07-18-2002, 01:55 PM
For those of you thinking about visiting Colorado, the fishing report is dismal, and growing worse every day. The big fires are either under control or 100% contained but more are breaking out each day. The coal train headed for Pueblo started eight in one day; they were small and put out quickly. Another started near Estes Park yesterday and burned 500 acres before being squashed by our resident aerial firefighters in record time.<br> Our streams are drying up, lakes are down anywhere from 40% to 70% and boat ramps are a memory. Water rationing hasn't started yet but isn't too far away in the future.<br> For those Colorado residents who will dispute this dire forecast, please remember that I'm talking about the Denver Metro area and everything east of I-25. Take a look at Carter Lake, it's dropping anywhere from 3-5 ft "per day", and it is a big lake. Boyd Lake is almost bone dry and Barbor Ponds only have enough water for three ponds; the pelicans are walking on the botton in the others.<br> The mountain lakes aren't doing much better. Dillion is only a shadow of its former self, Cheeseman Reservoir is closed to all human activity and many others are dropping daily.<br> Now, instead of burning, Colorado is drying up. I almost cry when I look at my favorite lakes and see the fish dead and drying in the hot sun (forecast is for 99 degrees today in Brighton). Antero Reservoir is dry. I was there several weeks ago and our resident Army Corps of Engineers, or someone of equally dense gray matter, decided to drain it for repairs. Water wasted in a year of drough.<br> I wish I could paint a better fishing picture, but I can't.<br><br>