Fishing Report - Southeast (5/21)

If you'd like to try fishing, or want to get a friend hooked, take advantage of Colorado's annual Free Fishing Weekend, June 2 and 3. A free fishing clinic for kids is scheduled June 2 at Quail Lake in Colorado Springs.

Each year, the first full weekend in June is set aside to promote sport fishing. During that weekend, no fishing license is required. Learn more at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Fishing pages.

See the state's Stocking Report, which shows were catchable trout were recently stocked.

See seasonal fishing information and learn how to get a fishing license.

Regions: Denver Metro, Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest

Adobe Creek Reservoir/Blue Lake (Kiowa and Bent Counties)
Crappie is winding down. Small numbers are still being caught by boat. Seeing a few channel catfish being caught.

Arkansas River (Lake, Chaffee and Fremont Counties)
Here's what ArkAnglers is saying about fishing the Arkansas:  "Warm weather for the week ahead, coupled with low flows (408 cfs in Bighorn Sheep Canyon on Monday) mean the excellent fishing on the Arkansas River will continue. On the upper river, blue wing olive mayflies and midges are the ticket up in Hayden Meadows and the Granite Gorge. Down in the Buena Vista/Browns Canyon area, add in emerging caddis as well. Further downstream, in Bighorn Sheep Canyon, the fish are in an opportunistic mode with morning midges, afternoon mayflies, some lingering caddis and the beginning stages of a hatch of large yellow sally stoneflies (size 12). Throughout the river corridor, attractor nymphs and streamers are also working well."

Brush Hollow Reservoir (Fremont County)
Boat ramp is up and running. Anglers are doing well fishing at night for catfish and walleye. Crappie fishing is picking up in deeper water. Bass fishing is slow. Trout fishing is slow but a few small rainbows are being caught on salmon eggs.

Clear Creek Reservoir (Chaffee County)
Fishing remains extraordinarily good. Whether from the bank, from boats trolling or casting, or flyfishing from either place, large numbers of trout have still been reported.  Just as with the first week most trout are 10 to 13 inches in length but approximately 5 percent are from 14 to 17 inches.  Lures producing typically 10 to 20 fish per hour per fisherman are the Mepps Aglia, green Dare Devils and Rapalas, Blue Fox in silver and blue, gold Kastmasters, and most any gold and silver spoons.  But again, the best this past two weeks was a one-quarter ounce, gold with red trim, “Buoyant” by Thomas.  Worms trolled deep with cowbells also worked well.  Successful flies were a San Juan Worm, a grasshopper surrogate, and nymphs, such as a Pheasant Tail.  Power baits from shore began to produce but the only one showing notable success was the “rainbow” color, the ugly yellow and red and green swirl.  The water temperature has risen to just over 50 degrees but  the weather included afternoon winds with pretty stiff gusts, and scattered showers of rain, snow, and grapple.  It is still too early for Tiger Muskies; some have followed lures up to the boat, but none have taken struck.  However, some few Kokanee salmon have been caught although both they and the Muskies are usually not active until late June, or even July and August.
 Next Thursday begins the primary summer boat inspection schedule.  From May 24 through Sept. 3, the hours are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday through Monday. Closed to trailered boats on Tuesday and Wednesday.

De Weese Reservoir (Custer County)
Trout fishing has been good from shore using power bait (rainbow, pink, and yellow) and better from boats trolling Rapalas.  Smallmouth bass fishing has picked up using Rapalas and tube jigs.  The lake was stocked last week.

Henry Lake (Crowley County)
Slow for all species.

John Martin Reservoir State Park (Bent County)
Due to the cooler weekend, the fishing slowed down a bit. Water temperature is 67 degree. White bass are the main catch and they are biting on everything from crankbaits, to Mr. Twisters, to Lindy rigs, to minnows. They are also catching a few crappie on minnows along the north side and the dam. Not very many reports of saugeye/walleye being taken yet. The stilling basin is producing several smaller catfish throughout the day, and a few large catfish late at night using chicken liver, and shrimp. Lake Hasty is still producing the trout that were stocked earlier this summer using PowerBait.

Lake Pueblo State Park (Pueblo County)
Another cold and rainy weekend has changed conditions again at Lake Pueblo. On the reservoir, try trolling for trout using cowbells. There has been some reported success using this method. Shore fishermen have been catching walleye along the south shore using tube jigs and jig heads with live bait. This week saw a drop off in warm water species, but some smallmouths were reported. The water level in the Arkansas River below the dam appeared to rise slightly this week. Shore fishermen along the banks have continued to catch trout.

Martin Lake, Lathrop State Park (Huerfano County)
Fishing has been good over the past week on both lakes. Multiple trout have been caught in the 16-18 range. Trout are being caught on powerbait and nightcrawlers. A few walleye have been caught this week.

Meredith Reservoir (Crowley County)
Fair for crappie and wiper/white bass. Fair for largemouth bass from boats.

Mt. Elbert Forebay (Lake County)
Not many fishermen out this weekend, but those that stuck with it were catching enough trout to catch and release many.  Mackinaw catching is slower for the larger fish, but many smaller ones being caught.

Turquoise Reservoir (Lake County)
The boat ramp and campgrounds should be open Friday before the holiday week end.  Success on trout is spotty, but when the timing is right, 20 -30 fish caught in a few hours is fairly common on hardware.  Fewer fishermen at the lake this past weekend than at Twin Lakes.

Trinidad Lake State Park (Las Animas County)
Trinidad Lake is approx. 695 surface acres and the surface temp is about 58 degrees. Fishing picked back up this past week!  Rainbows continue to be great and anglers are starting to catch walleyes in the river near the inlet.  Boaters are still fishing pretty deep.  ANS boat inspections are taking place so be sure your boat is “CLEANED, DRAINED, and DRIED”.  Boaters beware of floating debris and unmarked hazards as the water level continues to slowly fall. Anglers are reminded to check the regulations for bass and walleye and to always wear your PFD!! All camping and bath-house facilities are now open for the season.  For more information call the Visitor’s Center at 719-846-6951.

Twin Lakes Reservoirs (Lake County)
Very few fishermen present this past weekend.  There were numerous larger Macs being caught from boats and shore.  A few above slot fish caught including a 41-incher.  Many trout caught at the usual spots on the lower lake-power plant, Dexter Point, south shore and channels near dam.

Twin Lakes Reservoirs (Lake County)
Colorado Fly Fishing Guides says reports of bigger lake trout being landed are still coming in. Bigger baits and lures should be utilized for the mackinaw. Try PowerBait, nightcrawler, or kastmasters for rainbows and cutthroats at the power plant and near the dam or boat ramp. Also, for the fly fisherman, it's not a bad idea to strip streamers as these can be quite productive this time of year. Boat ramp is scheduled to open May 18.

Anglers wishing to contribute information to the weekly fishing report should submit their fishing tips or conditions reports to fish.reporter@state.co.us. The deadline for the weekly fishing report is Mondays at 5 p.m.