Does anyone here ever fish at Arvada Reservoir? I have wondered if the fishing is very good there. I do know that they are looking for volunteer rangers for the reservoir, and in exchange you get to fish for free, so i was wondering if it was worth checking into or not.
arvada reservoir
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yes it is lots of stockers but it is good food for the big muskies in the lake there are big bass also
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yea rainbow trout
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I drive by Arvada Res on my way to work and used to fish it a lot in 2002. The action seemed to taper off as more people started fishing it in 2003 and 2004.
I rank the fishing there as "fair" now. They stock it quite a bit and that is what most people catch 90% of the time. ("stockers" are those 10" rainbows or cutbows that they pour in by the hundreds. More of a revenue generator than a gamefish in my view.)
They have smallmouth in there too. I have caught some decent 14's but saw other folks pulling in a few 15's or better. Largemouth can average 5 pounds but the populations don't compare to other lakes I fish. The tiger muskie are there...don't hear of a lot folks catching them but they are there.
Fishing the coves or dam structure on the north/east side seem to work best for me but you can catch fish just about anywhere in there.
Hope that helps.
I rank the fishing there as "fair" now. They stock it quite a bit and that is what most people catch 90% of the time. ("stockers" are those 10" rainbows or cutbows that they pour in by the hundreds. More of a revenue generator than a gamefish in my view.)
They have smallmouth in there too. I have caught some decent 14's but saw other folks pulling in a few 15's or better. Largemouth can average 5 pounds but the populations don't compare to other lakes I fish. The tiger muskie are there...don't hear of a lot folks catching them but they are there.
Fishing the coves or dam structure on the north/east side seem to work best for me but you can catch fish just about anywhere in there.
Hope that helps.
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I caught a 8.5 lb. Brown out of there 3 years ago. I'm pretty sure that it wasn't a brood fish, as the fins were in great shape. We've caught a number of smallies in the14"-19" range. There are supposed to be a lot of wallies in there, but we've never been able to get any. Have any of you caught some?
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All I know is that they have some pictures at the shack where you check in that are definitely walleys-some pretty nice, but very few caught from what the volunteers say.
Kewl...I will have to check it out...didnt go in the shack...just talked to the rangerss/volunteers and were told there werent any...I am very glad to hear that...that you have seen pictures...better than a ranger may not know a sturgeon from a walleye!!!
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Walleyes have been stocked there since at least 2000. I have fished it several times for them but have had not had any luck. They are stocked as fry so I am sure they are good food for the other fish. The DOW has a report they produce on where they stock walleye- I do not know where to obtain it. I usually ask Robin Knox from the DOW when I run into him on occasion. He might even send it to you.
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I live near Arvada res and manage to fish it a few times a year. I've talked to a few of the rangers, anglers and some of the hardcore "residents" that fish this place continuously.
Walleye...very rare but do exist. The biggest one I have seen here (other than photos) was (2) pounds and about 15-inches approximate in 2002. I think you are correct about the "stocked as fingerlings but consumed quickly".
Muskies...these were more common in 2002 and I have to assume some have been removed. Just like the walleye...rare but do exist. Saw one guy in a boat land and release a beaute muskie in 2003.
Bass...decent smallmouth action with a few over 16-inches. Largemouth are not as good but do still thrive in average numbers with a few good ones over 17-inches. I love the bass so do me a favor and toss these guys back!
Stocked trout...these were much better this year. They stocked it early with 12-inch fish and let them acclimate. This made a huge difference IMO and most of the ones I saw at (weekend opener) looked real fat and healthy.
The key to Arvada res IMO is FISH IT EARLY. "Takers" hammer this water and remove the majority of fish (mostly trout) as the year goes on. Open April to October and the seasonal closure helps maintain some holdover fish population.
Walleye...very rare but do exist. The biggest one I have seen here (other than photos) was (2) pounds and about 15-inches approximate in 2002. I think you are correct about the "stocked as fingerlings but consumed quickly".
Muskies...these were more common in 2002 and I have to assume some have been removed. Just like the walleye...rare but do exist. Saw one guy in a boat land and release a beaute muskie in 2003.
Bass...decent smallmouth action with a few over 16-inches. Largemouth are not as good but do still thrive in average numbers with a few good ones over 17-inches. I love the bass so do me a favor and toss these guys back!
Stocked trout...these were much better this year. They stocked it early with 12-inch fish and let them acclimate. This made a huge difference IMO and most of the ones I saw at (weekend opener) looked real fat and healthy.
The key to Arvada res IMO is FISH IT EARLY. "Takers" hammer this water and remove the majority of fish (mostly trout) as the year goes on. Open April to October and the seasonal closure helps maintain some holdover fish population.
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