Fishing Report For Gross Reservoir, CO

Current Report: Fair

Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains a stocking program here, keeping a solid population of rainbow trout available to anglers.

FALL. In early Fall, cooling water temperatures in the shallows, had draw rainbow trout out of deeper Summer depths. Now that Fall is fading toward Winter, Anglers are now catching them 15 to 25 feet deep on rocky banks, wind-blown points, rocky structure, humps, and anywhere baitfish are gathering. Now that they 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.

WINTER. When Winter sets in jigging spoons, and jigs tipped with bait, are catching nice limits of rainbows out of 15 to 50 feet of water. These baits work well around the old river channels, deeper humps and cuts, especially in the basin around Gross Dam. Trolling with leaded line or downriggers, or vertical jigging with spoons and jigs, are the best approach during the cold-water season. 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 shallow, warmer water 6 to 25 feet deep. 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. A wide variety of small spinners, spoons and bait are catching most of the fish. Later in Spring, the shallows warm even further, and rainbows drop into 15 to 40 feet of water.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives rainbow deeper, 20 to 60 feet deep, occasionally deeper. At dawn and dusk, anglers find rainbows moving into shallower water on flats near the north Shore, typically 6 to 20 feet deep. Trolling with spoons, spinners and crankbaits, using downriggers or leaded line, and drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. 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 heavy weights on a Carolina rig, to get baits in deeper water.

Current Report: Fair

Brown trout can be very aggressive, and put up a good battle. These browns are more aggressive than rainbows, and will attack larger lures - especially jerkbaits.

FALL. Late Fall is drawing browns back to deeper water. Successful anglers are catching them 20 to 40 feet deep on points, rocky structure, humps, and mouths of bays where baitfish are gathering. Points near the north shore picnic area, sheltered coves around Winiger Ridge, and near the South Boulder Creek inlet, are good choices. Decent catches are coming on jerkbaits, miniature crankbaits, small spinnerbaits and swimbaits. Now, they have had a full summer to grow, and it's a good time to catch a trophy. When they move out to structure in deep water, spoons, jigs and bait are catching browns.

WINTER. When Winter sets in, and the lake freezes over, ice fishing is quite popular here. Jigging spoons and jigs tipped with bait are catching most limits of brown trout, in 15 to 60 feet of water. After ice out, trolling, drift fishing and jigging spoons all work well. Slower presentations improve catch rates as these trout have a low metabolism in the colder months.

SPRING. As water begins to warm in early Spring, brown trout move from their deep winter holding areas to shallower, warmer water. Annually, after ice-out, weekend anglers are catching brown trout on spinners, small jerkbaits, nightcrawlers and a variety of other prepared offerings. They congregate around inflowing creeks, backwaters and onto flats - 10 to 20 feet deep. Flats nearby the north shore picnic area, and around the South Boulder Creek inlet, are good choices. The most productive fishing is happening from mid morning to late afternoon, during the warmest water of the day.

SUMMER. Once Summer is here to stay, the warmer water drives brown trout deeper, 20 to 60 feet deep, and deeper. Early in the morning and at dusk, they are being caught shallower in these low-light conditions. Trolling around river channel ledges and structure, using downriggers or leaded line, or drift fishing with bait, are currently the most productive methods. Anglers fishing from the bank are using fairly heavy weights, on a Carolina rig to get baits into deeper water.

Current Report: Fair

FALL. Late Fall has driven kokanee back into 15 to 40 feet of water. The best fishing was during the spawn run in Fall, when they moved shallow into in-flowing water. During Fall, kokanee migrate into spawning grounds, which can be along the shoreline of the lake, or upstream in rivers and tributaries. In the weeks just prior to the spawn, they will gather in sizeable schools near the mouths of these inflows. The spawn typically occurs in mid to late September. During that time, kokanee fishing was good from 8 to 20 feet deep. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during the spawn. Snagging is permitted from October 1 to December 1, with set daily limits.

WINTER. When permitted ice fishing is available in Winter, kokanee are typically caught from 25 to 60 feet below the ice, where their food source is located. On occasion they move deeper. Ice jigs, spoons, PowerBait, ShrimpZ, shoepeg corn, and maggots are popular ice fishing baits here.

SPRING. During late Spring kokanee typically move close to the surface where phytoplankton blooms become more abundant, providing a rich food source. Typically they feed in 15 to 40 feet of water. Kokanee will feed heavily on this plankton until surface temperatures reach the high 50's. Kokanee stage in tributary mouths, and warmer, food-rich pockets as they begin to move toward spawning reaches. Casting or trolling spinners, spoons, or kokanee rigs works well during this period.

SUMMER. Downriggers or leaded line are the two primary methods for catching kokanee here, while trolling. Kokanee school up and hang out over deep water, usually above some type of structure. The ideal water temperature is mid to low 50's. Identify the depth for that temperature range, and the kokanee will be hanging out in that depth range. Worm harnesses, and wedding ring spinner setups, are popular when trolled behind a 4" dodger. Locals are tipping these baits with shoepeg white corn, PowerBait, Z-Man Scented ShrimpZ, or live nightcrawlers to helps attract bites. 30 to 80 feet deep is usually the ideal depth to work in these warmer months. Trolling these baits between 1.2 mph and 1.8 mph is a good speed.