Where and how to enjoy fall fishing
For more than 20 years, I have touted the incredible fall fishing in Colorado’s southeastern lakes for species such as walleye, wiper, and bass. Many of these waters feature a prolific shadbased forage. As we transition from late summer into fall, the shad behavior becomes very predictable. Where you find baitfish, you will find the predator fish feeding and catchable.
As the water cools, the shad will move to shallow waters. Further cooling will find them schooled up and roaming the open water. You will often see the water seem to boil as the shad are chased to the surface by feeding fish. This is a great time to cast a small crankbait or surface lure into the surfacing shad. Eventually the water will cool enough to stress the shad. They will tend to form tight schools and move deeper.
“Being on the water often and following these movements can result in several weeks of the best fishing of the year,” said Nate Zelinsky of Tightline Outdoors.
While this phenomenon will occur on lakes up and down Colorado’s Front Range, two of my favorite fishing spots have long been Lake Pueblo and John Martin Reservoir in southeastern Colorado. Both of these bodies of water have enjoyed high water levels in recent years and contain healthy populations of both predators and baitfish.
Carrie Tucker, aquatic biologist with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, updated me on the current state of the fishery in Pueblo. To say she was enthusiastic would be an understatement.
The number one draw for anglers at Lake Pueb lo is the walleyes. The fishing is outstanding. Walleyes are certainly not the only draw for anglers at Lake Pueblo, however. Bass are a close second. Smallmouth bass thrive in Pueblo and the lake also includes a smattering of spotted bass and largemouth bass. Lake Pueblo also has a good population of wipers and catfish.
As for John Martin Reservoir, it contains an outstanding population of saugeye/walleye, with an abundance of fish over 20 inches. The white bass population is phenomenal and John Martin has three species of catfish (channel, flathead and blue) that are all doing well, as well as a large population of largemouth bass. And, the crappies are coming back strong.
Tournament bass angler Sam Heckman joined my radio show last Saturday to update me on current conditions at both lakes. He found the shad were still shallow and the full transition is just starting. Anglers should enjoy great fishing in the next few weeks, he said. He added that the white bass fishing is incredible.
Heckman feels the water will have to cool about another 10 degrees and at that point large schools of shad will roam in deeper water. Fishing with a jigging spoon or a bladebait in open water can produce some of the best fishing of the year, for several species.
Heckman also said Trinidad Reservoir to the south of Pueblo is a great option at this time of the year. The water is low, but the fishing has been terrific from both the shore and a boat.