Fishing Report: Southwest (7/9)
Other regions: Southeast, Northeast, Denver Metro, Northwest
Blue Mesa Reservoir (Gunnison County)
Brown trout and rainbows are being caught on green PowerBait from shore. Boat anglers report success deep for lake trout - temperature variations have the lake trout moving to different depths and areas of the lake, a fish finder is handy to locate them.
Crawford State Park (Delta County)
Crappie in the 8-12 inch range have been reported. Catfish are still biting, as well as pike. There have been a few reports of bass and perch.
Crystal Lake (Ouray County)
Emergency salvage order issued on July 9 to run through July 31. Anglers, who must have a valid 2012 Colorado fishing license, can keep all the fish they catch by hook and line, and by snagging. It is illegal to use explosives, toxicants, firearms or nets. The lake is stocked annually with cutthroat trout by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Crystal Lake is located about eight miles south of Ouray in Ironton Park on the west side of U.S. Highway 550. The lake is being drained by the U.S. Forest Service to accommodate dam repairs.
Gunnison Gorge, Gunnison River (Gunnison - Delta County)
No report this week.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir, Mancos State Park (Montezuma County)
Lake levels are dropping due to warm, dry weather and as domestic demands increase. 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 enjoy various PowerBaits (especially rainbow and garlic), florescent green and gold spinners and worms. Flyfishing is popular in the early mornings and evenings. 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. Fishing licenses can be purchased at the park entrance station.
Navajo State Park (Archuleta County)
No report this week.
Ridgway State Park (Ouray County)
The reservoir is 88.5% full and gradually falling this week. Our most recent stocking of the reservoir, with 2,500 catchable rainbow trout, occurred on the 14th of June. Both shore fisherman and boaters are reporting very good fishing for stocker-sized fish (8”-14”) with a few larger fish (18”-20”) also being caught. The catch is mainly rainbows, but there have also been some browns, splake, and smallmouth bass as well. Shore fishermen are doing well between the Dutch Charlie fishing pier and the mouth of Mears Bay, and also along the Dallas Creek day use area shoreline. Shore fisherman should to try green, rainbow, and pink Power Bait, or worms off the bottom; Kastmasters and Mepps are the lures of choice. Boat fishermen are having luck with Rapalas, Kastmasters, and Crocodiles near the dam, along the west shoreline and around the opening to Mears Bay. Fishing in the Uncompahgre River at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk is excellent. The river flows are currently at around 200 CFS, and should remain steady for now because of the downstream call for water. Fly fisherman are doing well on Wooly Buggers (brown), Copper Johns, and Pheasant Tails; small midges are also working. Grasshoppers are along the banks of the river, so a hopper pattern may work as well. Spin fisherman are doing well with Mepps and 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 river immediately. The ponds at Pa-Co-Chu-Puk have a good population of rainbows and some brown trout. Fishing in the ponds has been good. There have been several larger fish (18”-20”) caught. Fishermen have been doing well with worms and salmon eggs near the surface in the mornings and evenings, and various colors of Power Bait off the bottom around mid-day. Remember that the Uncompahgre River running adjacent to the ponds is restricted to flies and lures only.
Sanchez Reservoir (Costilla County)
Fishing is slow due to warm weather.
Taylor Park Reservoir (Gunnison County)
The gang at Taylor Park Marina says the fishing is great. Here's what they sent us this week: "Trolling with pop-gear and nightcrawlers is working for both rainbows and lake trout. The lakers are deeper, but if using weight or downriggers you can find them in around 70 feet of water. The rainbows are shallower and most are trolling along the west bank of the lake. Pike have slowed down a bit. There are some 40-inch pike down around Texas Point, but nobody has been able to bag one."
