Nee Noshe Reservoir, Lamar Colorado - Nee Noshe Reservoir is located in Kiowa County, on the eastern plains of Colorado.Low water has plagued the lake for several year resulting in low game fish numbers. Currently CDOW is working to rebuild this fishery.
Located in Kiowa County, which is on the eastern plains of Colorado, Nee Noshe has suffered low water for several year and is in the process of rebuilding. The county is named for the Kiowa Nation and contains 1,771 square miles of land and 15 square miles of water.
Kiowa County is where the Sand Creek Massacre (the outright slaughter of more than 400 unarmed Cheyenne and Arapaho women, children) took place on November 29, 1864. The national scandal that erupted over this event eventually cost Territorial Governor John Evans his job for his part in the incident. Colonel John Chivington, commander of the US forces involved, was castigated by Congress and his reputation is still tainted by what happened that day under his command. In 2005, the National Park Service finally designated the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site and in 2007, set a stone plaque in place as a memorial (but it seems the plaque is in the wrong place.
Nee Noshe Reservoir has been very low for the past several years. The lake suffered a partial winter-kill during the winter of 2006—2007. Game fish numbers declined sharply. Water was purchased for Nee Noshe in 2008. This water added valuable habitat to the lake. More water is needed in the immediate future, as the lake is still very low. Fish stocking strategies are aimed at rebuilding this fishery.
2010 CDOW Fishing Forecast
Unfortunately, the prospects for fishing are not very good for Nee Noshe in 2010. Once considered by many to be the best warm water fishery in Colorado, water levels have steadily declined since early in the decade as irrigation companies have stored irrigation water in other reservoirs. Currently, the lake covers less than 450 acres. The DOW was able to purchase a small amount of water for the lake in 2008, but that water has essentially evaporated. A fish kill (involving mainly carp and shad) occurred during fall of 2009. Fall sampling indicated that populations of catfish and wiper are the remaining sport fish available at Nee Noshe. Anglers wishing to try for these species may have some success in 2010, especially in the spring. Boaters may be able to launch small vessels from the south boat ramp early in the season, but ramp conditions are expected to deteriorate as the lake recedes during summer of 2010. Boaters should call the Lamar DOW office before towing a boat to Nee Noshe.
Getting there: From Eads, go 11 miles south on HWY 287 to Kiowa County boat ramp access road; then .25 mile east to public boat ramp.
Fees: None Boating: All Boats Allowed. Boating is prohibited in a manner that creates a white water wake in the channel between Upper Queens and Lower Queens.
2 gravel and 1 cement boat ramps. Currently, only the gravel ramp on the south side of the lake is in service. Ice Fishing: No
9/1/2010 - Nee Noshe Reservoir - Nee Noshe is very low. Currently, the south gravel ramp is in service. This ramp may become inoperable as lake levels recede. Boaters should call the Lamar DOW office for current conditions before towing a boat to Nee Noshe. Fishing in 2010 will target primarily catfish and wiper, as these two species remain available to anglers in the current low water condition of the reservoir.
Conditions History
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