Grand County Fishing Report 6/5/23

Grand Lake - With the rain the water temp has remained in the low 50’s for the mornings. Fishing has remained good for all species with best bite being first few hours in the morning while water is calm. Rainbow trout and brown trout action is best along the inlets and rocky shorelines. Pink/silver spoons and spinners have been producing the most fish, but the larger fish are being caught on rainbow trout colored crankbaits. Lake trout action has been best when the water is flat, before the wind and waves arrive. Look for lake trout in 20-40ft of water, a brown or black tube jig tipped with a small piece of sucker has been a consistent producer. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork - Williams Fork is open to motorized boats. Ramp hours are 6AM to 8PM daily. Water capacity has jumped to 83% since my last report. The lake is 11 feet low. In flow is 573 cfs, outflow is 30 cfs. Surface temp is 52 warming to 54 degrees. The water is cloudy with sediment from runoff. Visibility is about 6 feet. There is a lot of debris on the lake so keep an eye out for these floating, and partially submerged hazards. The Lake Trout bite is very good for the first few hours of the morning, then stalls out until late afternoon. All age groups seem eager to bite tube jigs and grubs tipped with fresh sucker meat on the bottom. If you see fish but can't get them to bite, downsize your jig and vary your presentation until you find something that works. Look for all classes of Lake Trout in 40 to 60 feet of water. This week I did not see any Lake Trout break the surface so we may be nearing the end of casting season. I've heard reports of a few Northerns being caught in the shallows. Northerns are in decline so please practice catch and release on all fish. Small Rainbows are biting small lures and flies in the inlet where the river runs into the lake. Lake wide bank fishing with bait is slow since the lake hasn't been stocked with catchable Rainbows for several years. Kokanee trolling is very slow because they have not stocked any Salmon in an effort to control the Gill Lice problem. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Randy H

Lake Granby - Boat ramp hours are 6am-8pm. Sunset boat ramp is open 7 days a week, Stillwater Boat ramp is open Friday - Sunday. Water level is at 91% and filling daily. Water temp has remained in the mid 50’s with the cooler temperatures and rain. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good in the mornings along the inlets and dam faces. Spoons, spinners and float with a tungsten jig with a wax worm or piece of nightcrawler have all been producing fish. Brown trout action has been best in the low light periods of the day or windy conditions. use crank baits or spoons with an erratic retrieve to produce strikes. Lake trout action has been good to very good. Fish are being caught between 30’ and 55’ along main lake structure with deep water close by. Tube jigs, grubs, hair jigs and glow spoons have all been producing strikes, the key is to get away from the groups of boats and find the unpressured fish. Tip your lure with fresh sucker meat often to keep the fish interested. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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

Grand County Fishing Report 5/29/23

Grand Lake - Water Temp is around 50 degrees by the afternoon. Water clarity varies depending on location. Fishing remains good for all species with the cooler water temperatures. A slip bobber and pink or chartreuse tungsten jig tipped with a wax worm, salmon egg or earthworm drifted in the inlets is producing multi-species action in the mornings and afternoons. Good rainbow and brown trout action along the shorelines with smaller crank baits like a Dynamic J-spec or X-rap, work them erratically with frequent pauses. Silver, Pink and blue spoons or spinners are also producing rainbows and browns. Lake trout are being caught in 25-50 ft of water. A small dark colored or glowing grub tipped with sucker meat are producing the best action. Lake is starting to get busier daily, use caution while traveling around. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

Williams Fork - Williams Fork is open to motorized boats. Ramp hours are 6AM to 8PM daily. Water capacity is at 73%, or 18 feet low. In flow if 657 cfs, out flow is 17 cfs. Surface temp is 50 degrees. The water is stained, visibility is only 5' to 6' feet with the heavy runoff. There is a lot of debris on the surface so keep an eye out for hazards. On my initial trip I found Lake Trout jigging to be very good until about 8:30AM when the sun got bright, then the bite slowed dramatically with occasional bites throughout the day. Mixed age groups can be found in 30' to 50' of water. They were eager to bite twisters or tubes tipped with sucker meat. I saw several Lakers breaking the surface, so casting swim or glide baits from a boat or the shore early AM is still an option. I haven't fished for Northern Pike since it's prime Lake Trout season, but they can be found sunning in shallow water mid morning. Some small Rainbows are being caught on flies and small spinners in the inlet where the river runs into the lake on the edges of an eddie. Shore fishing the bottom with bait is slow since the lake hasn't been stocked in several years. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Randy H

Lake Granby - Water Level is 87%. Water temperature is reaching 56 degrees by the afternoon. Sunset Boat Ramp is open 7 days a week 6am-8pm while Stillwater Boat Ramp is open Friday-Sunday 6am-8pm. Fishing for Rainbow Trout has been excellent first thing in the morning in the inlets and areas of moving water. A small pink spoon or Tungsten jig tipped with a Clam Silkie under a float have been producing fish. Trollers are also reporting success along the shorelines in 8-12ft of water with silver cowbells and a bright pink spinner tipped with a small piece of worm. Brown trout bite remains very good particularly in the wind, look for rocky wind blown shorelines. Crank baits, spoons or small tube jigs fished along the banks will produce bites, the brown trout have been averaging 16”+ and is fast action in the right conditions. Lake Trout bite has been good. Look for lake trout in 30-60’ of water along structure breaks and changes. White tubes in 2”-3” size tipped with a small piece of sucker has been consistent producer, but when they are finicky try to down size to grub or a jig head with a contrasting color to entice more strikes. Great time of year to be on the water in Grand County, hope to see you out there! Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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

Grand County Fishing Report 5/22/23

Grand Lake - Water Temp 48 degrees. Fishing for rainbow trout and brown has been excellent. Target rocky shorelines and inlets. Spoons and small crank baits in silver or bright colors have been the best producers. Early bite is a frenzy of activity, but if a storm or breeze comes in the action can pick back up quickly. Lake trout action is very good with fish being caught in 20-40 ft of water on small dark colored tubes tipped with sucker. This is an excellent time to fish on this lake, don’t miss out on the great bite! Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

Williams Fork Reservoir. Water level is at 65% and filling daily. Boat ramp is not open as water is still below the ramp. No estimate on opening date yet. Good action is being reported for lake trout and pike for those on shore or hand launched boats. Target the shallow bays in the afternoons for pike where the water is warmest. Spoons, glide-baits and crankbaits are getting some action. Lake trout are being caught in 25-50ft of water. Tube jigs and plastics that imitate crayfish are producing well.

Lake Granby- Water temp is reaching 55 degrees in the afternoons. Mixed clarity depending on location. Water level is 82% and filling at approximately 6” a day. Sunset boat ramp hours are 7 days a week 6am-8pm. Stillwater boat ramp hours are Friday-Sunday 6am-8pm. Fishing for rainbow trout has been good. Target the areas with moving water. Kastmasters, Little Cleo spoons, and tungsten jigs tipped with Clam Silkie under a float are all catching fish. Brown trout action has been excellent. Look for fish along rocky shorelines, or mud lines from the wind. Crank baits, small tube jigs and larger profile spoons have been working well. Best bite is in the wind and stormy weather. Lake trout bite has been very good with fish being caught at all depths right now, but ready to move deeper as the water warms. Best action is 15-50 ft of water with white or lighter colored tube jigs and small minnow imitations. Key to catching fish is finding them, once you find them they seem eager to eat. Use your electronics or legs to cover water and locate fish. This time of year is a great time to be on the water with the multi-species action, don’t miss it!! Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

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

Grand County Fishing Report 3/17/23

Grand Lake - Expect manageable slushy travel around the lake. Fishing for rainbos and brown trout has been fair to good. Target 6-10ft of water with small brown tubes and Clam Jointed Pinhead Mino in silver or pink colors tipped with a waxie. Laketrout action has been fair in 50-80ft of water with quite a few suspended fish. Small minnow imitations, Wonder bread color Flutter spoons or glow grubs on a brightly colored jig head have been producing bites. Tip your baits with fresh sucker and cover with your favorite scent to keep those fish coming in. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork - Water level is at 43%. Lake trout bite has been fair to good recently. Majority of fish are being caught in 45 to 65 feet of water on small plastics and tungsten jigs tipped with sucker meat. The bite has been best early in the morning, tapering off around noon with most afternoons being slow. Slush has started to freeze up, most areas have a couple inches of frozen slush ontop of 4 to 6 inches of slush, however some areas still haven't hardened up yet and there is 6 to 8 inches of slushy snow onto of the ice. - Fishing with Bernie Guide, Sam Hochevar

Lake Granby - Water level is at 75%. Travel on the lake has been changing daily with the warmer temperatures, starting to see some significant slush east of Deer Island, around Dike 3 and in Arapahoe Bay later in the morning as top crust layer softens. Fishing for rainbow and brown trout has been good, but don’t sleep in. Best bite has been at sunrise, with small white or pink jointed Pinhead Mino spoon or small tungsten jig tipped with a Maki Plastic, fished in 8-12’ of water along the rocks by the dams or rocky shorelines. Lake trout bite has been improving the past week, look for active fish in 40-75’ of water. Don’t be afraid to move if the fish are chasing and not biting, this can be key in your search for un-pressured fish this time of year. SI Flies tipped with sucker, 2-3” dark colored tubes and grubs have been consistently producing, but sometimes the glow plastics can be the key as a changeup. Tip your jigs with a fresh small piece of sucker for best success. —Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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

Grand County Fishing Report 2/24/2023

Grand Lake- Currently, the lake is in very good condition, especially if you plan on fishing the areas with quite a bit of traffic. Ice is averaging 8-15” throughout the lake. The area in front of the pump canal can be very dangerous as water flows out of Shadow Mountain so please use extreme caution in this area. The rainbows and browns have been eggar to strike a well-presented tungsten jig in the shallows, very early in the morning. CLAM Pro Tackle’s Drop kick and caviar jigs have been a pretty solid bet for us this year. Concentrate your efforts in 5-12 feet of water and as the day gets warmer, slide off into the deeper water and utilize a flashier type of hardware like a small spoon. Lake trout are still taking the typical Grand Lake presentations. Small tubes and grub type jigs have been very good as of late in the 30-60 foot range. If fishing these lake trout over the deeper water, keep your eye out for the suspended fish. This late in the season, it’s not uncommon to see fish suspended in well over 100’ in depth. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Jake Foos

Williams Fork- Certain areas still have some slush on top of the ice and are difficult to navigate through when traveling on foot. The lake is at around 44% of capacity so the usual walks are a bit longer than past years. The fishing for all species other than lake trout has been fairly slow for us as of lake. Late trout are super hungry and have been slamming small grub style jigs like a Simcoe Bug when tipped with a small piece of sucker meat. Again, load that jig up with some craw or shrimp scent for best results. We are concentrating our efforts in 40-70 feet of water right now for the hungry lakers. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Jake Foos

Lake Granby- With the latest sub-zero temperatures and lighter snow storms mixed with some very strong winds, the lake is really starting to firm up quite nicely. There are still some very problematic, slushy, wet areas around the center of the lake so please use extreme caution, the slush monster is not quite 100% gone yet. The black ice is averaging 8-12” below the frozen slush layer that is up to 14 or so inches thick right now. Rainbows and browns are starting to stack up in the inlet areas. As soon as runoff starts, these will be fantastic areas to concentrate on for these fish. Right now, the key to the rainbows is to fish early and stay as quiet as possible on the ice. Small jigs tipped with a wax worm are fishing the best. Lake Trout are continuing to produce quite well, even as we get closer to spring. We are still finding fish in almost every depth range throughout the lake. With the high water this year, pay special attention to shoreline features and structure for the early morning bite in the shallows. As the day progresses, we are pushing off into deeper water in search of the numbers that are showing up. If you find one fish right now, you will usually find a whole pile of them. 40-50 feet of water has been producing best for us. JCP grubs and small tubes have been our top producers in more “natural” like colors. When fishing these lake trout, don’t forget to load that jig up with some scent and tip them with a very small piece of sucker meat no bigger than a finger nail. A lot of our fish have been chasing baits up to 15’ off the bottom and it’s a ton of fun when you can get them to bite in those conditions. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Jake Foos

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

Grand County Fishing Report 2/17/2023

Grand Lake - Travel conditions are still slushy in areas, but improved. Fishing for Rainbows and Browns has been fair for the first hour of day light in 6-10’ of water once the bite slows its time to bump out deeper to stay on fish. Ice flies, maribou jigs and micro tubes have been working well, tip with a wax worm or butter worm to entice finicky fish. Lake trout action has been slow to fair depending on the day. We are seeing increasing numbers of suspended fish but finding the majority still working the bottom in 40-85’ of water. Using electronics to locate fish has been key, once you find them they are biting a variety of baits such as glow grubs, tungsten jig with silkie, tubes, flutter spoons and hair jigs. Add a small piece of sucker and pay close attention to detect the light bites. Dan Shannon, Guide Fishing with Bernie.

Williams Fork - Water Level 44%. Recent snow has made movement on the lake tougher with snow and slush in areas on the lake. Lake trout can be found 50 to 70 feet of water on the bottom. Small tungsten heads tipped with sucker meat have been producing alot of fish. Moving around on structure in these depths has been the key to finding and catching lake trout. Fishing for rainbows and kokanee has been slow as the lake is not being stocked right now due to gill lice. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Sam Hochevar

Lake Granby - Water Level 82%. Travel conditions continue to improve, but still some large slush pockets to contend with. Fishing has been fair for rainbows and browns, the key is to fish early and late, then locate the rocky shorelines that hold active fish. Micro tubes, small spoons, and ice flies in pink or white have been most consistent. Lake trout action has been fair, finding most active fish in 40-70’. Jig tipped with a dark natural colored tube or grub and a small piece of fresh sucker has been producing, but keep a glow tube or grub , or blade bait handy for when the bite slows to change it up and entice a few extra bites. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

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

Grand County Fishing Report 2/10/23

Grand Lake - 12”+ of ice in most places with deep snow and slush in spots. Fishing has been fair for all species. Best rainbow and brown trout action is along the rocky shorelines early in the day. Small ice flies, maribou jigs and brightly colored tungsten jigs tipped with wax worm will produce fish. Lake trout are being caught in 30-70’ of water, Small glow grubs and tubes tipped with a small piece of sucker worked right on the bottom will produce bites. Keep an eye out on you electronics for suspended fish as well, we are starting to see a few cruising around. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork Reservoir - Water level is at 44%. 12”+ of ice, some snow and slush forming with recent snows. Fishing for lake trout has been fair. Most fish are being caught between 45 and 55 feet of water. Small plastics (1 - 2 inch) and tungsten jig heads tipped with sucker meat are producing most of the fish. When the bite slows down moving around on the structure you are fishing will produce more bites.  Fishing with Bernie Guide, Sam Hochevar

Lake Granby - Water level is at 82%. With the recent cold temps machine travel is improving. Use caution and be prepared for if you get stuck, deep snow and slush are still very present. Fishing for rainbow trout and brown trout has been fair. Look for them in 10-15’ along rocky shorlines and main lake points. Pink and white tungsten ice flies, Dropkick jigs tipped with a silkie or micro tubes are producing well. Fishing for lake trout has been fair to good depending on the day. Fish have moved a step deeper as is typical in February. Most productive depths have been 40-75’ on top of structure with deeper water close by. Tubes, grubs, spoons and a plain tungsten jig tipped with a piece of sucker skin have been producing bites. Color varies by the day with darker colors and glow working best on most days. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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

Grand County Fishing Report 1/20/2023

Grand Lake - Ice is good, but look out for deep snow and slush in areas. Fishing has slowed a bit in past week. Rainbows are still biting well first thing in the morning. Focus on the areas around the inlets, and Pink tungsten jigs, and small pink/silver spoons tipped with a waxie are working well. Find water less than 14’, start shallow and work your way out as the day goes on. Lake trout action has been good, look for them in 35’ to 65’ of water. 3/8 oz jig head with a radical glow grub tipped with a small piece of sucker, or a heavy tungsten tipped with a Clam Silkie has been producing good numbers of fish. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork - Water Level is 46% - Travel on the ice has been some work with the new snow in past few days. Fishing for rainbows, browns and kokanee is slow. Some pike action on suspended baits off the main lake points and cliff areas. Lake trout bite has been good. Look for best action in 50’+ of water and keep moving until you find a spot where the fish are consistently moving through. Small tubes, grubs and any crawfish imitations have been working well. Crawfish colors or glow. A little piece of sucker meat or crawfish scent to sweeten the deal will help entice bites. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Lake Granby - Water level is at 86%. Ice conditions are inconsistent, but improving with the cold temperatures, as always check the ice as you go. Finding 4-10” of ice depending on location and whether the ice has been insulated by snow or slush. Expect deep snow and slush while traveling about the lake, seeing a few snow machines running around but not many yet. Reminder: OHV’s over 1000 lbs are not allowed, this will be strictly enforced. Don’t leave your safety gear at home and have a plan for if you get stuck. Fishing has been good for all species. Rainbows and browns have been active in the low light conditions, small tungsten jigs and spoons, look for rock transitions or moving water. For brown trout small tubes, minnow imitations or jigging raps, worked in rocks and mud transitions areas during the low light hours. Lake trout fishing has been good in 35-70’ of water. The key is finding the group of fish that are active, so stay mobile. A variety of baits have been working hair jigs, spoons, tubes and grubs in dark or glow colors are producing bites once you find the active fish. Tip with a single salmon egg or small piece of sucker for best results. Good luck to everyone in the upcoming 3 Lakes Ice Fishing Contest, stay safe and hope to see you at the weigh station! Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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

Grand County Fishing Report 1/13/23

Grand Lake - Ice is holding at 6-8” with deep snow and slush on the lake in spots. Beware while walking around, temps have not been cold enough to re-freeze holes, and with the snow cover it can be very hard to locate them before you find it with your foot! Fishing has been good to very good for rainbow trout at first light. A small tube, ice fly or Jointed Pinhead tipped with a waxie has been our go to baits. Target water 12’ or less and don’t sleep in, this is definitely the bite for the early bird. Lake trout bite has been fair, with active fish in the 30-50ft depths, a small tube or spoon tipped with sucker has been most consistent. - Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork - Ice is holding up well, minimal slush, but plenty of snow. Wax up that sled and be prepared to put a little effort in, getting to the lake and traveling around. Water level is at 46% capacity. Lake trout bite has been good. We are finding large fish mixed in with the numbers fish so you never know what a bite will bring. Make sure your gear is sized appropriately. Small twisty tail grubs, tubes, hair jigs and flutter spoons tipped with sucker have been producing bites. Target 40-70’ of water and stay mobile if fish are showing up and not biting, sometimes just a small move makes all the difference. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

Lake Granby - Water level is at 87% of capacity. Ice conditions are inconsistent and have been deteriorating with the lack of cold temperatures and persistent snow accumulation. Expect deep snow and large pockets of slush on top of 3.5-6” of ice. A few machines seen around the lake, but we have parked ours until conditions improve for safety reasons. Fishing for Rainbow trout has been good early in the mornings along rocky shorelines in 6-10’ of water. Small ice flies or tubes tipped with waxie are producing bites. Lake trout bite has been good. Look for them in 35-60’ of water. Small hair jigs, tubes or a classic grub tipped with a small piece of fresh sucker worked right on the bottom has been producing strikes. If headed out be sure to keep safety at the top of your list, bring a buddy, a floating suit, spud bar and rope. We need a cold snap to build some ice! - Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

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

Fishing Report 1/4/2023

Grand Lake - 6-8” of ice with about 8” snow on top. Slushy in areas. Fishing has been excellent for Rainbows and Browns in the early mornings in less than 12 ft of water. Small tungsten jigs tipped with Wax worm, micro tube jigs or small jointed Clam Pinhead spoons have all been producing. Lake trout have been fair in 30-50ft of water with small glow grub or black grub tipped with a small piece of sucker. - Dan Shannon - Guide, Fishing with Bernie.

Lake Granby - 3-4” of ice. Some foot traffic, but have not seen any machines out yet. The heavy snow brought lots of slush. We need some consecutive cold nights to firm things up. Fishing has been very good for all species. Look for best Rainbow trout action in Cutthroat bay up in the shallows early and late in the day. Small tungsten jig tipped with gulp minnow, or Clam Silkie has been producing well. Lake trout bite has been very good in 20-60ft of water. Small natural color tubes, grubs or brightly colored spoons tipped with sucker have been producing good bites from under 20” fish. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon

Williams Fork - 8”+ of ice throughout the lake with about 6” snow cover on top. Water Level 48%. Bite for lake trout has been very good. Focus on your numbers fish in 30-60’ of water, Radical glow grub, or Clam Leach Flutter spoons worked on the bottom have been producing. The large lake trout bite has been very good as well, up-size your baits, large tubes, minnow imitations and be willing to drill some holes to chase down that elusive bite. The rainbow and kokanee action has been slow due to no recent stocking as CPW combats the gill lice. Fishing with Bernie Guide, Dan Shannon.

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