Pike fishing at Williams Fork

Take him out to Rocky mountain arsenal. It's barbless and you can only go on certain days of the week but it is close enough to make several trips out to it.

X2 on the Arsenal. I think his chances for a pike are far better at the southpark lakes than wf.

WF is a nice pike lake, IF you can find them.

Best pike action I had there was last summer about this time up near the inlet. Very rough terrain for bank fishing though. Might not be an ideal area to take a kid.

They ARE in there though, and once you find them they're a blast to catch.

Thanks Everyone!

I had no idea that there were pike at the Arsenal. We will check that out for sure! Its Williams Fork or bust this week though as I've already secured accommodations for two nights. I will give it my best effort and hopefully get my son hooked up with a Pike. I will also keep the South Park lakes in mind if we get skunked at WF.

Thanks again for the tips and I'll be sure and let ya'll know if we have any success!

Nate

Lots of pike action at Spinney. We caught them all over the lake this weekend but found many in Outhouse Cove which is close to the South Boat Ramp. Fly and scentless lure only.

Lots the size shown but we spotted a bunch of 30-40 inch pike in the shallows to feed the need for catching a trophy.

Nskinner, I haven't fished WF for a few years but we used to find the pike at the back end of the bays on the west side. Large Rapalas 4-6" were the most consistent producers and wire leaders were a good idea. Don't forget old reliable red and white spoons.

Nskinner, for kids and pike in CO there has been good advise on this thread. aside from Arsenal for local/shore action, if you have a small boat / motor you're venturing out in, the #1 consideration is staying close to shore / ramp for wind and weather. South Park lakes can go from calm to terrifying wind in a span of 5 minutes. with those constraints, here's what I would rank pike lakes for younger kids from my experience:

1. Spinney. it's a numbers game with small snot-rockets galore pretty close to the ramps. cast or troll spinners or smaller plugs along sunken weedbeds / dropoffs. hold the rod tight and keep the drag loose, we get occassional 7-8lb cutbows hammering pike lures
2. Stagecoach? haven't been there in a while and heard they're doing a shameful job indiscriminately killing pike there, but has the same characteristics as Spinney plus you can use bait. a worm/gulp under a slip bobber in the bays can work there
3. Tarryall? similar to stagecoach and good for smaller boats. check the regulations for boating there (electric vs. gas)
4. Elevenmile. generally bigger pike but they are getting fewer and fewer with the insane "kill em all" CPW fisheries strategy. most of the productive areas are miles from the boat ramp, but pike can be found in the bays by the marina.
5. Williams Fork. I've seen some very large pike in there. also very difficult to catch. my kids generally get bored trying to get a pike and we go out deep and jig up lake trout :)

There are plenty of huge pike in spinney. Not all are snot rockets. I’ve caught many on the fly rod. Including a couple over 36”. They are not hard fighters though. Those 6-7 lb cutbows put the pike to shame.

Nice! Watch those fingers junior!

Arsenal.

Nskinner, we're in a good pike month. Keep an eye out for a day with very overcast conditions at 11mile, Spinney, RM arsenal or any other good pike water. I've found those to be the most productive of all. As to Williams Fork, great but very big water to cover so a boat covering many spots, is essential. The SW shore has many good coves, also great for camping with kids.

You can definitely get him on pike at the arsenal, I use dare devil spoons, and chatterbaits to catch them there.. usually by the pump house and all along the rocks is a good area to find them!! Good luck!!

Not sure if they're still in there, Tarryall used to have a bunch of 15-20 inch pike in it. I haven't fished it for years, but we used to catch them on top water baits. You'd see then swimming along the weeds and grass next to the shore.