Southeast Colorado Fishing Conditions – September 1, 2017
Arkansas River Headwaters
The upper river is in excellent shape and it is currently very easy to wade. We are seeing a lot of caddis and pale morning dun activity through Hayden Meadows down to Granite. Grasshoppers are beginning to become more important as the larger aquatic insect activity in the river slows down. The flows at the middle river section have increased slightly. We are still experiencing good dry fly fishing and the fish are responding to attractor dries imitating grasshoppers and stoneflies. There are red quills and pale morning duns hatching during the day, which is bringing the fish to the surface. At these flows, do not be afraid of tying on smaller patterns. Midges have been productive droppers in the morning and mayfly nymphs sizes 16 to 18 work well through the afternoons. The key to catching fish right now is finding the right water. The fish are beginning to disperse away from the shoreline, so spend more time choosing the right location and adjusting your dropper depth until you find the sweet spot.
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
Clear Creek Reservoir
The trout fishing at Clear Creek Reservoir has been fair as of recently. The size of the rainbow trout being caught by anglers ranged from 8 to 12 inches in length. Both sherbet colored PowerBait or yellow Berkley's Floating Magnum Eggs can be productive for shore fishermen in late August. Casting blue and silver colored Kastmasters from a boat is an effective way to land trout. A few trout were picked up at the southeast part of the reservoir by anglers trolling Mepp's spinners in a size zero. The kokanee salmon fishing remains very slow. A kokanee salmon was caught on a squid tipped with a piece of corn near dawn.
John Martin Reservoir
The current water temperature is around 79 degrees and the reservoir is full. The water clarity is around 4 feet with some stained tint. The fishing is rated as slow to fair. The wiper are biting well for anglers using crank baits and jerk baits. The catfish are being caught near the inlet on a variety of baits and lures. The walleye fishing is very slow as of recently. Anglers are reporting a lot of brush and weeds near the lake bottom where the fish are being caught, so be careful not to lose too many lures.
Lake Pueblo
The current water temperature is around 77 degrees. The fishing has been fair to good lately. Look for the walleye to be in the deeper water. Lindy rigs, grubs, and live bait are producing good walleye bites. The bass fishing is improving and soft plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits will still produce some fish. Top water baits are working well in the early morning. Fishing early and late in the day has been the most productive time for anglers. We have not received many reports on the trout fishing as of recently. The catfish are being caught on the west end of the lake by anglers using chicken liver.
