South Mesa Lake is a small, man-made reservoir located just outside of Boulder, Colorado. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout, brown trout, and channel catfish, making it a popular spot for both fly and bait fishing. Nearby activities include hiking and mountain biking in the surrounding foothills, as well as rock climbing and bouldering in the nearby Flatirons. Fishing tips include using lightweight spinning gear or a fly rod with small spinners or nymphs. The best time to visit is from April to October, with temperatures ranging from the mid-50s to mid-80s Fahrenheit.

Featured Fish - Apache Trout

iving in lakes and streams, this fish will eat insects, invertebrates and small minnows. They are typically targeted using very light spinning or fly tackle using nymphs, wet or dry flies, worms or salmon eggs. These fish may also strike small spinner baits or spoons but some areas where these fish can be found have enacted policies where anglers may only use artificial lures so check all regulations before targeting these fish. The following are fishing methods used to catch this fish: The body coloration is golden-yellow or olive yellow, with a golden belly, and Parr marks (vertical bars) can be seen on juveniles, but these marks typically disappear in larger individuals. Spots can be seen in an even distribution of pronounced, moderate-sized, rounded or oval black spots on the sides of the body and on top of the head. These spots may sometimes extend below the lateral line and onto the dorsal and caudal fins. The top of the Apache trout’s head and back is typically dark olive to brown and a black stripe appears to go through each eye because of the presence of two small black dots on either side of the pupil. Below the lower jaw, there is a dash of color that will range from yellow to darker gold. The dorsal, pelvic, and anal fins are tipped with a white to orange color and the adipose fin is usually bordered with a black margin.