Conditions Report - Metro Denver Area

Aurora Reservoir

Park Rangers report as of 10/8/2021, trout fishing from shore is fair with a few good reports. The east end of the dam and northwest corner have been some of the better areas for trout using PowerBait. Boaters are having fair to good success trolling with crawlers and spoons for trout. Fly casters try olive/brown leech patterns. Walleye action is slow to fair. A few reports of walleye being caught trolling with bottom bouncers and crawlers and with jigs. All other species are slow or no reports. Fishing should start to pick up as the water temperature drops this month! For more information call 303-326-8425. Park Hours for October 6:30am-7:30pm.
Aurora Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers have reported walleye fishing slow to fair with some success trolling and bottom bouncing. For more information, contact park staff by calling 303-791-7275.  
Chatfield Reservoir

Cherry Creek Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports walleye and crappie fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures and baits. For more information please call (303) 690-1166.
Cherry Creek Reservoir

Standley Lake

Please call ahead prior to heading to the reservoir to get up-to-date lake and shoreline fishing conditions. Contact park staff at 303-425-1097. 
Standley Lake

Quincy Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, bass fishing has been slow. All other species slow or no report. Shoreline in some areas is difficult to fish due to aquatic vegetation. Try the dam with jigs and soft plastics. Restricted to artificial flies and lures only. Only watercraft capable of being launched by hand permitted. Trailers and vehicles are not permitted in the water. Park hours for October 6:30am-7:30pm. Quincy will close for the season October 31st. For more information call 303-326-8424.  
Quincy Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado

Eleven Mile Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, The 11 Mile Marina reports “Trout fishing is good to very good. October is known to be some of the best action of the year. As the water continues to cool the fish get hungrier. There is no right way or wrong way to fish as long as it’s legal. Fly, lure or bait this is the time to get out and catch a trophy. We like Rapala’s, Black Woolly Buggers, tube jigs. Bait of choice this time of year is Pautzke salmon eggs. Kokanee fishing is poor. Northern pike fishing is good to very good. It has been a good run for the last few weeks. We love the first 10 days of October as some of the best and we are headed in that direction. Big sticks, spinner baits and Daredevle doing good. Action can be had around the lake. Mid-morning to mid-afternoon has been good.” https://www.11milesports.com/fishing-report
Eleven Mile Reservoir

Boyd Lake

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports Boyd Lake is at 63% capacity and water temperature is 64 degrees. The lake is OPEN to boating. There is no fishing permitted from marina slips or docks.
Boyd Lake

North Sterling Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports Elks Ramp (North) closed due to low water. The reservoir is OPEN to boating. The Inlet is OFF and the Outlet is ON. Contact the park for the latest ice conditions at 970-522-3657.
North Sterling Reservoir

St. Vrain State Park

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is very productive from fall through spring, especially for ice-fishing. Stocked trout are not picky and will be easy to catch by any legal method using a fly, lure, or bait. However, trout populations do very poorly in the summer at St. Vrain as water temps can reach the mid-80s. Please contact the park for the most up-to-date conditions by calling 303-678-9402. 
St. Vrain State Park

Barr Lake

As of 10/8/2021 park staff reports wiper action has picked up recently. Trout fishing is slow to fair and bass fishing is fair to good. For the most current conditions, please contact park staff by calling 303-659-6005.
Barr Lake

Cheesman Canyon

As of 10/8/2021, Cheesman Canyon is fishing great for trout using a variety of flies and lures as temperatures cool. Flows: N/A CFS above Cheesman Lake (10/1/2021) 
Cheesman Canyon

Douglas Reservoir

As of 7/30/2021, anglers are reporting more success when fishing early mornings or into the evening. 
Douglas Reservoir

Antero Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers are cautioned to avoid redds during the spawning season.  
Antero Reservoir

Dream Stream - South Platte

As of 9/10/2021, look for holding pockets and focus on deeper sections of water. Surface feeding has become more consistent with the current invertebrate activity. Flows: 118 CFS above Eleven Mile Canyon (10/7/2021)
South Platte

Horsetooth Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers have reported fair to good success trolling for walleye and smallmouth bass using soft plastics.
Horsetooth Reservoir

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers report success catching pike and trout. Using caution to avoid disturbing redds during spawning.  
Spinney Mountain Reservoir

Arvada Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. Expect trout fishing to increase with cooling temperatures. 
Arvada Reservoir

Bear Creek Lake

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is slow to fair and walleye fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. 
Bear Creek Lake

Evergreen Lake

As of 10/8/2021, anglers have reported success catching rainbow trout with PowerBait and worms.  
Evergreen Lake

Lon Hagler Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers report bass fishing is fair to good. Bass fishing could begin to slow down as temperatures drop. 
Lon Hagler Reservoir

Waterton Canyon

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is good and will increase with decreasing temperatures. Flows: 21 CFS at Waterton (10/7/2021) 
Waterton Canyon

Conditions Report - Southeast Colorado

Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

As of 10/7/2021, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “The upper Arkansas is in great shape and with a much cooler forecast in the next couple of weeks our northern fish will have a very comfortable environment as we head into the fall. Hayden Meadows is still the most wadeable section of the Arkansas, though now that the Voluntary Flow Management Program has ended more of the river below the Lake Creek confluence will offer easier wading access. The low, clear flows in Hayden Meadows can make for more technical fishing and spookier fish, so be very thoughtful in your approach. Nighttime cold may make for slow mornings near Leadville, but mid-day and afternoon is still fishing well this far north. We are seeing blue-winged olives and pseudocloeons above BV, so be prepared with small baetis nymphs, emergers, and dries in #20 on average, sometimes smaller. For larger food, be prepared with caddis, grasshoppers, and golden stoneflies above Buena Vista. Guides and DIY anglers are reporting very good dry and dry-dropper fishing this week, but nymphing through the deeper pools and pockets will also be effective. Streamers can also be a great way to probe some of the deeper pockets north of Buena Vista.” Flows: 90 CFS at Hayden Meadows, 119 CFS at Granite (10/7/2021) http://www.arkanglers.com/ 
Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

Lake Trinidad

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports the lake is at 732 surface acres with a surface elevation of 6184.74, and the water level is decreasing. The surface water temperature is around 65-68 degrees. Islands have appeared and some hazards may not be marked. Boaters have had luck trolling worm harness, and jigging walleye/bass off of structure. Perch, trout and walleye are abundant. South shore has produced good size trout very regularly using PowerBait, doughballs and nightcrawlers. Boat inspection hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Call the park for the most up-to-date conditions at 719-846-6951. 
Lake Trinidad

Arkansas River - Buena Vista to Salida

As of 10/7/2021, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “The Voluntary Flow Management Program is over and the river is running at native flows. The Arkansas is within the ideal flow range for our local trout (240-400 cfs at the Wellsville gauge) and they will be able to maximize their use of the river to their benefit. At these low flows it's still just possible to run a boat through Salida, but expect to drag your boat a fair amount if you put in much above town. The weather is slowly cooling down with lows in the 30s and 40s and highs in the 50s-60s in the middle basin this week. These air temperatures are helping moderate water temperatures and are giving us good conditions throughout the day to fish. Early mornings are pretty cold, but as the day warms the action picks up and the river can fish well into the evening. At current water levels be prepared for spooky fish! A quiet, thoughtful approach will pay big dividends with the lower water. Cloud cover this week is prompting strong blue winged olive hatches mid-day, but you may have to work around the W-I-N-D in order to successful fish the hatch with dry flies. Expect fish to occupy more of the river rather than just the edges like they do during high summer flows. Fresh golden stonefly shucks are on the rocks above the water even now in October, meaning the last of our golden stones of the year are hatching and available in small numbers. The presence of these insects alongside grasshoppers has given us some fun action on larger attractor dry flies, especially on the cloudy days. Blue-winged olives and pseudocloeons are hatching in the middle basin, so small baetis nymphs, emergers and dry flies should be in your arsenal (#20 on average). Caddis and red quills make up medium sized food items, with midge hatches taking the microscopic award. Dry dropper and shallow nymphing tactics are generally the most productive, but streamer fishing has been very effective lately, as well. At times fish are incredibly surface oriented, yielding windows of great dry and double-dry fly fishing. The next few weeks should provide some excellent early fall opportunities. Following a low water spring and an underwhelming runoff, fish are healthy and have fared well through the high water of summer.” Flows: 260 CFS at Hecla Junction (10/7/2021) http://www.arkanglers.com/ 
Arkansas River - Buena Vista to Salida

John Martin Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, WEST BOAT RAMP is CLOSED due to low water levels. EAST BOAT RAMP remains open and available to launch vessels. The East Boat Ramp was designed as a low-water boat ramp. Larger vessels with deep hulls, or a trailer that sits high above the ground, will find it difficult to impossible to launch. Most vehicles will have to be partially submerged to launch boats from trailers. 
John Martin Reservoir

Lake Pueblo

As of 10/8/2021, walleye fishing has picked up and anglers are reporting success on a variety of lures.
Lake Pueblo

Hugo SWA Ponds

As of 10/8/2021, no new species reports for this body of water.  
Hugo SWA Ponds

Kissel Pond

As of 10/8/2021, anglers have reported catfishing is fair to good. Trout fishing is poor to fair, but expect that to improve with cooler temperatures.
Kissel Pond

Blue Lake

As of 10/8/2021, walleye and carp fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. 
Blue Lake

Rosemont Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is fair to good and is expected to improve.
Rosemont Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northwest Colorado

Vega Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, all boat ramps are closed for the season. Anglers on shore are reporting catching some nice trout in 16 - 20 inch range using silver spinners, worms and PowerBait. Lake levels are below normal.
Vega Reservoir

Harvey Gap

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports fishing for pike, smallmouth bass and perch is fair to good. 
Harvey Gap

Rifle Gap

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports Rifle Gap and Harvey Gap state parks announced the closure of boat ramps a month early. The boat ramps at the state parks closed at the end of the day on September 30 this year instead of the normal closure date of October 31.
Rifle Gap

Yampa River

Due to critically low water flows caused by dry conditions and minimal snowpack levels, Colorado Parks and Wildlife has implemented a mandatory fishing closure on a 0.6-mile stretch of the Yampa River between the dam at Stagecoach State Park downstream to the lowermost park boundary. The closure began on May 25 and will continue until further notice. 
Yampa River

Blue River

As of 10/8/2021, anglers have reported success with caddis imitations and flows are allowing for dry flies. Flows: 204 CFS below Green Mountain Reservoir (9/22/2021) 
Blue River

Eagle River

As of 10/8/2021, nymphing is proving to be very successful even with the increase in surface activity. Flows: 133 CFS below Gypsum (9/22/2021) 
Eagle River

Green Mountain Reservoir

As of 7/30/2021, reports indicate reservoir levels are still low, especially for this time of year. No new fishing reports and those received stated very slow and tough fishing. 
Green Mountain Reservoir

Lake John

As of 10/8/2021, trout fishing is good to very good using a variety of lures. 
Lake John

Grand Lake

As of 10/1/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guide Rhett Feltman reports, “Ramp hours are 6 a.m – 6 p.m. All around fishing has been good for all species. Rainbows can been seen hitting the surface all around the lake until mid-morning and are biting small spoons and spinners readily. Watch for the rising fish and cast in the general area. Lake trout fishing has been good throughout the day in 35-50' with small spoons being the most productive by far. Tip with sucker meat and jig the bottom. Some fish have been more responsive to aggressive jigging 2-3' off the bottom and tight lined back to the bottom. If they are not being aggressive then slow things way down and jig 2-3" off the bottom. Water temps are cooling off and have been in the mid-high 50s. With over night lows staying in the 30s water temps should be dropping steadily.” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com
Grand Lake

Lake Granby

As of 10/1/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon reports, “Ramp hours are 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Fishing is picking up for all species as water temps cool. Rainbows and browns are active during the low light hours. Target shallow bays and use small crankbaits or rainbow-colored spinners retrieved very slowly. Lake trout bite has been best first thing in the morning and tapers off as day goes on. Look for fish in 40-70 ft of water, spoons or tubes in glow colors tipped with sucker are producing strikes. Water level is consistently dropping each day. Use caution traveling around the lake, may be submerged hazards that aren’t marked.” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/
Lake Granby

Williams Fork Reservoir

As of 10/1/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guides report, “Boat ramps closed. Hand launch only.” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/
Williams Fork Reservoir

Mack Mesa Reservoir

The lake was recently stocked on 9/29/2021.
Mack Mesa Reservoir

Conditions Report - Southwest Colorado

Blue Mesa Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021, anglers report that kokanee fishing has dropped off. Anglers also report lake trout is fair to good. 
Blue Mesa Reservoir

James M. Robb Colorado River

As of 10/8/2021, park staff reports, “Look for fishing to pick up as temperatures begin to be cooler in the evenings. Trout will be deeper. Bluegill and Sunfish will be more productive. Please ensure the responsible and ethical release of fish and properly dispose of fishing line. Remember, the daily limit for trout is four fish per person.”  
James M. Robb Colorado River

San Juan River

As of 10/8/2021 Duranglers report, “Solitude on the river in town Pagosa is limited, but fall fishing can be good. Hopper/droppers are your friend right now but watch for hatches of BWOs, streamers too!” Flows: 47.4 CFS at Pagosa Springs (10/7/2021) https://duranglers.com/
San Juan River

Animas River at Durango

As of 10/8/2021, Duranglers reports, “Temps cooling down finally. Flows are low, so look for deeper holes for fish. Hopper/dropper rigs are a good go-to with a small mayfly or caddis pupa dropper. BWO hatches are starting to show in the afternoons, but the morning hatches have been decent with Tricos and Pseudos hatching. Think very small dries. Also, don’t forget to bring some streamers.” Flows: 227 CFS at Durango (10/7/2021) Duranglers.com 
Animas River

Dolores River - above McPhee Reservoir

As of 10/8/2021 Duranglers reports, “The upper Dolores drainage is fishing solid. Dry droppers into the fall. Small mayflies will be hatching too. No action on top, double up the nymph rig. Close to McPhee, don’t be surprised to find a smallmouth or two.” Flows: 73.3 at Dolores (10/7/2021) https://duranglers.com/
Dolores River

Gunnison River

As of 10/8/2021 Duranglers reports, “Water is clear, so fish smaller bug, but the fishing is good. BWOs are out, but a few hoppers remain. Streamer fishing is also great right now through the beginning of winter!” Flows: 324 CFS below Gunnison Tunnel (10/7/2021) Duranglers.com
Gunnison River

San Miguel River

As of 10/8/2021, Duranglers reports, “Lower fall flows on this fall gem. Don’t overthink it too much: attractor nymphs, BWOs dries, and small streamers on your favorite 4 weight and have fun! Look for late-season Caddis and BWOs.” Flows: 96.7 CFS near Placerville (10/7/2021) Duranglers.com 
San Miguel River

Uncompahgre River

As of 10/8/2021, Duranglers reports, “Midge and baetis, midge and baeits. It’s the classic Fall formula here in Colorado but make sure to have some leeches, San Juan worms and a favorite streamer. Nymphing mostly, but watch for good hatches” Flows: 69.3 CFS below Ridgway Reservoir (10/7/2021) Duranglers.com
Uncompahgre River