Outdoors - Hunting and Fishing

Rising Lake Powell makes fishing a bit harder

Lake Elevation: 3,623 msl Water Temperature 63-69 F PAGE, Ariz. — Lake Powell is coming up at a rate of 3-4 inches per day which makes fishing the shoreline a bit more difficult. In these conditions bass are still very active but it is necessary to fish deeper water.  It is best to cast to the edge of a drop off instead of the sandy flat that may look quite promising. The row of trees will begin to disappear with only a few stickup limbs to mark their presence. That may be ...

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App boasts better fishing with no catch

This week’s Outside Connection is a free app that’s said to be easy to use and helps you catch more fish. So, what is the catch? According to the folks at Fishbuster, there is none. “I designed the application for fishermen like me who want to optimize their leisure time and increase the probability of catching more fish,” said Fishbuster creator Jeff Pick. According to Pick, once FishBuster downloads to your desktop or phone, it sorts through site-specific ...

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Colorado Division of Wildlife’s weekly fishing report, May 25, 2010

Seasonal Report: Let’s Fish! Memorial Day weekend is the time for road trips, weekend getaways, cookouts with family and friends, and of course, fishing. For many folks, Memorial Day weekend represents the unofficial start of summer and kicks off the outdoor recreation season. From recent statewide stocking to ever changing aquatic hatches, Colorado waters are flourishing with activity. This is a great weekend to take advantage of Colorado’s outdoor playgrounds. Rivers and ...

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Blue Mesa kokanee salmon numbers cause for concern

Colorado Division of Wildlife biologists this year are continuing a project aimed at protecting kokanee salmon by reducing the number of lake trout in Blue Mesa Reservoir. The project includes netting and removing lake trout up to the 30-inch range, since those, according to the division, account for most of the predation on kokanee salmon. Last fall, 900 lake trout were removed from the reservoir, located between Montrose and Gunnison on U.S. Highway 50. The fish were given to local ...

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Lake Powell bass spawn nearing its end

Lake Elevation: 3,622 msl Water Temperature 60-66 F PAGE, Ariz. — Warming had the expected effect. Bass reoccupied nests that were abandoned during the cold spell. Bass nests were found along much of the shoreline this week. Typically there is a row of brush sticking out of the water in the coves. Largemouth nests will be between the shore and the brush while smallmouth nests will be on the deep water side of the brush line. Largemouth make their nest close to the base of the ...

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Colorado Division of Wildlife’s weekly fishing report, May 18, 2010

Seasonal Report: Here Comes the Sun Sunshine and warmer temperatures have made a welcomed return to Colorado. Sunday was the first day in some time that folks could go outside without a sweater and actually feel comfortable. It looks like we may have finally turned the corner from wet spring storms to drier, pleasant conditions. Spring fever is all around us, as many schools will be letting out soon. Memorial Day weekend is just around the corner. Anglers will soon have their sights set ...

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Despite high water in Gunnison River, there’s still plenty of opportunity to fish

High water in the Gunnison River, planned through next week to meet peak flow demands through the Black Canyon, might chase off some folks, but if you go with a plan, it’s also the time for opportunity. There still is good fishing available if you simply change your ideas of where trout are found when the water comes up. As fishing guide Marshall Prendergast reminded us earlier this week, faster flows tend to push trout toward the edges and the backwaters. This actually can make ...

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Wildlife commissioner hosts meeting in Hotchkiss

Colorado Wildlife Commission Mark Smith of Center will host a public meeting from 6:30 p.m.until 8:30 p.m. May 25 at Memorial Hall in Hotchkiss. Smith is a rancher in the San Luis Valley and has more than 30 years experience in farm and ranch management. He has been on the wildlife commission for a year and represents the agriculture/produce growers’ interests and concerns. Smith will provide updates on regional and state wildlife issues and take input from the public on any issues ...

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Boat inspections now mandatory for Colorado waters

Watercraft inspections to prevent the spread of invasive aquatic species are now mandatory in Colorado for both resident and non-resident motorized watercraft. State-certified inspections and decontaminations are available at more than 200 locations statewide, including select Division of Wildlife offices, state, federal, county and municipal reservoirs and a number of private marinas and boat dealers. Mandatory inspections are limited to trailered watercraft. Hand-launched crafts, ...

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Cool weather stalls spawn at Lake Powell

Lake Elevation: 3,621 msl Water Temp:  55-66 F PAGE, Ariz. — Cold, windy weather stalled much of the expected spawning activity this past week. Runoff slowed allowing the lake to rise only one foot in a week. Surface water temperature has been in the mid 50s most mornings. But that is now history and a new warming trend is developing. The modest rise in lake elevation means that clear water still exists in the main and southern lake. Backs of canyons and coves still offer the ...

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Officials to ramp up Gunnison River flow through Black Canyon

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced Monday that flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon will be increased to 3,883 cubic feet per second for a 24-hour period projected for Tuesday. Increasing (or ramping up) the flows by about 500 cfs per day should meet the May 18 target, said Dan Crabtree, lead hydrologist for the Bureau’s Grand Junction office. One cfs is equal to 646,317 gallons per day. The peak flows and accompanying shoulder flows are components of the ...

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Highline, Fruita state parks full for Memorial Day weekend

Only halfway through May and already campsites at Colorado’s state parks are filling for the Memorial Day weekend. Vega State Park has campsites available Highline Lake, Fruita and Rifle Falls are among the state parks no longer accepting reservations. According to a state parks spokesperson, campsites still are available for all three weekend nights at 11 state parks: Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, Eleven Mile, Island Acres, Mancos, Navajo, Pearl Lake, Ridgway, Stagecoach, ...

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Gunnison River to reach peak flows May 18

The Bureau of Reclamation announced Monday that flows in the Gunnison River through the Black Canyon will be increased to 3,883 cubic feet per second for a 24-hour period projected for May 18. Increasing (or ramping up) the flows by about 500 cfs per day should meet the May 18 date, said Dan Crabtree, lead hydrologist for the Bureau’s Grand Junction office. The peak flows and accompanying shoulder flows are components of the Black Canyon reserved water right. That 2008 settlement ...

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Colorado Division of Wildlife’s weekly fishing report, May 11, 2010

Seasonal Report: Off and Running It’s hard to believe we’re approaching mid-May already! The runoff has started to muddy up waters all across the state. This will likely be the case for the rest of the spring. Early morning action is your best bet for fly fishing opportunities. Not all hope is lost however. Plenty of good fly fishing opportunities remain. The Arkansas River is still fishing very well, with good visibility. The caddis hatch is continuing to make its way ...

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Tularemia suspected in deaths of beavers

Colorado wildlife officials are blaming water-borne tularemia for the deaths of several beavers in San Miguel and Gilpin counties. “Seeing two small outbreaks in different parts of the state at the same time is probably just a coincidence,” said Dr. Lisa Wolfe, wildlife veterinarian with Colorado Division of Wildlife.  “Water-borne tularemia outbreaks tend to be reported in spring, so these seem to be pretty typical cases.” Wolfe said water-borne tularemia ...

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World-class deer taxidermy to be on display at Sportsman’s Warehouse

A traveling display of world-class mule deer and western whitetail taxidermy will visit the Grand Junction Sportsman’s Warehouse May 14 - 16. The store is located at 2464 U.S. Highway 6 & 50. The Eastman Trophy Deer Tour features a dozen mule deer and whitetail mounts with information about the deer, the hunter and location of the kill. All heads have been scored by the Boone & Crockett Club. The tour travels more than 60,000 miles each year and is seen by more that 150,000 ...

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Wildlife commission to set limited big-game license numbers

Final license numbers for all 2010 limited deer, elk, pronghorn, black bear and moose will be set Thursday when the Colorado Wildlife Commission meets in Glenwood Springs. The meeting will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:20 p.m. at the Ramada Inn and Suites, 124 W. 6th St. In addition to setting license numbers, the commission will also finalize provisions related to Division of Wildlife properties and consider several changes in the Landowner Pilot Program in Game Management Unit 1. The ...

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May fishing at Lake Powell offers unique experience

Lake Elevation: 3,620 msl Water Temperature 56-66 F PAGE, ARIZ. — Fishing in May is always a unique experience.  Expectations for targeting a certain fish species often go unfilled only to be replaced by an even better success. The lake begins to fill in a respectable manner and then the river gushes forth with reckless abandon. It seems bass and crappie go deeper but, in actuality, they stay where the original nest was placed. The rising lake level covers the nest with more ...

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Colorado Division of Wildlife’s weekly fishing report, May 4, 2010

Seasonal Report: A Time of Excitement! May is the time of year when anglers really start setting their sights on all the different fishing opportunities Colorado has to offer. Many waters that were iced-over are finally starting to break free from winter’s hold. Rivers and streams are gearing up for the impending spring run-off. In the high country, muddy roads and trails can make getting to some waters a bit of a tricky proposition, but that won’t be enough to deter anglers ...

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Vega Reservoir opens Saturday for boating

With ice finally gone from Vega Reservoir, the popular destination 12 miles east of Collbran opens Saturday for boating. “This is a great time of year to enjoy some fantastic early season recreational fun at Vega State Park,” said Park Manager Bob Miller., “However, please remember to wear your life jackets while boating and make sure your kids wear one too.” According to Colorado law, only persons 16 years or older, or those 14 and 15 who have completed a boating ...

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