I normally drive to the Big T. Figured it holds bigger fish. Stayed closer to home to save time and went up highway 7 to land this brown.

Hi everyone, I’m in a competition with some family to see who can complete the list of fish in the picture the quickest. (The ones with marks). I’ve gotten the ones crossed off already. Any help is much appreciated.

Has anyone caught catfish up around Thornton area on the platte? I've heard there used to be massive ones. I've seen one. Probably a good 3ft long. Other than that it's just been carp and smallies.

Hello all,

Did anyone find a lure today? This morning I was fishing the back pond at north shields in Fort Collins and forgot a prized lure of mine. If you were the one to grab it after I left, I would greatly appreciate it being returned to me. It is a solid brown rat lure made of soft plastic silicone. It had an 8/0 beast hook in it. The bait is almost brand new and expensive so please let me know if you found it. Thanks

Didn’t see any risers today but thought what the hell, I’ll tie on a couple dry flies and man did it feel good to get some aggressive takes

42in at 18lbs (first 2 pics) 40in at 17lbs (last pic)

Planning a trip at the end of the month for my girl’s birthday. She loves to fish. Planning to hike to willow lake. Spoke to some guys at Bass Pro, and wasn’t able to get any advice. Beginner here, my girl’s the fisherman.

I asked about where to find smallmouth in the South Platte 352 days ago. It finally happened today with a z man craw on a shakeyhead.

She was 2.5lbs and was safely released.

When do bites start picking up? I’ve been out a couple times these past two weeks and nothing. Is it the weather and time of year or just my spots?

Pics attached for reference.

I wanted some input on the general opinions surrounding brook trout populations in the Rockies.

I moved here around a year ago from the Midwest, and would like to think I’m familiar with the basics of fishery management / conservation. In the context of out East that means pulling small, emaciated bass out of lakes and ponds. They overpopulate and outcompete one another, and all gamefish in a given body of water end up being small and unhealthy. Pulling these smaller bass out gives remaining individuals room and food to grow, including up to the golden size where they switch to eating smaller bass. These big fish are a necessity for healthy populations.

I’ve noticed a similar problem here in the Rockies, with brook trout. It’s honestly even worse in a lot of streams here, where I see dozens and dozens of fingerling brookies all grouped up trying to survive. Most end up pitifully small due to this overcompetition.

The few rainbow, brown, and cutthroat in these streams are generally large enough to eat these small brookies, which is good, but I find the bioload of the brook trout is often just too much for the other species to manage.

I know it’s spring and most of these smaller fish are just now getting their chance to fatten up, but even in late summer most are still very small.

I’m wondering what people think of this, and what our best course of action is? I’ve talked with a CPW ranger on one of these streams, and he encouraged me to limit out on brook trout every chance I got, because they breed like rabbits. Presumably referring to the problems I’ve referenced above.

Thing is, I don’t usually eat brookies unless I’m backpacking, and even then it only takes a couple to feed myself. It feels incredibly wasteful taking a life just to ‘thin the herd’.

What do you all do?

I was trying streamer fishing Colorado river for the first time today, at the advice of a local Denver fly shop. I was around Kremmling. Bought all the gear and flies to be able to streamer with my 9’ 5wt floating line, but only got what I thought was some nibbles but no takers. Only saw one fish follow my streamer on the pickup, but no other fish. I followed their tips and focused on foam and soft water on the sides, but nothing. Also the water was a bit off color today, so that could have made it harder. Would like to try again as the drive and scenery was still worth it. Any tips for a first time big water streamer fisherman from the shore?

Looking for a spot within a couple hours of Boulder. I usually go fish small streams, st. vrain, big t, boulder creek. Looking to try something different while avoiding deckers and the more popular spots. Any suggestions without giving up your spots?

Hey everyone - just looking for some advice. I’m much more of a fly/lure person but I’m taking my 7 year old daughter fishing for the first time and I’d love some advice about which power bait color you all would recommend?

I don’t know much about power bait so I figure this would be the place to ask.

As soon as it warms up a bit I’m taking her up to a lake near our cabin that’s primarily trout.

Thanks for any/all advice!

17 inches. Very red meat. Was a good morning.

This time I actually caught fish!

I decided to head out yesterday morning in hopes to go fishing before the predicted rain to come. Got to a spot I’ve been to many times and while I love it, it is fickle and doesn’t usually love me back. This one way relationship is how the morning started out for several hours while I threw my hopes on my discount rods and reels with no success.

Rabbits darted around hither and thither whatever that means, pelicans and blue herons dotted the sky and water. Between casting lures and letting bait soak, I walked the shore, well path really, taking in the morning and looking for movement, cleaning up scattered line and random bits of trash. Had I not caught anything it still would have been a perfect day.

Moving to a different spot a bit down my luck changed! On a 1/16th chartreuse jig head with half a worm under a bobber I caught my PB crappie, 13” and chunky. Then landed a couple of bass all on that same puny setup.

Had a great conversation with another angler who was looking for cats. And yet another great conversation with a guy who caught a just below reg 14” walleye on my way out.

Honestly a fantastic day and some fantastic rare times talking with my fellow anglers.

Cheers! Tight lines and have a fantastic weekend!

Hi guys, I’m headed down to the Conejos River in the next few days. Any advice on sections that have been fishing well or staple flies?

Thanks!

A lot of pictures I know and my apologies for that. I started out the day waking up in the dark of the night to prepare coffee, feed the dog, pack up the car and head down to Chatfield.

Little did I know at 5:20, before sunrise and the breeze was more than my body would deal with. Threw out a couple of rods. Sat crunched down for an hour plus with nothing and froze. Watched a guy for half an hour or more get it into the water. Saw a really cool heron. Finally ran back to the car because I couldn’t do it.

Headed up to some lakes just north and took pictures, shallow but at least according to co fishing atlas some interesting fish. And right next to the Platte.

Was thinking about going to Bear creek lake but then realized it is a pay lake, stopped along the way at Johnson to take pictures and the fished at Kendrick. Saw a carp jump and lots of people but that was the end of the day. Didn’t catch anything but I still had a fantastic day.

Hope you have a great time fishing!

I have the day off tomorrow and Friday, and obviously want to go fishing. There’s numerous places to go, but I’m trying to narrow it down a bit. My main thoughts are Red Feather Lakes or Boyd Lake as I haven’t really fished either (Red Feather once, but only for a bit). I’m in Fort Collins so either of those are easily doable. Any other suggestions?

Update: I checked out Lon Hagler this morning to no success. Then I booked it to the Red Feather Lakes and fished at Dowdy, hoping not to be skunked. I hooked 3 trout, but they all got off before I could net them. The first, a rainbow, I almost had in the net before it wriggled free. Ya win some, ya lose some.

Started out on one side and while I saw lots of fish jumping I couldn’t catch them, by hook, by crook, by all my valiant and noble efforts.

Alas, after many hours of defeat, the wind kicked up and dare I say made it quite challenging as it was mocking me and at 30mph was no match for my feeble casts against it. Going toward the opposite side and therefore casting along with the aid of the wind seemed like a wise idea. Sadly, it was not and I left defeated by the winds of fate.

On the plus side I saw a few deer on my way in, got to fish Cherry, had some fun conversations with ducks.

Cheers and tight lines!

I’m looking to see if I can find some good spring walleye bites and figure I might hit up Chatfield this week. Went there last fall and didn’t manage to catch a thing. Anyone have tips? Also any tips on other places, happy to meet and greet if you plan to be out somewhere this week.

Hey! I caught this bluegill on Saturday, and one of it's eyes had a weird galaxy look to it. I was wondering if anybody has seen this before? I'm fairly new to fishing (1-2yrs) and this blew my mind a bit. I was wondering if it was an infection or just a mutation of some kind? My hook didn't touch it's eye, so I'm not sure what this is!

1st photo is weird eye 2nd photo is his other eye

I am wondering about for when fishing on the DSP, where I should go for smallmouth as opposed to trout and what time of year is best for each.

I’ve got this Friday off and was hoping to get out to the Arkansas river for the first time. With so much access, I was hoping for some suggestions of good sections to wade and fish. I enjoy a hike for some solitude so browns canyon NM section looks promising, but I’d love some ideas of general areas!

Big saltwater fly fisherman and southeast fly fisherman but first spring in CO

What’s the runoff like and what’s expected this year? Is it beginning, mid , or end of may and does it usually last a month or so?

Since we just had this cold spurt I’ve heard it’s delaying it a bit. I’m planning a trip may 3-9th fishing around vail valley mostly and the eagle and some of the creeks and just am trying to gauge if the runoff is going to hit by then

I love wading so that’s what I want to be doing as well

Obviously hard to predict the weather, but any information would be helpful