05-13-2004, 02:23 AM
There is a large flat over on the plum creek side of the dam, right where the dam starts which is really good during the spawn.
I like to look for spots where the big chunk rock ends and starts tapering into either gravel, sand, or small fist sized rocks. That is where these fish seem to spawn. Same thing goes for Pueblo.
Also, not sure how long you have been in Denver Don, or how long you've been fishing Chatfield, but there used to be a heron rookery on the southeast side of the lake. The trees have all rotted and are gone, but the stumps are still there and can be excellent a bit later in the year as well, especially with natural colored grubs and crankbaits.
I have never really fished the sandy areas on the south end enough to tell you one way or another. They're just so big that it is kinda overwelming to fish. Feels like looking for a needle in a haystack.
There are some massive smallies in that lake though. At least by Colorado standards. I've caught a bunch in the 17-18 inch range over the last 8 years or so, the biggest being a smidge over 19 that might have been a state record if she was'nt spawned out. Your gonna have to fish through the little guys at times, but the big girls are there.
Like I said, a great way to find them, is just searching with topwaters. It's rare you get it slick enough for spooks, but poppers, and especially devil horses can be fished in a chop. Even V waking a rapala, rogue or bomber long A can draw them up. Bomber long A's are best for this as you can cast them a mile and with a high rod tip you can V wake them pretty easily with their small diving lips. Just have a slow sinking plastic rigged and ready and cast right where you got a boil or blow up. That is how I got that 19 incher. She blew up on a spook and I tossed a grub on a 1/16oz jig right on her. She gulped it.
Good luck!
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I like to look for spots where the big chunk rock ends and starts tapering into either gravel, sand, or small fist sized rocks. That is where these fish seem to spawn. Same thing goes for Pueblo.
Also, not sure how long you have been in Denver Don, or how long you've been fishing Chatfield, but there used to be a heron rookery on the southeast side of the lake. The trees have all rotted and are gone, but the stumps are still there and can be excellent a bit later in the year as well, especially with natural colored grubs and crankbaits.
I have never really fished the sandy areas on the south end enough to tell you one way or another. They're just so big that it is kinda overwelming to fish. Feels like looking for a needle in a haystack.
There are some massive smallies in that lake though. At least by Colorado standards. I've caught a bunch in the 17-18 inch range over the last 8 years or so, the biggest being a smidge over 19 that might have been a state record if she was'nt spawned out. Your gonna have to fish through the little guys at times, but the big girls are there.
Like I said, a great way to find them, is just searching with topwaters. It's rare you get it slick enough for spooks, but poppers, and especially devil horses can be fished in a chop. Even V waking a rapala, rogue or bomber long A can draw them up. Bomber long A's are best for this as you can cast them a mile and with a high rod tip you can V wake them pretty easily with their small diving lips. Just have a slow sinking plastic rigged and ready and cast right where you got a boil or blow up. That is how I got that 19 incher. She blew up on a spook and I tossed a grub on a 1/16oz jig right on her. She gulped it.
Good luck!
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