WEEKLY FISHING REPORT 04.16.26

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. If you choose to use your canoe, kayak or SUP know that the water is very cold and April weather can be calm one minute and gale force the next. Don’t go unprepared and try not to go to far from shore. For you motor boaters time for the annual checklist: Battery, connections, boat plug etc. Make sure PFD’s and safety equipment is on board.

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.

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: 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:FAIR TO GOOD: Well it looks like there is a bit of a good bite going on or at least for a couple days so far. We start getting our boats in this week and can’t wait to go out and give it shot. Reports from some successful anglers have stated they got a limit. Current bag and possession limit here is 10 fish. Most action from Duck Island to Deer Island and straight out from the Marina on lead core with dodger with a variety of offerings. Try Mack’s wedding ring or wiggle hootchie, cerise/pearl Needlefish size #1 and Luminous Tas Devil. Some like to tip the hook with a Gulp Flamingo maggot, shoe peg corn or other secret scents. Five colors of lead gets you in the 30’s. This is great news if we can see a sustained bite. Last year it lasted about two weeks. Every year is different. One can only hope.

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 TO GOOD: 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 POOR: They recently graded and it is better than it was. Unfortunately Park County has told CPW to pound sand and is obviously not maintaining the County road from General Store through the Park. They want the State to maintain it. However it is a County road and should be maintained by the County. Just because it’s through a State Park they argue they shouldn’t have to take care of it. By that logic County roads that go through National Forest should be maintained by the Feds.

PIC # 1: 8 is almost 10 and makes for a happy day.

PIC # 2: A head mount we have in the store. You can seen how dangerous that mouth is if handled improperly. Even the back of the tongue has big teeth. Also if you stick your ungloved hand in the gills it will come out shredded since they also have razor sharp edges. If you are going to keep the fish and don’t hold it by the eyes you are asking for trouble. They go totally limp. Suppose you could club them to death.

PIC # 3: He reeled it in all by himself.

PIC # 4: Nice male Cuttbow. Garlic crawlers

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!

Please direct any questions, comments, PICS or inquiries to elevenmile@hotmail.com

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