Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge profile and fishing regulations change.

If you live close to the Denver area and have never fished the Rocky Mountain Arsenal then you don?t know what you?ve been missing.  It?s a 12,500 acre wildlife refuge that started out as farm land, was changed into a war-time manufacturing site, and now a wildlife sanctuary.  A unique place so close to Denver and the modern world. The Arsenal has to lakes open to fishing on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 6am to 6pm.  The Rocky Mountain Arsenal offers fishing on two lakes for a recreation fee of $3.00 for any angler over 16 years old.  You must also have a valid Colorado state fishing license.  There is a self service kiosk set up in the upper parking lot to pay your fee. Fishing is catch and release with barbless hooks no live bait is allowed including worms.  Simply crimping the barbs down on your hooks satisfy the barbless requirement.  Free fishing days for 2011 are June 4, September 24, and October 15. Lake Mary the smaller lake that has a foot path and dock to navigate around it is closed to wading.  The lake holds bass, bluegills, crappie, catfish, and carp and is fly and lure only with the exception are powerbait, salmon eggs, and commercially made catfish baits are allowed. Lake Ladora is the larger of the lakes and is open to wading.  Fishing is prohibited east of the floating buoys in the south-east section of the lake.  The lake holds bass, bluegills and northern pike.  This lake is your best bet at a trophy largemouth or northern pike.  This is also the lake where the biggest regulations change has happened.  Wading in Ladora is no longer allowed until after Memorial Day to help with the spawning fish. There is a new Refuge entrance beginning May 21, 2011 directions to the new Refuge entrance and Visitor Center: Take I-70 to Quebec St. Go north on Quebec St. to Prairie Parkway. Turn right and take Prairie Parkway to Gateway Road. Turn left onto Gateway Road. The new Visitor Center is just inside the Refuge entrance at the crest of the hill. The address is 6570 Gateway Road. For more information on the Rocky Mountain Arsenal visit their website or their fishing page.  For my fishing reports on the Arsenal please visit my fishing forum.