Conditions Report - Metro Denver Area

Aurora Reservoir

Park Rangers report as of 9/24/2021, trout fishing from shore is slow to fair. Some trout are being caught off the dam using PowerBait casting out 40-50 yards using a slip rig. Boaters are having fair to good success trolling with crawlers and spoons for trout. Also anchoring in 30-45’ of water and dropping down crawlers and power bait has been working well for some boaters. Walleye action is slow to fair. Some reports of walleye being caught trolling with bottom bouncers and crawlers. All other species are slow or no reports. For more information call 303-326-8425. Park Hours for September 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Aurora Reservoir

Chatfield Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, bass fishing has been slow. A few reports of some bass caught early morning and evening. 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 September 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. For more information call 303-326-8424.  
Quincy Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northeast Colorado

Eleven Mile Reservoir

As of 9/10/2021, The 11 Mile Marina reports “Trout fishing is fair to good. The bite can be hit and miss but there sure are a lot of very nice fish being caught in the 18” to 24” class. A variety of baits are working depending on how you like to fish. Pop Gear crowd doing very well with Arnies Pop Gear or Green Rainbow by Lure Jensen. Tube jigs are coming on. Kastmasters, Tas Devils and Krocodiles are also hot. The West End gets a lot of attention but we are catching fish all over the lake. Sometimes the North Shore Marina kicks out fish as good as anywhere. Don’t overlook the East End for bigger fish. Less pressure bigger fish. Shore anglers doing well at sundown and at night. Kokanee fishing is poor. No good news to report other than one here one there. The story of this past Summer? We are still working the sling blades and dodgers with a variety of offerings. You will catch Trout in the process. Northern pike fishing is good to very good. A lot of nice fish in the 28” to 33” range being caught. We have had action all around the lake. Bill’s Spinner Baits, White or Chartreuse tubes, Rapala and spoons are all seeing decent action. Bite times have been spread throughout the day with mid-morning and late afternoon showing off. Bigger fish are showing their face and even taking swipes now. Opportunities are increasing for a trophy fish. Crawfishing is excellent. It’s prime time of the Season if you like crawfish. We sell some awesome traps that will fill up and make you happy with a big boil of deliciousness. The peak season is now through early September. Stop in we will show you how we do it.” https://www.11milesports.com/fishing-report
Eleven Mile Reservoir

Boyd Lake

As of 9/24/2021, park staff reports Boyd Lake is at 68% capacity and water temperature is 68 degrees. The lake is OPEN to boating. Anglers continue to report success catching walleye and white bass using a variety of spoons, spinners, jerkbaits, and crank-baits. There is no fishing permitted from marina slips or docks. 
Boyd Lake

North Sterling Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, park staff reports Elks Ramp (North) closed due to low water. Fishing for walleye and crappie is fair to good, drum and wiper are okay and fishing for catfish is currently good. 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 9/24/2021, pike and walleye/saugeye will also chase larger swimbaits and spoons, but we recommend suspending only a few feet down, as most ponds with Pike are very shallow at St. Vrain. Pike and Walleye will also chase streamers and poppers, but will usually require some form of a leader to prevent breaking free.
St. Vrain State Park

Barr Lake

For the most current conditions, please contact park staff by calling 303-659-6005.
Barr Lake

Cheesman Canyon

As of 9/24/2021, Cheesman Canyon is fishing fair to good for trout using a variety of flies and lures. Flows: 96.7 CFS above Cheesman Lake (9/23/2021) 
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 9/24/2021, anglers continue to report the best action in the early mornings and when temperatures begin to cool off in the evenings. The trout bite is still hot and anglers are reporting success from boat and shore. 
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: 120 CFS above Eleven Mile Canyon (9/23/2021)
South Platte

Horsetooth Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, anglers have reported success trolling for walleye and smallmouth bass using soft plastics. Be aware of fire activity in the area.
Horsetooth Reservoir

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, anglers report success catching pike and trout.  
Spinney Mountain Reservoir

Arvada Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, trout fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. Few reports of anglers having success catfishing as well. 
Arvada Reservoir

Bear Creek Lake

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, anglers have reported success catching rainbow trout with PowerBait and worms.  
Evergreen Lake

Lon Hagler Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, anglers report bass fishing is fair to good. 
Lon Hagler Reservoir

Waterton Canyon

As of 9/24/2021, with low flows, you are going to want to focus on pools and slow riffles and be ready for aggressively feeding fish. Anglers have also reported success nymphing while others have tried dry droppers. Flows: 21 CFS at Waterton (9/23/2021) 
Waterton Canyon

Conditions Report - Southeast Colorado

Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

As of 9/22/2021, 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. This area is seeing a fair amount of pressure, so be very courteous to fellow anglers and try to give your neighbors plenty of their own room to fish. 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: 65 CFS at Hayden Meadows, 109 CFS at Granite (9/22/2021) http://www.arkanglers.com/ 
Arkansas River - Leadville to Buena Vista

Lake Trinidad

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/22/2021, Braden Baker with Ark Anglers writes, “The Voluntary Flow Management Program has ended and the river has dropped back down to native flows. This adjustment has brought the river back into 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. We will still have just enough water to float fish the Arkansas near and below Salida but this adjustment is definitely welcome news to wade anglers who will have more flexibility on wadeable water the rest of the summer. The weather is slowly cooling down with lows in the 30s and 40s and highs in the 70s 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. At current water levels be prepared for spookier fish! A quiet, thoughtful approach will pay big dividends with the lower water. Clarity is excellent in the middle basin and flows have receded now that we are back to sunny, dry weather. With flows dropping to native levels, expect fish to be able 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 most mornings, and the presence of these insects alongside grasshoppers has given us some fun action on larger attractor dry flies. 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 sporadic midge and trico 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. On the warmest days, fish will be looking for oxygen so if you can find aerated water you'll find trout. Following a low water spring and an underwhelming runoff, fish are healthy and have fared well through the high water of summer.” Flows: 227 CFS at Hecla Junction (9/22/2021) http://www.arkanglers.com/ 
Arkansas River - Buena Vista to Salida

John Martin Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, walleye fishing has picked up and anglers are reporting success on a variety of lures. Anglers have also reported success catching bass and perch.  
Lake Pueblo

Hugo SWA Ponds

As of 9/24/2021, no new species reports for this body of water.  
Hugo SWA Ponds

Kissel Pond

As of 9/24/2021, anglers have reported catfishing is fair to good. 
Kissel Pond

Blue Lake

As of 9/24/2021, anglers have reported success catching catfish. Walleye and carp fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. 
Blue Lake

Rosemont Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, fishing early mornings and evenings can prove to be beneficial for both the angler and fish.
Rosemont Reservoir

Conditions Report - Northwest Colorado

Vega Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, park staff reports fishing for pike, smallmouth bass and perch is fair to good. 
Harvey Gap

Rifle Gap

As of 9/24/2021, park staff reports “walleye, northern pike, perch and smallmouth bass fishing is good.” 
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 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, 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 9/24/2021, trout fishing is fair to good using a variety of lures. 
Lake John

Grand Lake

As of 9/10/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guide Dan Shannon reports, “Ramp hours are 6 a.m – 6 p.m. Water temps continue to cool and less traffic on the water has helped the bite. Fishing has been fair to good for all species. Rainbow trout and Brown trout bites have been good, fish along shorelines and docks with erratic retrieve of spoon or crankbait, color does not matter but make sure to pay attention on the pause of the lure. Lake trout are being caught in 50-70’ of water, look for them with your electronics then fish on the bottom with small jigs and plastics tipped with sucker, glow colors have been best producers.” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com
Grand Lake

Lake Granby

As of 9/10/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon reports, “Ramp hours are 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. Cooling water means the bite is picking up! Lake trout have moved to pre-spawn locations in 50-70’ of water. Small minnow imitations on a jig head tipped with a small piece of sucker has been go-to lure, chartreuse or orange colors. Rainbow trout and Brown trout are active and moving shallower, target these fish by trolling spoons and cranks in 12’ of water along shorelines or casting crankbaits and tubes along rocks and transition areas. Great time of the year to be on the water, the elk are talking along the shore of RMNP and fishing is getting better by the day!” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/
Lake Granby

Williams Fork Reservoir

As of 9/10/2021, Fishing with Bernie Guide, Randy H reports, “The new ramp hours are 7 AM to 7 PM. Water capacity is 75%. Inflow is 31 CFS, outflow is 275 CFS. The lake is 17 feet low. Surface temp is 63 early AM warming to mid 60's. This will be my final fishing report for the season. The boat ramp will be closed by September 12th or sooner due to the low water level. The Lake Trout bite is slow to fair the first half of the day. The fish are up and moving around in the AM but by noon most of them are belly down on the bottom. Look for them in 70 to 100 feet of water. Tubes or small grubs tipped with sucker meat worked slowly on the bottom is working best. Keep your bait moving or a crawdad will get it. Northern Pike are slow but catchable if you're very persistent. Early AM and late PM is the best time to fish. Crankbaits, jerk baits or swimbaits fished with an erratic slow to medium retrieve may get hit. Shore fishing for Rainbows is slow due to low population, but as the water continues to cool large resident Rainbows will be feeding along the shoreline. Kokanee trolling is very slow as CPW has not stocked the lake since 2019 in an effort to rid the Kokes of gill lice” https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/
Williams Fork Reservoir

Mack Mesa Reservoir

Mack Mesa Reservoir is refilled and has been restocked with bluegill to start developing a forage base for the largemouth bass and other species to be stocked later this summer. Those warm water species include largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, and channel catfish. CPW also plans to stock trout in time for the fall and ice fishing seasons.
Mack Mesa Reservoir

Conditions Report - Southwest Colorado

Blue Mesa Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021, the reservoir continues to produce kokanee and lake trout on a variety of lures. 
Blue Mesa Reservoir

James M. Robb Colorado River

As of 9/24/2021, 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 9/10/2021 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: 19.7 CFS at Pagosa Springs (9/22/2021) https://duranglers.com/
San Juan River

Animas River at Durango

As of 9/24/2021, 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: 153 CFS at Durango (9/22/2021) Duranglers.com 
Animas River

Dolores River - above McPhee Reservoir

As of 9/24/2021 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: 33.0 at Dolores (9/22/2021) https://duranglers.com/
Dolores River

Gunnison River

As of 9/24/2021 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: 601 CFS below Gunnison Tunnel (9/22/2021) Duranglers.com
Gunnison River

San Miguel River

As of 9/24/2021, 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: 72.7 CFS near Placerville (9/22/2021) Duranglers.com 
San Miguel River

Uncompahgre River

As of 9/24/2021, 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 (9/22/2021) Duranglers.com
Uncompahgre River