I dont have a boat so most of my time is spent on the banks. Can anyone give any better than normal areas on some of the bigger waters? ex: Aurora, chatfield. Who knows much about the Chatfield ponds this time of year? I'm just ready to catch some fish.
Walking the banks
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If you go to Chatfield try just to the west of the tower, there is a rocky bottom there and an area that comes out under the water to a point just outside the north boat cove. We have done well there spring, summer and fall. Try to work something that will not run too deep and use a slow retrieve so you don't lose all your lures on the rocks. If you are interested in being a bit less aggressive try a minnow or crawler on slip bobber 7-8 feet deep.
The nearer the tower you bet the deeper the water gets up to 12-15 feet 20-30 yards from shore.
Good Luck,
Dan
The nearer the tower you bet the deeper the water gets up to 12-15 feet 20-30 yards from shore.
Good Luck,
Dan
Hey, I'm a shore walker too!
Here's one for later spring. Once we're into mid April to early May, try casting crankbaits or large curly tail grubs along the Cherry Creek Dam at night. I've tried it, but no luck (cause of impatience), but I've seen a guy there catch some very decent sized walleye while doing the same thing. I talked with him once and he says per night that he actually goes out, he'll only catch 2 or 3, but all in the 22 inch and above range. I've seen him at Cherry Creek at least a few times while night fishing for wiper and failed attempts for walleye.
And if you ever feel like going hardcore on the bank walking, I recommend a work out on the dam of any lake casting jigs and lipless crankbaits. Roostertails do well to or even minnows under a slip bobber. Just remember to keep moving to find fish.
One of my all time favorite dams to walk is Bonny Reservoir in Eastern Colorado. If you catch yourself there at the right time, you'll wish you had bigger fishing line! I swear, some of those wipers at Bonny are cows!!
Boulder Reservoir Catfish: on the north shore. The bite picks up in late March and early April. May even be earlier sometimes. On a bright sunny day, before dark, cutbait is the only way to go. Not stinkbait, not nightcrawlers or any of that yet. Although nightcrawlers can be exceptional. I believe what the cats do is come out looking for dead fish that didn't survive winter. Late March of 2003, my buddy and I fished and caught several 5 to 6 pounders and a lucky 10 pounder.
When the inlet runs, at Boulder, a minnow or nightcrawler 8 inches beneath a splitshot thrown into the current could haul you a fat walleye. Keep it near the bottom, but also watch out for snags.
Whew, I almost exhausted my resources there. Hope that helps. Happy fishing! ;D
Here's one for later spring. Once we're into mid April to early May, try casting crankbaits or large curly tail grubs along the Cherry Creek Dam at night. I've tried it, but no luck (cause of impatience), but I've seen a guy there catch some very decent sized walleye while doing the same thing. I talked with him once and he says per night that he actually goes out, he'll only catch 2 or 3, but all in the 22 inch and above range. I've seen him at Cherry Creek at least a few times while night fishing for wiper and failed attempts for walleye.
And if you ever feel like going hardcore on the bank walking, I recommend a work out on the dam of any lake casting jigs and lipless crankbaits. Roostertails do well to or even minnows under a slip bobber. Just remember to keep moving to find fish.
One of my all time favorite dams to walk is Bonny Reservoir in Eastern Colorado. If you catch yourself there at the right time, you'll wish you had bigger fishing line! I swear, some of those wipers at Bonny are cows!!
Boulder Reservoir Catfish: on the north shore. The bite picks up in late March and early April. May even be earlier sometimes. On a bright sunny day, before dark, cutbait is the only way to go. Not stinkbait, not nightcrawlers or any of that yet. Although nightcrawlers can be exceptional. I believe what the cats do is come out looking for dead fish that didn't survive winter. Late March of 2003, my buddy and I fished and caught several 5 to 6 pounders and a lucky 10 pounder.
When the inlet runs, at Boulder, a minnow or nightcrawler 8 inches beneath a splitshot thrown into the current could haul you a fat walleye. Keep it near the bottom, but also watch out for snags.
Whew, I almost exhausted my resources there. Hope that helps. Happy fishing! ;D
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I just got a boat so up untill this time ive always waded. I did very well at Quincy. I go in the east enterence and walk to the first point and fish the shore all the way to the back cove. I had about 3or4 20+ fish days just wading.
Dam I wish all of our local lakes were like Quincy. No jet ski's or water ski'ers. Just wish they would make Quincy catch and release ONLY on all bass.
IMO
-Jay
Dam I wish all of our local lakes were like Quincy. No jet ski's or water ski'ers. Just wish they would make Quincy catch and release ONLY on all bass.
IMO
-Jay
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I also fish at Quincy alot during the week. I catch alot of bass and have gotten alot of nice Tigers to follow my lure. I keep trying to catch a big Tiger but haven't pulled it off yet ???
I fish about half the time from shore. My favorite lakes from shore are Quincy. Aurora, Spinney, Lonetree and Bonny. Bonny is excellent!!!
I fish about half the time from shore. My favorite lakes from shore are Quincy. Aurora, Spinney, Lonetree and Bonny. Bonny is excellent!!!
I hope to put some of this info to good use soon. I spent most of last year fishing Spratt Platte lake ( it opened to the public last May) because I live so close, and had a blast with the bass. I talked with DOW last week and they are going to open 3 more lakes at 104th and MaCay. 2 will be bait allowed and the 3rd which will take a small walk is lures only and catch and release only. they have not been fished in years and the guy said there are some really nice fish in there. Should be mid summer to open
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oh man that is a great lake when i was around 12-13 years old, 32 now cooley sand and gravel owned it i went and got permission to fish it then it was great now that it is open i try to fish it as much as possiable well when i am down there. those ponds around the north area is where i grew up another good lake to fish in that area is mann lake (adams county fair grounds) there are 2 lakes there big big muskies lote of bass,huge grass carp sun fish ,another lake is croke res in northglenn 106th and huron good bass, pearch ,bluegill few muskies watch for the young ducks they get eaten by something out there lake opens i do believe april 15th it is fly and lure only and make sure you read the regs when you go and fish from the peir you will see where i am talking about i have caught my biggest fish there it was a grass carp that was 38 inches long estimated 30-35 lbs on 6 lb line 26 minutes to land
I fish at Mann alittle, again because I live around the corner but have only caught a few. where and with what do you fish? I had no idea about the muskie, that would be fun. Spratt opens March 15th let me know when your down and we'll hook up.
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i will and dont forgrt about croke res its good
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well they are a littel smaller lakes or ponds if thats what you want to call them croke res is in northglenn on 106th huron and spratt is in thornton on 100th mckay they have treated me really well in the past .i make a trip 4-5 times a year from summit county just to fish them during the bass spawn and the lake on 88th and colo has some really good bows in it my 9year old daughter caught 2 bows over 3lbs each my buddy caught 1 over 6lbs
I know this may sound funny but try the point by the marina. Cast towadrs the slips using a small red jig with a crawler. Almost try to bounce them off of the tires. Also if you like catfish I have hit quite a few with small chucks of hotdogs in the same area. But be ready cause every now and then you may hit a big carp.
been reading the posts on all these different spots to fish, and i didn't know about most of them, so thanks. I live up in this area so i will tell my husband about them, so we can go check them out. Also wanted to let people know, that the lakes on 88th and Colorado at the Thornton Treatment Facility will be open for fishing on March 15th.
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A good source for general fishing/lake info in the Denver Metro area is a book called "Fishing Close To Home".
You can find it in Walmart in the sporting goods area. Your local tackle shop will most likely have it too.
Good general info on size, depth, species, regulations and directions of just about every public access fishing spot in Denver and other areas...can't beat it for 7 bucks.
My name is Matt and I'm a fishaholic.
You can find it in Walmart in the sporting goods area. Your local tackle shop will most likely have it too.
Good general info on size, depth, species, regulations and directions of just about every public access fishing spot in Denver and other areas...can't beat it for 7 bucks.
My name is Matt and I'm a fishaholic.
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I thought this would be a good place to ask, since you're fellow land lubbers. So, what are some good lures to use from shore, for bass, crappie, walleye, etc...? I've had a lot of luck w/ Tasmaniandevils, and Thomas Bouyants on trout, but I'm dying to go after other fish. Also, this may sound dumb, but does adding split shots to lures defeat there purpose (mess up the presentaion)? With the lighter lures, I have trouble getting them out. :-[ Thanks for any help.
I personally use Rooster Tails as a universal spinnerbait, especially from shore because you can keep it off the bottom without losing to much retrieving speed. I use dark colors for trout and sometimes yellow. The size of the Rooster Tail depends on what I'm fishing for.james said:
For bass (largemouth or smallies): I'm a finesse freak. In mid April to early May, I like to use Culprit worms in the red/black color, blue or black on a weedless hook (Gamakatsu EWG Worm Hook) without sinker. The new Gulp lures work very well too.
As for crappie: any small jig will do. One thing that works well is to suspend your jig beneath a weighted foam bobber (weighted foam bobber adds casting distance). It usually works great when you do this and cast at angles along shorelines, especially dams. This enables your jig to swim at a fixed depth and although it may seem boring to swim a jig horizontally, it works out quite darn well. Experiment with the length of line between bobber and jig to find the results that best fit you. I usually go about 3 ft or less to 2 ft below the surface. Works best when fish are aggressive (May through June)
Walleyes: I'm a newby to walleye fishing, but I have caught them before from shore while sticking to a consistant technique. Jerk baits casted from dams of reservoirs work well (only thing that sucks about this technique is you often get into snags and these lures are expensive). Also, large curly tailed grubs work well too.
For other fish such as wipers: I do the same as I do for crappie, but with larger jigs. Another great wiper lure is the lipless crankbaits such as Rat-L-Traps or Rattlin Rapalas.
As for the split shot.. It can mess up presentation, but it also can increase casting distance. That one depends on the individual fisherman's preference.
HAPPY FISHING FELLAS!
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