Trout
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Todd Andersen
Todd Wilson |
RIVER FISHING FOR TROUT: Todd Andersen from Sportsman's Warehouse in Thornton caught this massive 20 pound 8 ounce cutbow on a homemade Mysis Shrimp fly on the Taylor just below the first bridge. On the South Platte large fish can be caught in Cheesman Canyon in the spring on Woolly Buggers, Olive Stonefly Nymphs, and Blue Wing Olives. In the Deckers area midges, brassies or pheasant tail nymphs in 20-22 with egg pattern or San Juan Worm attractors works well. Use very light tippet in at least 5X and 6X is better. ICE FISHING FOR TROUT: Some of you would rather sit in a warm house in a comfy chair and watch the tube all winter. I like to fish, and when the lakes are hard I go through the ice after them. Yes, I could still fish for warm water species even in winter. Some of the lakes in Colorado don't freeze over; however, when the water gets colder trout come up in shallow water where they are easier to catch; while warm water species such as bass and walleye go deep and frequently get the lock jaw. So if you like to catch fish, ice fishing for trout is the answer from December - April in Colorado. Another factor is that the mountain lakes (where the trout are), freeze earlier and have a thicker cap which is safer. So bundle up, invest in the power auger and ice hut; get a battery operated VCR and a copy of Grumpy Ol Men and Go Fish! Todd Wilson caught the monsterous 12 1/2 pound rainbow trout, pictured above, at Eleven Mile Reservoir the first week in January 2003. Todd caught the hugh fish on the opposite shore from the Ranger Station in about 6-7 feet of water on 6 lb test line. The fish was pulled through an 8" hole in the ice after about a 20 minute struggle. Todd used power bait on a small snelled trebble floating just off the bottom. Todd said that his strike indicator just barely moved, so slightly he thought it was just a crawfish until he set the hook. Rat Finkees, Tear Drops, and small lead-head jigs or tubes 1-1 1/2 inch with a 1/32 to 1/16 jig head are good through the ice. Remember fish are cold blooded and slow down as the water cools. The bite normally will be extremely subtle through the ice. Use bright colors on bright days and darker colors on cloudy days. You should also tip your lure with a meal worm or wax worm where that's allowed. The early morning bite (just before and after sunup) in shallow water, 4-8 feet, is normally the best. If the bite drops off as daytime temps warm , move out several feet and drill new holes. Anytime the bite is slow, move or change lures, don't sit on a dry hole over 30 minutes. Also, keep those jigs and baits active. Fish are attracted to motion. Another good technique is to use a small piece of cork from an old bobber or wine bottle. Shave the cork with a pocket knife to a size just large enough to support the jig or bait you’re using. Next, put a small slice halfway through the cork to slide your line through. Leave your bail open or leave plenty of slack. When the fish bite, let them pull the cork under the ice and run a bit before you set the hook. If the cork is the correct size for your lure or bait, the fish should feel little resistance. When the fish is on, reel your line right through the cork – there’s no reason to remove the bobber it will automatically fall off. The next best time of day is the evening bite, from an hour or so before sunset to just after sunset. I really like using the cork, especially when the bite it light. With the slightest breeze your rod will wiggle, but with your piece of cork just below the water surface, only a fish will move your cork. The biggest advantage is that the fish don’t feel you. Some words of advice when using the cork technique; make sure your bail is closed, and your brake in on, before you set the hook. Also make sure you have a loose drag in case you snag one of the big boys. You may need 4 wheel drive to get to some of the fishing spots and make sure you have your "Ice Scappies" (ajoining ice picks you wear around your neck in case of an accident). It's helpful to have a depth finder but if you don't have one, check your depth by dropping your lure to the bottom then winding up and counting the number of turns. Then reel backwards to get your lure down 2 turns above the bottom. You can vary the depth but make sure you’re up out of the weeds. I like North Park because it normally freezes first Lake John, and North, South, and East Lake at Delaney Butte. Elevenmile, Williams Fork and Wolford are also popular ice fishing locations. Have a great time, and be careful out there. WARM WATER TROUT: Most people come to Colorado to fish for trout in the streams and rivers, and Colorado has some beautiful places to fish. Fly fishing is probably the most popular method, and it's great fishing; however, Colorado also has some great trout fishing in the lakes and reserviors, even the warm water lakes. I catch most of the trout I get from Aurora Reservoir and there are some nice trout in that lake. Trolling worm rigs or roster tails is one method another is straight lining a minnow, worm, or most effectively Berkley Power Bait (I like orange nuggets) straight under the boat. The bigger trout spend much of the year suspended at different depths, for example you may be getting fish readings consistantly at 30 feet over 42 feet of water. You can either measure your line each time as you let it down, measure your line and then use a slip bobber, which is what I did last year; or, buy a line counter which is what I did this year. The line counter is definantly worth the investment. Trout can also be caught on silver Kastmasters and a variety of jigs and spoons. I recently caught two 14 inch Rainbow Trout while I was bass fishing at Pueblo Reservoir on a brown power grub hanging over the side of the boat about 20 feet deep. |
