Middle Park fishing report for 2-7-2017
Fishing at Williams Fork has been fair to good depending on the day. Lake trout are still providing the best action in 35-70 feet of water. Most of the fish being caught are in the 12-17” range. Natural color tubes 3” to 3 ½” tipped with sucker meat are drawing the most interest. Gulp minnows, Leech flutter spoons, and various other jigging spoons are also catching a few. You may have to move around a bit to find a good concentration of fish. The big fish bite has been hit or miss lately.
A few rainbows are being caught in shallow water in the mornings with the best action being before 9 AM. Micro jigs tipped with meal works or salmon eggs are a good bet to catch them. Occasional pike are also being caught in the shallow bays, but pike action has been a bit spotty.
The ice is holding at 12-14” in most spots with 4-8” of snow on top depending on where you are on the lake. There are still a ton of deer hanging around near the lake, so don’t forget to drink your coffee before driving through Middle Park. Tucker Bamford, Guide Fishing with Bernie
Grand Lake 2/6
The lake is snow covered and has at least a foot of ice in most places. As usual there is open water and thin ice in the channel area. The bite has slowed from the early season action. For best results fish early and late. Stay mobile till you find the active fish and use those electronics. A variety of depths, locations and lures have been sucessful, but mobility has been they key for all species. Dan Shannon, Guide - Fishing with Bernie
Lake Granby
Rainbow and brown trout fishing is great to excellent in water under 6 feet deep. Clam "dingle drop" tungsten jigs tipped with waxies are working very well. Inside turns with rocks near by seem to produce great numbers early, once the sun hits the ice that bite is over. The lake trout are feeding all day. Use electronics to find the fish then switch up colors and profiles until they bite. This latest snow is causing a little bit of slush again. Bernie Keefe has been a fishing guide in the middle park area for over 20 years.
Middle Park fishing report for 1-30-2017
Thanks to everyone that came to fish the 3 Lakes ice fishing contest. By now the fish have settled down and will eat. Lake Granby is fishing very good for all species. Rainbows and browns are being caught in water less then 15 feet deep on small jigs tipped with wax worms. Spoons are a great attractor. Most Lake trout are being caught at 40-70 feet of water. Tube jigs, hair jigs, spoons, and plain jig heads tipped with a small piece of sucker meat are enticing bites.
Williams Fork, The fishing dropped off a bit this week, but there are still plenty of 12-17” lake trout being caught on the usual baits. Focus on structure in 35-65 feet of water for the best action. Tube jigs tipped with sucker meat and various jigging spoons are consistently producing a few strikes. Smaller baits like bare jigheads with a chunk of sucker and gulp minnows are also catching a few. The key is moving around to find the highest concentrations of fish. Bigger lakers have been tough to entice recently but there is always the possibility of a trophy at this lake. The best tactic for rainbows has been to fish early in the day in shallow water in one of the bays with micro jigs or crappie tubes. A few pike are also being caught in shallow water bays but action for them is hit or miss.
The ice is about 12-14 inches thick across most of the lake with a slightly thinner area near the dam. There is still about 6 inches of snow on top of the ice. There is still no slush anywhere on the lake. Tucker Bamford
Grand Lake, The Rainbow trout and Brown trout continue to be active and hungry with the best bite being early and late in the day. They are being found between 8ft and 16ft of water depending on time of day and are being caught on a variety of baits, but the Leech Flutter Spoon by Clam tipped with a wax worm has been my go to bait. Lake trout are being caught all over the lake, but it takes some diligence and searching. Get out drill some holes and use that Vexilar to determine where the Lake trout are and what their mood is for the day, seems to change every day. Ice is in good shape on the town side of the lake, use caution if venturing out, and beware of the areas with moving water, as the ice varies significantly there compared to rest of lake!. Be safe and good luck. Dan Shannon, Guide – Fishing with Bernie
Middle Park fishing report for 1-23-2017
Granby has lost its slush! The ice thickness varies around the lake. We have been seeing snow machines and ATV's throughout the lake. Rainbows and browns are biting very well around the shorelines until the sun hits the ice then they shut down. A few kokanee have been caught in water 20'-30' deep over 80'-100' of water. Lake trout fishing has been excellent with small spoons like the "Leech Flutter spoon or plain jains in various colors and sizes. Tube jigs. hair jigs and other assorted plastics tipped with a small piece of sucker meat have been producing also in 40-70 feet of water. Bernie
Williams Fork Reservoir is fishing well for lake trout with a few rainbows and pike being caught as well. Most of the macks are being caught in 35-75 feet of water on tube jigs tipped with a small chunk of sucker meat. Various jigging spoons and gulp minnows are also catching a few. Most of the pike are showing up in less than 10 feet of water. Jigging Raps and tube jigs account for a few pike as well. Rainbows are mostly being found in less than 15 feet of water and can be caught on panfish tubes or various mini jigs tipped with salmon eggs or meal worms. Tucker - guide Fishing with Bernie
The ice on most of the lake is 12-14” thick with a thinner area near the dam that is about 8”. There was some fresh snow this week, but it’s still only about 6” deep on top of the ice. There was no slush on top of the ice at the time of this report.
Grand Lake has fishable ice conditions, use caution in the areas of moving water as the ice thickness is significantly different than the other areas of the lake. Fishing has been good for Rainbows and Browns, concentrate your efforts to early in the morning and late in the day for best results. No need to go too deep, but the fish do move deeper as the day goes on, your typical trout baits have been working well. The lake trout under 18” have been active and hungry, we have been finding them all over the lake. They don’t seem to be relating to any depth or structure, but out and cruising. Grab your Vexilar, sharpen your auger blades, top off the tank and get out there and drill a bunch of holes, that’s what its been taking to find the lake trout. Good luck out there! Dan Shannon, Guide - Fishing with Bernie .
Lake Granby are fishing report for 1-16-2017
Granby has froze over again. This time most of the slush has frozen over also. This gives us 1-4" of good clear ice, 3-6" of water and 4-6" of frozen slush.
Understanding gamefish strike zones
Many anglers agonize over finding the hot lure or perfect color pattern for the conditions at hand, but veteran guide Bernie Keefe argues they’d catch more fish by focusing on strike zones instead.
“A strike zone is the area in which fish will respond positively to your presentation, and the size of these areas changes frequently, even during the course of a day on the water,” he explains.
While Keefe concentrates most of his time connecting clients with feisty trout including lakers, browns and ‘bows, along with Kokanee salmon, he’s also a veteran walleye and pike fan, and says the strike zone concept applies to virtually any gamefish.
“Same with technique,” he says. “Strike zones are a big deal whether you’re casting, jigging or trolling.”
According to Keefe, a number of factors can cause a fish’s strike zone to expand or contract. “Weather and light conditions can play a role, as well as the mood of the fish and whether or not its stomach is empty,” he explains.
“Many days,” he continues. “Trout are aggressive and hungry first thing in the morning. They have no trouble swimming 10 to 20 feet to attack something that catches their eye. If I’m trolling, this means I have plenty of leeway positioning my lures in the water column.”
However, as the day progresses and the trout’s bellies become full, their ambition begins to wane, and with it, their willingness to chase down far-off meals.
“It’s not unlike Thanksgiving Day,” Keefe quips. “After dinner, you’re not getting up off the couch to get a turkey sandwich in the kitchen. But, if someone waves a slice of pumpkin pie in front of you, and all you have to do is raise your arm…that’s a whole different story.”
When the strike zone shrinks during a trolling trip, Keefe keeps a close eye on his Lowrance depthfinder to pinpoint trout location, and fine-tunes lure running depths to match until he puts the piscatorial pie in front of the trout’s nose. “I adjust depth in 1-foot increments until I start getting bit again,” he says.
He takes a similar tack when jigging. “Active fish may chase a jig ripped a foot off the bottom,” he says. “But if they want it within six inches of bottom, you’re wasting half of every jig stroke on unproductive water.”
Currently, one of Keefe’s hottest jigging patterns centers on a reduced strike zone. “I rig a 5-inch Berkley Jerk Shad on a half-ounce leadhead, drop it to bottom and then slowly raise and lower it,” he says. “The trick lately has been limiting lifts to 12 inches. Raise it any more than that and the fish won’t bite.”
Even when targeting active trout, it still pays to keep strike zones in mind. “I love casting stickbaits like the Berkley Cutter 110 to hungry brown trout cruising windswept rocky shorelines,” he says.
“The fish are super-aggressive,” he continues. “But that doesn’t mean you can get sloppy. The strike zone typically extends from shore out to the scum line generated by reverse currents bouncing off the bank. Cast outside this area and your success rate drops like an anchor.”
Keefe encourages anglers to consider the strike zone factor at all times, and be prepared to react accordingly. “If you stop catching fish, don’t assume they quit biting or you need a different lure,” he says. “Try focusing your presentation on a smaller area, you might be pleasantly surprised.”
Middle Park area fishing report 7-28-16
Grand Lake
Grand Lake has been fishing good, the water temp has been in the mid 60’s by early afternoon. Rainbows and Browns are biting well in the inlet areas, casting or trolling Rapalas and various jerkbaits during the low light periods of the day has been consistent. The lake trout are reacting to the warmer water and are being found in water as deep as 100’. They have been selective on the baits they are after, so don’t be afraid to throw the tackle box at them, but when you find the bite, its been good. A few key notes for planning your Grand Lake fishing trip; the lake gets busy during mid day with water skiers and boat traffic, and the afternoon thunderstorms/wind have been consistently showing up just about every day. Get out there and enjoy this great fishing and beautiful time of year in Grand County! Dan Shannon, Guide – Fishing with Bernie
Lake Granby Report
Water temps are 64-68. Rainbows are being caught early and late along the shorelines with power bait. As the lake trout move deeper presentation is the key. Lake trout are being caught all around the lake in depths of 50' and greater. Small jigs tipped with "Gulp" or sucker meat are getting limits of fish.
Williams Fork Report
Surface temp at 6AM was 65 degrees with the temps rising to 70 degrees late afternoon. Water level is full. Windy conditions can be expected late AM on most days. Recent winds have mixed warm surface water with subsurface water driving lake trout deeper. Lakers are being caught on jigs tipped with sucker meat at 90 to 120 foot. Lake Trout bite is slow but they are catch-able. Small lakers can be caught trolling. A few Kokanee salmon are being caught trolling at slow speeds. Bank fishing for Rainbows is slow. With subsurface temps rising large Northern Pike have moved from the shallows to deeper water. Suspending or diving jerk baits, and slow moving spinner baits run at depth are producing hits. Small Northern's can be caught along the shorelines. - Randy Hall guide Fishing with Bernie
Middle Park area fishing report 7-5-16
Grand Lake
Grand Lake continues to fish great, the run off has slowed and the water is clearing up. Water temperature has been in the mid to upper 50’s during the middle of the day. Low light periods continue to be key times of the day, particularly for the rainbows and browns, fishing aggressively with reaction type baits has been working well. Lake trout are found deeper and deeper everyday as the water warms, keys to finding them has been using electronics and changing up offerings until you find the bait of the day, each day it is something different they are wanting. Waters are busy this weekend, Hope everyone had a fun and safe Fourth of July! Dan Shannon, Guide for Fishing with Bernie
WIlliams Fork
Surface temp at 6AM was 62.8. By late afternoon temp was 68. Lake Troutare moving deeper. I saw fish on the screen from 70 to 120 foot. Fishing is good with the proper presentation. Small jigs tipped with meat is catching 15-18" lakers. Pike are slow. They are still in the shallows mid day. They are following but not hitting. Salmon are slow. Randy Hall
Lake Granby
Water temps are 64-68. Rainbows are being caught early and late along the shorelines with power bait. A few browns are still being caught casting the rocky shorelines early and late in the day. Lake trout are being caught all around the lake in depths of 50' and greater. Small jigs tipped with "Gulp" or sucker meat are getting limits of fish.
Middle Park area fishing report 6-27-16
WILLIAMS FORK
Surface temp 62 at 6AM. By late afternoon temp climbed to 68. Lake trout are slow today. Small numbers of 3 to 4 year old Salmon are being caught trolling. Bank fishing for rainbow is slow. With the warmer lake temps Pike are starting to show more aggressive interest in following lures, but the bite is slow. Randy has been fishing trophy pike at Williams Fork for 28 years.
GRAND LAKE
Grand Lake fishing has been best early and late in the day. Water temp is 49 degrees in the morning warming to low 50’s by the afternoon. There is lots of water coming into the lake bringing lots of debris. Keep an eye out, I have seen whole logs partially submerged, floating all over the lake. Browns and rainbows are still hitting the in the shallow parts of the lake and where there is moving water during the low light periods. The lake trout are working their way deeper by the day as the water warms but are still active and biting well. Have fun and stay safe! - Dan Shannon, Guide for Fishing with Bernie
LAKE GRANBY
Lake Granby's water temp is in the mid 60's. Rainbows are still being caught early and late in the day in the grass and near moving water. Browns are caught early around running water. Lake trout are scattered around the lake starting at about 40', we caught them last week as deep as 90'. Fish are migrating looking for comfortable water temps and food. The early and late periods are best for all species in the area but they will eat if your lure/bait is presented carefully. Bernie has been guiding the middle park area for over 20 years. Please checkout www.fishingwithbernie.com or Facebook "Fishing with Bernie" for more information.
Lake Granby are fishing report for 6-19-16
Williams Fork is full and starting to settle down. Lake surface temp is hitting mid 60's in the bays on a sunny day. Fishing is slow for all species except lake trout. A few Kokes are being caught by trollers. Bank fishing for trout is slow but some are being caught. Pike are moving into the shallows to sun mid day. They can be seen in all bays. Some are following lures but are not aggressively hitting yet. Fly fisherman are catching a few. Lure angling is slow. Best bet is slow moving suspending lures.
Grand Lake's water temp is approaching 50 degrees, fishing has been good with the best bite for browns and rainbows occurring at sunrise and sunset for fish cruising in the shallows around the inlet areas. The lake trout have been active and feeding throughout the day, but are working their way deeper toward their summer patterns as the water warms up. Great time of the year to be on the water, keep in mind we are in our summer weather pattern with afternoon winds and thunderstorms often with lightning occurring almost everyday, plan accordingly, have fun and be safe!
Lake Granby's water temp is in the low 60's. Rainbows are still being caught early and late in the day in the grass and near moving water. Lake trout are scattered around the lake starting at about 40', we caught them last week as deep as 80'. The early and late periods are best for all species in the area but they will eat if your lure/bait is presented carefully.
Bernie has been guiding the middle park area for over 20 years. Please checkout www.fishingwithbernie.com .
