WEEKLY FISHING REPORT 04.23.26
IT’S ABOUT THE CATCHING
MARINA STORE HOURS OFF SEASON: FRIDAY - MONDAY 8:00AM TO 4:00PM (Tuesday- Thursday depending on staff if we are here)
CURRENT CONDITIONS: Lake open for boating. Water in Park gets turned on May 1. All fishing access areas open.
ANTERO/SPINNEY: As most have heard they will be draining Antero. We have seen this story before. It’s unfortunate but is what it is. They will more than likely move many fish here in trucks, limits are now off at Antero and the Bald Eagles will have a feast with all the leftovers.
ELEVEN MILE WATER LEVEL: Unlike Spinney which is owned by Aurora. Eleven Mile is a Denver reservoir and currently is at full capacity or very close to it. Historically it is an emergency go to water storage facility and levels rarely fluctuate. We don’t anticipate that changing in the short term for this season. The last major draw down of Eleven Mile was 2002 the Haymen Fire year when it was lowered 23 vertical feet. At that time they extended the boat ramp
SPINNEY MOUNTAIN STATE PARK: Opens to shore fishing Friday April 3. If draught conditions continue it is unlikely that the lake will be able to service boats this season. Water level currently dropping.
PARK COUNTY FIRE BAN: Propane stoves and fire rings allowed. There has been some moisture but nothing to write home about.
WATER TEMP: 45
WATER FLOW: 97.7 CFS IN 74.5 CFS OUT
LOGO DISCOUNT OFFER: WEAR ANY 11 MILE MARINA LOGO MERCH FROM PRIOR PURCHASE WHEN YOU COME IN AND GET 10% OFF ON ANY PURCHASE EXCEPT LIQUOR/TOBACCO/BOAT RENTALS
11 MILE MARINA PRESENTS THE ELEVEN MILE/SPINNEY PIKE A THON: Details posted on contest page. BUT this is not a contest. In cooperation with CPW 11 Mile Marina will be trying out a new event. We use to have an annual Pike tournament which was sanctioned by CPW. They believed it is was a worthy event to help keep Pike at a good balance. We stopped doing it because the business market changed. It was an event to help business in slow times but now weekends in September are always busy and the contest got in the way. The objective now is to educate people about the Northern Pike species. How to catch them, how to clean them, how to eat them. And how to hold them LOL. Historically Northern Pike were introduced to help control other specie such as suckers. Without the proper balance Pike can overrun a lake as they generally don’t differentiate between suckers, trout and other specie. The only main predator the Pike have are anglers. The Pike situation at Eleven Mile is currently one of good balance where we would like to keep it. Spinney is another story where the numbers of Pike are larger than CPW would like. We are setting up a page on the CONTEST LINK with all the details. The event will be held from May 2 - May 16. There will be seminars on Saturday the 2nd and the 9th. A fish fry on the 16th. Participants will be able to weigh in fish for two weeks. Heaviest weight will win a minimum of $500.00. Still working on details which will be posted soon on the dedicated page.
CATCH YOUR TROPHY NOW
TROUT: FAIR TO GOOD: Spawn action continues as bigger fish are found in shallow water. You need to be ready to move and change up baits. Fishing in the same spot all the time because it’s your favorite and expecting a different result from your last slow outing is as they say….. There are fish all around this lake and we all have our favorite spots but they don’t always produce. We also all have our favorite baits and the same holds true. They don’t always perform. When we go out on shore we each typically have at least four rods prepped and ready with different baits. Go through the rotation and move down the shoreline depending on action. On a boat it depends on what we are fishing for but always have multiple rigs ready.
SALMON: GOOD TO VERY GOOD: Bite is on. Have not seen one like this in 5 or 6 years. Two and three year old mostly. Limits being caught but we are happy just to catch them for a change. Very spot specific. Find the spot work it get rewarded. Try Duck to Deer Island and stright out form Marina. They are deep. 60 feet of water suspended 30 to 50 feet. Some like Green Rainbow Pop Gear but not required. We catch them without pop gear on a downrigger with just a lure like a brass bikini Needlefish of 7 gram Brown Trout Tasmanian Devil. Mack’s Wedding Rings and Wiggle Hootchies doing well tipped with Gulp Flamingo Pink Garlic Maggots. A kernel of shoe peg corn does pretty good too.
CPW is in the process of stocking Kokanee here. So far we have received 300,000 with another 200,000 on the way. Those are good numbers for future prospects.
NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR: Bite has slowed a bit but fish still being landed. Big sticks in 8 to 12 feet of water have seen good action. The F18 Pike pattern is one of our favorites particularly in spawn season and not always easy to find. We just got some in. Bite times vary but mid morning has been good
ROAD: GOOD: They have chip and sealed the road from Lake George to CR/92 then dirt for about 2 miles then chip and seal to the General Store. The 2 miles of loose dirt and gravel was just graded and sprayed. It is as good as it will be right now. The new chip and seal installed by mistake and not done as well as the CR90 section is seeing some wear due to the heavy logging equipment going in and out. Crickets out of Park County BOCC. For now the way in from Lake George is still way better than last year.
CR 23 to 59: FAIR TO GOOD: They recently graded and it is better than it was.
CR 92 to CR 59: GOOD: The stretch through the Park was just graded (thank you very much)
PIC # 1: The family that fishes together catches together. Great day!!
PIC # 2: Kokanee it’s what’s for Dinner.
PIC # 3: Brantley got this great fish early in the morning. Rainbow Power Bait.
PIC # 4: Nice Trout like this being caught everyday.
SPECIAL NOTE: 11 Mile Marina is located at the North Shore in Eleven Mile State Park, Lake George Colorado. A CPW Park Pass is required on all vehicles entering the Park. Any fees for Guide/Outfitter/Rental services do not include Park fees, CO fishing license or gratuities.
The WEEKLY FISHING REPORT is produced by fishermen for fishermen. We try to get it done every Thursday but some times fishing or life gets in the way. So if its not there on Thursday morning it will show up by Friday. We appreciate all the support and acknowledge that many of you won't miss a week but every now and then we might. CLICK SUPPORT THE REPORT TO HELP OUT Be Safe. Fish On!
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