Blue River Below Dillon Reservoir
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Flow: 81 cfs. |
Conditions: Spring Break has come and gone and with that so have the above average crowds that come with it. Although that’s not to say the river is totally deserted, it is still a tailwater within and hour of Denver but, it has been more manageable of late. Flows last week did make a slight jump up but, nothing major. This just brings us back to a more typical release for this time of year. As for future plans for the release schedule from Dillon, this level should hold until at least the middle of May. Unfortunately, when it comes to water management there are a lot of environmental factors that are out of the control of Denver Water and these predictions aren’t set in stone. So, based on current conditions and the forecast for minimal precipitation in the near future, Denver Water is going to match the outflow from the reservoir to the inflow. Which should keep the stretch through town fishing pretty consistent with how it has the past couple of months. Look for the feeding to be mostly subsurface, on the typical tailwater patterns for Midges and Baetis. As well, because we are continuing to see a bottom feed there are Mysis entering the river from the lake. Although, the bug fishing has been more consistent than the shrimpin’ at these low flows, once they make the decision to get ready for spring by releasing more water, we will begin to see a tremendous amount of Mysis pour into the river from the lake. Black, Red and shades of Brown have been solid along with some flashier colors producing at times. As flows remain at these winter levels, tippet size needs to stay light. 5 and 6x seem to be getting the job done, either mono or fluoro. Even though flows are still low, don’t overlook the need for weight at this time of year. Still one of the greatest factors separating nymph fishermen from successful nymph fishermen is misreading the amount of weight for the situation. Try at least a BB size split shot to help you get down. There may now be the opportunity to throw dries here in town, if you are committed to that sort of thing. However, it is not likely to be wide spread. If you happen upon rising fish, emergent Midge imitations in Black, Grey and Chocolate have worked for us, as well as really small parachute Mayfly imitations. By small, we mean 24-30. Traffic on the river has been day-to-day, with some days virtually deserted while others standing room only. Hard to say why but, it seems as with the milder temperatures there is more open water elsewhere, thus providing more options and keeping town tolerable. Going forward into the spring the air temps will be rising and so will traffic.
Town Flies: Flossy Worm, Red Neck Midge, Glassy Brassie, Mirage Zebra Midge, Desert Storm, Rainbow Warrior, Black Beauty, Brassie, UV Emerger, Biot Midge, Lil Spanker, Tungsten Psycho May-Black, Rojo Midge, Tube Midge – Black or Red, RS-2 – Black or Dun, WD40 – Black or Chocolate, Two Bit Hooker, Zebra Midge, Otter Soft Milking Egg, Bead Eggs, Parachute Adams #26, Sprout Midge #26. And work in a streamer every once in a while, as well. Often over looked but, randomly deadly.
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Blue River Below Green Mountain
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Flow: 240 +/- cfs. |
Conditions: Flows continue to run at their Winter levels, even though it has been rather Spring-like, which is still the low flow for the season. Crossing the river remains possible for most waders, more than doubling the amount of access downstream. Look for nymphing to be the most consistent approach throughout the day as the cold and dark character of the canyon will limit all but sporadic hatches of Midges. Although Baetis and Midge larva and pupa imitations will be the most productive patterns to throw, there can also be some decent action at times on a multitude of flies due to the diverse food supply here. Typically, we would rig up with either a Midge or Baetis as the trailing fly and in front of that run anything from a Stonefly, to a Baetis, or a Drake or searching nymph imitation. Even though those larger bugs may not be hatching at this time of year, their nymphs are in the river and may be migrating, molting or become dislodged and end up drifting and available. At this time of year look for fish that had been sheltering in water that allows them to conserve as much energy as possible such as deeper and slower runs, to now start to be moving into slightly more aggressive currents beneficial for increased feeding. As such, start to look for fish in riffles and pockets along with head of runs. Your tippet size should be around 4 and 5x and make sure to use enough weight to get it down to those fish holding tight to the bottom. As the days are getting longer and sun is returning to this canyon, temperatures have gotten more tolerable but, it still can be a little cooler here than on some other rivers. Make sure to bring an extra layer. And definitely be careful on the climb down to the river from the parking lot, nothing ruins a day like doing the “slide for life” into the river before you even wet your line.
Flies: Big bead heads: Deep Dish Green Drake, Hare’s Ear, Tungteaser, Pheasant Tail, Stubby Stone, Twenty Incher, Rubberlegs, Psycho Prince, Green Drake Nymph, Duracell Jig, Flossy Worm. The Smaller Stuff: Aero Baetis, RS-2, Tung Psycho May, Split Case BWO, Barr’s BWO, Lil Spanker, Big Spanker, Juju Baetis, Red Neck Midge, Tube Midge, Biot Pupa, Mirage Zebra,Otter Egg.
Floaters should note: The river volume on this stretch of water can change on an infrequent schedule and often. It is important to know the flow before you launch and make an honest assessment of your ability and watercraft capability. Please respect private property rights along the river. At 1,500 cfs the bridges are impassable. Under 500 become questionable for clearance of certain boats.
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Colorado River Above Kremmling (Parshall)
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Flow: 435 cfs. |
Conditions: Flows have stepped up slightly over the past couple of weeks and are now at a very nice level that allows for a wide distribution of fish across the river. That is still a process which is taking place as water temps continue to climb but, as warm afternoons create some hatching Baetis we should see fish expanding their range and sheltering lies. The Breeze Unit/Kids Pond/Parshal Hole tend to get the majority of attention through the Winter due to their proximity to the tailwater and subsequent open water but, now that spring is here, there are some great early season opportunities just downstream at Sunset and Reeder. As with most of our action right now, nymphing will be the most consistent approach using a tandem rig under an indicator. However, committed dry fly anglers should still be able to find a riser here and there with the increase in insect activity. That will be mostly Midges but, keep an eye out for increasing Baetis in the afternoon. As for the nymphing, while you should focus on Baetis and Midge larva and pupa imitations, there can also be some success on small searching nymphs such as Pheasant Tails and Copper Johns, as well as Stonefly imitations and Egg patterns. As the flow has risen, clarity has diminished slightly but, not to your detriment. Visibility will range from 2 to 3 1/2 feet most days, which is more than enough to be successful, and allows for tippet in the 3 to 5x. Don’t overlook the importance of using enough weight. Make sure to have enough to get your flies down to the depths where fish will be sheltering to conserve energy.
Flies: Pat’s Rubber Legs, Hurless Stone Nymph, Flossy Worm, CDC Pheasant Tail, Bead Prince, Psycho Prince, Hammerhead Nymph, Lil Spanker, Tungsten Hackled, Buckskin #16-20, Pheasant Tail #14-22, Black Copper John #20-22, Small Prince Nymphs, Black Pheasant Tail, Tung Psycho May, Split Case BWO, Tungsten Micro Mayfly Brown, Tungsten Juju Baetis, Aero Baetis, Root Beer Float, Zebra Midge, Red Neck Midge, Biot Midge, 5-0 Midge, WD40, Pure Midge Larva
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Colorado River Pumphouse to Dotsero
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Flow: 745 cfs. @ Pumphouse |
Conditions: As with many locations this spring, this stretch of river is definitely benefiting from the unseasonably mild conditions. We would say the action is about 3 to 4 weeks ahead of schedule and so is the traffic, it seems as if every spring powder skier that is disgusted with the lack of our typical spring storms has hung up their fat boards and headed to the river. Fortunately, there has been some pretty good fishing in amongst all of the additional traffic. For the past few weeks the cornerstone of that action has been the Baetis that are pouring off the river most days. We expect that to continue for a while longer but, the past few days water temperatures have started hitting levels that will add Caddis into the mix. Nymphing has been the most consistent approach for a multitude of reasons, none the least of which has been the wind lately. Either as a traditional tandem nymph rig under an indicator, or as a dry-dropper set up. A wide range of insect imitations have been productive, from Stonefly, Baetis and Caddis to beaded searching patterns. Afternoons have seen a fairly strong emergence of Blue Wings and when conditions allow there can be some very good dry fly action. The problem is, being spring in Colorado it can get windy. Clarity has been relatively stable over the past week or so but, with the forecast for the next week being warm, we may see some moments of degradation. That shouldn’t last too long at any give time but may happen more than once. It will also not be the big run-off event of the spring, that should come mid to late May. If you do encounter clarity issues, just head up stream until you find better conditions.
Flies: Lil Spanker, Juju Baetis, Split Case BWO, Mayfly Micro, Root-beer Float, Two Bit Hooker, Zebra Midge, Glassy Brassie, Black Mirage, RS2, Redneck Midge, Blood Midge, Black Copper John, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Duracell, San Juan Worm, Huevos
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Colorado Below Glenwood Springs
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Flow: 2390 cfs. |
Conditions: A great option at this time of year, as flows are fairly low and relatively clear, giving the river an angler friendly condition, both for wading and floating. At an elevation around 5,700 feet, the climate along the lower river can offer a nearly year round freestone option, with just a 5 or 6 week window that might produce ice flow in the channel. At the moment Baetis continue to be a big part of the insect activity but, the river is transitioning to spring Caddis as water temps are on the rise. Results have been most consistent on nymph patterns fished as part of a traditional tandem nymph rig. A wide mix of imitations are still in play including Stoneflies, Baetis, Midges, Caddis and searching patterns. Although the river is near seasonal lows for the year, it is still a big river that can intimidate anglers on their first trip to fish it. Just remember to break it down into smaller pieces as you look at it and not try to fish the entire river at once. It is big water more ideally covered with a boat and wading can be a tough endeavor the first time or two but, once you get dialed in on where to access and where the fish are holding, results can be solid for both wading and floating anglers. Make sure to be thorough in your covering of water types while searching for where fish are active. Big pockets, inside seams of riffles and eddy lines all provide good feeding lies for fish. Clarity at the moment continues to be mostly fish-able but, there will be times that upstream snow melt shuts it down. This is a spot where you may not get “gin clear” water very often but, that is actually a good thing. If you are not used to fishing water that carries a certain amount of color to it, here is a good general rule for the lower river: Green is good, brown is down. Whether it’s a foot, or four of visibility, as long as it has a greenish tint to it, you should be able to find feeding fish. With that being the case, take advantage of the situation to bump up your tippet size to 3 or 4x to give you a little edge in landing what you are able to hook. This stretch consistently produces some of the nicest Rainbows on the Colorado River and late winter and early spring is a great time to get out and explore this overlooked location.
Flies: Pat’s Rubber Legs, Tungteaser, Bead Prince, Twenty Incher, Iron sally, Tungstone, Delektable Bug-Golden or Brown, Duracell Jig, Tungsten Pheasant Tail, Bead Hares Ear, San Juan Worm patterns, Lil Spanker, Tung Psycho May, Big Spanker, Rainbow Warrior, Magic Fly, RS-2, Bead Eggs, Otter Egg, Flossy Worm
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Arkansas River Above Buena Vista
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Flow: 153 cfs. @ Granite |
Conditions: Starting to see an improvement in the upper valley. Action has been picking up over the past several weeks in the stretch below Balltown, where Lake Creek dumps in and keeps water temps a little more stable. That stretch will continue to be the better option for now but, we are seeing things pick up in the public access above there, through Hayden Meadows/Kobe. However, we wouldn’t get too crazy about the action there just yet. Water temps at nearly ten thousand feet are still on the chilly side. Instead focus your efforts on that water between Balltown and Granite. Being this high up in the drainage, things are still going to be a little less intense than farther down river in the Salida area but, we have been seeing decent results and no crowds. Tandem nymph rigs anchored with either a small Stonefly, Mayfly or searching nymph followed up with a Baetis or Midge larva/pupa will offer the best set up to prospect for fish. Early in the day look for fish to be holding in some of the deeper runs, with slower currents and a little bit of depth for cover. Then as the day goes on and temps improve, watch for fish to move into slightly more aggressive lies to feed on drifting nymphs. As with most freestone options available now, no need to rush out there at the crack of dawn. Wait until mid-morning and fish the warmest part of the day. Remember these areas are at or near 10,000′, make sure you have the proper attire and equipment for the cold weather in case a spring storm blows in.
Flies: Aero Baetis, Tung Psycho May, Juju Baetis, Poison Tung, Pure Midge Larva, Red Neck Midge, Biot Pupa, Mirage Zebra Midge, Duracell, Copper John, BH Pheasant Tail, BH Hare’s Ear, Lil Spanker, Hot Wire Prince, Psycho Prince, Hammerhead Jig, Flossy Worm, Silver Bullet, Sparkle Minnow.
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Arkansas River Salida Area
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Flow: 300 cfs. @ Salida |
Conditions: Things are really starting to happen on the Ark. Good Baetis from Brown’s Canyon all the way down into the depths of Big Horn Sheep Canyon and now growing numbers of Caddis in that same stretch although, they will be in greater numbers the lower you are in those sections, as water temps are warmer, favoring the Caddis. Early in the day nymphs will provide the best action, with a good mix of Baetis, small Stonefly and beaded searching patterns doing solid work. As we pass mid-day and move into early afternoon, look for Baetis to emerge and drive some good dry fly action. While you may see adult Caddis throughout the day, any actual emergence is actually going to be later in the afternoon once water temperatures rise into the mid-50s. As the Baetis hatch winds down it may be worth your while to switch over to a dry dropper set up for the Caddis. Use either a Stimulator or your favorite adult Caddis imitation and follow that up with a beaded Caddis pupa or emerger pattern. Now that water temps have climbed into the 50s, we are seeing a good distribution of fish throughout all water types, with good amounts of feeding being done in riffles, even on dries. While some rivers may be limited for public access, the Ark offers dozens of miles of public wade and float access at this time of year. Although this is on the low side for floating, it can be done with a skilled oarsman that is cognizant of trout lies and not running over the fish that you are trying to cast a fly to. Clear water along with the slow lies will call for finer tippet in the 4 to 6x range. The weather forecast over the next several days looks ideal for continuing to advance the spring hatches that make this one of the best destinations for early season action.
Flies: Beadhead Pheasant Tail, Beadhead Prince, Beadhead Hare’s Ear, Red or Chartreuse Copper John, Hot Wire Prince, Iron Sallie, Psycho Prince, Hammerhead, Duracell Jig, Barr’s Emerger, Juju Baetis, Tungsten Psycho May BWO, G6 Caddis, Yeager’s Soft Hackle, OCD Caddis, Para Winger BWO, Extended Body Para BWO, Caddis Dries, Hippie Stomper, Zebra Midge, Poison Tung, Rainbow Warrior, Poison Tung, Brassie, Lil Spanker, Big Spanker, Mirage Midge, Red Neck Midge, Biot Pupa Midge
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Roaring Fork River at Glenwood Springs
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Flow: 730 cfs. |
Conditions: Starting to see an impact from the warm temperatures over the past couple of weeks, as the Crystal is adding a good bit of color at times. However, there is still plenty of action to be found. Both in the lower valley, where clarity may be suspect at times, as well as the upper river where things still have the appearance of a productive trout stream. As with the lower Colorado, the tint of the color of the river is the key, with the greener shades being generally productive and the brownish colors being less. Spring fishing on the Fork has been very good the past few weeks, with Midges and a Baetis emergence offering plenty of food for hungry trout coming out of the winter. Add to that the start of the spring Caddis hatch and things look to get down right awesome on the Fork over the next few days. Nymphing has been consistent all day long and offers the best chance for success day in and day out. But, there are some robust sized BWOs coming off in the early afternoon, while the Caddis will be later in the afternoon as water temperatures will need a little more time to reach optimum levels to spur that emergence. Late morning to late-afternoon will be most productive once the water has a chance to rebound from overnight lows, with a little bit of sun on the water being a positive scenario. The public water through Glenwood will enjoy the warmer temps on the river but, don’t overlook the access up in Basalt where tailwater flows from the Frying Pan can give a little shot of life to the river up valley, not to mention the cleaner water.
Flies: Midge Emergers, UV Emerger, Tungteaser, Beaded Pheasant Tail, Pat’s Rubber Legs #8-10, Psycho Prince, Tungsten Yellow Sally, Tungstone, CDC Prince, Hot Wire Prince, Standard Pheasant Tail, Tung Psycho May, Split Case BWO, RS2, Frenchie, Lil Spanker, Big Spanker, Duracell Jig, Root Beer Float, Foam Wing RS2, G6 Caddis, Yeager’s Soft Hackle, Winger Para BWO, Christian’s GT BWO, Brooks Sprout BWO, Sparkle Bug, Elk Hair Caddis
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South Platte River, Middle Fork
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Flow: 20 +/- cfs. |
Conditions: Starting to open up and offer pockets of decent action. Although, this is still a higher elevation than you think and water temperatures are on the low side. Focus on the deeper lies that offer shelter from the current yet availability to drifting food.
Flies: Beaded Prince, Duracell Jig, Hammerhead Jig, Red Collar PT, Beaded Pheasant Tail, Big Spanker, Zebra Midge, Mirage Midge, Red Neck Midge
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South Platte, Dream Stream
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Flow: 97 cfs. |
Conditions: Stream flows have bumped back up after running flat for the past month or so. This is good news for the potential of a successful spawn. That is if we can keep too many people from wading through beds, or just as bad, harassing fish while they spawn by hooking them. This spot seems to suffer from the largest collective ignorance of any in the state. And by ignorance, we are hoping that it is just that, people are uninformed on the damage that they could be doing, rather than indifferent to the damage that they are causing, all in the name of a photo of a big fish. We have all seen it happen. There are anglers that stand over spawning beds and cast at fish trying to procreate. If you don’t already know, this is the single most stressful time of the year for any fish. Any additional stress on that fish very well could cause at the least an unsuccessful spawn and at worst, death. With the lure of big fish in shallow water it’s too much for uneducated anglers to resist. If you must go, PLEASE do not fish to fish that are actively on spawning beds. There are still resident fish in the river, as well as fish that are in water that is not conducive to spawning. Please think about the long term health of our fisheries and leave the redds alone.
Flies: Loop Wing Emerger, Pure Midge Larva Black or Pale Olive, Black, Red, Chartreuse Copper John, Juju Baetis, Buckskin, Caddis Larva, Poxybiot Nymph, Desert Storm Chartreuse, Tube Midge, Poison Tung, Zebra Midge Black/Silver, Barr’s Emerger BWO, RS2, Poxybiot Nymph, Egg Patterns, Cap’n Hook, Disco Midge, San Juan Work variations
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Williams Fork River Below Dam
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Flow: 98 cfs
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Conditions: Releases from the Dam have bumped up a bit over the last week and that should be good news for anglers, as the added release will increase food in the water. Clarity will remain solid though, as it is just coming from the reservoir and not any run-off. Midges remain the primary insect at the moment but, results have also been decent on Baetis imitations, as well due to their dense numbers in this small tailwater. Tandem rigs with a mix of those Midges and Baetis, along with the odd Caddis and small Stonefly imitation or San Juan Worm and Egg patterns have been seeing the most consistent results. Tippet could bump up to 5x with the added flow, particularly in the riffles but, you may want to continue to use 6x to your bottom flies for that added bit of stealth. At this level it should necessitate a moderate amount of weight in order to get your flies down to the depth where fish will be sheltering. Anywhere from a #1 to BB should be a good start and adjust it from there according to the water type you are fishing. Look for water types that offer good cover from predators and avoid fishing over spawning fish. Being a tailwater, the water temperatures are much more stable in their daily swing, thus offering the potential to see action throughout the day. (You don’t have to wait for water to warm up as it comes out of the dam at the same temperature day or night and the fish have acclimated to that.) Which is good since you generally have to get there early to beat the traffic.
Flies: Split Case BWO, Poxy-Biot Nymph, Buckskin, Flossy Worm, Little Brown Bug, Two Bit Hooker, Flash Back Pheasant Tail, Tungsten Micro Mayfly, Big Bear Baetis, Tungsten Psycho May BWO, Pure Midge Larva, Rainbow Warrior, Rojo Midge, Biot mayfly Emerger, #20-22 Green Copper John, Zebra Midge, RS2’s, 5-0 Midge, UV Emerger
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Eagle River
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Flow: 320 cfs at Gypsum |
Conditions: Spring has sprung and the impact of that has hit the river. This time of year it is important to be flexible when fishing the Eagle, as there are a number of spots where tributary streams can add color to the river. Most notably being the confluence with Milk Creek, about a mile downstream of Wolcott. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean the river will be un-fishable. Generally speaking, with regards the lower part of the river you only need a foot or so of visibility to fish and have success. Recently we have seen at least that much and more, and results have been solid. Although with a warming trend over the next week, we might see a decline in that clarity below the point of manageable. Not to worry, as above Milk Creek continues to fish very consistently with more stable conditions. Nymphing has provided the most consistent results, with solid steady action on Midge and Baetis imitations along with beaded searching patterns and mid-sized Stones. In addition to the subsurface action, we have been seeing some decent dry fly activity over the past few weeks, with good numbers of Blue Winged Olives emerging up and down the river. That might be a little less consistent from spot to spot, as some days it seems like every fish in the river is looking up, while other days there are only pockets of fish rising in random locations. Either way it would do an angler good to be prepared for the possibility of rising fish any day on this river. As water conditions have been varying, so has the range of tippet size allowing for anything from 3 to 5x. Early in the day look for fish to be sheltering in water that offers them a little more cover from predators, such as deeper runs and moderate currents with fish moving into pockets, riffles and the head of runs as the water warms late morning in order to feed on drifting nymphs. Then depending on how quickly water temps rise on a given day, look for Baetis to start emerging early in the afternoon. As well, those water temps have now skirted with Caddis inducing levels. We are already seeing sparse numbers of adult Caddis on the lower river and if this weather and water level holds, that could turn into a full blow hatch very quickly. With a lower elevation and wide open valley to offer plenty of sun, the Eagle sees a nice swing in water temperature over the course of the day from Minturn down to Dotsero, providing a lot of room for anglers to spread out on when clarity allows. The rating for the Eagle is a little lower than it is actually fishing right now. However, with the potential for diminished access due to dirty water we don’t want to oversell the overall experience, because it isn’t as good as it could be with the entire river in play.
Flies: Iron Sally, Duracell Jig, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Tungteaser, Bead Head Hare’s Ear, Psycho Prince, Bead Head Pheasant Tail, Buckskin Caddis, Lil Spanker, Big Spanker, Root Beer Float, Tung Psycho May, RS-2, Zebra Midge, Biot Midge, Red Neck Midge, Mirage Zebra Midge, Standard Pheasant Tail 18-22, G6 Caddis, Lite Bright Caddis, Tube Midge, Desert Storm, Barr’s Emerger, Juju stuff, Spaghetti and Meatballs.
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Spinney Mountain Reservoir
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Conditions: Ice is off and the Park is open for the season. Crowds were fairly heavy the first week or so and results hit or miss.
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Delaney Buttes Lakes
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Conditions: Ice is off and fishing has returned to these popular North Park impoundments. At this early point of the season, look for fish to be cruising along the shallows foraging, as the weed beds that hold much of their summer food have not yet formed enough to pump out the buffet line.
Flies: Eggs, Hale Bopp Leech, Squirrel Leech, Egg Sucking Leech, Crank Shaft, Buzzers, Zebra, CDC Pheasant Tail, Hare’s Ear, Duracell Jig, Hammerhead Jig etc
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