Fishing Report For Carter Lake, CO

Current Report: Good To Very Good

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife regularly stocks 10' rainbow trout to maintain a thriving fishery here. The diet of these trout consists of insects, small fishes and crustaceans. Anglers catch decent rainbows while trolling, or casting from a boat, as well as from the bank along the many sections of accessible shoreline. The Army Corps of Engineers recommends Doll Mountain, the Dam site, Woodring Branch, Ridgeway and others for bank fishing. Small spinners, miniature crankbaits and miniature swimbaits catch rainbows, as do nightcrawlers, salmon eggs, PowerBait, and other prepared baits.

WINTER. Now that Winter has sets in, jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 10 to 30 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channel in the main basin, near the dam, and along deep channel troughs. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, have been the best approach during the early, cold-water season. Ice may form, but ice fishing is not allowed at Carter Lake. Slowly worked offerings are more likely to attract bites in this cold water.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, rainbow trout move from their late winter holding areas to 5 to 15 feet of water. A good number of rainbows are typically caught from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day. Shallow flats and rocky structure are quick to warm in the afternoon sun. Marina basin and the dam area creek mouths, points, shallow coves, and flats adjacent to deep water are popular in Spring. Late Spring finds them feeding in 15 to 30 feet of water, after they spawn. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 15 to 40 feet deep, occasionally deeper. Trolling the main basin with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. In summer trout commonly suspend above the thermocline, above humps, deep channel edges and mid-lake structure. Following drop-offs into deeper water, along structure or creek channels, is a major key to getting bites. Anglers fishing from the bank are using nightcrawlers or Berkley PowerBait, with fairly heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

FALL. In early Fall, cooling water temperatures in the shallows, draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Anglers catch them 10 to 15 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, and flats. Rainbows feed on deeper rocky structure, humps, and ledges, anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that these trout have had a full summer to grow, there are some nice size rainbow to be caught. Small spinners, spoons, jigs, miniature crankbaits and swimbaits are good choices, as are salmon eggs and prepared baits. Later in Autumn, they move into 20 to 25 feet of water.

Current Report: Good To Very Good

Walleye are being caught year round here, but Spring and Fall are the best seasons. They primarily feed on baitfish and other small fish, close to the bottom. Bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers are catchin them when they move off the bank into 10 to 15 feet of water. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are working if they are up shallow. Blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners are all working while trolling deeper.

WINTER. This Winter, fishing for walleye has been pretty good, as it has been for the last few years. Ice may form, but ice fishing is not allowed at Carter Lake. Anglers report catching them in the main basin area, in 35 to 90 feet of water, along deep creek channel edges, rocky humps and ledges. Steep drops in the area toward the dam are also producing during these cold months. After ice-out blade baits, jigs, swimbaits, spoons, deep-diving crankbaits, and worm harness spinners, all work while deep trolling or drifting.

SPRING. Early Spring brings warming water in the shallows, and draws walleye here to feed, especially rocky areas and inlet channels. In Spring, work points, drop offs, submerged structure, rock ledges, and flats adjacent to deeper water. The upriver end of the lake, around Big Thompson Campground is where they make an annual spawn run, starting in late February. Here, in 10 to 20 feet deep, they will spawn once the water warms to the mid to high 40's. When they are shallow, bright colored jigs, tipped with minnows or nightcrawlers typically catch them. Spinnerbaits, jerkbaits and crankbaits are also working when walleye are up shallow. Afterwards, they move to 25 to 50 feet deep around points, flats, shoals and ledges, nearby shore, often staying in close proximity to their spawning locations. Main lake drop offs tend to produce nice fish.

SUMMER. Water temperatures rise notably in Summer, and walleye fishing is good if you can get your bait deep enough. Early in Summer, walleye tend to concentrate in 30 to 60 feet of water. As Summer develops they descend in deeper water, around 50 to 80 feet deep. Throughout Summer, early in the morning, and from dusk to long after dark are good times to catch walleye a little shallower. At those times they move slightly shallower to feed in low-light conditions. Night fishing is often good in Summer, as well. When the bite is slow, grubs and nightcrawlers, fished just off the bottom typically catch walleye.

FALL. Fall brings cooler temperatures to shallow water, drawing walleye and baitfish into coves and bays. Walleye continue to be a major draw for anglers, even as the weather cools. Locals report catching nice walleye on long points, flats along the river and creek channels, and structure off shore. Jigs, swimbaits, spoons, crankbaits, jerkbaits, and spinnerbaits are all historically good for catching walleye this time of year. Early in Fall finds them in 30 to 40 feet of water, in late Fall they hold 50 to 60 feet deep. Dragging jigs, bottom bouncers, or worm harnesses with nightcrawlers or leeches, around ledge drop-offs catches walleye fairly consistently. Watch for the bigger walleye to be slightly deeper than the majority of the school.

Current Report: Fair To Good

Most anglers here focus on trout and walleye, leaving the perch population with very little fishing pressure. For those who enjoy a good fish fry, and are willing yo find and catch these perch, the fishing has been good all year. Fat yellow perch here feed on small fish and invertebrates. Fishing for them is good using minnows, mealworms, maggots, and nightcrawlers.

WINTER. The cold of winter has driven perch deeper, in search of food and stable water conditions. Areas around tributaries and inflowing creeks are ideal Winter holding spots. Ice may form, but ice fishing is not allowed at Carter Lake. Perch are often caught when they are feeding in rocky areas, in 30 to 50 of water. Ice may form, but ice fishing is not allowed at Carter Lake. Good catches are reported using minnows, spoons, underspins, and jigs tipped with nightcrawlers.

SPRING. Perch spawn in Spring when the water temperature warms to the mid 50's and mid 60's. Anglers will begin to catch them in 15 to 30 feet of water using underspins, minnows, mealworms, maggots, spinners, small spinnerbaits, and nightcrawlers. Docks, weed lines, drop offs all attract yellow perch searching for a meal. They spawn in 1 to 10 feet of water. Later in Spring, they migrate back to deeper water to feed. Coves on the south and west sides of the lake have historically delivered great stringers of perch in Spring.

SUMMER. Fat yellow perch here feed primarily on small fish and invertebrates. Spinners, underspins, small crankbaits, mealworms, nightcrawlers and maggots are catching perch in 10 to 20 feet of water. In early Summer, plus the first and last hours of the day, seek them out in feeding zones, 6 to 12 feet deep. Drop-offs, standing timber, lay-down trees, shallow weed lines, and in areas with submerged vegetation, are key feeding spots. Later in Summer, perch drop into 20 to 30 feet of water.

FALL. Early Fall finds yellow perch feeding in 15 to 20 feet of water. Later in the Fall, they begin migrating toward Winter holding areas, often in the deeper sections, around the edges of weedbeds, drop offs along flats, channel edges, rock piles and humps. In late Fall focus on 20 to 30 feet deep cover. Minnows, spinners, spoons and small jigs are ideal this time of year.