DENVER — The ice may have come late to Eleven Mile State Park this year, but it wasted no time in solidifying enough to allow ice fisherman access to one of Colorado’s favorite winter fishing hot spots. Ice covers the entire reservoir, reaching more than six inches in depth in many areas. Local fishermen have reported excellent fishing.

"The trout fishing is better right now than it has been for the past five years," said Senior Ranger Jeff Blake. Ranger Mark Young said he witnessed more than two dozen trout caught in a short time on Dec. 22, with six fish tipping the scales at more than 4.5 pounds. Cross Creek, Witchers Cove and Howbert Point are all offering up excellent fishing.

The north boat ramp area is producing the best catches, according to Larry Falk, guide and owner of Eleven Mile Sports.

"The trout were hitting anything we threw down at them," Falk said.

For two weeks, the trout have been on an apparent feeding frenzy. Almost any bait or lure has brought success, but tiny pink or green jigs tipped with mealworms seem to have a slight edge. Also working well are silver spoons with night crawlers, silver Mepps tipped with a mealworm or large, 3-inch olive green speckled tube jigs with a mealworm trailer.

Ice fishing in Southwestern Colorado is good at some of the higher elevation lakes. Trout Lake, located about 50 miles north of Cortez on Colo. Highway 145, has nearly a foot of ice covering the lake. Trout are being pulled out of there right now.

It is still a little too early in winter to be ice fishing on McPhee Reservoir near Dolores or on Totten Lake near Cortez.

Ice fishermen need to get some gear. The first thing you will need as an ice spud or an auger to get through the ice. A spud is the most economical to purchase. You can make one for little cost but it should be heavy with a sharp chisel head to make cutting through the ice as easy as possible. One thing is to make one out of re-bar with a 6"x2" piece of flat steel welded on one end, and a "T" handle on the top.

Another important tool is an ice auger that is useful when the ice gets thicker, but a spud will work just as well. Just takes a little longer and is a tad bit more work. The hand auger makes short work of thick ice and there are several nice models out there and it is hard to choose one that could be considered the best.

Another thing is to use an ice skimmer to remove the ice and snow from the hole just made, it looks like a small colander with a handle attached. They come made out of plastic or aluminum but be care- full! There has been more than one person who has had it slip out of their hand and go down the hole.

Now you need a jigging rod, There are many different kinds and styles of jigging rod, and the most important thing is to get one you are comfortable with. You need a rod that will let you feel the lightest hit. Remember, the water is COLD and the fish sluggish, so the hits are generally light and hard to feel.

If jigging for trout, walleye, etc. use a medium action rod and anything from 4-10 lb. test, depending on the fish after and the depth fishing. This is a good all around rod and will do you good steed as a starter.

One other item is a tip-up, and this contraption is a must have in an ice fishing box. There are several different styles and makes to choose from ranging in price from $7 to $25. The most important thing is to get one that has a free turning spool so when a fish takes your bait it doesn't feel the spool as it is taking out line.

These items will get you started into the sport of ice fishing at a minimal cost. There are also power augers, portable fish shacks and fish finders that are nice to have, but are not a requirement if you are on a budget. Just be sure to dress warm and have a good time!

Park Rangers caution ice fishermen that ice can be dangerous and precautions should always be taken. When on the ice, fishermen should always fish with a friend, bring a fifty-foot length of rope & wear a personal floatation device."There’s always a few guys that push it every season and head out early when the ice is too thin," said Dan Brauch, an aquatic biologist for the Division based near Blue Mesa Reservoir, a popular fishing area in Gunnison.

"Right now, the ice is still too thin at Blue Mesa. Give it a few more weeks," Brauch said. When the time comes, anglers at Blue Mesa can try their luck at catching rainbow, brown and lake trout and kokanee salmon.

If planning to fish in Blue Mesa, anglers should pay close attention to ice thickness and watch for soft spots, especially in the upper end of the reservoir, which tends to freeze last, said Brauch.

Other hot spots for ice fishing that are already seeing some action are the Delaney Buttes lakes, Cowdrey Lake and Lake John near Walden. Anglers have already begun to show up in droves, and this year, the North Park Chamber of Commerce is hosting an ice fishing contest at Cowdrey Lake and Lake John on Jan. 12-13 and another at the Delaney Buttes lakes Feb. 9.

"I anticipate that ice fishing this year should be good at all the lakes because we have been restocking heavily," said Jay Wenum, the Division’s district wildlife manager based in Walden. "Those fish grow fast in the summer and fall, so there are lots in the lake now."

"There is good ice on the lakes, but there are still a few weak spots along inlets, outlets and spring areas," Wenum said. "It’s been cold enough that we’ve got a good base, but it’s still not driveable."

But ice conditions are solid at Antero Reservoir, another popular fishing area in South Park. The area attracts many anglers because the catch there is hefty – the average rainbow or cutthroat hooked can weigh up to three pounds. Current fishing conditions are reported to be good with a10-inch ice base.

General safety guidelines for ice fishing are:

• There should be a clear, solid, 2-inch ice base for a single person to fish on foot.

• There should be at least 3 inches for a group in single file.

• There should be at least an 8-inch base to drive a car on the ice.

For a varied selection of fish, longtime fishing outfitter Milt Poffel suggests hitting Elevenmile Reservoir. Poffel is owner and operator of Uncle Milty’s Tackle Box in Englewood and has served the local fishing market for more than three decades.

"At Elevenmile, you can catch 4- to 6-pound rainbows in water just 10 feet deep," Poffel said. "There’s also a good selection of 3-year-old kokanee salmon and northern pike.

"My advice to anglers is this – don’t be afraid to try different places, don’t get stuck fishing at the same spot every year," he said.

Remember to purchase an updated fishing license for 2002.

The Division reminds anglers to be aware of new fishing regulations. Some changes in 2001 include a lower daily bag limit for most cold-water species from eight fish to four. Another change in bag limits includes the reduction from a 40 to 10-fish limit for kokanee salmon in most waters. For information on the specific changes, see the Nov. 17, 2000, press release "Wildlife Commission Adopts New Fishing Regulations," (http:// www.dnr.state.co.us/cdnr_news/wildlife/20001117162235.html).