DeWeese Reservoir

General Overview

DeWeese is an excellent regional stillwater option and a great venue for anglers looking to develop their lake-fishing skill set.

As we move into early fall, cooling water temperatures begin to expand the productive fishing window and can bring trout back into more accessible water. Early and late sessions remain excellent, but cooler days can provide good opportunities throughout much more of the day. Pay close attention to wind, changing light conditions and insect activity, as fish may move considerably throughout a session.

Lake Conditions

Water Level: Variable with irrigation releases
Note: DeWeese releases directly influence Grape Creek below the reservoir
Clarity: Generally Clear
Primary Activity: Chironomids, Callibaetis, Damselflies, Leeches & Crayfish

Suggested Methods

Our first move is generally a static indicator rig featuring Chironomids, Callibaetis nymphs, Damsels or Balanced Leeches. As early fall progresses, don't be afraid to shorten up and explore shallower water as cooling temperatures encourage fish to move. Depth is still often more important than constantly changing flies, so make adjustments until you begin intercepting fish. If the static game isn't producing, start covering water with Leeches, Damsels or Callibaetis patterns on an intermediate or sinking line. Drop-offs, weed edges and windblown structure are all excellent places to concentrate your efforts.

Spinney Mountain Reservoir

General Overview

Spinney remains one of Colorado's premier stillwater trout fisheries, but the major story continues to be low water. The reservoir is dramatically below full pool, which changes both access and fish location. The positive is that Spinney continues to produce excellent trout fishing for anglers willing to cover water and understand how fish are using the available structure.

Early fall is an excellent time to approach Spinney aggressively. Cooling water temperatures can increase trout activity and expand the amount of productive water available throughout the day. Callibaetis activity remains important, while Leeches, Scuds and larger food sources become increasingly valuable as we progress toward fall.

Lake Conditions

Lake Level: Approximately 40%
Full Capacity: 53,651 acre-feet
Water Level: Very Low
Clarity: Clear
Primary Activity: Callibaetis, Chironomids, Damselflies, Scuds & Leeches

Suggested Methods

We like having two completely different rods ready to go. The first should carry a static indicator rig built around Chironomids, Callibaetis nymphs, Damsels, Scuds and Balanced Leeches. The second should be set up to cover water with a Leech, Damsel or baitfish-style pattern.

Depth control remains huge, but early fall is a great time to begin exploring shallower water again, particularly during low-light periods and when wind pushes food toward shore. Don't park an indicator at one depth all day. Watch for cruising fish, insect activity and changes in structure, and continue adjusting until you establish where fish are feeding. As Callibaetis activity continues, remember that fish may move vertically through the water column throughout the emergence. Understanding the lifecycle is every bit as important as having the right fly.

Eleven Mile Reservoir

General Overview

Eleven Mile offers a massive amount of fishable water and an outstanding population of quality trout. Early fall can be an excellent window as cooling water temperatures increase trout activity and fish begin transitioning away from their summer patterns. Callibaetis, Chironomids and Damselflies remain important, while Leeches, Scuds and larger food sources become increasingly relevant as fall progresses.

Fish location will continue to change throughout the day based on light, wind, water temperature and food availability, so remain mobile and let the conditions dictate your approach.

Lake Conditions

Full Capacity: 97,779 acre-feet
Full-Pool Elevation: Approximately 8,602 feet
Clarity: Clear
Primary Activity: Callibaetis, Chironomids, Damselflies, Scuds, Leeches & Crayfish

Suggested Methods

Static nymphing and stripping remain our two focal methods. Under an indicator, build your rig around the predominant lifecycle activity and experiment with depth before constantly changing flies. Chironomids, Callibaetis nymphs, Damsels, Scuds and Balanced Leeches are staples.

For anglers who want to stay active, an intermediate or sinking line with a Leech, Damsel or baitfish pattern allows you to prospect drop-offs, weed lines and other structure efficiently. As temperatures cool, begin exploring shallower water and shoreline structure more frequently, especially early, late and during windy or overcast periods.

Don't get married to one spot. Finding feeding fish is step one. Fly selection comes after that.

Pueblo Reservoir

General Overview

Pueblo Reservoir is a massive and extremely diverse fishery, and we approach it much differently than our traditional trout stillwaters. Here, structure, forage, depth and fish location are the name of the game. Points, rocky banks, submerged structure, drop-offs and coves should all receive attention. You can catch Large & Small Mouth Bass, Walleye, Wipers, Bluegill, Carp, Catfish and Trout in Pueblo Reservoir!

Early fall brings cooling water temperatures and a gradual transition in fish location. Baitfish become increasingly important, and anglers should pay close attention to areas where forage is concentrated around points, coves, rocky structure and major depth changes.

Lake Conditions

Recent Reported Storage: Approximately 164,261 acre-feet
Full Capacity at Spillway: Approximately 349,940 acre-feet
Water Level: Approximately 50% Full
Clarity: Variable by location
Primary Food Sources: Baitfish, Crayfish, Leeches, Midges & seasonal aquatic insects

Suggested Methods

This is a great place to put the streamer rod to work. Baitfish and Crayfish patterns allow you to efficiently cover water and target fish around structure. Vary depth, retrieve speed and cadence until the fish give you some feedback. Intermediate and sinking lines can be extremely useful depending on the depth you're targeting.

As fall progresses, pay particular attention to baitfish movement and don't assume fish will remain locked into their deeper summer locations. Cooler conditions can bring predators into more accessible water, particularly during low-light periods and when wind concentrates forage against structure.

Indicator fishing can certainly produce when fish are concentrated, but generally we're going to approach Pueblo with a much more mobile, prospecting-oriented mindset.

Brush Hollow Reservoir

General Overview

Brush Hollow is one of our closest stillwater options to Cañon City and can be a fun venue when you're looking for a quick morning or evening session. As we transition into early fall, cooling water temperatures should begin improving the overall fishing window and can make fish more willing to move into shallower water.

Pay close attention to water temperature, wind and fish activity. Early mornings and evenings remain productive, but cooler days can provide increasingly good opportunities outside those traditional summer windows.

Lake Conditions

Maximum Storage: Approximately 5,071 acre-feet
Current Level: LOW
Clarity: Variable
Primary Food Sources: Midges, Damselflies, Leeches, Crayfish & Baitfish

Suggested Methods

Cover water until you begin establishing a pattern. Small Leeches, Damsels and baitfish-style streamers are good searching options, particularly around points, drop-offs, weed edges and other structural changes. Static indicator rigs featuring Midges, Damsels and Leeches can also be productive when fish are concentrated at a specific depth.

With cooler early-fall conditions, don't overlook shallower structure or windblown shorelines. Fish that spent much of summer holding deeper may become increasingly willing to move into accessible water to feed.

Don't spend the entire session changing flies when the real problem may simply be location or depth. Find the fish first, then refine the presentation.

Skagway Reservoir

General Overview

Skaguay Reservoir is another great small-stillwater option within easy striking distance of Cañon City. Sitting higher in elevation than many of our local fisheries, Skaguay provides a completely different environment and can be a great option for anglers looking to escape the bigger reservoirs and focus on a smaller piece of water.

Early fall is an excellent time to explore these higher-elevation stillwaters. Cooling water temperatures can increase fish activity and expand the productive fishing window beyond the early morning and evening periods that are so important during summer. Water temperature, wind, available structure and food activity should continue to dictate your approach more than simply cycling through fly patterns.

Lake Conditions

Water Level: 70%
Clarity: Generally Clear / Variable following weather events
Primary Food Sources: Chironomids, Callibaetis, Damselflies, Leeches & other aquatic insects

Suggested Methods

Start by working the available structure and determining the depth at which fish are feeding. A static indicator rig featuring Chironomids, Callibaetis nymphs, Damsels and small Leeches is a great starting point. Adjust your depth regularly until you begin making contact with fish. If you're not finding fish under the indicator, start moving. Small Leeches, Damsels and Callibaetis-style patterns fished on a floating, intermediate or appropriate sinking line allow you to efficiently cover different portions of the water column.

As temperatures cool, begin spending more time exploring shallower water and shoreline structure. Pay particular attention to drop-offs, changes in bottom structure, weed edges and windblown shorelines. As with most stillwater fishing, locating fish is generally more important than finding a magic fly. Skaguay is also a great place to develop your stillwater skill set without the scale and complexity of reservoirs like Spinney or Eleven Mile. If you'd like to better understand stillwater rigging, depth control, retrieves and aquatic insect lifecycles.

LEARN TO FLY FISH STILLWATER

Stillwater fishing requires an entirely different approach than moving water. Without a current to help identify where fish should be, success comes from learning how to read the lake, understand depth and structure, locate feeding fish, and choose the right presentation for the conditions. Early fall is one of the most interesting times to develop those skills as cooling water temperatures change fish location and expand the amount of productive water available throughout the day. Our Royal Gorge Anglers guides focus on teaching anglers how to approach stillwater strategically—from identifying productive zones and understanding fish movement to recognizing important Callibaetis, Chironomid, and other aquatic insect lifecycles. Learn when and how to fish static nymph rigs, dry flies, dry/dropper setups, and intermediate or sinking lines, along with the retrieves and presentations that make each technique effective.

The goal isn’t simply to catch fish for a day. It’s to teach you how to break down a stillwater fishery and confidently develop a game plan on your own.

Give us a call at (719) 371-4530 to discuss current conditions or book a guided fly fishing trip.