Reservoir Hogs
Located in the heart of central Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the 1,000-square-mile South Park Basin is perhaps best known for the snaking South Platte River and its lunker tailwater trout. But the river also fills and flows from a series of three reservoirs—Antero, Spinney Mountain, and Elevenmile Canyon—that are all remarkable fisheries in their own right. These three reservoirs provide some of Colorado’s finest stillwater fishing. They are home to large trout amid great structure, a healthy forage base, and heavy hatches during the prime spring, summer, and fall months.
Antero Reservoir
Elevation: 8,978 feet
Surface Area: 1,000 acres
Species: Rainbow, brook, cuttbow, cutthroat, brown, and splake
Where: From Colorado Springs, follow U.S. 24 through Hartsel to
the Antero entrance on the right.
Antero Reservoir has a reputation for growing big trout, fast. With maximum depths of about 30 to 35 feet, depending on seasonal snowpack, and plenty of shallower water, it has ideal conditions for anglers to get their flies to the trout from almost anywhere on the water.
Historically, Antero has produced a wealth of quality fish. This all came to a halt in June 2002, when the Hayman Fire escalated into one of the largest and most destructive burns Colorado has ever seen. With severe drought and demands from Denver water users taking a toll on the South Platte water supply, the decision was made to drain Antero—the uppermost reservoir in the system.
This kiss of death sparked a flurry of questions about whether or not Antero could ever return to its full potential. When it reopened in July 2007, the answer was revealed, with anglers catching numerous trout over 7 pounds. Antero had returned. Nevertheless, this success sparked new challenges for the fishery and its fly fishers.
That spring, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) introduced slot limits for trout, allowing anglers to keep one fish over 20 inches as well as four smaller fish. These regulations may have been too generous. Antero’s reopening triggered an onslaught by the general angling community and a subsequent sea of dead trout, attributed largely to illegal cull-and-release mortality exacerbated by warm water temperatures and the release of trout hooked deeply with bait.
In an effort to resolve the issue, CDOW instituted emergency regulations, halving legal limits. The current regulations allow for two trout over 20 inches, which gives smaller trout a chance to grow to their full potential. My hope is that bait fishing will also be banned soon, allowing Antero’s giants a fighting chance at survival.
Spinney Mountain Reservoir
Elevation: 8,691 feet
Surface Area: 2,500 acres
Species: Rainbow, brown, cutthroat, cuttbow, and pike
Where: From Colorado Springs, take Highway 24 for about 55
miles over Wilkerson Pass. Turn south on CR 23,
then right on CR 59.
According to CDOW, Spinney Mountain Reservoir is experiencing an upsurge in both its trout and pike populations. Spinney is particularly popular with fly fishers because of its flies-and-lures-only (no bait) special regulations. The fish grow quickly due to an abundance of high-protein scuds, and the regulations keep the trout population robust. See parks.state.co.us/Parks/SpinneyMountain/ParkActivities/Fishing/ for more details.
Similar to Antero, Spinney reaches maximum depths of approximately 35 feet. One clear advantage to these shallow bodies of water is angler accessibility by boat as well as for stalking cruising trout from shore. The reservoir closes to angling when it freezes in early winter, and reopens after ice-off in late April or May. Over the last five years the number and size of trout have increased, and this should continue for years to come. The key to this is managing the pike population for minimal growth, allowing for maximum trout
survival.
Elevenmile Canyon Reservoir
Elevation: 8,566 feet
Surface Area: 3,400 acres
Species: Rainbow, brown, cutthroat, cuttbow, pike, Kokanee salmon
Where: From Colorado Springs, drive 38 miles west on U.S. 24
to 1 mile west of the town of Lake George. Turn left (south)
on CR 90 and drive 6 miles to CR 92.
Continue south on 92 for 5 miles to the entrance.
Elevenmile grows some of the biggest fish in the South Park neighborhood—double-digit trout are caught every year. With water depths reaching 100+ feet, deeper-dwelling fish see little angling pressure. These trout migrate annually from the reservoir into the South Platte to spawn and are largely responsible for the river’s Dream Stream nickname.
Elevenmile’s size and overall depth make finding trout sometimes challenging. Concentrate on the limited shallow nearshore areas from the beginning of ice-off until about mid-May. This is when monsters leave the deep water and cruise the warmer shallows in search of food.
As the season progresses, trout disperse throughout the reservoir, and you must focus your efforts on deeper water, sinking lines, and fishing the thermoclines. Also target windswept bays where food concentrates and trout move in to take advantage of the easy pickings.
Food Overview
Despite varying water conditions, weather, and structural elements, all three reservoirs share similar food bases and hatch schedules. You’ll catch more fish when you understand trout behavior based on when and where hatches occur and how best to match and present your flies.
The two most consistent year-round food supplies are scuds and midges. The best midging kicks off in the spring as water temperatures warm into the 50-degree F. range and trout are actively feeding. Midge hatches continues through early summer, when they are joined by damselflies.
Damselfly nymphs swim toward shore, where they crawl and molt into adults on bankside vegetation. They are best imitated with subsurface patterns and presentations.
Callibaetis mayflies are next to join the mix and can be imitated with nymphs, emergers, and drys—depending on the stage of the hatch.
In addition, reservoir trout feed on dragonfly nymphs and adults, baitfish, leeches, eggs, and crayfish. Crayfish are a favorite food item, and trout often cruise the shallows looking for them. Imitate their movements with intermediate and sinking-tip lines and a darting, pulsating retrieve.
Copyright © 2012 Intermedia Outdoors
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