Fishing Report - Southwest (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

Blue Mesa Reservoir (Gunnison County)
No reports this week.

Crawford State Park (Delta County)
Pike fishing is still consistent with fish upwards of 20 lbs. and 43" still being caught. A few bass have been reported, as well as crappie and catfish.

Gunnison Gorge, Gunnison River (Gunnison - Delta County)
The folks at Gunnison River Expeditions say that the Gunnison Gorge is still running around 390cfs. We are still expecting the river to rise as soon as the Redlands Diversion calls their water. Stone flies are on the move so all of the stone fly nymphs are working extremely well. Caddis, caddis emergers, and yellow sally nymphs are working as well. Overall, the fishing is excellent from the Gunnison Gorge down to the confluence. The Lower Gunnison is starting to pick up and the fishing is improving every day. The hatch is going strong on the lower Gunnison but the fish are not keying in on the adults stones. For more information call Gunnison River Pleasure Park – Gunnison River Expeditions at (970) 872-2525

Jackson Gulch Reservoir, Mancos State Park (Montezuma County)
The inlet on the north side of the lake continues to flow as snow melts in the high country and this is always a good place to fish. Ten inch rainbow trout are being stocked monthly through the summer. Fishing has been excellent for rainbow trout around 10-12" and 4-6" yellow perch with an occasional large brown trout. The trout are especially active in the flowing water near the inlet and enjoy various powerbaits (especially garlic), florescent green and gold spinners and worms. Perch love nightcrawler, mealworm, or waxworm so a small jig tipped with nightcrawler works well. Perch are small, averaging about 4-6”, but anglers should keep them if they’ll eat them. There is no limit on the number of perch you can possess and they make great fish tacos! This also helps to work towards thinning the perch population in the lake. The daily limit for trout is 4. Starting last Friday, fishing licenses can be purchased at the park entrance station.

Navajo State Park (Archuleta County)
The crappie fishing was excellent on Saturday, and a huge bass was caught on Sunday. Water temperature is currently approximately 63 degrees. Call our marina at 970-883-2628 for more information. Colorado and New Mexico fishing licenses are available at the Visitor Center.

Ridgway State Park (Ouray County)
The water level on the reservoir continues to rise with the spring runoff but it has not seemed to affect the fishing. Both shore fisherman and boaters are reporting very good fishing conditions for stocker sized (8”-14”) fish with a few larger fish (18”-20”) being caught from time to time. Fishermen are mainly catching rainbows but there have been some browns, splake, and kokanee caught this spring. Shore fishermen are doing especially well between Dutch Charlie Fishing Pier and the mouth of Mears Bay and along the Dallas Creek Shoreline. Shore fisherman should to try gold KastMasters, yellow/black Panther Martins, and pink or orange power bait or salmon eggs off the bottom. Boat fishermen are having luck with gold pop-gear and black and silver sinking Rapalas near the dam and around the opening to Mears Bay. Fishing in the Uncompahgre River in Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is still exceptional. The river flows are currently at around 300 cfs but will continue to rise as spring runoff continues. Fly fisherman are doing well on prince nymphs and hairs ears, but other small midges are working as well. There have been several reports of grasshoppers already showing up along the banks of the river so a hopper pattern may work pretty good as well. Spin fisherman are doing well with gold Mepps and yellow and black Panther Martins. Please remember that the Uncompahgre River in Pa-Cu-Chu-Puk is restricted to flies and lures only and all fish caught must be returned to the water immediately. The ponds at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk have a good population of Rainbow and Brown Trout. Fishing the ponds this spring has been very good. There have been several larger fish (18”-20”) caught this spring. Fishermen have been doing well with night crawlers and salmon eggs on top in the mornings and evenings, and various colors of Power Bait off the bottom in the middle of the afternoon. Please remember that the Uncompahgre River running adjacent to the ponds is restricted to flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.

Sanchez Reservoir (Costilla County)
No current report.

Taylor Park Reservoir (Gunnison County)
No report this week.

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.