Area Fishing Reports

By Colorado Division of Wildlife

July 16, 2004

John Martin Reservoir - "Big John" is now "Little John," down to 5 percent of capacity (about 5,400 acre feet as of July 9th). Anglers are catching catfish and an occasional wiper. Fishing is slow for all other species in the reservoir and Hasty Lake beneath the dam. A stretch of the Arkansas River below the dam is also producing some nice channel cats with an occasional wiper or saugeye that escaped from the reservoir. The east boat ramp is usable but boaters should avoid the west end of the lake, which is very shallow; several boats have been stuck. There is also a well-marked closure on the south shore to protect nesting endangered birds.

Nee Gronda Reservoir - Fishing is slow with only a few channel catfish and an occasional wiper or saugeye being caught on worms fished on the bottom. Night fishing for catfish has been most productive. Nee Gronda has more water than any other lake in the Queens State Wildlife Area but the level is still low and the cement public boat ramp on the east shore is unusable. The old gravel ramp adjacent to it will work for shallow-draft boats and the privately owned ramp at Cottonwood Campground on the north shore can be used for a fee.

Nee Noshe Reservoir - Recent heavy rains have helped Nee Noshe to maintain its current low level and fight off heavy evaporative losses. Saugeye fishing has slowed but wipers and catfish are providing good action. Wipers can be caught on minnows, worm harnesses, jigs tipped with bait and Rat-L-Traps; catfish on worms, chicken livers or stinkbaits. Low water has made the gravel boat ramp barely usable; larger boats may have trouble launching. Launchers must be careful to stay on the gravel and avoid the soft mud on either side of the ramp. A deep channel on the north side of the ramp allows boaters to reach shore for loading and unloading passengers but is not recommended for launching.

Queens Reservoirs - Catfish are being caught here but that's about it. Upper Queens is very shallow; the boat ramp is unusable but small hand-launched boats can still get on the lake. Lower Queens is totally dry.