Summer fishing has remained good as water temperatures are continuing to rise with the warm weather. Forecast is showing a steady stream of cooler weather, afternoon thunderstorms and some very welcome rain. This time of year, look to be on the water early and off before the lightning and storms roll through the area. Fish are starting to get wary from steady angling pressure, downsize your presentation and pay attention to the details to keep on the best action!
Grand Lake - Boat ramp hours are 6 AM to 8PM. Water temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s. Lake trout action has been fair. Look for them in 65 to 110 feet of water. Most consistent lures have been 2 inch purple grubs with a 3/8 ounce glow jig head. Jig your lure close to the bottom, with gentle movements keeping that line tight to detect those subtle bites. Rainbow trout and brown trout bite remains fair. Trolling is most productive method though early in the mornings before the sun hits the water you will find active fish along the shorelines willing to eat a silver and blue spinner or a green wooly bugger.
Williams Fork Reservoir - Boat ramps will remain closed for the season due to low water levels. Non-motorized hand launched boats are allowed. Water level is at 39%. Shore fishing has been fair in the inlet areas. Hopper dropper rig fished early in the day in the inlet creek will produce some rainbow trout. Pike action has been slow, think crawfish colored tubes and hard baits for best chance at a pike.
Lake Granby- Stillwater boat ramp hours are 6AM to 8PM until August 4th, where it will close and boat launching will move to Sunset Ramp until water levels rise to where Stillwater ramp will be usable again. Water level is at 63% or approximately 30 feet below full. Water temperatures are in the upper 60’s early then warming to low 70’s by the afternoon. Rainbow trout action has been fair, shore anglers reporting success early in the morning or late evening fishing live worms off the bottom, trollers are continuing to have success with a silver dodger and pink or green squid tipped with a Gulp waxie fished 20 feet below the surface. Lake trout bite has been the most consistent and best action on the lake. Look for them in 70 to 85 feet of water. Tube jigs in green/chartreuse or glow have been go-to lures with a small piece of sucker meat helps entice them to bite. Brown trout action is good when the afternoon storms roll in or on the overcast days, look to the rocky shorelines and cast some tubes or buck-hair jigs to the shore and work them shallow to deep.
The Fishing with Bernie team has been guiding in Grand County for over 25 years. For more info please check out www.fishingwithbernie.com, www.facebook.com/FishingWithBernie/ or our Instagram pages https://www.instagram.com/fishing_with_bernie https://www.instagram.com/fishingwithaltitude
