The latest fishing conditions report for the week of July 26, 2016, was released by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife office Tuesday with information is provided by CPW employees and local fishing enthusiasts. Keep in mind that fishing conditions change on a constant basis. A lot can change in a week from the time this fishing conditions report is produced.

Conditions Report – Statewide

Rivers and Creeks

Water conditions and insect hatches will now remain consistent until fall. Fishing reports for specific rivers and creeks throughout the summer have a tendency to provide an influx of repetitive information. Use the following information as a general guide for fishing Colorado’s rivers and creeks in the month of July.

The month of July in Colorado means perfect water flows and a lot of bugs. The primary hatches throughout the month will consist of caddis, pale morning duns, and terrestrials. Even if the fish are not rising, throwing any dry fly in an area where you suspect the fish to be located, will often produce a strike. The most productive dry flies this time of year consist of elk hair caddis, Parachute Adams and grasshoppers. The best times to fish in July are from sunrise to 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. to sunset. When the day becomes hot and the bites slow down, try nymph fishing the deep holes and fast eddies. The most productive nymphs this time of year consist of prince nymphs, hare’s ear, pheasant tails, and copper johns. Dry flies and nymphs from a size 12 to 18 will produce the most strikes in July. If you are fishing a freestone river or creek, larger flies can be used. If you are fishing the tail water below a dam, smaller flies should be used. Common techniques include a single or double dry fly rig, as well as a single or double nymph rig. Special techniques include a dry dropper rig, or a triple nymph rig. If the nymph fishing is slow, try adding another split shot to your line.

Conditions Report – Metro Denver Area

Chatfield Reservoir

The current water temperature is around 75 degrees. Anglers are reporting success on smallmouth bass, walleye and perch recently. A slip bobber and night crawler have produced the most strikes, but anglers are also having luck using lipless crank baits. A majority of the fish are being caught in five to 10 feet of water. Boat anglers are having success trolling shad Rapala’s near the dam and swim beach. The evening bite has been good, but unpredictable weather has been causing issues for anglers fishing the last few hours of the day.

Cherry Creek Reservoir

The current water temperature is around 76 degrees. Anglers are reporting good walleye fishing. Algae blooms are starting to affect the reservoir. Anglers are having the best success in the mornings and evenings due to more reasonable water temperatures and less recreational boating activity. Most of the walleye are being caught near the dam and the sand bar in five to 10 feet of water.

Conditions Report – Northeast Colorado

Barr Lake

The current water temperature is around 75 degrees with three feet of water clarity. The water levels are dropping a little, so shoreline angler success is increasing. The walleye fishing is still good. There is more bait in the water compared to any other time of the year. Typical summer time techniques are still producing fish. The crank bait bite has picked up either trolling or casting over humps and along weed lines. The perch are moving shallow and deep, so figuring out where they are is important. Dragging a small jig or hook with a worm has helped locate fish. When you find the pods or schools you can anchor over them and use a slip bobber with a worm to really put fish in the boat. Evening has been the best time to target wiper. Try jerk baits, lipless crank baits, small swim baits and spoons. Shore anglers are doing decent with bait like mussels or crawfish tails. With the warm water temperatures, the trout are staying deep with the occasional stocker fish being caught. Try trolling spoons with lead core to target these fish with the high water temperatures. The carp are in pods that can stretch for long distances, but they can be very spooky with boat noise. If fly fishing, use woolly buggers or any typical carp pattern. These fish can be line shy so be careful when making a cast to the pods of fish. Bow anglers are still finding fish around the dam area.

Boyd Lake

The current water temperature is around 77 degrees with water clarity around five feet. The fishing is rated as poor to fair. Anglers are catching walleye, trout, and perch throughout the lake. Fly anglers are catching some rising trout on dry flies with droppers. Streamers and damsel fly nymphs are also producing some bites. Boat anglers trolling the lake are having some success catching trout on various lures.

Carter Lake

For trout, gold-colored spinners and rooster tails have brought in fish. Cowbell rigs with worms have caught several large fish near the north ramp as well as Dam No. 1. The trout have been schooling near the dams. There is no fishing on or within 100 feet of the dams, but if you troll outside the 100-foot mark and cast into the dam area, you may have some luck. For walleye, the saddle at the southeast end of the reservoir and “Green Cove” near the north end of the Sundance Trail both have steep shorelines and deeper water. The walleye like to hang out on the underwater ledges in these areas. They tend to be more active in the early morning and late evening. Large walleye have been caught recently. Worms on cowbell rigs and bottom bouncers have recently caught fish. Jigging plastic worms or night crawlers have been successful from shore as well as boats along the entire western shoreline. The bass fishing has picked up with several large fish caught along the west and south shores with soft plastic jigs, jerk baits and popper lures.

Eleven Mile Reservoir

The trout fishing is very good. The bite is sporadic, but action remains strong. Large cuttbows and occasional brown trout running from 18 to 22 inches are common. Most of the fish are being caught in deeper water. Cuttbows running from 13 to 16 inches have been caught in many areas of the lake. The most productive lure of the season continues to be size No. 1 Pink/White Needlefish, but you have to get it down at least 30 feet for the big fish. Areas from Duck Island to Goose Island off Rocking Chair and Rodgers Mountain have produced a lot of nice fish. Shore action is picking up. PowerBait in a variety of flavors and colors is working depending on the time of the day. The kokanee salmon fishing is fair. The fish are still being caught, but no dramatic improvement in the rate of catches. The northern pike fishing is fair, although the bigger ones have moved into deeper water. Try the rocks around Witchers Cove and the weed line from Howbert to Witchers. Spinner baits and spoons have done well. Lots of action can be had on smaller fish points west in the weed beds. (Courtesy of 11 Mile Marina)

Evergreen Lake

Fishing is rated as poor due to dredging operations taking place at the reservoir. Anglers reported trying everything from spinners to night crawlers without any success. Other fishing locations are recommended at this time.

Flatiron Reservoir

Smaller trout have been caught using small spinners and spoons. PowerBait, salmon eggs, and worms on the bottom have also produced good results for trout.

North Sterling

The water temperature is currently around 84 degrees. Shrimp are still catching catfish and walleye this week. The West Trailhead, the inlet canal and Balance Rock are the main shoreline fishing locations. The crappie are being caught on white and red tube jigs as well as on live leeches off the dam and the Marina Point early in the morning. The walleye are being caught on small silver and red minnow mimics off of the Marina Point and Darby Point early in the morning. The walleye were also caught up the Cunningham Arm and off the east and west side of the South Boat Ramp Parking Lot.

Pinewood Reservoir

Trout have been caught recently near Fisherman’s Cove using PowerBait, salmon eggs and worms. The reservoir was recently stocked with rainbow trout and tiger muskie.

South Platte River Dream Stream

Water flows have improved recently at around 150 cfs, but the flows are still below the normal historic values. Current hatches include midges, caddis, yellow sallies, pale morning duns and tricos. The caddis hatches have been excellent as of lately. Anglers are catching a mixed bag of rainbow trout, cuttbows, brown trout, and the occasional Snake River cutthroat. The best fishing is between 7 a.m. and noon. After that, the fishing slows, but it is a good time to throw dry flies. Hoppers, beetles and caddis are good choices right now (Courtesy of patdorseyflyfishing.com).

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

The trout fishing is rated as good. Fishing is better during the early parts of the morning. Try fishing along the dam face north along east shorelines and off the islands. A lot of good trout and pike catches are being reported. Try your favorite flies in morning before the wind picks up and then try tube jigs, Tasmanian Devils and Rapala’s (Courtesy of 11 Mile General Store).

Conditions Report- Southeast Colorado

Arkansas Headwaters

The Arkansas River has been very stable in both flow and water quality through the last two weeks. We anticipate similar conditions through the middle of August. Current hatches include tricos and pale morning dun mayflies, yellow sally stoneflies, a variety of caddis and the full range of terrestrials. Brown trout will be holding along the edges in the low light hours and then moving into slightly deeper water when the sun is bright and high in the sky.

Clear Creek Reservoir

Trout angling at Clear Creek Reservoir has been slow from both boat and shore. Almost all of the rainbow trout caught ranged from 8 to 12 inches in size. The best shore fishing has been early morning and late evening. Trolling worms with flashers along the southern part of the lake was the most productive method to catch trout. A needlefish lure was the only lure to generate consistent strikes from trout while trolling. From a boat while drifting, fishing three feet of line between a worm and bobber yielded a high catch of trout. The kokanee salmon fishing remains very slow. The best time to fish for kokanee salmon has been between 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Boat anglers targeting kokanee salmon usually employ squids tipped with corn near the dam of the reservoir. Most of the tiger muskie were caught late in the evening. A majority of the larger tiger muskie followed a lure up to a boat without striking at the lure. The reservoir is closed to trailer motorized watercrafts on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The current boating hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

John Martin Reservoir

The reservoir is currently at 160,000 acre feet and the water temperature is currently around 85 degrees at the surface. We are still seeing the small white bass and small crappie being caught. Anglers are having success using shrimp, hard baits, and soft baits. There are some larger wiper and walleye being caught near the trestle and some larger crappie and catfish being caught near the lane 19 boat ramp. Fishing at the spillway is slow to moderate with some reports of catfish being caught with better success as the sun sets. There are currently four gates open. Lake Hasty is still fishing okay in the morning and evening but slows during the heat of the day. John Martin State Park

Lake Pueblo

The current surface temperature is around 77 degrees. Fishing has been fair to good lately. Look for walleye in deeper water now that temperatures have gone up. Lindy rigs, grubs, and live bait are producing for walleye. Bass fishing has been consistent for anglers using soft plastics, spinner baits, and crank baits. Early and late in the day will produce better results now that the water has warmed up. Not many reports on trout fishing right now. Catfish are being caught on the west end using chicken liver and worms. Wipers have been far and few between. Anticline Pond has been producing a lot of trout. Boaters are reminded that the boat ramps are open and summer hours are from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. are in effect.

North Gateway Park

Anglers are having more luck catching bass in pond No. 1 than ponds No. 2 or No. 3 right now. Hard baits, soft baits, and artificial worms and minnows are working the best. The trout bite is still slow due to the warm water temperatures. The catfish bite is fairly slow, but some are being caught occasionally.

Trinidad Lake

The current surface water temperature is around 70 degrees. Shoreline fishing has slowed down. We are seeing a few trout being caught on PowerBait. Early mornings and late evenings are the most productive time to fish. Boaters are still catching walleye and perch using jigs tipped with a night crawler or artificial minnow. They are also catching some trout while trolling.

Valco Ponds

Fishing for bass has been fair to good. Soft plastics are the ticket right now. Fishing is only allowed on ponds No. 1, No. 2, No. 3, and a small portion of pond No. 4. Also, a park pass is required for any vehicle that is parked in the Valco parking lot.

Conditions Report – Northwest Colorado

Lake John

Daytime temperatures are averaging around 80 degrees with night temperature averaging around 50 degrees. The fishing is starting to pick up. The trout are still stuffed full of stickleback minnows, so anglers are having luck using baitfish imitations. The nearby Beaver Creek fire is not affecting fishing conditions as most of the smoke is blowing north into Wyoming.

Stagecoach Reservoir

Shore and boat fishing is as good as ever. Most anglers have been trying their luck at Keystone Day Area, Lot 14, and Haybro Day Area. The shoreline can be muddy and slick so be careful of your footing. Most anglers are catching average size rainbows in the 16 – 18 inch range and many northern pike have been reeled in as well. Anglers have been successful with streamers, crank baits and PowerBait. Good streamers to try include Zoo Cougar, Black Zonker, Crazy Dad and Chickabou Craw. Good colors to try include chartreuse, black and red. Stagecoach State Park

Conditions Report – Southwest Colorado

Navajo Reservoir

The water temperature at Two Rivers Marina is around 78 degrees. The smallmouth bass have been biting around 20 to 30 foot depths off the canyons. The catfish have been doing well off Windsurf Beach where the Piedra River comes in. The crappie have slowed down some. Colorado and New Mexico fishing licenses are available at the Visitor Center.

Taylor Reservoir

Anglers are having success fishing in the early morning near the east inlet trolling with a rainbow or fire tiger flicker shad for northern pike, rainbow trout and perch. Anglers are catching fish in the afternoon trolling from Bullpoint to the dam. A successful technique includes using a downrigger in 60 to 90 feet of water using a one-ounce Williams Spoon or a one-ounce Kastmaster in blue and silver.