Fishing Regulations Review

Transcription

1 C O L O R A D O P A R K S & W I L D L I F E Fishing Report Friday March 9th, 2018 News and Information Fishing Regulations Review St. Vrain Fishing Experience. Saturday March 17, 2018 St. Vrain State Park will be hosting its first annual Fishing Experience. Parks and Wildlife will be joined by Scheels, Jax, Laughing Grizzly, JustOneDAy, SaraBella Fishing, Mile High Bass Pioneers, and St. Vrain Trout Unlimited. Colorado Parks and Wildlife Future Generations Act passes through Senate Appropriations. For the second time in three weeks, a Senate committee has given overwhelming support to a bill that would provide longterm funding to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This year, senators are crediting CPW for conducting exhaustive statewide public outreach and using the feedback to resubmit an improved proposal that lays out specific ways money would be used, such as fixing deteriorating dams, recruiting new hunters, expanding conservation efforts and looking for ways to increase outdoor recreation opportunities for all Coloradans. Volunteers from Trout Unlimited help CPW process 20,000 young rainbow trout for release in Arkansas in bid for wild, self-sustaining population. For six hours that snowy day, the heavily-bundled volunteers repeatedly reached inside the buckets with double-gloved hands, dipped out a 3-inch trout and used scissors to snip off the tiny left pelvic fin. Then they dropped the squirming fish into a concrete raceway in the hatchery and grabbed another from the bucket, stopping occasionally to warm themselves next to a propane heater. Cherry Creek State Park and Chatfield State Park open to boating March 10, "We were well on our way to meeting our goal of opening March 1st," says Kris Wahlers, assistant park manager at Chatfield State Park, "but the latest wave of cold weather put on a lot of ice. We're finally ice-free and have our primary safety buoys out." Both lakes may be open before Saturday, so visitors are encouraged to monitor the condition pages at Deadline March 12 for public comment on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers planned revision to master plan guiding John Martin Reservoir operations. The March 12 deadline is fast approaching for the public to comment on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers proposal to revise the 1974 master plan governing operations at John Martin Reservoir State Park in Bent County. The master plan will guide the way natural and cultural resources are managed for the next 25 years at the reservoir, built as a flood control and irrigation dam on the Arkansas River and opened in Now you can take the #ColoradoOutdoors anywhere. Follow Check out our CPW community on Facebook. Colorado anglers can "like" the CPW Facebook page to get tips, share stories and more. If you love the outdoors, this is the place to be. Before you head out, head for facebook.com/coloradoparksandwildlife/. Fish with us on Twitter Colorado anglers can get updates directly from CPW on Twitter.

2 Stocking Report Body of Water Region Report Date Eleven Mile Reservoir Northeast Region 2/26/2018 Clay Creek Pond Southeast Region 2/27/2018 Corn Lake Northwest Region 2/27/2018 Jacksons Pond Southeast Region 2/27/2018 La Junta Kids Pond Southeast Region 2/27/2018 Las Animas Pond Southeast Region 2/27/2018 Midwestern Farms Pond Southeast Region 2/27/2018 Northgate Pond #1 Northwest Region 2/27/2018 Northgate Pond #2 Northwest Region 2/27/2018 Echo Canyon Reservoir Southwest Region 3/1/2018 Spinney Mountain Reservoir Northeast Region 3/1/2018 Trinidad Central Park Lake Southeast Region 3/1/2018 Trinidad Reservoir Southeast Region 3/1/2018 Beckwith Reservoir Southeast Region 3/2/2018 Brush Hollow Reservoir Southeast Region 3/2/2018 Highline Lake Northwest Region 3/2/2018 Mack Mesa Lake Northwest Region 3/2/2018 Parachute Pond Northwest Region 3/2/2018 Pathfinder Park Pond Southeast Region 3/2/2018 Sands Lake Southeast Region 3/2/2018 Spinney Mountain Reservoir Northeast Region 3/2/2018 Confluence Lake Southwest Region 3/6/2018 Pikeview Reservoir Southeast Region 3/6/2018 Prospect Lake Southeast Region 3/6/2018 Ridgway Reservoir Southwest Region 3/6/2018 Fruita Red Rocks Lake Northwest Region 3/7/2018 Palisade Riverbend Park Pond Northwest Region 3/7/2018

3 Catch of the Week Mike Lopez caught this 27 inch rainbow trout out of the Eagle River in Colorado. Have a fish you're proud of? Share your photo Conditions Report Metro Aurora Reservoir This 762-acre impoundment is located off of E. Quincy Avenue, two miles east of E-470. As of 3/8/2018 the only ice was in Marina, Senac, and Lonetree coves, varying from 4 to 6 inches in thickness. However, with the mild weather and some recent wind, the ice has probably deteriorated even further. Water levels are continuing to rise after construction on the dam. Shore angling for trout off the dam has been fair using PowerBait and the ice fishing for trout and yellow perch has been fair. Contact the Aurora Reservoir at for the latest fishing conditions. Aurora Reservoir Chatfield Reservoir This 1,356 impoundment is located in Chatfield State Park, in Littleton. The entrance to the park is on S. Wadsworth Blvd, one mile south of C-470. As of 3/8/2018 there is no ice left and water temperature is 40 degrees Fahrenheit. The reservoir was opened to boats on March 7. Chatfield Reallocation construction work at the North Boat Ramp began on December 1 and will close the parking lot. Boats need to enter the south end of the park from Titan road and launch at the marina. For additional closures, visit chatfieldreallocation.org for updated information. For more information call Chatfield State Park at Chatfield State Park Cherry Creek This 881-acre impoundment is located in Cherry Creek State Park, in Aurora. There are two entrances to the park, the east entrance off S. Dayton St. and the west entrance off S. Parker Rd. As of 3/8/2018 the reservoir is ice free. Fishing for trout has been fair. For updated conditions call Cherry Creek State Park at Cherry Creek State Park

4 Quincy Reservoir Open but closed to boating due to ice conditions. Still have ice on the east end. Plenty of shoreline to fish. A few good reports on smallmouth and largemouth bass being caught from the dam. Ice fishing is prohibited. Park Hours for March 6:30am-8:00pm. Restricted to artificial flies and lures only. For more information call Quincy Reservoir Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado Bear Creek This 103-acre impoundment is located in Bear Creek Regional Park off Morrison Road in Lakewood. Note that this is a City of Lakewood park, so a CPW parks pass does not work here. As of 3/8/2018 there is open water around the shoreline and whatever ice left is unsafe. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good using minnows or waxworms. A few smallmouth bass have been caught. For updated ice conditions, contact Bear Creek Lake Park ( ). Bear Creek Reservoir Cowdrey Lake As of 3/5/2018 Cowdrey s ice is still pushing 19 inches deep, but we still haven t heard an update on the fishing over the past month. If you have fished at Cowdrey lately, we would love to hear an update on how the fishing is. Cowdrey Lake Delaney Buttes Lakes As of 3/5/2018 all the Delaney s ice is inches deep. Several fishermen stopped by the weekend of 3/3/2018 and said that North was very slow still, but they did great at South and caught several 17 inch rainbows. Delaney Buttes Lakes SWA Eleven Mile Reservoir Anyone with an approved Disabled Ice Fishing Permit will not be able to use an ATV/Snowmobile at this time due to open water. As of 3/2/2018 TROUT: FAIR TO GOOD: Ice action seems to be stronger on the remaining ice then from shore although fish have been landed from shore. Mostly what we call "standards" 17 to 20 inches. Cross Creek has been particularly good. Some stockers getting in the way but not as many as you would think given the number of fish put in to date. Black, green and pink have been good ice jigs with Rainbow Garlic Power Bait and Night crawlers working from shore. KOKANEE SALMON: FAIR: The ice is thick out in the areas from Coyote Ridge to Duck Island and the Salmon are out there. The action is still the same as it has been. Small groups come through and are mostly aggressive. As Kokanee fishing tends to be unless you are on your game you can miss and lose fish more often than you like. Taking one home for dinner and missing a bunch still counts for fun and yum. NORTHERN PIKE: No reports from shore. Action on the ice is sporadic. Waterdogs have been the best all season. Look to very shallow water like 8 feet or less. They like to corral those stockers between the ice surface and the beach. Eleven Mile State Park Evergreen Lake This 40-acre reservoir is located on State Route #74 in the town of Evergreen. As of 3/8/2018 there is open water around the edges of the shoreline. Use extreme caution, as ice conditions will deteriorate with the ongoing mild weather. Fishing for trout has slowed from the excellent conditions earlier in the winter (one of the best in years) using standard rigs such as jigs tipped with mealworms or waxworms. Georgetown Lake This 50-acre reservoir is located adjacent to I-70 in the town of Georgetown. As of 3/8/2018 ice thickness ranged from 4 to 6 inches. Be careful near the road bridge across the middle of the lake, as there is currently open water. Fishing for rainbows and browns has been fair using baits such as PowerBait and waxworms on ice jigs. Georgetown Lake Jackson Reservoir This 2,967 acre reservoir is located approximately 32 miles east of Greeley and 10 miles north of Wiggins. As of 3/8/2018 the reservoir was free of ice. Fishing for all species has been slow. For up-to-date fishing and ice conditions contact the park directly at Jackson Lake State Parks

5 Jumbo Reservoir This 1,570 acre reservoir is located 35 miles northeast of Sterling and six miles west of Sedgwick. As of 3/8/2018 the reservoir was free of ice. The reservoir opens to boating on March 16, 2018, and the boating hours will be ½ hour before sunrise to ½ after sunset. All boats launching on the reservoir must have an ANS inspection (provided at the reservoir). Fishing for crappie and walleye has been good. Jumbo SWA Lake John Lake John s ice is inches deep and most of the snow has blown off the ice except for drifts around the edges. This warmer weather has caused puddling on the ice and a few open water spots along camper row. The shallow waters of the north end are thin ice and can easily be broken through. With the low temperatures we are expecting this week, we expect the open water spots to glaze over again but it will not be able to gain the inch thickness again this season that the rest of the lake is at. Please use extreme caution when entering the ice along camper row. Fishing has been active, we have seen several 20+ inch fish the weekend of 3/3/2018. Fisherman are doing well with gulp minnows, night crawlers, shrimpo s, bait shrimp, hot pink tubes and garlic power bait or trout dip. Lake John Conditions Report - Southeast Colorado Arkansas River Current river flows downstream of Salida are hovering around 260 cubic feet per second, which is lower than average, making for great wade fishing conditions. With such a mild and dry winter, we are continuing to see excellent fishing conditions. Beginning in the late morning, and lasting through the afternoon, you can expect to see strong midge activity, with small mayfly hatches becoming more common as well. Most fish are now congregated in smaller areas, in deeper and slower moving runs, adjacent to the main current. Where you find one fish, you will likely find more. Nymphing with a twofly setup is the way to go this time of year. Also keep an eye out for rising fish and dry fly opportunities during heavy midge hatches. Recommended would be nymphing a larger stonefly imitation or attractor fly, paired with a small midge or mayfly nymph imitation. Focus your efforts between 10am-3pm to find the most active fish and insect activity. Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area Brush Hollow This 200 acre lake is located northwest of the Town of Penrose off of Highway 115. As of 3/7/2018 the reservoir ice-free, likely for the remainder of the season. Fishing from shore has been slow. Trout stocking will begin in the spring, and you can expect fishing conditions to improve at that time. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Brush Hollow SWA Clear Creek Reservoir Located north of Buena Vista, Clear Creek has 8-10 inches of ice as of 3/7/2018. Fishing has been good. Trout fishing is good with wax worms, meal worms, jigs, flies, and PowerBait. Fishing is better near the boat ramp. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Clear Creek Reservoir Cottonwood Reservoir Located west of Buena Vista, Cottonwood is currently covered in 12+ inches of solid ice, as of 3/6/2018. Anglers are reporting catching on wax worms, shrimp, meal worms, PowerBait, flies and jigs. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Crystal Lakes Located south of Leadville, Crystal Lakes is restricted to artificial flies and lures only, and trout fishing is good at this time. Ice is about 8-10 inches thick as of 3/6/2018. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Crystal Lakes STL DeWeese Reservoir As of 3/4/2018 the lake had 90% open water with one small piece of bad ice left. With the continued high winds it should be 100% open within days. For current conditions, contact the CPW Pueblo Area Office ( ). DeWeese Reservoir SWA

6 Frantz Lake SWA Located just outside Salida, Frantz Lake has mostly no ice as of 3/6/2018. Ice conditions may change, however, if we hit a cold spell of weather. If you see ice on Frantz, be advised that it is likely thin and unsafe. Use good judgement and caution. Fishing is good, from shore, for trout at this time. Fishermen are catching fish, mostly with PowerBait and salmon eggs. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Frantz Lake SWA Hayden Meadows Located just south of Leadville, Hayden Meadows has 8-10 inches of ice as of 3/6/2018. Fishing is good, and trout are being caught with most typical baits, PowerBait, grubs, etc. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Manitou Reservoir Located just north of Woodland Park, this 16-acre reservoir is situated on U.S. Forest Service fee area. Parts of the reservoir have inches of ice as of 3/5/2018. Other areas are starting to have open water. With the warmer weather this winter, ice conditions can change a lot from day to day. Please use caution and good judgment on lake ice. Anglers are encouraged to contact the USFS at (719) for the latest conditions, hours of operation, and information about required fees. Anglers may also contact the CPW Colorado Springs Office ( ) for current conditions. Ohaver Lake Located south of Salida. Ohaver has good ice conditions as of 3/6/2018. There is a spring near the center of the lake that keeps the ice weak in that area so use caution near the center. Fishing has been good, trout are being caught on most types of bait, especially worms, mealworms, PowerBaits and salmon eggs. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Riverside Ponds Located just a few miles from Salida. There is no ice present as of 3/9/2018, and it looks to remain that way with current weather forecasts. Shore fishing is now an option, but water levels are low and the fishing is slow. There is about a ¼ mile walk from the parking areas to the ponds. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). San Isabel Lake This lake is located on Highway 160 West of Rye on the San Isabel National Forest. As of 3/1/2018 the lake is open with little to no ice. For current conditions, please call the Pueblo Area Office at Skaguay Reservoir Skaguay currently has 8 inches of ice as of 3/5/2018. Fishermen have reported some soft spots in the ice on the lake. Use caution on the entire reservoir. Trout fishing is good; anglers are catching with nightcrawlers and green PowerBait. The road to Skaguay is passable with a 4 wheel drive vehicle. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Skaguay Reservoir SWA Trinidad Reservoir The lake is at 1013 surface acres with a surface elevation of feet. Weak ice has receded to only the coves and Reilly Canyon, about 30% coverage. Prior to ice forming, shore fishermen were catching trout on homemade dough bait and PowerBait (green color). Be aware of stress fractures in the ice and open water. Trinidad Lake State Park Turquoise Reservoir Located west of Leadville, Turquoise has 8-12 inches of good ice, as of 3/6/2018. Fishing is currently fair for rainbow trout with mostly average sized trout being caught, fishing for lake trout has been fair. Fishermen are using jigs, lures, flies, PowerBait, and mealworms. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Turquoise Reservoir

7 Twin Lakes Located southwest of Leadville, Twin Lakes is covered in 8-12 inches of good ice as of 3/6/2018, however there is some thawing beginning on the lake edges, so be careful out there. The area near the power plant on the lower lake remains unstable/open, and caution should be used in this area. Fishing has been slow to good with anglers using jigs with sucker meat, grubs, PowerBait, flies and meal worms. Some anglers have been catching nice lake trout over 34 inches in length. The Dexter boat ramp gate may not open this year for vehicle access onto the lakes. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the CPW Salida Area Office ( ). Conditions Report - Northwest Colorado Elkhead Reservoir As of 3/8/2018 Elkhead is still covered in ice with the exception of a small area next to the spillway. Anglers are catching black crappie and smallmouth bass on the North end of the reservoir with good success. Ice conditions will be highly variable and change quickly if warm weather continues so please be extremely cautious. Anglers are encouraged to keep smallmouth bass and northern pike caught in the reservoir to help limit predation on largemouth bass. Please contact the Elkhead/Yampa River State Park headquarters at for the latest conditions and additional information about the parks. Elkhead Reservoir Grand Lake As of 3/8/2018 there are large areas of open water near the connecting channel and around the Adams Tunnel. Ice is still good on the shoreline near town. Granby Lake As of 3/8/2018 fishing has slowed substantially and has been somewhat difficult but some larger fish are being caught. Some areas of the lake such as Arapahoe Bay are slushy. Ice thickness averages inches. Caution is advised around inlet areas. The Willow Creek canal will start pumping sometime in March, which will open a large area of water in that section of the lake. Harvey Gap Reservoir As of 3/8/2018, the ice was approximately 8 inches in most areas with open water near the shorelines, making access to the fishable ice much more difficult. Extreme caution is advised as ice conditions can be extremely variable depending on location and can change rapidly, particularly this time of year. Ice conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly as temperatures continue to increase. Overall, anglers reported a very good ice fishing season at Harvey Gap for perch and pike. The water level in Harvey Gap was very low for much of the fall of 2017 as a result of a reservoir drawdown conducted by Silt Water Conservancy District to inspect the reservoir s outlet. During this period of low water level, CPW put a public fish salvage regulation on the lake in which bag and possession limits were removed for all fish species. This public fish salvage is no longer active as it was removed once the reservoir started to refill. Conversations with anglers and a survey conducted by CPW in the fall immediately prior to the lake beginning to refill showed that the same species were present in the reservoir following the drawdown compared to prior to the drawdown (i.e. tiger muskie, rainbow trout, black crappie, bluegill, largemouth bass, yellow perch, channel catfish, northern pike, and smallmouth bass). In addition to stocking tiger muskie, rainbow trout, and channel catfish, CPW will be stocking increased numbers of bluegill and black crappie in 2018 to help the fishery recover from the drawdown more rapidly. Special fishing regulations at Harvey Gap Reservoir include a minimum size of 15 inches for largemouth bass and a bag and possession limit of 2 for channel catfish. Standard bag and possession limits apply for all other species. Bag and possession limits for smallmouth bass and northern Pike are unlimited. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU CAN DISTINGUISH TIGER MUSKIE FROM NORTHERN PIKE. ALL TIGER MUSKIE LESS THAN 36 INCHES MUST BE RELEASED ALIVE. For more information regarding tiger muskie, please contact CPW Area Aquatic Biologist Ben Felt at benjamin.felt@state.co.us. Anglers may contact Harvey Gap/Rifle Gap State Park, 5775 Hwy. 325, Rifle, CO, 81650; Phone: for updates on fishing conditions. Harvey Gap Reservoir Highline Lake/Mack Mesa Lake As of 3/8/2018, Highline Lake was ice-free. Highline Lake was stocked with rainbow trout in early February and early march so fishing should be good. As of 3/8/2018 Mack Mesa was also completely ice-free. Mack Mesa was also stocked with rainbow trout in early February and early March so fishing should be good. Highline Lake and Mack Mesa are both open for boating. Please stop at the Visitor Center at the East Entrance or call to request an ANS inspection before launching. Anglers may contact Highline State Park for updates on fishing conditions. Highline State Park

8 Lake Avery As of 3/8/2018, ice at Lake Avery was about 6 inches thick. Fishing continues to be very productive for rainbow trout with an average size of about 12 inches. If warm temperatures continue ice will melt quickly so use extreme caution. Please contact the CPW Meeker office at for the latest conditions and information about accessing the State Wildlife Area. Oak Ridge SWA Pearl Lake The ice is approximately 20+ inches thick and is in good shape, although with warming days additional slush/water on the surface is to be expected. Please note that only flies & lures are allowed, with a bag limit of two trout 18 inches or longer. In the winter, the road is only maintained to approximately ¾ of a mile from the lake. Anglers have to ski or hike from that point. There has been very little fishing pressure on Pearl Lake to speak of. Good size grayling have been reported in the catch. Pearl Lake State Park Rifle Gap Reservoir As of 3/3/2018 the ice was 4 to 12 inches in most areas with open shorelines, making access to fishable ice very difficult. The east half of the lake is open water. Extreme caution should be used as conditions are currently marginal for ice fishing and conditions are likely to deteriorate quickly as temperatures continue to warm. Current fishing conditions are unknown. Fishing was good early in the ice fishing season for perch, pike, and trout but fishing slowed down later in the season. Special fishing regulations at Rifle Gap Reservoir include a bag and possession limit of 1 walleye 18 inches or greater; bag and possession limit for yellow perch is 20. Rifle Gap State Park Rio Blanco Lake As of 3/8/2018, Rio Blanco Lake is completely ice free. Sportfish species present at Rio Blanco Lake include: largemouth bass, northern pike, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, and channel catfish. Please contact the CPW Meeker office at for the latest conditions and information about accessing the State Wildlife Area. Rio Blanco Lake SWA Shadow Mountain Reservoir As of 3/8/2018 there is a fair amount of open water around the mouth of the canal, Green Ridge boat ramp, the Hilltop area and connecting channel because pumping has been occurring full-time. Extreme care should be taken on the ice anywhere else on the lake. Shadow Mountain Reservoir Stagecoach Reservoir As of 3/8/2018 ice is good with approximately 20 inches of ice. Be aware that we are having warmer days and significant slush/water can form on top of the ice. Fishing has been good for catchable rainbow trout throughout the lake coves and at the inlet area in about 8 to 12 feet, as well as feet of water. An assortment of terminal tackle has been producing, such as jigs tipped with PowerBait, wax worms, night crawlers, etc., tube jigs, plugs, castmasters, and solo night crawlers. Northern pike fishing has been slow, but some small ones are being picked up sporadically. For the benefit of the resource, anglers are strongly encouraged to harvest northern pike and walleye. Stagecoach State Park Vega As of 3/6/2018, there was approximately inches of ice on the lake with considerable slush on top, particularly in the afternoon. Snowshoes are recommended to stay on top of the slush and avoid getting wet feet. Anglers have reported excellent fishing for inch rainbow and cutthroat trout using ice fishing jigs tipped with meal worms, wax worms, or shrimp. Caution is advised because ice thickness is often variable across the lake and can change rapidly, particularly this time of year as temperatures continue to warm. Ice rescue stations are located in several locations throughout the park. Anglers may also contact Vega Reservoir State Park, North 6/10 Road Unit A, Collbran, CO 81624; Phone: for weekly updates on ice conditions and angling success. The entrance station is closed; please use self-serve or come to the Visitor Center for passes. The Visitor Center's winter hours are 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, seven days a week. Vega State Park

9 Wolford Mountain Reservoir As of 3/8/2018 the ice remains good, averaging 18 inches in thickness. Snow cover is thin so the slush is not bad currently. The pressure ridge south of the boat ramp still extends all the way across the lake and should be considered dangerous. Fishing has slowed but is still fair for rainbows in feet of water. A few kokanee are being caught in deeper water near the dam. Wolford Mountain Reservoir Conditions Report - Southwest Colorado Big Meadows Reservoir This 114 acre reservoir is a State Wildlife Area southwest of South Fork. From Highway 160, access along Forest Road 410, currently the lake is only accessible by snowmobile, skis or snowshoes (2 miles). Because of its access restrictions and remote location, Big Meadows offers a good opportunity for anglers to enjoy a day of fishing away from the crowds while enjoying breathtaking views of nearby peaks in the Weminuche Wilderness. As of 3/8/2018 ice thickness is currently unknown and anglers are asked to use caution. Fishing has been good and anglers have been successful using worms at the upper end in the shallows. Fishing by the dam is also productive this time of year. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Big Meadows Reservoir Blue Mesa Reservoir This 8,900 acre reservoir is located west of Gunnison. Ice was very slow to develop in 2018, with just the upper Iola Basin capping over. As of 3/7/2018 ice thickness is variable and will likely degrade over the next month. Fishing has been good for rainbows, browns and lake trout, but slower for yellow perch. Although some larger lake trout can be found in the upper basin, many of the better areas, particularly down the lake in the Cebolla and Sapinero basins, are still ice free. As long as conditions allow, the Lake Fork Marina will continue to be open to boating. Anglers can check on current ice conditions and boat ramp inspection schedules by contacting Curecanti National Recreation Area at ( ). Blue Mesa Reservoir Continental Reservoir This 374 acre reservoir is located approximately 15 miles west of Creede. Ice fishing has been good lately and ice thickness is currently inches as of 3/8/2018, however ice will likely degrade over the next month. The lake was restocked last year and provides the opportunity to catch rainbow trout and snake river cutthroat trout. The fishing has been good at Continental and anglers have reported doing well with mealworms and PowerBait. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Mountain Home Reservoir This is a State Wildlife Area near Fort Garland. As of 3/8/2018 ice conditions are unsafe due to warm weather. The water level in this reservoir is variable and may be low during the winter. It is accessible by vehicle to the boat ramp. Fishing has been good for inch rainbow trout, anglers report having good luck with earth worms. Northern Pike are present in the reservoir, due to an illicit introduction. Anglers are encouraged to keep all northern pike they catch because they can decimate a trout fishery in just a few years. For updated fishing reports, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Mountain Home SWA Rito Hondo Reservoir Anglers can expect to catch brook trout and occasionally cutthroat and rainbow trout. As of 3/8/2018 the lake has about 12 inches of ice but warm weather could affect ice and anglers should use caution. Fishing conditions have been good at Rito Hondo and anglers report doing well glow jigs and mealworms. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Rito Hondo Reservoir SWA Road Canyon Reservoir This 140-acre lake is a State Wildlife Area located near Creede. The lake is typically easily accessible by vehicle but fourwheel drive vehicles are sometimes needed to access the lake following snowstorms. Anglers can expect to catch rainbow trout and brook trout from 10 to 20 inches. Fishing tends to be better early in the morning. Fishing has been good at Road Canyon recently. As of 3/8/2018 ice thickness is currently inches but is expected to degrade over the next month. Extreme caution should be used around the solar water circulators because the ice is much thinner and not safe near these units. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Road Canyon Reservoir

10 Sanchez Reservoir This large reservoir is a State Wildlife Area located 6.5 miles south of San Luis. It is accessible by vehicle to the boat ramp. As of 3/8/2018 ice conditions are unknown and due to warm temperatures extreme caution should be used when accessing this lake. Ice fishing has been extremely slow recently at Sanchez. Recent fishery surveys and discussions with local anglers indicate that walleye, yellow perch, northern pike, common carp, white sucker, and channel catfish are still present in the reservoir following the dam repair operations. A Fish Consumption Advisory issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment recommends that anglers not consume any northern pike from Sanchez Reservoir. Walleye over 15 inches in length should only be consumed for a maximum of 1 meal per month for the general population; children under 6 years old, pregnant women, nursing women, and women who plan on being pregnant are advised to not consume any walleye over 15 inches. Sanchez Reservoir Smith Reservoir This is a State Wildlife Area near Fort Garland. As of 3/8/2018 ice conditions are currently unsafe. Fishing has been moderate at Smith lately, last season provided above average conditions as anglers reported catching fair to good number of stocker-sized rainbow trout throughout the season. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Monte Vista office ( ). Smith Reservoir Taylor Park Reservoir Taylor Park Reservoir had about 18 inches of solid ice, with about 16 inches of snow on top as of 3/7/2018. Taylor often has significant slush on top of the ice, especially as we move later in the winter. There are currently some patches of slush up to about 4 inches deep in some areas. The Taylor Park Marina road is not plowed during the winter, so anglers should plan to walk, ski, snowshoe, or snowmobile from the Taylor Park Road or the Parking Lot next to the Taylor Park Trading Post. Anglers can expect to catch lake trout or stocked rainbow trout. Taylor Park Reservoir Trujillo Meadows Reservoir Currently under Emergency Public Fish Salvage due to dam repairs this year. All bag and possession limits have been removed, anglers must have a valid Colorado Fishing license and use lawful angling methods. This 69-acre lake is a State Wildlife Area located 40 miles west of Antonito. As of 3/8/2018 ice conditions were unknown but ice is expected to degrade over the next month. Access is by foot, snowmobile, skis, or snowshoes. Anglers can expect to catch brown trout and rainbow trout. Anglers last season reported catching inch rainbow trout with ice jigs tipped with mealworms. For updated fishing reports and ice conditions, contact the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Monte Vista office ( ). Trujillo Meadows SWA Conditions Report Statewide Rivers and Creeks Now that it is March, we have noticed a shift in fishing conditions. We are seeing low flows and clear waters. This means anglers must be more careful not to spook the fish when approaching the water. Browns have also finished spawning for the season, so be cautious of redds when wading along the rivers. With the lack of the waters being iced over, anglers are not necessarily restricted to primarily rely on tailwaters, which refer to the waters below dams or any other structure that regulates water flow. The regulated water flow keeps the spots from freezing over and provides warmth for the coldblooded trout. Even with the warmer conditions of these waters, the fish will still behave sluggishly. Fish diets in the winter are made up primarily of midges and an assortment of small blue-winged olive nymphs and are occasionally supplemented by larger mayflies, annelids, trout eggs, stoneflies, and even caddis larva. Winter fishing typically consists of a lot of nymph fishing since the trout are not overly active due to the cold water temperatures, so try using stonefly nymphs and imitation midges. Remember that the hatches are much smaller in the winter, so keep your flies in the #16 to #20 range. It is also important to be mindful of your split shot usage. With the fish being sluggish, they aren t going to divert too much for food, so making sure those flies drift directly in their path is important. Be sure not to use too much split shot though because the last thing you ll want to do is to have to retrieve a snag in those cold waters. As the trout continue to get a later start, anglers should mirror that and look for ideal times to be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. ******************************************************************************************************************************************************** DNR Fish Reporter