Blue Mesa Fishing Report — boat ramp hours improve April 29th/Trout Tourney Canceled

Water Temp	38-42
Inflow (cfs)	1515
Outflow (cfs)	1076
Lake Elevation	82.83' low
Boat Ramp Hours	7-4:30
Marinas	N/A

Blue Mesa Reservoir Fishing Report:

Blue Mesa Reservoir is slowly starting to rise as run-off gets going. As of right now, the lake elevation is expected to come up 20′ from current levels. The trout tournament was canceled hours after my last fishing report. It’s not looking like either marina will open this season, but from what I am hearing there is still a chance. Elk Creek is currently the only boat ramp open and it is a single-lane boat ramp so launching on busy mornings takes time. The boat ramp hours will improve this Friday when they go from 7-4:30 to 5:30-9!

Trout- fishing has been hot and cold and not quite as good as anticipated by most. Cold fronts have been affecting the bite for all species, but it looks like the weather may be improving in the foreseeable future. Casting jerk baits, spoons, and jigs have been productive along shorelines, especially on windy afternoons, but trolling away from shore or over a little deeper water has been especially productive when the fish seem to pull off the shore. Most trout have been hanging from the surface to 40′ deep.

Salmon- we have not fished for salmon or heard any salmon reports yet.

Lake Trout- early spring is the window that a lot of anglers wait for to chase these fish. The laker fishing has been good overall, but cold fronts have been affecting their mood as well. Lake trout big and small can be at any depth this time of year when water temps are in the high 30’s and low 40’s. Covering water and using your electronics to find fish is always key. Some days it seems hard to find them on your electronics and when this is the case, trolling a variety of baits at a variety of depths can be a great approach for dialing in a pattern. Lake trout are prolific in Blue Mesa thanks to the variety of food they have to eat and grow, but lake trout of 28″ or bigger usually take 8-12 years to grow to that size and are a valuable resource for any fishery. Releasing fish that are 28″ or bigger will help ensure that Blue Mesa has a solid population of trophy lake trout for future generations as well as the years to come.

**This Blue Mesa Fishing Report is brought to you by Robby Richardson and his team of guides! Blue Mesa Fishing offers guided fishing trips for all species! Robby also specializes in fishing, hunting, and residential real estate in the Gunnison Valley and around the state of Colorado and would love to help you with your real estate needs!