Where to Go North Slope Lakes
Current Reports
Open 9 am to 6 pm Daily
NORTH SLOPE RECREATION AREA IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SEASON! There is a $5.00 entrance fee to get up to the lakes via the Pikes Peak Highway.
Report Date: 9/3/2026
Current Conditions
Water temperatures across the North Slope reservoirs have dropped into the lower 50s, boosting trout activity near shorelines and shallow bays. Rainbows, cutthroats, and brook trout are aggressively feeding before winter, while North Catamount's mackinaw (lake trout) will be moving into shallower shelf edges along the banks. Note that North Catamount remains strictly flies and lures only, while South Catamount and Crystal allow artificials and bait.
Weather:
Short Term -
High elevation conditions on Pikes Peak will bring cool, comfortable weather today with highs reaching 72 degrees. Light winds around 5 to 9 mph will dominate, with building cloud cover in the afternoon bringing a chance of localized afternoon rain showers.
Long Term -
Expect highs hovering around 70 degrees over the coming week, with night temperatures dropping into the upper 30s and low 40s. Clear morning skies will consistently yield to sporadic afternoon cloud build ups and brief light rain showers through mid week before tapering off into drier, sunnier weather by the weekend.
Tactics:
For dry dropper setups along shoreline seams, run a size 12–14 Chubby Chernobyl or Amy's Ant trailing a size 14–16 Ice Cream Cone Chironomid or Mayers Mini Leech 2 to 4 feet down. On North Catamount, slow stripping olive, black, or bruised Balanced Leeches and Woolly Buggers on an intermediate sinking line along rocky ledges remains the most effective method for targeting larger rainbows and lake trout.
Hatches:
Late season Caddis dominate afternoon surface activity, alongside a steady mix of small Chironomids and midges rising from the deeper mud flats. Terrestrials, specifically small ants, and beetles continue to blow off the timbered shorelines, providing reliable dry-fly action when light winds ripple the water surface.
Tips:
Walk the bank and target cruising fish along the drop off edges rather than blind casting into deep water. Look for feeding waves in shallow bays during the warm hours between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Keep moving if you don't spot fish, as trout circulate in schools around structural points and weed patches.
Anglers Covey retail manager Dillon West
Recommended Patterns
Dry Fly Patterns
- Chubbies, royal, yellow, sizes 12-14
- Amy's Ant, olive or purple, sizes 14-16
- Stubby chubby, orange, size 16
- Parachute Adams, sizes 16-20
Nymph Patterns
- Mayers Mini Leech, size #12
- Ice Cream Cone Chironomid, Black, sizes #12-14
- Balanced leach, bruised, sizes #10-12
- Tak's Crystal Chironomid, size #10-14
Streamer Patterns
- Game Changer, white or brown, size #6
- Silk Kitty, yellow, size #4
- Laser legal, lighter colors, sizes #6-8
- Meat whistle, grey. size #8
Anglers Covey Bug Of The MOnth:
About North Catamount Reservoir
North Catamount Reservoir on Pikes Peak is flies and lures only. It has mostly rainbows and cutthroat trout and is known for having large Mackinaw. There is no fishing access from the dam. There is a charge of $5 to drive up Pikes Peak Highway to gain access to the three main reservoirs (North and South Catamount and Crystal Reservoir). Be sure to tell them at the gate that you are fishing and not going to the top of the Peak so you don't get charged the full amount to drive the full distance.
About South Catamount Reservoir
South Catamount Reservoir is located just a 5 minute drive up Pikes Peak highway below North Catamount Reservoir. It is basically the same still water fishery as "North Cat" only with slightly less strict regulations because bait fishing is allowed. These reservoirs are the Colorado Springs city water supply with relatively little access to commodities such as restrooms, camp sites and boat ramps. Flies to come armed with are streamers, such as a brown and black wooly bugger, egg patterns, copper johns, hares ears, and prince nymphs. Tell the people working the gate that you are going fishing so you don't pay the higher fee to go to the top of Pikes Peak.
Hours of Operation
May 1 – Thursday before Memorial Day: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Friday before Memorial Day - Labor Day: 7:30am – 7:00pm
Tuesday after Labor Day - Sept 30: 7:30am – 6:00pm
Oct 1 – Third Sunday of October: 9:00am – 4:00pm
In addition, the Recreation Area is closed to fishing during the Pikes Peak Hill Climb Race
Another Stillwater option, when these lakes open there is abundant opportunity on the fly. North catamount in particular, holds some very nice lake trout that can be taken cruising the shoreline. Slow stripping streamers is our favorite method to fish here. Don’t overlook the dry fly opportunity throughout the summer as well.
Anglers Covey Team
This is an area we specialize in and are permitted to guide, so give us a shout if you have any questions or if you are interested in allowing one of our Orvis-Endorsed guides showing you how to conquer North Slope Lakes.