Clear Creek Reservoir, Leadville Colorado - Clear Creek Reservoir is primarily a rainbow fishery, but other trout species and kokanee are present, as are the elusive Tiger Muskie.
While fishing is a great reason to visit Clear Creek Reservoir SWA, the Clear Creek drainage offers also offers a number of dispersed camping sites, hiking trails, four wheel drive roads, historical sites and access to the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Hikers will find ample challenge on the nearby Colorado, Sheep Gulch, and Huron Peak trails. Or for a greater challenge the Missouri Gulch trail gives access to Mt. Belford, Mt. Oxford, and Missouri Mountain, three fourteeners. Mountain biking is limited to the 4-wheel roads in the area which are clearly marked with white arrows.
Primitive camping is available just west of the reservoir. Additionally, there are two primitive camping areas and numerous dispersed camping areas along the Clear Creek road, past the 2 ½ to 3 miles of privately owned property after reservoir. There is also a camping area with toilets available on the south side of Winfield. Be aware that there are special Black Bear food storage regulations in the Clear Creek Drainage. All food, refuse or other bear attractants must be stored in a bear resistant fashion.
Clear Creek Reservoir is managed primarily as a put-and-take rainbow fishery, although Snake River Cutthroats are also regularly stocked. Other species anglers may encounter are browns, brooks, and kokanee salmon. Tiger Muskie has been stocked to control the sucker population. The size limit for these elusive predators is 36 inches. For those looking for a change of pace, the creeks above the private ranch have an abundance of small brook trout.
2010 CDOW Forecast:
Clear Creek Reservoir is traditionally one of the most productive and dependable fishing reservoirs in the upper Arkansas River basin. Catch rates consistently exceed one fish/angler-hour and the majority of anglers rate the quality of their fishing experience as good to excellent. It produces excellent fishing for stocked (10 inch) rainbow and Snake River cutthroat trout with an occasional large brown trout over 18 inches being taken. Kokanee salmon survival and fishing has been poor in recent years. Reasons for this decline are being investigated. Kokanee snagging is allowed in the reservoir and upstream about 0.5 miles to the gauging station from Oct 31 to Dec 31. Flycasters are learning that kokanee salmon can be caught with small flies and egg patterns during the spawning run, usually from Oct to Dec.
Tiger muskie, a sterile cross between a northern pike and a muskie, were recently introduced to this reservoir to prey on an abundant sucker population while providing the opportunity for anglers to catch a trophy sized fish. Sucker numbers are declining and tiger muskie averaged 28 inches in 2009 and fish exceeding 30 inches were more common. The limit for tiger muskie is one fish, 36 inches or longer. The lake is serviced by one concrete boat ramp and a boat dock will be installed in 2010. Boating was not allowed in 2008 to prevent the spread of zebra/quagga mussels into the reservoir. A watercraft inspection program was initiated at this reservoir in 2009 and will be expanded in 2010. Trailered boat launching will be allowed beginning May 6th from 7 am to 5 pm from Thursday through Sunday. Beginning May 27th, the lake will be open Thursday through Monday from 6am to 9pm. The hours will be reduced beginning Sept 9th from 7am –5pm Thursday through Sunday. The ramp will close for the season on Sept 26, 2010. Dispersed camping is allowed just upstream of the reservoir along Clear Creek.
Getting there: From Buena Vista, go 13 miles north on Highway 24 to County Road 390, then 1/2 mile west to the reservoir. Fees: State habitat stamp required. Boating: None. Reservoir currently closed to boating. Ice Fishing: Ice fishing is allowed
9/1/2010 - Clear Creek Reservoir - Clear Creek Reservoir is open to boats five days per week, Thursday through Monday, 6:00 AM through 9:00 PM. The water temperatures are about 58 degrees. Water level in the reservoir is still high. Bank fishing with worms or power bait has been fair to good. Panther Martins and Kastmasters (the rainbow trout color) seem to be the spinning lures of choice, with yellow spinners also a preferred color. Casting from boats has reported large numbers of fish caught and released, and some Kokanee large enough to be considered for dinner. Some trout have also fallen prey to gray Adams flies but, on the whole, fly fishing has been off a bit. Recently some legal (over 36 inch) tiger muskies have been caught from boats. Fishing for early August has been fair.
Conditions History
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