I'd fish the flattops wilderness area if I was you. Good hiking, camping, and great fishing opportunities!
Recommendation for Mid June
My son has enlisted in the Army Reserve and ships out for basic on June 21. (he is gonna be a medic, following his dad's footsteps) I am taking him and his older brother on a 3 or 4 day camping/fishing trip before he leaves. My question is.........Where do you think the best place would be at that time. We want to stay in state. (too expensive for me to buy the boys out of state licenses) We are interested in most fish, wipers, walleye, trout, bass. Basically we want some place with decent camping accommodations, (shade is high on the list) and the likelyhood of decent fishing action!
I really want to make this a memorable trip for all the obvious reasons.
Thanks
Dan
I really want to make this a memorable trip for all the obvious reasons.
Thanks
Dan
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
Yep! Definitely some beautiful scenery up there. Don't get me wrong, I love my Eastern Plains reservoirs, but nothing really beats our higher elevations when it comes to peace, quiet, and decent fishing action. The trout may not compare to the heards of 4- 7 lb wipers, but catching a itty bitty beautiful wild trout is also hard to beat. Oh yeah.... Plenty of shade, of course.. LOL!!TroutFishingBear said:I'd fish the flattops wilderness area if I was you. Good hiking, camping, and great fishing opportunities!
Dan.. If you don't mind rattlesnakes, a burnin sun and baring with a few pleasure sporters on the water, you could also try Bonny. That's IF you have a leaning towards the warmwater stuff. With the low water levels, you might be surprised on how the fishing action is. They're more concentrated and since the lake is low, you have the options of boating (with a small boat) or shore fishing with just about the same amount of success. I fished there just about the previous year and it aint bad as everyone thought it would be. If you decide there, the East Campground right below the dam provides some shade. Just remember to reserve a good shaded spot ahead of time.
I dont know anything about mountain fishing. So im going to say bonny. Great crappie fishing, good for wipers and white bass to. It also provides shade.
June is usually a great time to go fishing in Colorado.
The Blue River is a good choice it has 3 good sections, the Blue river, Dillon Reservoir, Green Mountain Reservoir. The Blue river flows threw those 2 reservoirs and past Green Mountain. So lots of camping areas. Here are some others that are good in June according to the DOW.
CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR: There is premier trophy walleye fishing at Cherry Creek. Best fishing occurs in mid-May to early June with jigs, bait and plugs along the dam and island. Anglers can also find crappies, wipers and catchable stocked trout. A State Parks Pass is required. Location: Interstate 225 to Parker Road, south on Parker Road to the east entrance off South Yosemite Street.
SPINNEY MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR: The place for consistent large rainbows (16-inch plus), browns and Snake River cutthroats. Best fishing right after April ice-out. Excellent belly boat or shore fishing and trophy northern pike can be taken, best in June. A State Parks Pass is required. Location: West of Colorado Springs on Highway 24 for 55 miles to Country Road 23. Drive south for 2.8 miles and east on County Road 59 for 1 mile to entrance
CONEJOS RIVER: The Conejos River is providing excellent fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout. Prolific hatches of stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies occur from May through July. Best fishing follows snow runoff in late June and July. Special regulations apply to two stretches. Location: Lower section: from Antonito 16 miles west on Highway 17 to Aspen Glade Campground. Access is through fishing easements on private property. Upper section: from Antonito 21 miles west on Highway 17 to USFS Road 250. Drive 9 miles north to public land upstream of South Fork Conejos River Confluence.
RIO GRANDE: The mighty Rio Grande begins its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico high in the San Juan. Look for good brown and rainbow trout fishing from Rio Grande Reservoir downstream to Del Norte. Fly-fishing is best June through July when stonefly and mayfly hatches dominate fish diets. The Gold Medal section from South Fork to Del Norte provides trophy brown trout. Location: West of Del Norte and north of South Fork to Creede. There is easy access to the river via highways 160 and 149. Much of the river is privately owned, but public access is excellent through numerous state leases.
SANCHEZ RESERVOIR SWA: Quality-sized yellow perch and trophy northern pike dominate the catch at this cool-water reservoir in the San Luis Valley with walleye also being caught. Fishing is best following ice melt in May and June. Popular lures include plastic jigs and crankbaits worked along the rocky shoreline. A concrete boat ramp and camping is allowed east of the boat ramp. Location: From San Luis, 3 miles east on Highway 152 to Highway 242, then 5.2 miles south. Anglers should take note of this mercury warning issued by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.
ANIMAS RIVER: The state's newest Gold Medal water boasts many brown and rainbow trout 14-18 inches. Be aware of where you fish near Durango as there are restrictions and some private land. This river is best fished after snowmelt, from mid-April to June. Location: Take Highway 160 to Highway 550 to a stretch of the Animas River near Durango.
TAYLOR RIVER AND RESERVOIR: Excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing is available in the tailwater below Taylor Park Dam where some of the largest rainbows in the state can be found. Rainbows 10-14 inches are common. Trophy lake trout and northern pike are often caught, especially in May and June. Some opportunity exists for brown trout and kokanee salmon. Location: Northeast of Almont on Highway 742.
The Blue River is a good choice it has 3 good sections, the Blue river, Dillon Reservoir, Green Mountain Reservoir. The Blue river flows threw those 2 reservoirs and past Green Mountain. So lots of camping areas. Here are some others that are good in June according to the DOW.
CHERRY CREEK RESERVOIR: There is premier trophy walleye fishing at Cherry Creek. Best fishing occurs in mid-May to early June with jigs, bait and plugs along the dam and island. Anglers can also find crappies, wipers and catchable stocked trout. A State Parks Pass is required. Location: Interstate 225 to Parker Road, south on Parker Road to the east entrance off South Yosemite Street.
SPINNEY MOUNTAIN RESERVOIR: The place for consistent large rainbows (16-inch plus), browns and Snake River cutthroats. Best fishing right after April ice-out. Excellent belly boat or shore fishing and trophy northern pike can be taken, best in June. A State Parks Pass is required. Location: West of Colorado Springs on Highway 24 for 55 miles to Country Road 23. Drive south for 2.8 miles and east on County Road 59 for 1 mile to entrance
CONEJOS RIVER: The Conejos River is providing excellent fishing for wild brown and rainbow trout. Prolific hatches of stoneflies, caddisflies and mayflies occur from May through July. Best fishing follows snow runoff in late June and July. Special regulations apply to two stretches. Location: Lower section: from Antonito 16 miles west on Highway 17 to Aspen Glade Campground. Access is through fishing easements on private property. Upper section: from Antonito 21 miles west on Highway 17 to USFS Road 250. Drive 9 miles north to public land upstream of South Fork Conejos River Confluence.
RIO GRANDE: The mighty Rio Grande begins its long journey to the Gulf of Mexico high in the San Juan. Look for good brown and rainbow trout fishing from Rio Grande Reservoir downstream to Del Norte. Fly-fishing is best June through July when stonefly and mayfly hatches dominate fish diets. The Gold Medal section from South Fork to Del Norte provides trophy brown trout. Location: West of Del Norte and north of South Fork to Creede. There is easy access to the river via highways 160 and 149. Much of the river is privately owned, but public access is excellent through numerous state leases.
SANCHEZ RESERVOIR SWA: Quality-sized yellow perch and trophy northern pike dominate the catch at this cool-water reservoir in the San Luis Valley with walleye also being caught. Fishing is best following ice melt in May and June. Popular lures include plastic jigs and crankbaits worked along the rocky shoreline. A concrete boat ramp and camping is allowed east of the boat ramp. Location: From San Luis, 3 miles east on Highway 152 to Highway 242, then 5.2 miles south. Anglers should take note of this mercury warning issued by the Colorado Department of Health and Environment.
ANIMAS RIVER: The state's newest Gold Medal water boasts many brown and rainbow trout 14-18 inches. Be aware of where you fish near Durango as there are restrictions and some private land. This river is best fished after snowmelt, from mid-April to June. Location: Take Highway 160 to Highway 550 to a stretch of the Animas River near Durango.
TAYLOR RIVER AND RESERVOIR: Excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing is available in the tailwater below Taylor Park Dam where some of the largest rainbows in the state can be found. Rainbows 10-14 inches are common. Trophy lake trout and northern pike are often caught, especially in May and June. Some opportunity exists for brown trout and kokanee salmon. Location: Northeast of Almont on Highway 742.
Epic,
Can you tell me what lake and what time the wipers are going to bite this weekend?
Can you tell me what lake and what time the wipers are going to bite this weekend?
Haha I wish! I'd be there. Going have to fish slow with this cold front settling over the area. Try to follow the the bait fish.
In mid june I would go to North Park!!!! Lakes up there are the best!!! The lodge at Lake John is cheep, the food is great!! They have boats for rent and the people who run it know all the lakes an streams in the area. The best thing about it is you could catch it at the right time an have it all to yourself!!! No crowds of people up there. The fishing in North Park is not spoiled by over fishing!!! Walden is a great town and the people are just glad to see you! Big Creek Lakes the mountains run right in to the water! Tigers, Lake Trout,Brookies,Bows all are Large!! Delanney Buttes North, the only lake in the state they take eggs for Brown Trout. Giant Browns and also large Bows now! South Delanny Buttes has some rather large Bows,Snake River Cuts. The streams up there are great too! Lake John is also one of the fastest growing fish lakes in the state. Last year the fish average was 16 to 18 inches? Add three or four inches to that this year! I think it is the best fishing in the state! GOOD FISHING VN/VET69-70
TAYLOR RIVER AND RESERVOIR: Excellent rainbow and brown trout fishing is available in the tailwater below Taylor Park Dam where some of the largest rainbows in the state can be found. Rainbows 10-14 inches are common. Trophy lake trout and northern pike are often caught, especially in May and June. Some opportunity exists for brown trout and kokanee salmon. Location: Northeast of Almont on Highway 742.
This lake is great i fished it afew times. I would also consider stagecoach huge pike and rainbows. Campground has payshowers.
This lake is great i fished it afew times. I would also consider stagecoach huge pike and rainbows. Campground has payshowers.
How about some ideas for the Colorado Springs Pueblo area. It looks like he might be in CS almost the entire day that we want to leave so I may just pick him up there rather than wait for him to drive back to Denver.
Thoughts about Pueblo, how about 11-mile, think the weather would be decent up there? I am pretty vague on the waters and camping in that area.
We do want to take the boat and fish both day and at night.
Dan
Thoughts about Pueblo, how about 11-mile, think the weather would be decent up there? I am pretty vague on the waters and camping in that area.
We do want to take the boat and fish both day and at night.
Dan
Dan I would go fish Trinidad State Park...it might be warm in the daytime but there are some spots with decent shade trees and it would be warmer at night for night fishing...it is a lake that you never know what you are going to catch...showers if I remember right are free...town is only a few miles away and the campground is cut out of the foothills...there isnt a marina and you wouldnt have any traffic from Denver...it is a 130 miles south of the Springs...contains rainbow and brown trout, largemouth bass, channel catfish, walleye, crappie, bluegill and wipers...last years master angler awards included two walleyes around 32 inches, a channel catfish of 31 inches and a 42 inch musky...I have had to beat trout off with a stick there...
Here is the short list for our trip.
Jackson-wipers and catfish
Bonny-walleye, wipers and bass
Trinidad-walleye
Karval/Kinney-bass, bluegill and catfish (also off the beaten path so my boys and I can fish in peace.)
My son is in the reserve right now and has weekend duty scheduled for the day we want to leave, I guess they are gonna go shoot machine guns that weekend at Ft Carson.
They may have him do an alternative weekend because he has not gone through basic yet.
Depending on if he has duty or not will help decide where to go. If I pick him up in the Springs we want to go south or east. Hence Karval/kinney or Trinidad. If no duty than we can chose from any of them.
If we decide on Karval/Kinney, we will take the camper and canoe. Everywhere else the boat.
So we are watching the reports to see what is hot or not and if some body really turns on and driving time does not turn out to be an issue we can go another direction.
Jackson-wipers and catfish
Bonny-walleye, wipers and bass
Trinidad-walleye
Karval/Kinney-bass, bluegill and catfish (also off the beaten path so my boys and I can fish in peace.)
My son is in the reserve right now and has weekend duty scheduled for the day we want to leave, I guess they are gonna go shoot machine guns that weekend at Ft Carson.
They may have him do an alternative weekend because he has not gone through basic yet.
Depending on if he has duty or not will help decide where to go. If I pick him up in the Springs we want to go south or east. Hence Karval/kinney or Trinidad. If no duty than we can chose from any of them.
If we decide on Karval/Kinney, we will take the camper and canoe. Everywhere else the boat.
So we are watching the reports to see what is hot or not and if some body really turns on and driving time does not turn out to be an issue we can go another direction.
You've had alot of good suggestions but for my money I would go to 11-Mile for the pike and then on to Spinney for the trout. Mid June is peak time for pike at 11-Mile and Spinney is always good for trout. And you could fish the river between the two lakes or in the canyon if you wanted to do that. Ed
good choices dan. Hope you guys are able to fish together and catch a lot, or if not just have a great time 
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
- This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Colorado Fisherman Forum
A forum community dedicated to fishers, anglers, and enthusiasts in the Colorado area. Come join the discussion about safety, gear, tackle, tips, tricks, reviews, accessories, classifieds, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Recommended Communities
