Colorado Fishing Report

Horsetooth is fully ice-free and spring fishing is picking up. Walleye are active in the south end near the dam, hitting jigs worked along rocky points. Smallmouth bass starting to move shallow in the afternoons. Trout cruising the inlets on warmer days.

Boyd Lake is warming up nicely. Walleye bite is solid at dawn and dusk — try bottom bouncers with nightcrawlers or swim jigs near the dam. Largemouth bass are staging pre-spawn along submerged weed edges. Channel catfish becoming more active.

Carter Lake is fishing exceptionally well right now. Trolling for rainbows with wedding rings and worm rigs at 15–25 feet has been lights-out. Lake trout hitting tube jigs near the dam in deeper water. Early morning bite is your best window.

Jackson Lake is open but wind and runoff have muddied conditions. Walleye are feeding in stained water near the inlet — use bright-colored jigs or crankbaits. Wiper action should improve as water clears. Best fished on calmer days.

Ice is receding from the south shore but much of the main basin remains frozen. Shore fishing near ice-free inlets producing some rainbow trout on PowerBait and small spinners. Lake trout deep — try vertical jigging if you can access open water by boat.

Stagecoach just went ice-free and the pike are already active. Northern pike cruising the shallows and hitting streamers, spoons, and large jerkbaits. Rainbow trout stacked near the inlet — try small spinners or flies drifted under a bobber.

Williams Fork still has ice covering the main body but the south arm near the inlet is opening up. Lake trout are the main target here — vertical jig with tube jigs in 40–60 feet of water. Northern pike will fire up fast once more open water appears.

Wolford is ice-free and the rainbow trout bite has been reliable. Shore anglers doing well with PowerBait and worm rigs near the campground areas. Boat anglers trolling rapalas at 10–20 feet finding consistent action. Northern pike starting to cruise the weed flats.

The canyon section of the North Platte is open and fishing well in the afternoons as water temperatures climb. Fish are still holding in deep, slow wintering holes. Nymphing is the primary method — stoneflies, baetis, caddis, and worm patterns are all producing. Afternoon sessions best as the water warms.

All three Delaney Buttes lakes are ice-free as of mid-March. Trout are cruising the shorelines early and late in the day, feeding actively in 4–8 feet of water. Daytime nymphing with chironomids and water boatmen is productive; stripping leeches and crayfish patterns works best during the low-light windows. A premier trophy trout destination.

Lake John is ice-free and fishing well for a world-class Rocky Mountain trout fishery. Trout are cruising shorelines in the mornings and evenings, with the best action in 4–8 feet of water. Chironomids, leeches, and water boatmen are the top fly patterns. Stripping crayfish imitations along the drop-offs during low-light periods is producing quality fish. Early season conditions are excellent.

Pueblo Reservoir is the hot ticket right now. Walleye are in full pre-spawn mode — jigs tipped with minnows along the north shore rock piles are deadly. Smallmouth bass moving onto secondary points. Wiper schools chasing shad in the main basin. Don't overlook the excellent trout fishing near the dam.

Ice is breaking up fast at Eleven Mile. Open water near the dam and south shore is producing good trout action on small Kastmaster spoons and PowerBait. Northern pike anglers finding fish along the weed lines in newly opened shallow bays. Use caution near remaining ice edges.

Spinney remains mostly frozen with limited open water at the inlet. Once the ice comes off this lake will be outstanding — it's a trophy water known for big cutthroat and pike. Not quite fishable yet for most anglers. Check back in 2–3 weeks for prime conditions.

Trinidad Lake is fishing hot for rainbow trout — CPW recently stocked and the fish are hungry. PowerBait, worms, and small spinners from the shore are all producing. Bass are waking up along the rocky banks. One of the state's hidden gems for early spring fishing.

Colorado's largest body of water is ice-free and the kokanee salmon and lake trout fishing is solid. Trolling with downriggers at 30–50 feet for lake trout producing quality fish. Kokanee schooling at 20–30 feet — pink hoochies and wedding rings the ticket. Rainbow trout near the inlets.

Vallecito is fully open and the spring bite is on. Northern pike crushing large spoons and jerkbaits in the shallows. Rainbow and brown trout feeding actively near creek inlets. Kokanee salmon starting to school — trolling with small dodger/fly combos at 15–25 feet.

McPhee is the sleeper pick this week. Kokanee salmon fishing is outstanding — trolling at 20–35 feet with pink/orange lures producing limits. Smallmouth bass moving onto rocky points as water warms. Rainbow trout stacked near the House Creek inlet. Lower elevation means earlier spring action.

Navajo is warming up with good warmwater action starting. Largemouth and smallmouth bass cruising the rocky banks and brush piles. Northern pike aggressive in the upper arms where the San Juan River enters. Crappie staging near submerged timber — small jigs and minnows the best bet.