Stillwater Fishing Reports

Stillwater Fishing Reports

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Local Warmwater:

Latest Update: 9/20/2024

Horsetooth/Warmwater Ponds Report:

Night time temperatures are beginning to drop bringing the bass up closer to the surface again making them easier to fish for. We are spoiled along the foothills because we get another chance at bass fishing during fall. Stripping leeches, buggers and even throwing some poppers will still find more active bass feeding as our water temperatures cool down.

Carp have been feeding heavily during warmer parts of the day prepping for winter as well. If fish are sunnig in the open, trying running unweighted leeches or hares ear's to fool them. For tailing fish, a Backstabber, Dirty Monkey or Carp Bitters are the best bet.

Don't forget that you can always take a guided warm water trip with us so if you want to expand your knowledge of warm water species, talk to us about taking a trip out on Horsetooth or Lone Tree Reservoir where you can catch bass, walleye, carp, and more!

Be sure to check the regulations of the natural areas because some have certain restrictions, you can check here. Have fun out there!

Recommended Warmwater Flies:

Bass:

  • Sparkle Minnow #04
  • Jawbreaker
  • Ritt's Fighting Craw
  • Meat Whistle
  • Balanced Baitfish
  • NearNuf Crayfish
  • Galloup's Nancy P
  • Thin Mint #06-10
  • Clouser Minnow #02-06

Pike:

  • Barry's Pike Fly
  • Game Changer
  • GT Roosta
  • Articulated Sparkle Minnow
  • EP Minnows
  • Clouser Minnows
  • Deceivers

Carp

  • Headstand
  • Backstabber
  • Swimming Nymph
  • Mayer's Mini Leech
  • Dirty Monkey
  • Montana Prince Nymph

Stillwater Trout

High alpine lakes and reservoirs are still fishing phenomenally. If you are looking for ways to wrap up the high alpine lake season, check out some of the still waters at the top of Poudre Canyon or venture out into Rocky Mountain National Park to hike up to the offerings that we have right in our backyard.

Dry Fly fishing can be extremely rewarding and productive since you are generally sight fishing and putting your flies in front of cruising trout. If you don't see much activity from the surface, work different depths with chironomids under indicators or strip leeches and damsel fly nymphs slowly along edges, drop offs, and in the deeper water. Terrestrial patterns like small ants, beetles, and grasshoppers have been working along with smaller Adams and midges.

Local Stillwaters

The Delaney lakes have begun fishing for Fall and are worth hitting. Running Chironomid leeches with a leech at the bottom during the day is a great option throughout the day. Stripping leeches, crayfish or streamers during low light times is very effective as well. Be well prepared for doing both and you should be able to find a few willing fish.

Ants and beetles on top with a small chironomid 3-4 feet down can be a very fun and effective way to fish these lakes as well and find a few dry fly eaters. Keep an eye out for closures on certain parts of Delaney as Fall hits and the browns begin to spawn.

The Plains Lakes have turned on as well. Utilize the same tactics mentioned above at these lakes as well. Leeches and buggers stripped in lower light conditions work very well and nymph rigs with scuds, chironomids, damsels and leeches will find fish through the higher sun periods of the day when fish may go deeper.