Highline Lake Fishing Report, Week of September 28, 2026

This is a dated note, not today's gage and not a bite forecast. The homepage water list is the later reading. Use this page for the bank, the access, and the safety. Weather lines in it are that week's weather.

Highline Lake and Mack Mesa, week of September 28

This is the last week of the season on the main lake. CPW closes Highline Lake every year from Oct. 1 through Feb. 28 to give migratory birds a resting spot. After Wednesday, your fall water at the park is Mack Mesa.

Conditions

• Season: Per CPW's Highline Lake State Park page, the lake is open to boating March 1 through Sept. 30 and closed Oct. 1 through Feb. 28. Confirm with the visitor center (970-858-7208) what shoreline, if any, stays open.
• Mack Mesa: Hand-launched craft only, electric motors only, and electric motors must be ANS-inspected before and after launch. There is an accessible fishing pier.
• Stocking: CPW says both lakes are typically stocked in spring and fall. Neither is on the CPW trout stocking report as of its Sept. 25 update.
• Weather: NWS Grand Junction has highs of 74 to 82 through Friday, lows in the 50s, light winds, and mostly cloudy skies Tuesday and Wednesday before sunshine.
• Park notes: ANS inspection hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and ramp gates lock at closing. Both lakes are listed as infested with zebra mussels. CPW also notes west-side construction that can mean dust and short-notice detours.
• CPW reports: No new CPW fishing report this week. CPW points anglers to the visitor center for the latest.

How to fish it

CPW lists largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, and rainbow trout for the two lakes. With warm afternoons still in the forecast, fish the edges early and late. CPW calls Mack Mesa popular for fall trout fishing, so small spinners and light jigs from shore make sense as October goes on. Largemouth bass have a special regulation at this park. Read it before you keep one.

Access

Use formal park access and marked paths. The East Ramp is for hand-launched craft only. Hand-powered boats are exempt from mandatory inspection, but the park has a self-decon station at Mack Mesa. Keep your gear Clean, Drain, Dry.

Safety

Life jackets are required for everyone aboard and must be worn by kids 12 and under. The visitor center runs a free life jacket loaner program. See our Colorado safety page and the cold-water checklist.

Regs

Check CPW fishing regulations and Colorado eRegulations for the exact water you plan to fish. We do not print bag limits.

Plan it

Last report: Highline, week of Sept. 20. Background: Highline day-trip prep and Mack Mesa prep. Build the day in Trip Builder.

Sources for this post