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Colorado's fall season usually means one thing to sportsmen and women, and that's hunting.
Crisp nights, crackling campfires, comradery of friends and the excitement of the hunt are part of the season few would miss.
But, as many hunters already know, there's one more ingredient that can make the fall season even more rewarding - fishing.
"Hunters who love to fish have the best of both worlds during the big game seasons in Colorado," said Brad Frano, a Division of Wildlife public information specialist and coordinator of the statewide fishing conditions report. "Hunting is the priority, of course. But fall fishing is often excellent as well."
It makes sense. As hunters roam forests, river bottoms and undisturbed valleys in search of game, they come across some of Colorado's best fishing locations.
Summer crowds have moved on and after temperatures have cooled so that fish are more inclined to hover near shorelines and away from cover. Also, fish are aggressively feeding in the fall to stockpile calories needed to carry them through he winter. Combined with the generally low, clear flows that are more fishing-friendly, fall anglers can expect better-than-average catch rates.
"Hunters should carry lightweight pack rods and a basic selection f tackle," Frano recommended. "The usual assortment of small spinners nd terrestrial flies is all it takes."
Hunters typically scout game at daybreak and toward evening hours. In between is usually the perfect time for hunters to take a break, drop their pack and spend a couple hours fishing. "Many hunters simply hunt going up a valley and fish the creeks and lakes on the trip back to camp," Frano said. "With cooling water temperatures, fish will be biting even at mid-day, which normally isn't the case during the summer."
The Division stocked 3.7 million catchable-size rainbow trout this year. On top of this are millions of cutthroat, brook and brown trout swimming in 13,000 miles of fishable rivers and streams 3,000 stocked lakes and reservoirs.
But numbers tell only part of the story, because in many areas throughout the state, this season promises to offer possibly the best water conditions for fishing in more than a decade.
Abundant statewide snowpack from last winter and monsoon rains in July and August have kept the majority of Colorado's rivers and lakes at high levels. In the southwest, an area no stranger to semi-drought conditions late in the year, 1997 water conditions are among the best on record. All this spells good fall fishing, especially in off-the-beaten-path areas typically frequented by hunters.
Fishing on the following southeaster Colorado waters should be excellent: Nee Noshe, Nee Gronde and John Martin reservoirs lie in three game units popular with antelope and whitetail deer hunters. And come fall, each location will also be serving up healthy numbers of wiper and saugeye, predicted Doug Krieger, the division's senior aquatic manager for the southeast region.
"Spring and fall are the best times for fishing these big reservoirs," he said, "and with less storms and less windy conditions, fall is often the better of the two." Summer heat drives big gamefish deep and they become all but inaccessible except to boaters and trollers. With fall's cooler conditions fish are prompted to chase gizzard shad - their favorite food - inshore.
"Hunters should take along waders to fish a little deeper in the shoreline," Krieger suggested. "You won't need a boat or sophisticated equipment. October will be incredible for wiper and saugeye."
Depending on their season, hunters interested in fishing will need to get a jump on Nee Noshe, Nee Gronde and John Martin. These reservoirs are also managed for the waterfowl season, which overlaps the Oct. 25 - Nov. 5 and Dec. 1 - 14 deer and antelope seasons.
Restrictions on shoreline access and boating after Nov. 1 prevents all fishing.
On the eastern flanks of the Collegiate Range lie numerous drainages popular with hunters. The headliner, of course, is the Arkansas River.
"The Arkansas will be low and clear, a great time to fish for big brown trout and some rainbows," Krieger noted. Other nearby favorites include Half Moon, Rock, Clear and Tennessee creeks, which spill out of San Isabel National Forest west of Leadville. "These are uncontrolled waters and base flows are up," he explained. "Brook and cutthroat trout numbers are plentiful here."
Hunters who love to fish shouldn't pass up Twin Lakes Reservoir and Turquoise Lake, both of which are home to good supplies of rainbows - and in the case of Twin Lakes, big mackinaw trout.
Farther south lies the Rio Grande, a river that supports considerable agricultural demand. "The Rio Grande is tough to fish in late season because the water tends to be low," explained Krieger. "But the trout are there.
Anglers have to use stealth techniques such as long leaders and tippets, staying low to avoid being seen by fish."
For flies, he recommended the elk hair caddis, a "classic" fly pattern for the Rio Grande, along with terrestrial imitators like ants and grasshoppers.
Hunters interested in catching supper have a good chance with Eleven Mile Reservoir's kokanee, offered Krieger. "The kokanee snagging season starts Oct. 1, and in terms of a food fishing this is one of the best opportunities in the state." The second to third week in October is usually the "prime" time for Eleven Mile's kokanee, he added.
Upstream, the newly renovated Gold Medal Water section of the South Platte River between Spinney Mountain and Eleven Mile reservoirs is in a "comeback" mode, Krieger explained. "The division's habitat improvements and restocking with 4-inch rainbows has worked out terrifically." Fishing here is high stakes, with 22-inch brown trout and nice sized rainbows typical of the better catches. Special regulations are in force.
The following areas in the western portion of the state should be good for angling, too: The area around Vallecito Reservoir is a top pick for both fishing and hunting on the West Slope, said Frano. "Vallecito has several U.S. Forest Service campgrounds nearby, making it a popular hunters' staging area," he said.
"This part of the San Juan National Forest has outstanding big game habitat and fall fishing, and Vallecito is known for its rainbow and brown trout." Adding to Vallecito's fishing action are kokanee salmon and northern pike, too, he reminded.
Since most are out to hunt, trailered boats usually aren't part of a hunter's equipment list. That fact won't stop anglers at Vallecito, Frano explained.
"The reservoir is excellent for shore anglers, with miles of secluded shoreline to explore."
Rainbow and brown trout will be feeding near any inlet and feeder creek, which wash down insects that fish feed on, he said.
Taylor Park Reservoir north of Gunnison "can't be beat" for fall fishing, Frano said. Known for its surrounding big elk herds, this reservoir is also famous for its similarly sized mackinaw trout, some in the order of state-record dimensions.
Here again is good opportunity for shore-bound anglers, he said. "Lake trout are feasting on baitfish and smaller trout near shore, and the northern pike are usually in the same vicinity."
Large crankbaits with rainbow patterns are good big fish producers.
Along the Taylor River lies prime rainbow trout habitat (an estimated 24-pound fish - which would be a state record - was caught and released here earlier in the year).
Typically very roily, the Taylor River during fall has settled down to become a near perfect flyfishing river. Eight Forest Service campgrounds dot riverside locations all the way down to Almont, providing hunters good basecamp locations that are also convenient for fishing.
The Flat Tops Wilderness Area is another favorite of hunters and anglers. Trappers Lake is a real hot spot. "If a hunter is willing to combine hunting with fishing, this is about as good as it gets," Frano said. Trappers is a drive-to location known for cutthroat trout. Better yet are lakes along trails that fan out from Trappers, he explained.
"Hike in the wilderness area back to Big Fish, Twin, Wall and Marvine lakes and hunters will find fantastic fishing and probably a successful hunt," he said.
Hunt in the morning and fish in the afternoon is the suggested regime. "It takes a little effort, but the chances (for fishing and hunting) are better when you get away from the roads." Local streams are full of brook trout, "the best tasting of all trout," Frano added.
Lake San Cristobal south of Lake City is a good bet for fall angling. On the flanks of the San Juan Mountains, the lake gets relatively little fishing pressure. That makes Lake San Cristobal a good choice for rainbow trout, Frano said.
"It's got lots of holdover catchable trout planted in earlier seasons, and they can get big."
Other best bets for West Slope include Willow Creek and Meadow Creek reservoirs in the greater Granby area.
"Hunters can hunt and fish right out of camp in these areas," he explained. Expect solid 12-inch rainbows in Willow Creek and 14- to 16-inch rainbows in Meadow Creek.
Also, Sweetwater and Deep lakes north of Dotsero, both of which have Forest Service campgrounds, have great fishing potential for kokanee salmon, and brook, brown and rainbow trout. "This is Unit 25 and a good drop-off point for hunting the White River National Forest adjacent to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area," Frano added.
