Boat ramps are opening and the water temps are starting to rise. Seems like we are getting 4-5 nice days followed by a couple cooler days. Typical March weather. The far NE corner of state got a pretty good amount of snow over the past couple days and this could slow down the bite out that way until the next warm stretch. I’m excite to hit a few of the NoCo lakes this week and catch some fish out of my boat.
Hot Bites
The rainbow trout are starting to spawn and pushing to the shorelines. This can make for some good fishing in the local ponds and lakes for the shore anglers. Look for areas with water flowing in and keep your casts parallel to the shore lines. Make sure to bring a towel these fish can be a bit messy during this time of the year as one friend found out this week. Small jigs, streamers, and jerkbaits would be my first choice when chasing the trout.
Walleye fishing has been best towards the evening and at night. The fish are moving up and thinking about spawning. Target the rocky shorelines and areas with water coming into the lake. Suspending jerkbaits and pitching jigs up close to shore will get bites. The daytime bite has been slower. Try trolling in the 1-1.3 mph range with small lures.
The panfish bite is picking up in the afternoons. Look for the muddy bottoms with some bug life. Often times these areas will be near cattails along the shorelines.
Largemouth bass fishing is picking up. This is not the time of year to be expecting to catch a ton of fish or fishing super fast but the fish you catch usually are good sized. Look for rocky areas or shorelines cover. These areas will warm up faster. I like throwing spinnerbaits with Colorado blades that you can work slowly, jerkbaits, rattle baits like a Rippin’ Rap or Rattle Trap, or a slow moving jig like a ned or tube. Once you do catch a bass work the area over as there are probably several others within one cast distance.
BOAT RAMPS AND ANS HOURS
Here is the most recent information on open boat ramps and the ANS schedule.
Boyd opens Mar. 11 - ANS 8a to 6p
Chatfield N ramp opens Mar. 11 - ANS 6a - 6p
Cherry Creek west ramp open - ANS M-F 8a - 5p, F-S 7a - 5p
Jackson open - ANS 8a - 4p
North Sterling Elks ramp opens Mar. 11 - ANS 8a - 4p
Union ramp is open
Lon Hagler ramp is open
St. Vrain Blue Heron is open
Prewitt is open
*Remember to have your boat registered and have all your safety equipment on your boat before heading to the lake for the first time. Do check that your fire extinguisher is up to date.
RADIO INTERVIEW
I’ll be on Terry Wickstrom Outdoors radio show this Saturday at 9:10 am to talk local fishing news and we will have a discussion on glide baits aka Jigging Raps. Tune in to 104.3 The Fan from 9-11 am every Saturday for Terry’s show.
CPW NEWS
Vote to confirm or reject the three wildlife commissioner appointment last year was delayed in the state Senate until Tuesday Mar. 12. For those wanting to send an email to your Senator in regards to these pending appointments here is a link to FIND YOUR SENATOR. This is the best way to have your voices heard.
Walleye spawning operations at Cherry Creek will be starting March 17 and be running until they fulfill the statewide goal. CPW will be conducting spawning operations at Pueblo and Cherry Creek. Look out for the nets and give them plenty of room. The nets are usually marked with an orange bouys on each end and the CPW rules are to stay at least 100 feet away from the nets. This work that the CPW fishery biologists do for walleye spawning is what ensures we have good walleye fishing for future years.
Trout stockings - Erie Lake north of Lafayette, Poplar Pond #2 at Pella Crossing west of Longmont, Milavec in Firestone
LAKE BREAKDOWNS
Boyd
Boyd is starting the ‘24 season with higher than normal water levels, only about 5-6 feet below full pool. This is provides for lots of additional cover for the early part of the year and means a shorter fill time. The cover should draw some warm water fish into those areas such as panfish, crappies, and largemouth bass. The shorter fill time will reduce the white bass bite in the marina cove.
White bass numbers are still good. There is a good distribution of sizes with decent numbers over 12 inches. Look to troll most of the year to find schools of white bass. Starting in late June you will start to see boils of the white bass, typically first thing in the morning or the last hour of light. When they are boiling try spinners, topwater, jerkbaits, or jigs with a minnow style plastic.
Walleye were a challenge for many people in ‘23. Numbers of walleyes under 16 inches have increased and should make for better fishing. Walleyes over 18 inches will still be hard to find. I recommend trolling with leadcore in April, then switching over to livebait in May through July.
Rainbow trout - good numbers of hold over trout should be present to start the year, with stockings starting any week. When stockings happen try fishing the marina cove and midlake area. Once the fish have been in the lake for a bit seems like the north shore along the no wake bouys and the south end near the bar are good spots for trout.
Largemouth bass fishing was tough in ‘23 after the lake filled. The CPW sampling showed the numbers were solid. Hopefully this means that fishing in ‘24 will be better. To start the year, try fishing the shallow cover with the warmest water and deeper man made cover. Starting in mid May try fishing the docks on the east side and the area between them.
Yellow perch numbers were the highest I’ve seen in the last 5-10 years. Most were in the 5-8 inch range. Try fishing worms along the weed edges on the north side for some fast action.
In ‘23, bluegill were good sized, 7”+ and should be the same in ‘24. It may take time to find schools of these bigger bluegills but it is worth the time.
Chatfield
Chatfield held a higher water level much of last year and throughout the winter. This provides lots of cover in the water and should have led to good spawning success of the largemouth, shad, and panfish.
Remember this spring the dam closure for walleye spawn is NOT being enforced at Chatfield.
Walleye numbers are still good. CPW sampling showed 70% of the walleye sampled were 10-15 inches and 25% in the 15-20 inch range. The 10-15 inchers should be in the 13-18” range this summer. With the better shad spawn the fish should look healthier and might be a touch tougher to catch. The key will be paying attention to the details to get more bites. Look for walleyes early on the rocks and inlet areas. The post spawn fish move to the warmer shallow water of Plum Creek, Catfish Flats, and King Fisher area. As the summer progresses try fishing the no wake area back by the swim beach. Late summer and fall brings on suspended trolling and reaction bait bites.
Smallmouth bass has good number and quality fish. In the ‘23 CPW sampling 47% were over 14" inches. Smallmouth can be caught much of the year along the rocks of the dam to Massey Draw area. Also look at the shoreline from the south marina to the no wake bouys. Especially those areas with larger river rock as opposed to the sandy areas.
Rainbow trout fishing will be good. Chatfield always has some quality hold over trout with some over 20 inches. Try fishing the shorelines near the fishing pier, Massey Draw, and north boat ramp cove. Early in the season - also try fishing for them in the flooded trees. Live bait fished on the bottom from shore or pitching spinners early in the day. Using jerkbaits being casted or trolled from a boat.
Black crappie numbers are increasing with 50% over 8%. If the water stays high in the spring and early summer look for the crappie fishing to be increasing at Chatfield. Back in the 80s there was actually some good crappies in the lake and I think it could be even better in 2-3 years. Look for the crappies to be associate to the deeper brush and trees.
North Sterling
North Sterling is still trying to recover from the the low water levels in 2021 and 2022. This year the lake is starting out almost full. Panfish typically recover quickest and currently, the crappies are doing the best of all species in the lake. I would look at the trees in the Darby arm for crappies. Those boat anglers who have FFS will have the best luck scoping the trees to find which area is holding fish. Fish will show up like Christmas lights in the trees on your screen. Try small tube jigs or floats with minnows when you find trees with fish in them.
There will be good numbers of carp that were very aggressive last year. Fly anglers and anglers pitching jigs were catching these fish. Although many anglers don’t like carp, they put up an amazing fight.
FISHING FUNNIES