Fishing on Memorial Day

Fishing Report for Memorial Day 2008 in Colorado

It seems like every year I sit down at the computer a week before Memorial Day, with the weather report and the DWR stream flows page trying to decide where to go fishing for Memorial Day. Although its great to get a three day weekend off of work in May when the weather is finally warming up, the fishing always seems a little tainted by the prospect of increased traffic (and cops) on the roads, high stream flows, and a scarcity of places to camp with the muddy season having begun to peak in most mountain towns. I have put together the following suggestions to guide you in your decision making process on where you can fish when the streams are flowing hard and gas prices are raging.

THE REPORT

Rivers to Avoid: The Roaring Fork, Colorado River, and the Arkansas are some of the Colorado's best opportunities to hook into trout but not this weekend. These rivers are high, off color, and require at least a two hour drive if you are leaving from the Front Range. You want to think tailwater (dam released) and check flows the minute before you leave.

Rivers to Fish: The Frying Pan, the North Platte River west of Casper and the South Platte at Eleven Mile and Cheesman Canyon should all be fishing well. All of these rivers offer the prospect of getting into fish when stream flows are up across Colorado. Flows on the Blue are high both in town and below Green Mountain but, anglers can expect to get into get into fish with the usual assortment: San Juans, Mysis, various baetis nymphs, 20 inchers and Discos.

I hesitate to mention the North Platte given the recent surge of anglers in the last year or three but it has been fishing well. Flows in this area are way up. However, the fishing is still quite good from a drift boat (tuff to wade at 2300 cfs). Those of you fishing here probably have a good idea of what to use.

Lastly, we have been hearing great things from the South Platte especially in and around Eleven Mile Canyon. Think small and baetis/ midge patterns and you will be just fine.

Lakes: Many of our local warm water lakes are fishing well now. I would recommend fishing Pella Crossing, Walden Ponds and Sawhill Ponds if you are interested in catching bass and pan fish. Teller Lake is also fishing well and offers the opportunity to go after Carp (the elusive land locked Bonefish). Fly boxes for these lakes should include an assortment of buggers, leaches, small poppers, hairs ears, and crayfish patterns.

If you have an appetite for trout I would recommend Spinney Reservoir and possibly Delaney Buttes. We have heard great reports from Spinney especially mid-morning on scuds, eggs, olive buggers and chironomids.