Right now
Live from National Weather Service.
What to tie on now
- Flies
- Nightcrawler piece under a bobber, waxworms, #4 bugger tipped with half a crawler for bass
- Rig
- Spinning rod, 6–8 lb line. Bobber 3–4 ft above the hook, one split shot, bait just off the bottom. Fly hooks work fine as bait hooks.
Flies checked against local shop reports on Nov 15. Ask at the local fly shop for what hatched this morning. They know before we do.
- Water
- City reservoir at Kipling Parkway and Jewell Avenue, Lakewood
- Drive from Denver
- About 20–30 minutes
- Access
- Shoreline only; Lakewood Parks controls access
- Species
- Largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, yellow perch, green sunfish
- Status
- CPW declared an emergency public fish salvage on Oct 30, 2026, ahead of a seasonal drawdown
- Hours
- 6 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. or dusk, whichever is earlier, during the salvage
- Dogs
- City-controlled property; check the posted rules at the gate
Where to park
Smith Reservoir
- Lakewood's listed address for the reservoir. Shoreline fishing only.
Lots, fees and hours change. Check posted signs when you arrive.
What the salvage means
In late October 2026, Colorado Parks and Wildlife declared an emergency public fish salvage at Smith Reservoir because a seasonal drawdown threatened the fishery. Bag and possession limits are lifted, so anglers can keep fish that would otherwise be lost. You still need a valid Colorado fishing license and legal methods; it's shoreline only, with no wading or motorized boats.
Why it fishes well right now
As the water drops, fish crowd into the deepest pocket left, usually near the outlet or dam. Even cold, sluggish warmwater fish are easy to find when there's this little water to hide in.
Cold-water rigs
- Panfish: a 1-inch piece of nightcrawler or a waxworm on a small hook, under a bobber, just off the bottom. Let it sit.
- Bass: half a nightcrawler or a small jig on the bottom near the deepest water, crawled a few inches at a time with long pauses.
- Fly rod: a small bugger or a San Juan worm tipped with bait, under an indicator.
Bring a cooler
Crappie, perch and bluegill are excellent to eat. Never move live fish to another water; it's illegal and it spreads problems.
Gear for a salvage morning
- A medium-light spinning rod with 6–8 lb line, or a 5-weight fly rod.
- Bobbers, small hooks (#8–10), split shot and a few small jig heads.
- Nightcrawlers and waxworms. Live bait beats artificial in cold water.
- Pliers, a stringer or cooler, and ice.
How long it lasts
Salvages end when the water is gone or the notice expires. Check CPW's latest release before you drive, and go early in the salvage while the fish are still plentiful.
Questions anglers ask
- Is there a limit at Smith Reservoir?
- During CPW's emergency salvage, bag and possession limits are lifted. You still need a license and legal methods.
- What fish are in Smith Reservoir?
- Largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, yellow perch and green sunfish.
- Which Smith Reservoir is this?
- The one in Lakewood at Kipling and Jewell. The Smith Reservoir off Heritage Dr in Thornton is posted private property with no fishing, and the one near Blanca in the San Luis Valley is a trout fishery with its own rules.
- Can I use live bait at Smith Reservoir?
- Bait is a legal method, and the salvage notice requires legal methods. Don't release leftover live bait into the water.
Read next
Fishing Near Thornton, Colorado
Where you can legally fish near Thornton and north Denver: city lakes, Adams County parks, the gravel lakes, and which waters are private (including Smith Reservoir on Heritage Dr).
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Colorado Fish Salvages, Explained
What a CPW emergency fish salvage is, the rules that still apply, how to find one and how to catch fish in a shrinking reservoir.
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The Bobber and Bait Rig
The simplest, most effective panfish rig: hook, split shot, bobber and bait, plus depth, bait choice and cold-water tweaks.
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Catching Bass in Cold Water
Cold-water bass fishing made simple: where bass hold, slow bottom presentations, how to detect the bite and set the hook.
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