The wind this past week had the fish and water temperatures on a rollercoaster in the early parts of this week. It messed up lots of bites that were just starting, like the panfish in ponds. The least affected fish seems to be the trout. The warm water fish bites should start rebounding this weekend with the warmer temps. Then we get hit with another cold front middle of next week.
This week I spent most of my time on Boyd and Union. The trout bite at Boyd is still going strong. Trolling in depths under 15’ has been for catching numbers and some holdovers. White bass are starting to show up in the warmer water. Smallmouths are starting to push shallower and being caught by anglers willing to put the effort in to locate them.
Union has been slowly increasing after the windy weekend. Trolling has been the most consistent, with the live bait bite just starting. Today I was able to catch both walleye and wipers pulling spinners.
HOT BITES
Cherry Creek - the trolling bite for walleyes using leadcore is picking up. Try trolling cranks around the main basin. I’d avoid the lake this weekend with the tournament going on. The bait bite is probably 2 weeks away from the begining.
Union - wipers are starting to pick up. Shore anglers are catching them along the SW side using bait, mainly mussels. Boaters are finding them scattered with spinners and crawlers. Fly fishermen are catching them using streamers and weighted lines. Whites and greens have been the best colors. Walleyes are showing up trolling on perch patterns. Spend time trying to find the schools of fish - they are moving every day. The deeper bites seem best from 9 am to noon.
Boyd - trout fishing is good to great! Trolling natural colored lures in water under 15 feet deep. Some white bass are starting to show up, most being caught while trolling for trout. Walleyes have still been hit or miss.
Horsetooth - big trout are being caught on the main lake points using jerkbaits. Smallmouth can be found in the deeper water staging to push to the shallows as the water temperature warms.
Ponds - lots of the ponds have recently been stocked with trout. This is a great opportunity to take kids out for some fun action. You can use bait or cast spoons and spinners to cover more water.
Crowd Warnings
Cherry Creek has a walleye tournament happening this weekend with almost 40 teams fishing both Saturday and Sunday.
Horsetooth has a bass tournament happening on Saturday.
I’ll be reaching out to competitors at both events early next week to get a rundown on what presentations had the best results to share next week.
CPW NEWS
Trout Stockings:
Fort Collins - City Park Pond
Boulder - Boulder Kids Pond, KOA Lake
Denver - Eaglerwatch Pond, Rocky Mountain Lake
Other NoCo Areas - Johnstown Res, Estes Lake
FLP FISHING TIPS - Spring Water Temp
Understanding water temperature is paramount for successful spring fishing, as it dictates the behavior and location of fish. As temperatures rise in the spring, fish become more active and begin to migrate from deeper, wintering areas to shallower waters in search of food and spawning grounds. Following the warmer pockets of water becomes crucial for anglers looking to capitalize on this seasonal movement. Warmer water not only stimulates fish metabolism, encouraging feeding activity, but it also attracts baitfish and other prey species, creating hotspots for predatory fish like bass, trout, and walleye.
Wind plays a critical role in guiding anglers to warmer water pockets during spring fishing expeditions. As wind blows across a body of water, it creates surface currents that push warmer water into downwind areas, concentrating heat and creating localized hotspots. It's essential to consider the intensity and consistency of the wind, as a hard, consistent wind can churn up the water and disrupt temperature patterns, making it more challenging to pinpoint warmer areas. After a prolonged period of consistent wind, anglers can often find warmer water on the side of the lake from which the wind has been blowing, as the wind can cause a return current back to the shoreline where the wind came from. By monitoring wind conditions and understanding its effects on water temperature, anglers can strategically position themselves to capitalize on the increased activity of fish in warmer waters during the spring season.