Blue Mesa Fishing Report, Week of October 8, 2026

Newer report, Friday, October 23, 2026: Blue Mesa fishing report. The notes below are the October 8 record.

This is a dated weekly report built only from official gages and Colorado Parks and Wildlife notices, checked the evening of Oct. 8, 2026. It is not a bite report. We have no verified catch information for this water this week, so we do not guess at one. Re-check the linked sources the morning you go.

Blue Mesa Reservoir, week of October 8

The reservoir held nearly flat this week, down a few tenths of a foot. The bigger news is the kokanee run: CPW says it has been slow to start.

Conditions

• Level: Colorado DWR BLMRESCO, Blue Mesa Reservoir, read 7,412.93 ft and 143,837 acre-feet at 8 p.m. on Oct. 8. The daily average peaked at 7,413.33 ft (145,259 acre-feet) on Oct. 2.
• Kokanee: On Oct. 5 a CPW biologist said he had not seen many kokanee running up from Blue Mesa toward Roaring Judy yet, and CPW canceled its Oct. 9 Roaring Judy giveaway (CPW Oct. 5 release). Giveaways are scheduled Fridays Oct. 16 to Nov. 20; call 970-641-0190 or 970-641-7070 the day before.
• River above the lake: CPW lifted the voluntary closure from the U.S. 50 bridge to the standing water line on Sept. 30, and reminded anglers that taking kokanee is prohibited in the Gunnison above the Blue Mesa standing water line until Nov. 1 (CPW Sept. 30 release).
• Ramps: Blue Mesa ramps are run by the National Park Service, not CPW. We did not verify ramp status from an official source this week, so confirm it with Curecanti National Recreation Area before you tow.
• Stocking and closures: Not on the CPW trout stocking report as of the Oct. 2 update, and not on the CPW closures list (linked from the CPW fishing page).
• Ice: No CPW ice notice. Open water.

Reading the numbers

A steady pool means the shoreline you fished last week is about where you left it. The fall kokanee story is mostly in the river above the lake right now, and that water has a no-take rule until Nov. 1. We have no catch reports from the lake this week.

Access

Use developed access inside Curecanti and confirm which ramps are usable before you leave. Treat any river access above the lake as catch-and-release for kokanee until Nov. 1.

Safety

Blue Mesa is big, cold and windy. Afternoon wind can build fast; small craft should stay close to shore and come in early. Wear a life jacket on any boat, kayak or paddleboard, tell someone your plan and return time, and Clean, Drain, Dry between waters (how to clean your gear). See Colorado Safety Essentials and our cold-water shoulder-season checklist.

Regs

Read CPW rules and regulations, the CPW fishing hub and Colorado fishing eRegulations for the exact water before you keep a fish. We do not print bag or size limits. Our Colorado fishing laws page explains where to look.

Plan it

Last report: Blue Mesa, week of Sept. 28. Background: Blue Mesa day-trip prep, Blue Mesa prep and wind go/no-go checklist. Build the day in the Trip Builder. VCO merch is made to order and ships from Grand Junction (VCO merch).

Sources for this post