Colorado Fishing Reports

COLORADO DIVISION OF WILDLIFE’S WEEKLY FISHING REPORT
October 14, 2008

Seasons change. Aspen leaves have fallen and snow has come to parts of the Colorado high country. Water temperatures have been dropping, and though some good fishing still can be found, the season inevitably is winding down.

Trout remain active in lakes and streams and offer the best prospects into the late fall. Lake fishermen are likely to find trout in shallower water and closer to the shore. Reservoir trout also may be active throughout the day, a change from the early morning/late afternoon routine that applied to fishing through much of the summer.

Fall trout tend to be more aggressive, pursuing larger forage items as they bulk up for the coming winter. Crayfish are important trout fare on many reservoirs, and crayfish-imitating lures and flies can be especially effective in the fall. Tube jigs are a favorite among lure casters; Woolly Buggers are standard patterns for fly casters. With the cooling water temperatures, a slower retrieve of a fly or lure might be more productive, though some experimenting always is in order.

Lake fishermen after bigger game might find mackinaw moving closer to shore and feeding more aggressively. Large Rapala-type crankbaits, spoons such as Dardevles and the old standby tube jigs tipped with sucker meat might produce a true trophy from Granby, Blue Mesa, Taylor or Green Mountain reservoirs, from Twin Lakes or even the relatively small Jefferson Lake.

Though the main summer hatches pretty much are over, stream fishermen still might enjoy some fairly good surface activity with blue-wing-olive mayflies and midges. If no hatch is occurring, dead drifting a nymph or working a streamer fly can be effective.

With cooling water temperatures, many lower-elevation lakes that were not stocked during the heat of summer once again are receiving catchable-sized trout from the Colorado Division of Wildlife’s hatchery system.

On the downside, cooling water means a gradual decline of warm-water fish activity. Wiper activity virtually disappears when water temperatures reach the mid-50s, walleyes move into deeper water, and bass tend to be sluggish.

Catfish still feed along the bottom, especially in waters where young-of-the-year shad begin to die off in the cooler water. Nights become progressively colder, however, and even the catfish fishermen may be trying their luck earlier in the day.

SALMON GIVEAWAYS
The Colorado Division of Wildlife collects spawn from kokanee salmon at several locations in the fall and usually gives the spawned-out salmon to licensed anglers. The Roaring Judy hatchery plans to give away salmon on the final three Fridays of October and possibly Nov. 7, beginning at 9 a.m. People with valid Colorado fishing licenses will receive salmon as supplies permit. Giveaways near Shadow Mountain Reservoir and other locations may be announced as the season progresses. For specific information, contact DOW area offices in Hot Sulphur Springs, Gunnison or Durango.

ADDITIONAL MUSSELS FOUND
Ongoing efforts to gather additional information on the presence of aquatic invasive species in Colorado have confirmed the presence of quagga mussel larvae in Tarryall Reservoir in Park County and Jumbo Reservoir in Logan County.

Veligers, the larval stage of quagga mussels, initially were identified by microscopic analysis of water samples. An independent laboratory confirmed the presence of quagga mussel DNA in the samples.
Other recent monitoring found both zebra mussels and quagga veligers in Pueblo Reservoir, where Colorado State Parks operates a boat inspection program.

Zebra and quagga larvae were found in Grand Lake, and quagga mussels were found in Willow Creek, Shadow Mountain and Granby reservoirs, all connected, and part of the Colorado-Big Thompson project, which diverts water from the state’s Western Slope to the Eastern Slope.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Forest Service and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District are cooperating with local partners to develop an appropriate plan for each of those reservoirs. A part-time program is in place for Granby.

An inspection program is in place at Tarryall Reservoir. Recreational boating at Jumbo Reservoir is prohibited through Feb. 15 for the waterfowl hunting seasons. The DOW and Julesburg Irrigation Company are discussing an appropriate procedure beyond that.

GRANBY WEEKEND BOAT INSPECTIONS
The Colorado Division of Wildlife, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, has begun weekend boat inspections at Granby Reservoir in an effort to curb the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive aquatic organisms. Inspections are conducted randomly at the Stillwater and Sunset Point ramps from sunrise to sunsetFriday through Sunday, when 95 percent of the reservoir’s boating typically occurs. The Arapaho Bay ramp is closed during that time. The reservoir will remain open and all ramps will be accessible at other times. Expanded inspections are planned as additional staffing and resources become available. Boaters should make sure their vessels are clean and dry before entering and when leaving the reservoir. Vessels identified as “at risk” for spreading mussels and other nuisance species will be cleaned and decontaminated at an on-site hot-water wash station.

WILLIAMS FORK BOATING AND CLOSURE
Boat-inspection hours at Williams Fork Reservoir near Parshall have been changed from earlier in the season. The east boat ramp is open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The hours could be further reduced, depending on traffic early and late. The west ramp will remain closed the remainder of the season. A closure to all fishing and snagging from a buoy line in the inlet cove upstream to the county road bridge is in effect through Nov. 30 for kokanee spawn taking.

ANTERO BOAT INSPECTIONS
Trailered boats are permitted on the lake from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset seven days a week. All trailered boats must be inspected at the north ramp before launching. Boats must be off the water ½ hour after sunset.

TARRYALL BOAT INSPECTIONS
A boat inspection procedure for the control of zebra and quagga mussels at Tarryall Reservoir is in place. Trailered boats are allowed on the lake from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Monday. Before launching, trailered boats must be inspected at the north ramp off Park County Road 77. Hand-launched craft such as float tubes, canoes and nonmotorized rowboats are permitted at all times. Boaters may not create a white-water wake.

ADDITIONAL INSPECTIONS AND CLOSURES
A mandatory boat-inspection program is under way at Chatfield Reservoir southwest of Denver, in the ongoing effort to control the spread of zebra mussels. Boaters are asked to arrive with their boats clean, drained of all water and dry. Boats also should be drained before leaving, and cleaned and dried before launching into another body of water. Inspection procedures also are in place at Pueblo, Elevenmile, Spinney Mountain, Aurora, Quincy, Ridgway and Tarryall reservoirs and Standley Lake. Jefferson Lake north of Fairplay is closed to trailered boats and gasoline-powered boats, but open to hand-carried craft including belly boats, canoes, rowboats and boats powered by electric motors with no more than 55 pounds of thrust. Trailered and all motor-powered boats are prohibited on Clear Creek and Gross reservoirs. Sailboats also are prohibited at Gross.

Dillon Reservoir is open to all boats, but only though the boat-launching areas at the Dillon and Frisco marinas.

MUSSEL PRECAUTIONS
Zebra and quagga mussels are non-native invasive mollusks that are harmful to the environment. They can be transported over land from one body of water to another by hitchhiking on recreational vehicles including boats, jet skis and boat trailers. Unchecked, these organisms will quickly spread and out-compete native species. They have no effective predators and have detrimental impacts on the environment, recreation, water quality and the water-transport facilities of municipal providers and irrigators. All boaters are encouraged to follow these practices to help prevent the spread of zebra mussels and other invasive species:
Before leaving any body of water, boaters should:

Drain the water from the boat, livewell and lower units of the engine.
Clean the hull of the boat
Dry the boat, fishing gear and equipment
Inspect all exposed surfaces
Remove all plant and animal material

JERRY CREEK RESERVOIRS CLOSURE
The Jerry Creek Reservoirs northeast of Grand Junction again are closed to public access for a final phase of construction on the dam and spillway. A date for reopening has not been announced.

HABITAT STAMPS
All people ages 19-64 must have a habitat stamp to enter a state wildlife area or a state trust land leased by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The stamps are necessary to use state wildlife areas for fishing, hunting, wildlife viewing and any other purpose. Stamps cost $5 and are required on the first two hunting or fishing licenses an individual buys in a calendar year. Purchased without a hunting or fishing license, the stamps cost $10. Lifetime stamps are available for $200. People under 19 and over 64 are not required to have the stamps.

BE BEAR AWARE
Fishermen and campers are reminded that many of their favorite waters are in bear country. Taking simple precautions such as not leaving food out where bears can find it and keeping a clean camping site can avoid potential problems for people and bears alike. The Colorado Division of Wildlife offers brochures and other information for reducing the risk of bear encounters. They are available at DOW offices statewide.

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