Pueblo Reservoir, CO Fishing Report

In every adversity is the seed of an equal or greater benefit.  

First thing Saturday morning the flows were increased from the ideal conditions we’ve seen to 1020 cfs. So hi ho a merry O a carpin’ I will go. One of my favorite spots produced prodigious numbers of small bass and with a little patience the carp came cruising along. Best pattern for carp (and bass) in lake pueblo was a size 12 rainbow wooly bugger drifting slowly in the lakes current about six feet deep.

Ben
 

The tailwater is really starting to turn on as hatches intensify and dam releases taper off.  Mornings and evenings are producing the hottest action but fish can be caught throughout the day.

Nymphing will generally be the best approach until water clarity improves in early fall.  Caddis larva and pupa, PMD and trico nymphs, aquatic worms and juvenille crayfish are all producing well.  Focus on the seams and be methodic in your approach.  Success will be measured in inches, and when you catch one fish there usually is more in the same lie.  Keep adjusting your weight so ensure your flies are reaching the bottom!  Streamers are a good option early and late in the day and have produced some very large fish recently. 

Wading has greatly improved over the past two weeks but exercise caution as the current is still very strong and  the water is stained.

The water temp is 72 degrees and the level is 10 feet below full. Fishing for all warm-water species has been good. Walleyes are being taken on worm harnesses and jigs near the dam through most of the day. Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs near the shore and along the rock walls. Fishing for crappie, wipers and bass around the submerged brush of the west end has been very good. Leeches have been an especially productive bait, but fish also are taking an assortment of shad imitations. Recreational boating traffic on the main part of the lake has been very heavy.

The water temp is 71 degrees and the level is 10 feet below full. Fishing for all warm-water species has been good. Walleyes are being taken on worm harness and jigs near the dam through most of the day. Smallmouth bass are being taken on tube jigs near the shore and along the rock walls. Fishing for crappie, wipers and bass around the submerged brush of the west end has been very good. Leeches have been an especially productive bait, but fish also are taking an assortment of shad imitations. Boat traffic on the main part of the lake has been very heavy and will increase during the holiday.

fish for small mouth and wipers. large shad patterns and leach patterns.

Fishing is starting to really heat up... literally!  The warmer weather that has eluded us for most of spring has finally arrived and the increasing in water temps has helped drive the bass off their deep water structure and into the coves.  Look for them to be feed aggressively with a preferance for larger offerings.  Big streamers and poppers should draw some viscous strikes. 

If you're not fly fishing, try tube jigs, plastic worms, crank baits and surface poppers.

Rating: Fair, but steadily improving

    Fishing on the reservoir is starting to pick up as water temps are climbing into the mid 50's in the coves.  The big wild card of late has been high winds, particularly in the afternoon.  Look for things to improve quickly once we see a week or two of consistently warm weather and the water temps climb another 5 degrees or so.  Bass, Wiper and Walleye are all being caught but it's been hit or miss.  
    
     

10 lb hybrids are being pulled out on shad patterns. white #2,4

Crazy good fishing in these parts.

 The winter water storage program ended at midnight of March 15th.  What this means for anglers is that flows will generally be higher and more prone to fluctuate, but we should have several more weeks of prime fishing left before the flows are significantly increased.   With that said, water temperatures are increasing and the midge hatch has been prolific.  The mature rainbows are spawning so keep an eye out for beds and be sure not to wade across them.

 The winter water storage program ended at midnight of March 15th.  What this means for anglers is that flows will generally be higher and more prone to fluctuate, but we should have several more weeks of prime fishing left before the flows are significantly increased.   With that said, water temperatures are increasing and the midge hatch has been prolific.  The mature rainbows are spawning so keep an eye out for beds and be sure not to wade across them.