Denver Metro Region

Report provided with permission of the
Colorado Division of Wildlife

August 12, 2008

Arvada Reservoir -- Fishing has improved with recent stocking. Trout have been taking night crawlers and Power Bait from the shore.

Aurora Reservoir -- The water temperature is 70 degrees. Inspection of all watercraft including belly boats before launching is required. Boats must be clean, and bilge and livewell areas dry. Gas motors must be drained of all water. Trout action is slow to fair for some; good for others from shore using Power Bait off a slip rig from the dam. From boats, trout action is slow to fair trolling with spoons, Rapalas, spinners and night crawlers. Walleye action is slow to fair on swimbaits, bottom bouncers and jigs. Perch action is fair using night crawlers and minnows from boats. The limit for trout is two fish. Boating is restricted to electric motors.

Barr Lake -- The water level has dropped four feet from full, with an above-average algae bloom and smart-weed growth. Plenty of open shoreline exists. The boat ramp is open, and both the fishing dock and courtesy dock are in place. The water temperature is approximately 74 degrees. Fishing from shore and boats is slow. Boaters, please be aware of afternoon storms, and how quickly the wind can increase.

Bear Creek -- The stream between Evergreen Lake and Bear Creek Reservoir has a fairly good population of 10- to 12-inch rainbow and brown trout. Though the best fishing months may be May and June, anglers can have some close-to-home fun through the summer. Trout will take a variety of dry flies, nymphs and small spinners. Fishermen may use only artificial flies and lures, and all rainbows must immediately be returned to the water alive. The limit for other trout is two fish.

Bear Creek Reservoir -- Fishing in the reservoir has been good. Rainbow trout have been caught on orange Power Bait and salmon eggs. Saugeye fishing has been fairly good using night crawlers. The water level is down two feet.

Berkeley Lake -- The 40-acre lake is stocked with trout in the spring and also has largemouth bass, bluegills crappie and channel catfish. Boats are not permitted. A recreation center, playground and other amenities are available on the south side of the lake.

Centennial Park Lake -- The lake is stocked with catchable-sized trout in the spring. The lake also has warm-water fish including bass, crappie, catfish and perch, which provide most of the summertime activity. No boats are allowed on the 15-acre lake. A playground, restrooms and handicapped-accessible fishing pier are available.

Chatfield Ponds -- The temperature is 80 degrees and fishing recently has been slow. Bluegills have been taking bead-head nymphs and small perch and catfish have been nibbling on leeches and crayfish, but no action from bass or crappie has been reported. The ponds support fairly good populations of largemouth bass, catfish and panfish. Try soft-plastic grubs, small crankbaits or spinnerbaits for the bass; night crawlers or cut baits for catfish, especially in the evening. Fishing with minnows off a bobber can be another effective technique. Only belly boats are permitted. Though a state parks pass generally is required, some free parking may be available off Highway 75.

Chatfield Reservoir -- A mandatory boat-inspection procedure to control the spread of zebra mussels is under way. The surface water temperature has risen into the 70s. Fishing for mostly small smallmouth bass has been good in the evenings. Some trout still are taken on night crawlers near the South Platte inlet and a few walleyes are being taken on leeches along the dam. Otherwise, fishing has been slow. The minimum size for bass at the reservoir is 15 inches. The minimum size for walleyes is 18 inches, and only one exceeding 21 inches may be kept daily.

Cherry Creek Reservoir -- The water level is normal and the temperature is in the mid-70s. Experienced fishermen have been catching their share of walleyes, especially at sundown into the night. Jigs, night crawlers and live minnows have been working best. The dam face has been a productive area. Night fishermen have been catching a fair number of channel catfish off the bottom. Chicken livers, dead minnows and stink baits have been producing.

Clear Creek (above Hwy. 119) -- The creek holds a surprising number of trout, but few of the predominantly browns exceed 10 inches. Fly fishermen can have some fun with No. 16-18 Hare's Ears, RS-2s, olive caddis and Pheasant Tails. Effective lures include small Mepps spinners. Respect private property along the creek.

Clear Lake -- The lake south of Georgetown off the Guanella Pass road generally offers fair to good fishing for catchable-sized rainbow trout, and also has some brook trout and a few browns. Fishing can be fairly good on a variety of baits and lures, but success largely depends on periodic stocking. The north shore often is the best location. No boats are permitted on the lake.

Evergreen Lake -- The lake offers fair fishing for stocked rainbow trout, as well as some browns and splake. The usual array of baits and lures can be effective, and fly-bubble rigs are popular in late afternoon. Tiger muskies are another attraction; try large Rapala-type crankbaits, jigs or streamer flies. Boaters must have an Evergreen permit. No power boats are allowed.

Georgetown Lake -- The lake is periodically stocked with catchable-sized rainbow trout and also supports some brown, cutthroat and brook trout. Most common baits and lures work quite well here. Fishermen willing to walk a little distance from the primary access points sometimes do a little better. The lake has a handicapped-accessible fishing pier. Nonmotorized boats are permitted.

Gross Reservoir -- Fishing for trout has been fair. The inlet often is best, but it can get crowded. Small nymphs, small Rapalas, Power Bait and worms have produced rainbows, as well as some cuttbows. Fly-bubble rigs are likely to work late in the day. Some fairly large tiger muskies have been seen near the inlet. A large Rapala might tempt one. A hand-launched boat, subject to inspection for zebra mussel control, makes them more accessible.

Jim Baker Reservoir -- The 80-acre Adams County lake offers fishing for catchable-sized trout early in the season. It also has smallmouth bass, walleyes, panfish and tiger muskies, all of which become more active during the summer months. Boats are not allowed. Fishing hours are sunrise to sunset.

Ketring Park Lake -- The 15-acre lake offers fishing for a variety of mostly small warm-water fish. Boats are not allowed.

Main Lake -- Recent fishing has been slow to fair for bass and fair to good for sunfish. Bass have been taking leeches; small crappie and bluegills have been hitting bead-head nymphs along the west side. The fluctuating 45-acre lake has bass up to 18 inches, crappie, bluegills, catfish and other warm-water species. No boats are allowed on the lake.

Quincy Reservoir -- Inspection of all watercraft including float tubes before launching is required. Check in on the east side before launching on the west side. The water is dropping and the temperature is 72 degrees. Trout action is slow to fair on flies. Bass action is fair on soft plastics, spinnerbaits and topwater lures. Some smallmouths reportedly also are being caught off the dam on jigs, crankbaits and swimbaits. Quincy is restricted to fishing with artificial flies and lures. Please see the definition of artificial in the Colorado Division of Wildlife's fishing regulations booklet. The limit for trout is two fish. Bass must be at least 18 inches to possess. All boats must be hand launched. Only electric motors are permitted. For more information, call 303-693-5463 or 303-690-1286.

Rocky Mountain Lake -- The lake is stocked with pan-sized trout in the spring. A variety of warm-water fish including largemouth bass, panfish and catfish provide fairly good fishing through the summer. Boats are not allowed. The minimum size for largemouth bass is 15 inches. A playground and restrooms are nearby.

Sloans Lake -- The urban lake has some bass, catfish and a few crappie, but carp comprise much of the fish population. The carp are big and strong, and have a growing following among anglers.

Smith Reservoir -- Crappie provide much of the early season activity. Largemouth and smallmouth bass become active a little later and provide potentially good fishing well into the summer. The 45-acre lake also has bluegills, catfish and perch. No boats are allowed on the lake.

South Platte River (Waterton Canyon) -- The river through Waterton Canyon has an exceptional population of brown trout. The section from Strontia Springs Dam downstream to 300 yards above the Marston diversion structure is restricted to artificial flies, with a two-trout limit, offers the best fishing. The most effective lures for spin-fishermen often are small Panther Martins, Mepps or Blue Fox spinners. Night crawlers usually are the most effective bait in the unrestricted lower stretch, which has fewer but somewhat larger trout.

Standley Lake -- New zebra mussel rules and regulations are in place for the 2008 boating season. Aquatic bait no longer is allowed at Standley Lake; this includes salamanders, leeches, crayfish, frogs and minnows. Fishing hours are from sunrise to sunset and will be strictly enforced. All trailered boats must pass an inspection and go through a 5-11 day quarantine period before they can be launched. The quarantine period will be 7 days in August and September. The water temperature is 74 degrees. Trout fishing has been poor because of the warm water temperatures. Walleye and bass fishing has been slow during the past few weeks. Fishing a variety of baits and spinners near the bottom works best at this time of year. For more information, contact the Standley Lake Visitor Center at 303-425-1097.

Washington Park Lakes -- The lakes are stocked with trout in the spring. Otherwise, crappie running up to 10 inches, bass, bluegills and catfish can provide some interesting fishing in an urban-park setting. Try a small, green or white plastic grub or a live minnow below a bobber about 3 feet down for the crappie.

Webster Lake -- The lake offers fishing for catchable trout in the spring, and for bass, perch and catfish through much of the summer. No boats are allowed. A handicapped-access fishing pier, playground and other facilities are available.