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This is not a fishing report per se, but I went and did a little visual investigating at Harriman today.
DOW report: http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Fishing/FisheryWaterSummaries/Summaries/Northeast/HarrimanLake.pdf
The DOW has Harriman slated for reintroduction of LMB in fall of this year. I observed a robust population of juvenile bluegills and several schools of fathead minnows I estimate to have been in the range of fifty dozen per school. One thing I did not see were any crawfish, though I did not overturn any rocks. Thankfully, I saw zero carp of any kind. ;D The water quality is looking very good. I estimate ten plus feet visibility. Large amounts of zooplankton (daphnia) observed. There is a LOT more rip-rap than there used to be. All in all, I say changes for the better, with one significant exception...
Most of the lake is now off limits. Only the dam area and two tiny spots are available to public use. The vast majority of the lake is posted as "critical marsh habitat" or some such crap. Listen, I am as big a tree hugger as you are likely to encounter, but this ain't exactly Sasquatch breeding territory we are talking here. Open it up. Denver Water has a proven track record of having a TIN EAR when it comes to the use of their facilities by the public. In case anyone failed to notice, the front range of Colorado is not loosing population. We NEED additional facilities for public recreation, and the fact that the majority of this lake has been taken away from us is scandalous. I am not impressed.
All in all, the lake looks set for a great re-boot. Forage species are established and water quality looks excellent. I just wish Denver Water would get with the program and realize they have a mandate to leverage their holdings to further the public good.
-SS
DOW report: http://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/Fishing/FisheryWaterSummaries/Summaries/Northeast/HarrimanLake.pdf
The DOW has Harriman slated for reintroduction of LMB in fall of this year. I observed a robust population of juvenile bluegills and several schools of fathead minnows I estimate to have been in the range of fifty dozen per school. One thing I did not see were any crawfish, though I did not overturn any rocks. Thankfully, I saw zero carp of any kind. ;D The water quality is looking very good. I estimate ten plus feet visibility. Large amounts of zooplankton (daphnia) observed. There is a LOT more rip-rap than there used to be. All in all, I say changes for the better, with one significant exception...
Most of the lake is now off limits. Only the dam area and two tiny spots are available to public use. The vast majority of the lake is posted as "critical marsh habitat" or some such crap. Listen, I am as big a tree hugger as you are likely to encounter, but this ain't exactly Sasquatch breeding territory we are talking here. Open it up. Denver Water has a proven track record of having a TIN EAR when it comes to the use of their facilities by the public. In case anyone failed to notice, the front range of Colorado is not loosing population. We NEED additional facilities for public recreation, and the fact that the majority of this lake has been taken away from us is scandalous. I am not impressed.
All in all, the lake looks set for a great re-boot. Forage species are established and water quality looks excellent. I just wish Denver Water would get with the program and realize they have a mandate to leverage their holdings to further the public good.
-SS
