T_boy
05-10-2008, 12:34 PM
Animas River - Low runoff has discolored the river. Muddy conditions are likely to continue through the main runoff into early summer. The river has been fishably clear on colder days.
Big Meadows Reservoir - The reservoir remains frozen and unsafe. During the winter, U.S. Forest Service Road 410 is closed, and access is limited to snowmobiles or hiking in with snowshoes.
Conejos River - Fishing on the Conejos has been fair for brown and rainbow trout, with little fishing pressure. Flows on the Conejos have increased to around 570 cfs at Mogote. Winds have been blowing consistently. High runoff is expected.
Dolores River (lower) - Flows of 500 to 3,000 cfs below McPhee Dam can be expected until mid-June. When the spring runoff ends, dam releases will be reduced to about 70 cfs for the remainder of the summer.
Echo Canyon Reservoir - Early season fishing for holdover trout and possibly some perch usually is good. Recent stocking of catchable-sized trout will improve the odds. Bass will become more active when the water warms up.
Gunnison River (through the canyon) - The flow in the Gunnison Gorge has been 3,560 cfs and should remain about that level for some time. Due to the high water, fishing has been slow. Fish the high water by working the back side of runs. San Juan worms, Prince Nymphs, egg patterns, mayflies and caddis have been the most-used flies the past few days.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir - The boat ramp is open. Fishing for 10- to 12-inch rainbow trout has been very good. The west road and west-side fishing access are open. Use small jigs tipped with a worm suspended about 20 feet under a slip bobber for the perch along the dam.
La Jara Creek - La Jara Creek has been fishing well for brown trout. Fishing has been good on worms, spinners and artificial flies. Trout spook easily, so anglers should take a stealthy approach when fishing the creek. A vehicle closure on the La Jara Creek State Wildlife Area is in effect through the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, so access to the creek from the state wildlife area is by foot or horseback only.
McPhee Reservoir - Early season fishing for trout can be fairly good. Look for crappie fishing to take off in a week or two, and bass to become active a little later.
Narraguinnep Reservoir - Fishing for pan-sized trout has been fair to good.
Navajo Reservoir - The water temperature is 52 degrees, the level has come up 3 feet since March, and the water may be stained from runoff. Conditions again were very windy last week. Fishing for crappie in Bancos and Euel canyons has been fair on the calmer days. Soft-plastic grubs and minnows have been producing. A few northern pike have been taken on spinnerbaits, but the overall activity has been poor. Fishing for bass has been slow on the Colorado side of the reservoir. The marina, offering minnows and other supplies, is open for the season.
Pastorius Reservoir - The reservoir south of Durango is free of ice, but a significant winter kill of warm-water fish has occurred. The lake will be stocked with catchable-sized trout this month.
Ridgway Reservoir - The lake is free of ice, and the boat ramps are open. The water level is dropping, and the temperature is in the 40s. Fishing should improve when the water warms up a little.
Rio Grande River - The river is off-color, with little fishing action from shore. Boat anglers report good action for brown trout on streamers, stonefly nymphs and Woolly Buggers.
Summit Reservoir - The lake was chemically treated to remove non-native white suckers last summer and has been restocked with 20,000 eight- to nine-inch rainbow trout. The trout should be 10-11 inches next summer, providing some good opportunities for fishermen.
Vallecito Reservoir - Fishing trout is reported good, and fishing for pike up to 15-20 pounds is usually excellent during the first 4-6 weeks after ice-out. A mercury advisory has been issued for consumption of northern pike from the lake.
Williams Creek Reservoir - Access to the reservoir is limited due to snow.
Big Meadows Reservoir - The reservoir remains frozen and unsafe. During the winter, U.S. Forest Service Road 410 is closed, and access is limited to snowmobiles or hiking in with snowshoes.
Conejos River - Fishing on the Conejos has been fair for brown and rainbow trout, with little fishing pressure. Flows on the Conejos have increased to around 570 cfs at Mogote. Winds have been blowing consistently. High runoff is expected.
Dolores River (lower) - Flows of 500 to 3,000 cfs below McPhee Dam can be expected until mid-June. When the spring runoff ends, dam releases will be reduced to about 70 cfs for the remainder of the summer.
Echo Canyon Reservoir - Early season fishing for holdover trout and possibly some perch usually is good. Recent stocking of catchable-sized trout will improve the odds. Bass will become more active when the water warms up.
Gunnison River (through the canyon) - The flow in the Gunnison Gorge has been 3,560 cfs and should remain about that level for some time. Due to the high water, fishing has been slow. Fish the high water by working the back side of runs. San Juan worms, Prince Nymphs, egg patterns, mayflies and caddis have been the most-used flies the past few days.
Jackson Gulch Reservoir - The boat ramp is open. Fishing for 10- to 12-inch rainbow trout has been very good. The west road and west-side fishing access are open. Use small jigs tipped with a worm suspended about 20 feet under a slip bobber for the perch along the dam.
La Jara Creek - La Jara Creek has been fishing well for brown trout. Fishing has been good on worms, spinners and artificial flies. Trout spook easily, so anglers should take a stealthy approach when fishing the creek. A vehicle closure on the La Jara Creek State Wildlife Area is in effect through the Thursday before Memorial Day weekend, so access to the creek from the state wildlife area is by foot or horseback only.
McPhee Reservoir - Early season fishing for trout can be fairly good. Look for crappie fishing to take off in a week or two, and bass to become active a little later.
Narraguinnep Reservoir - Fishing for pan-sized trout has been fair to good.
Navajo Reservoir - The water temperature is 52 degrees, the level has come up 3 feet since March, and the water may be stained from runoff. Conditions again were very windy last week. Fishing for crappie in Bancos and Euel canyons has been fair on the calmer days. Soft-plastic grubs and minnows have been producing. A few northern pike have been taken on spinnerbaits, but the overall activity has been poor. Fishing for bass has been slow on the Colorado side of the reservoir. The marina, offering minnows and other supplies, is open for the season.
Pastorius Reservoir - The reservoir south of Durango is free of ice, but a significant winter kill of warm-water fish has occurred. The lake will be stocked with catchable-sized trout this month.
Ridgway Reservoir - The lake is free of ice, and the boat ramps are open. The water level is dropping, and the temperature is in the 40s. Fishing should improve when the water warms up a little.
Rio Grande River - The river is off-color, with little fishing action from shore. Boat anglers report good action for brown trout on streamers, stonefly nymphs and Woolly Buggers.
Summit Reservoir - The lake was chemically treated to remove non-native white suckers last summer and has been restocked with 20,000 eight- to nine-inch rainbow trout. The trout should be 10-11 inches next summer, providing some good opportunities for fishermen.
Vallecito Reservoir - Fishing trout is reported good, and fishing for pike up to 15-20 pounds is usually excellent during the first 4-6 weeks after ice-out. A mercury advisory has been issued for consumption of northern pike from the lake.
Williams Creek Reservoir - Access to the reservoir is limited due to snow.