Another group of scenic waters just out of Colorado Springs on the north slope of Pikes Peak are Crystal Creek Reservoir, and North and South Catamounts. The lakes suffered from drought for a number of years, but now the reservoirs have come back very well. "I think this year, anglers will be seeing these reservoirs fairly full again and we will be getting back to full stocking," said Krieger. "There is a small charge to get to the reservoirs, but it is very scenic; great waters to take the family. They ice-out about the middle of May."

COLORADO RIVER BASIN
Blue Mesa Reservoir, near Gunnison, is the largest coldwater reservoir in Colorado. Rainbow trout and kokanee salmon are stocked; lake trout, which reproduce naturally, grow to trophy size here. The best time to fish for lake trout is immediately after ice-out.

The Gunnison River provides some of the best trophy brown and rainbow trout fishing. Numerous fish over 16 inches can be caught, particularly in the middle stretch between Crystal Creek and the confluence with the North Fork, but only foot access is allowed in this section. The Gunnison River flows into Blue Mesa.

"Generally in the spring when the ice goes out, the fish bite pretty good, usually until mid-July when the surface waters warm up and the fish tend to go down deeper," said Mike Japhet, fishery biologist with the CDOW. "Fishing on the surface with bait, flies or lures will often produce results. The later into the summer you go, the more terrestrial insects and flying insects there are. Then switch to dry flies and fish the surface. Early in the season, you want to be down under the water with a flashy lure, like a gold Mepps, Panther Martin, or be fishing with bait."

Another popular reservoir is Vallecito, 30 miles southeast of Durango. As with Blue Mesa, Vallecito contains rainbow trout and kokanee salmon, plus trophy-sized northern pike. Ice-out normally occurs in late April.

"Troll slowly with a series of silver flashing spoons tied in a row, small hook baited with a piece of night crawler, trolled say 23 feet deep for kokanee, an open-water fish," advises Japhet. Finding the right depth is usually the key to catching fish.

Three key streams in this area are the Roaring Fork, Piedra River and the Animas River. "Roaring Fork River near Aspen has good rainbow and brown trout populations and is designated a Gold Medal water."

The state's newest Gold Medal water is the Animas River, boasting many brown and rainbow trout in 14- to 18-inch range. The Animas is best fished after snowmelt, from mid-April to June. Black Canyon, on the Gunnison River below Blue Mesa Reservoir, is a hike-in only trip.

Piedra River, by Pagosa Springs, is another walk-in river. About one to two miles to reach, the river offers very good fishing for rainbow and brown trout, especially late in the summer after the peak of the runoff.

"Most Colorado streams are not stocked because there is natural reproduction," explained Japhet. "There are a few exceptions in heavily populated areas. In recent years, because of the drought, we had to restock some streams. But wilderness and backcountry streams, those without a road to them, we do not stock annually."

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Colorado anglers can see the 2006 fishing regulations booklet at license dealers statewide or online on the Department of Wildlife's Web page: http://wildlife.state.co.us/.