Spring fishing in Colorado offers a tale of two waters. Lakes are coming alive - ice melts, water warms, and fish that spent winter in deep, cold water move to shallows to feed. Meanwhile, rivers run high and often muddy with snowmelt, making fly fishing challenging until flows stabilize.
Lake fishing peaks in spring. Colorado Parks & Wildlife stocks heavily in March and April, filling reservoirs and ponds with hungry rainbow trout. Warmwater species like bass and walleye become active as temperatures rise. It's prime time for bank fishing and boat anglers alike.
River anglers need patience. Runoff typically peaks in May and June, making many streams unfishable. But tailwaters below dams - sections with regulated flows - can fish well all spring. As runoff subsides in late May and June, smaller streams become perfect.