ of water. For more information call 303-326-8425. Park Hours for October 6:30am-7:30pm. The public dock is completely out of the water due to low water level. Restricted to electric motors only and portable gas tanks must be removed.
Aurora Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir

As of 10/17/2020, a recent water temperature measurement was recorded at 57 degrees and the water level was estimated to be approximate 2 feet below full pool. One angler reported that fishing at Chatfield Reservoir was slow. As water temperatures continue to drop, anglers will find fish, especially trout, higher in the water column. Aquatic Nuisance Species Inspections will be conducted at the north and south ramps from 6am -8pm seven days a week. Vessel Decontamination will only be performed during daylight hours. The south ramp will close October 31st. The north ramp will be the only operating ramp November 1st-30th. 
Chatfield Reservoir

Cherry Creek Reservoir

As of 10/16/2020, Cherry Creek Reservoir is fishing slow. One angler indicated they spent several hours on the water using a variety of soft and hard plastics and pulled in only one small fish. Water temperature was recently recorded at 59 degrees and is expected to continue to fall. For the most up-to-date conditions for Cherry Creek Reservoir, please contact park staff by calling 303-690-1166. For the month of October, the east ramp will be open for ANS inspections daily, 6am-8pm. The west ramp is only open Friday-Sunday, 6am-8pm. 
Cherry Creek Reservoir

Quincy Reservoir

As of 10/12/2020, Quincy Reservoir will close for the season October 31st. Restricted to artificial flies and lures only. The reservoir is currently open to watercrafts capable of being launched by hand only. Vehicles and trailers are not permitted in the water. Park hours for October 6:30am-7:30pm. For more information call 303-326-8424.  
Quincy Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado

Eleven Mile Reservoir

As of 10/15/2020, The 11 Mile Marina reported that some anglers have had some success catching trout and northern pike but recent conditions have made fishing tough, “wind conditions have made the last few days difficult to fish but calmer days are ahead. Shore action continues to heat up at sunrise and sundown. Boaters are doing well on rapalas and tube jigs. Fishing early in the morning to mid-morning has been good. Meanwhile, action is spotty among northern pike. Anglers should try Husky Jerks in blue/silver to attract northern pike. Any plastics with orange have also been productive. Work the weed lines and drop offs. Anglers will find the best fishing mid-morning to early afternoon.” The North Shore Main Boat Ramp and ANS Inspection Station is open 7am and 5pm daily. https://www.11milesports.com/fishing-report Eleven Mile State Park
Eleven Mile Reservoir

Boyd Lake

As of 10/6/2020, rangers at Boyd Lake report that fishing is good. Anglers have had the most success among trout, carp and walleye. Trout have been caught on worms and spinners near the Pumphouse and along the shorelines at depths around 8’ deep. Bowfishers have had good success targeting carp along shorelines. The slow death rig with chartreuse spinner and worm harness at 15’-25’ on the northeast shoreline has produced walleye. The main and Heron Cove boat ramps are currently open. ANS inspections are available 7am to 7pm and decontaminations are available 8am to 6pm at the main boat ramp.
Boyd Lake

North Sterling Reservoir

As of 10/8/2020, rangers at North Sterling Reservoir report that “water temperatures have recently been recorded in the low 60's. Fishing for walleye and crappie has been good, especially among shore anglers. The area near the outlet and the south ramp have been the most consistent areas for catching walleye and crappie.” There have been no reports for other species. The Reservoir is open to boating but the water level is approximately 35’ below full pool and is dropping. Keep a lookout for possible floating debris, and always be aware that unmarked hazards may exist. The South ramp is the only ramp that remains open, daily 8am-4pm, call (970) 522-3657 to get inspected.
North Sterling Reservoir

Horsetooth Reservoir

As of 10/23/2020, Horsetooth Reservoir has been closed to the public due to the Cameron Peak Fire and nearby evacuation orders. All boating and day use areas are closed. Keep up to date on Horsetooth Reservoir conditions with Larimer County. Please respect these and other fire related closures for the safety of firefighters, local residents, and yourself. 
Horsetooth Reservoir

Antero Reservoir

As of 10/17/2020, anglers report having luck pulling in trout on a combination of worms and PowerBait. The best fishing has been in the early morning. There have been multiple reports indicating that fishing slows down in the late morning, approximately around 10am. The reservoir was recently recorded to be at 96% of capacity. Boats are allowed on the reservoir 30 minutes before sunrise to 30 minutes after sunset, or at designated time posted at boat ramp. Contact Denver Water for more information at 303-893-2444.
Antero Reservoir

Conditions Report - Southeast Colorado

Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

As of 10/16/2020, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “the upper river is in great shape at current flows and will still offer some good opportunities over the next couple of weeks for wade fishermen. As temperatures cool in the coming weeks, your window of opportunity will be limited to 10am to 3pm, and feeding fish will tend to locate themselves in the riffles and runs close to the deeper runs/pools of winter and will be active during the warmest hours of the day. Midges will be your most important forage to imitate, and pairing a small midge larva or pupa with a large attractor nymph like a stonefly is a great way to cover your bases. Dry-dropper fishing can still be effective but is not nearly as versatile as nymphing.” Flows: 80 CFS at Hayden Meadows, 100 CFS at Granite (10/16/2020) http://www.arkanglers.com/
Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

Pueblo Reservoir

As of 10/22/2020, water temperature was recently recorded between 61-62 degrees. Anglers largely reported that the bite has been fairly slow. Multiple anglers noted the high number of shad all around the lake which has made fishing difficult. There have been a few anglers that have had mild success catching trout, mostly on hard plastics. Boat ramps are open with inspection hours 5am-6am and decontamination hours 8am-4pm.  
Pueblo Reservoir

Lake Trinidad

As of 10/18/2020, fishing is good at Lake Trinidad. Boaters have had luck trolling for walleye and perch at depths of 15’ – 25’. Meanwhile, trout and wiper can be found in deeper, cooler water. Smallmouth bass have been found among rocks and grass beds during the warmth of the day. Fishing from the south shore has been successful with all species. Anglers have had the best success with hooks tipped with dough bait and worms. 12” to 15” fish are common and the best luck is in the early morning or late evenings, larger fish can be found in deeper waters. Low water levels in Reilly Canyon have created conditions for a grass bloom that has restricted fishing from the north side of the river. There have also been a few reports of anglers having luck pulling in catfish. Recent water temperature measurements have been recorded between 55-59 degrees. The boat ramp is currently open and ANS inspections are completed daily 8am-4pm.
Lake Trinidad

Arkansas River - Buena Vista to Salida

As of 10/16/2020, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “with flows in the low 200 cfs range, fish are able to spread throughout the river rather than being congregated along the edges like you'll find during higher flows. While you may still catch one of the last blue wing hatches of the fall, most of the food in the river will be subsurface for the foreseeable future. Fish are generally going to locate themselves near deeper water where they can retreat to safety but will actively feed out in the runs and riffles when food is available. Stonefly and other large attractor nymphs will be great leadoff nymphs throughout the day, and you'll want to fish caddis larva, midges and small baetis nymphs as droppers. A dry-dropper rig can still be productive under the right conditions, but nymphing will give you greater flexibility to cover a range of water types. With the cooler temperatures, your best window during the day will probably be between 10am and 4pm.” Flows: 240 CFS at Helca Junction (10/16/2020) http://www.arkanglers.com/
Arkansas River - Buena Vista to Salida

John Martin Reservoir

As of 10/17/2020, there have been multiple anglers reporting that John Martin Reservoir has had slow fishing. However, one angler did note that they experienced one day of success hauling in white bass, largemouth, crappie, walleye, and catfish. Despite their success, it appears that John Martin Reservoir remains fairly slow. Surface water temperature was recently recorded at 57 degrees and it was noted that the water level was very low. 
John Martin Reservoir

Arkansas River - Salida to Canon City

As of 10/16/2020, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “flows are just under 300 cfs at the Wellsville gauge and the river is running clear through the lower basin. Flows are excellent for wade anglers and are still doable for experienced float fishermen. With temperatures cooling down, your best window of opportunity on the water will be 10am to 4pm. You may still see some late season blue winged olive hatches in the afternoon, but most of the food from here on out will be subsurface. Midges are becoming more and more important as they remain active throughout the colder months, and pairing one of these small offerings with a larger attractor fly like a golden stonefly nymph is a great way to appeal to both the opportunistic nature of our brown trout as well as match the smaller, more plentiful menu items. Midge hatches can still yield some surface feeding under the right conditions. Look to find fish feeding near deep, slow pools, but keep in mind that fish will still move into riffles and runs to forage when the food is there, even shallow riffles with 1-2' of depth. The deeper water provides shelter and security, but fish will still occupy slightly faster water to take advantage of concentrated flows of food. While a dry-dropper setup can still be effective, nymphing will offer more flexibility to adjust to different styles of water that are available at the lower flows. Be thoughtful in your approach to the river, as fish are easily frightened in the low, clear water.” Flows: 289 CFS at Wellsville (10/16/2020) http://www.arkanglers.com/ 
Arkansas River - Salida to Canon City

Conditions Report - Statewide

Statewide

The past several weeks have seen Colorado slide into fall. Weather conditions have continued to drop, even bringing snow to areas across the state. These conditions have slowed the activity of fish in many bodies of water. There has been a particular slowdown of activity among warm water species, such as walleye, catfish, panfish, and bass. While there has been decreased activity among these fish, there continues to be good conditions for trout fishing in some lakes, rivers, and streams. Dry fly action has considerably slowed throughout many rivers and streams. Anglers will need to rely upon nymphs. With that said, there will continue to be, albeit less frequent, BWO and midge hatches that anglers should be ready to take advantage of. Fly anglers who are hitting the streams can also find aggressive brown trout trying to bulk up after their spawn and before winter comes. Brown trout can be caught by throwing big streamers and either swinging the fly or stripping it in.
Statewide

Conditions Report - Northwest Colorado

Williams Fork Reservoir

As of 10/11/2020, Randy, a guide with Fishing with Bernie, reports “water capacity is 84% and surface temperature was measured at 53 degrees. The lake trout bite remains good as the fish move into spawn. Look for them in 70’-80’ of water. Small grubs, tubes, or spoons tipped with sucker meat, or salmon eggs will produce light bites throughout mid-day. Rainbow trout fishing is slow but they are moving back into the bays. Casting spinners early in the morning and the last couple hours of daylight may produce some hits. Fishing for northern pike has been slow. Fish can be found in the late mornings in 6’-8’ of water. Slow moving suspending baits may prompt a hit. The remaining four year old kokanee are in full spawn and are not feeding. Ramp hours are 7AM to 7PM. The boat ramp will close for the season on October 31st.” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/weekly-fishing-reports 
Williams Fork Reservoir

Vega Reservoir

As of 10/21/2020, all three boat ramps are closed for the season. You may still hand launch small non-trailered boats, however, all motors must still be inspected prior to launching at the Visitor Center. Lake levels are very low, and fishing is excellent at this time. PowerBait, worms, and spinners have been successful in landing some nice rainbow and cutthroat trout in the 12”-18” range. 
Vega Reservoir

Delaney Lakes

As of 9/30/2020, Lake John Resort reports “activity at the Delaney Lakes has continued to increase. East Delaney still producing the smallest fish at 12-13”. The most active, South Delaney, is currently producing bigger fish at approximately 16-22”. Finally, anglers are pulling in the biggest fish at North Delaney Lake but the activity is the slowest of the three lakes. The brown trout are becoming active in North Delaney Lake and can be caught by stripping leeches, crayfish and wooly buggers. Rapala’s, tub jigs, leeches, chironomids, damsels, ants, beetles and crayfish patterns in 15-20’ of water has been best during the day across all three lakes.” https://lakejohnresort.com/fishing 
Delaney Lakes

Lake John

As of 10/10/2020, the folks at Lake John Resort report that anglers fishing from boats and shore have been doing very well. They report that boaters have been using “tasmanian devils, rapala’s, tub jigs, kastmasters, thomas bouyants and ruby eyed leech flies under an indicator to catch fish. Meanwhile, shore fisherman have been using garlic PowerBait, marshmallows, cheese, night crawlers and black leech flies to successfully attract fish.” https://lakejohnresort.com/fishing 
Lake John

Green Mountain Reservoir

As of 10/3/2020, anglers report that fishing is fairly slow at Green Mountain Reservoir. One angler noted that the reservoir is visibly low and appears to be dropping. They noted that they were able to reel in both lake trout and brown trout on a combination trigging off the bottom and pulling in jerkbaits. The Heeney Marina boating site is open daily 7am to 7pm. 
Green Mountain Reservoir

Conditions Report - Southwest Colorado

Jackson Gulch Reservoir

As of 10/22/2020, staff at Manchos State Park noted that fishing has slowed as of recent. There have been few anglers on the water at Jackson Gulch Reservoir. It has been previously reported that anglers most often have success at Jackson Gulch Reservoir with standard baits under a float, such as PowerBait, 'crawlers, waxworms, and mealworms. These baits will work for both trout and yellow perch. Anglers should also try a small ice fishing jig tipped with bait about 4’ under a float or slightly deeper below a slip bobber. The boat ramp has been closed for the season and water levels were described as very low. 
Jackson Gulch Reservoir

Gunnison River

As of 10/22/2020, the Gunnison continues to run low but it has been fairly stable throughout the month of October. Flows have hovered around 200 CSF for the month of October. Colder water and ambient temperatures is moving the Gunnison closer to winter fishing conditions. Nymphing will continue to be an excellent way to attract trout the further we get into fall. However, streamers will also become a viable option for hooking brown trout as well. 
Gunnison River

Lake Navajo

As of 9/25/2020, it was reported that “fishing at Lake Navajo has been very good lately. The water temperature at the Marina in Arboles was recorded at 63 degrees and is cooling down. Many smallmouth bass in the 2-4 pound range have been pulled in by anglers. There has also been good conditions for northern pike fishing as well, especially with top water action.” The boat ramp and ANS station remains open daily, 7am to 7pm. 
Lake Navajo

Ridgway Reservoir

As of 10/22/2020, the staff at Ridgway Reservoir report that fishing has been slow. Despite the slow conditions, the kokanee salmon snagging season opened on 9/1/2020 and should be picking up. Snagging kokanee are permitted on Ridgway Reservoir until 12/31/2020. The reservoir is still open for boating. The boat ramp has been reduced to one lane and is open daily, 8am to 4pm. The boat ramp is scheduled to close November 1st. Meanwhile, the fishing below the reservoir, on the Uncompahgre River, has been reported to be good but high angler pressure can make finding adequate space difficult. 
Ridgway Reservoir

James M. Robb Colorado River

As of 10/18/2020, the rangers at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park report that the lakes at the park had been stocked in September. There has been good fishing conditions and anglers have had success reeling in fish with all kinds of bait. The daily limit for trout at James M. Robb Colorado River State Park is four per person. Hand-launch, electric and non-motorized boats are permitted on Corn, Fruita, Connected Lakes.
James M. Robb Colorado River