Adventures on ice

Winter mornings in the Rockies hold a special place in my heart. The air is brisk, snow crunches when you walk on it and the magnificent sunrises are forever imprinted in my memories. There are 2 reasons to get up early in the winter. The best one is to go catch breakfast, the other is to eat fresh fish for breakfast. If you’ve never tried ice fishing, it might look ridiculous. A bunch of people standing out in the cold staring at a hole? Not at all, it’s like a chess match with a fish. 

Let’s talk gear. You will need warm clothes, good boots (preferably waterproof) an extra pair of gloves. Ice augers can be gas, electric or hand operated. A short rod, small box of jigs and a little bait. Rainbows and brook trout gear should be light rods with a small indicator and 4-6lb test. Lake trout gear should be a little heavier, a medium to med hvy rod, 8-10lb test line. If you want to stay toasty warm, a hut and heater can be added for comfort.

Rainbow trout are plentiful in the county. They are fairly easy to catch and most people seem to like their flavor. Rainbows cruise the shoreline but do tend to stall on points and the backs of small coves. They live in shallow water (under 15’) and eat bugs, crawfish and small minnows. A small bright colored jig or spoon tipped with a meal worm or wax worm will generally get bit. 

Brook trout can be very eager to eat small jigs and spoons, live in shallow water and have a unique flavor. Brook trout tend to roam certain areas of a lake, points and weed beds seem to hold fish.

Lake trout live in deeper water35’-120’ of water), eat crawfish, larger bugs, minnows and fish. 3/8 ounce jig heads, 1-3” plastics (twister tails, grubs and tubes) spoons or just plain bait. Points, deeper humps, and flat areas attract these predators. 

A few general techniques will work on all these fish. Dead sticking is when you place a bait in the water column and do not move it, a fish will swim by and eat the bait. This works well as a second rod technique or when you just do not want to move it. A slow steady movement of the bait will help make it look alive, vary the speed and how high you raise and drop the jig until you get bit then repeat. 

Lets talk about lakes to go to, the ponds just outside of Frazier (Lions fishing pond and Cozens ranch ponds) are great places to take the kids. They are small bodies of water and a short walk from the car.  Rainbows, browns, and cutthroat trout reside in these ponds.

Lake Granby is a bigger body of water but the fishing can be excellent for rainbows and lake trout, the size can be intimidating but just pick a shoreline and fish it. Monarch Lake behind lake Granby is full of brook and rainbow trout along with an occasional brown. It is a mile or so hike from the gate so be prepared for that.

Grand Lake is a great place to fish for rainbows and lake trout then be able to run to town to get a cup of coffee or breakfast. 

Willow Creek reservoir has rainbows, browns and (kokanee) salmon in it.

Williams Fork reservoir has rainbows, browns, lake trout, a few salmon and pike.

Wolford has rainbows and salmon.

For the people that would like to fish open water we have a couple great tail waters in the county, Shadow Mountain Dam and Williams Fork generally fish very well all winter.

There are plenty of tackle shops that can help you select gear and might even rent you what you need. Guides and outfitters are a great bet, they have local knowledge and the correct gear to help ensure you have a memorable time. 

This winter, if your up on vacation, try something different. Go spend a fun day on the ice and possibly get a fresh fish meal out of it.

Rock N Roll Brown Trout

Letting the wind push my Crestliner down a rocky bank with a mixture of rain and snow falling, a cast to the bank, one turn of the reel handle and “THUD” another brown. When I get bit I put a waypoint or icon on my Lowrance which lets me go back through areas where we had numerous bites. This scenario has replayed itself many times this morning. Two of us must have caught 30 or more browns along with a few rainbows and a couple of lake trout.

The recipe is simple. Throw in the nastiest weather you can find, a few jerk baits, a couple swimbaits, a fast action rod, good raingear, warm clothes and a friend that’s willing to get very cold to catch fish and it’s on.

Let’s break this down. First of all, the weather; most brown trout feed in low light. This means we have about an hour at sunset and sunrise. Clouds and wind can keep the light low all day (I feel they are both important together but wind is a huge factor in this game). Throw in rain and snow, the clouds are a little darker which helps even more. As the wind crashes into the bank the waves wash bait out of the rocks, sticks, weeds and mud. The predators know this is going on and take full advantage of it. Basically, if it’s you’re fishing the calmer side of the lake, your missing out. Water temp plays a big role. If the water temp is less then 50 degrees, the fish might not attack a fast lure. Slow your reel down.

Locations are very simple, a rocky shoreline where the wind generally hits or sweeps the bank. The techniques can be used from the bank or a boat. One key is be willing to cover lots of ground. We have found most rocks in the wind will have browns in them.

Jerk Bait gear is pretty simple. I use the 7’ Scheels NOS rods medium action with a medium tip, Pflueger President XT reels spooled with 15 lb. Berkley X-9 line and a 10 lb.Trilene 100% Fluorocarbon leader. Using heavier line is always a good idea. Every now and then big lake trout are in there eating browns. My favorite cranks for this situation are the Berkley Cutters 110 shallow. The chrome colors work very well.

This technique is very simple. If you’re in a boat, cast to the bank or position your boat so you can cast parallel to the bank (If you’re in your boat and its windy, your boat control ability might be tested. Remember safety first). When the lure hits the water give it a little pull or jerk. Take in the slack, pause, repeat. Do this all the way to the boat or back to the bank. Most of your fish will be caught closer to the bank.

In calm water on a partly cloudy morning I’ve done very well for browns and lake trout using a Scheels Bio Bait 3.75” Swimbaits and 5” Switchbacks. The swimbaits require a slightly heavier head so I use a 3/8 oz round head. This gives the head of the bait enough weight to make it “wobble” just a little bit as you work it. The Switchback can be fished very slowly. It’s a great “nonaggressive” bait, so I use ¼ and 3/8 oz heads on them. I am a huge fan of Bio Baits original colors.

First, you need to locate how deep these fish are. In the spring I don’t fish deeper then 15’-20’. To work these baits is very simple. Either cast these baits to the shoreline and work down the bank or cast them parallel and try to work specific depth contours. The Swim Baits are a simple lift (no more than a foot) and drop. As the lure falls reel in the slack. I do fish these very close to the bottom and snags can be an issue. I tend to snap jig the Switchbacks back to the boat, while keeping them very close to the bottom. As I snap the rod tip (once again no more than a foot), I take in the slack and watch the line for a “jump”. Repeat this all the way to the bank or boat.

The gear I use for pitching these lures is Scheels “Outfitter” rods. 6’6” medium action with a fast tip. I like to size down the line a little to 8 lb. Berkley X-9 and an 8lb Trilene 100% fluorocarbon leader. When fishing on calm clear water I like the weight of the jig to affect the fall not the line, also the fish can be line shy.

This spring if you’re out on the water and haven’t tried targeting brown trout, give it a shot but be careful its very addicting.

Identifiying Line Size On Reels

Here is a very simple way I keep my line organized and identified on my reels.

Scott's Fish

Always be prepared for a larger fish when fishing for "eaters". We were in the middle of catching lots of small fish when this one hit, #Lowrancefishing #Cre...

The Changing Of The Seasons

Some days the sun is shining, and the birds are chirping. On other days the furious winds of spring show up and make being outside almost miserable. This week we have had everything from 50-degree sunshine to 6+ inches of dense snow. The Fish don’t seem to mind much. With fresh water flowing into the lakes, and wind churning the water bringing fresh oxygen into the system. The water temperatures are warming, and metabolisms on the rise. You can get into some great fishing this time of year. You don’t need fancy gear, or the latest and greatest fish finder. Just head to your local lake with a trusted spinning rod and a hand full of lures and go enjoy the beauty of the outdoors.

This time of year, a few go to lures will always be a suspending jerk bait in a common baitfish pattern as well as a very contrasting bright pattern like a clown. Throw in a few jigs anywhere from ¼ oz up to 5/8th oz and you will be ready to rock. the lighter jigs give you the ability to work it slower over shoreline structure and keep your presentation in the strike zone in calmer weather. When the weather kicks up it is handy to have a heavier head that gives you the ability to make longer casts in strong winds, as well as feel the jig on the end of your line when the waves start crashing. I have found that when the weather kicks up, working a bait slightly faster will lead to more bites and having that heavier jig head option makes it easier to stay in the strike zone while working a bait faster. When the barometer is dropping, the fish go into a feeding mode chasing bait along wind blown shorelines. Don’t forget your Jerk baits, curly tails, tube jigs and even a few spoons.

Now we can’t forget clothing. When spring winds rise you do not want to be out in a standard T-shirt and blue jeans. Bring along a set of light rain pants and a rain jacket. This gives you a chance to quickly throw on an extra layer that doesn’t clutter up your backpack with bulky clothing, but also gives you wind protection and rain protection. Don’t go into the elements without a pair of gloves. A pair that is limber enough to make quality cast but will keep the weather off your skin can be almost as good as gold.  With a little bit of preparation, you can be ready to fish in any condition. Keep an eye on your local weather app and try not to leave when the weather makes a shift because that can be your most productive fishing of the day.     

I firmly believe the things talked about above will apply to your local metro ponds, reservoirs, as well as mountain lakes.

With the unsettling reality of the COVID-19 situation, we need to be very conscious of what effect we are having on our local communities. Outdoor recreation is something I would highly advise. Not only to keep moral high but keep cabin fever at bay. Yet we must be considerate, keep your trips local, keep exposure to an absolute minimum and practice your social distancing. The more we can work together on these issues the quicker things will get back to normal. Take advantage of the beauty and simplicity of the spring fishing bite, get your family into some fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors.

-Rhett Feltman,

-Fishing with Bernie

Late ice is nice.

The temperature outside is forecasted for 42 degrees with no wind and a high sun. I am getting dressed for a day of ice fishing on Lake Granby. Meeting my clients on the boat ramp I quickly realize I had overdressed for the day.

We headed across the lake to a small point about 60 feet deep. After drilling a couple holes, I rig a 3/8 oz jig and tip it with some meat; Bill dropped it down the hole and started a routine lift and drop jigging motion. Meanwhile Bob was preparing to start when Bill reared back and set the hook on a Lake Trout. After a short battle a 19" fish comes though the hole. Bob starts grumbling something about Bill getting the first fish as he drops his jig in the water. It never hit bottom and Bob sets the hook on a fish that does not move. He tries to lift the fish but it decides to start swimming another direction. After a short tug of war Bob starts to gain ground (or should I say line), the fish takes a couple of good line burning runs then gets tired and his head starts to poke through the hole. We land it take some pictures and carefully release it. This scene replays itself many times this warm and sunny day.

When the lakes along the Front Range start to open up, people tend to forget about ice fishing. The pressure drops and the fishing starts to get better every week. Some of our early season spots start to produce again and unlike early season you need sunscreen instead of extra gloves.

When coming out on the ice late in the season safety has to be the most important thing on your mind. Local tackle shops, the internet and friends can help out with reports of safe ice conditions but you should always check as you go and bring a friend.

Structure becomes more important and you should start thinking about where these fish are going to eat. A lot of the earlier season bait is getting tougher to catch. They are running in tighter schools so the Lake Trout can pick out a single fish and will attack it. The shallow living fish have figured out how to swim under the ice right next to shore to escape their predators. 

The open water season is when I start thinking about structure and ice fishing. Our lakes in Colorado have an excellent mapping choice. https://www.genesismaps.com With this subscription I’ve made maps and utilized the social maps for new lakes.  

The Lake trout themselves have been seeing a lot of lures swam and bounced in front of their faces and have been hooked a couple of times. They have seen other fish eat a tasty morsel just to be reeled to the surface, and maybe never come back.

This all sets up for a great chase: "Fishermen vs. Fish." We can win this game by presenting a bait with a twist. There are a few different things I look at when selecting a lure for late season fishing. First of all is profile. If a 2” jig is not getting bit, try a 3” or 4” maybe size down to a 1.5’. A couple years ago I was using a Bio Bait twister tail, the fish were not eating it very well and I decided to switch things up. I tore the tail off and dropped it down as a simple little grub body with a fresh piece of meat. This simple little change produced over 20 fish in the next few hours. Jigs in different shapes present unique profiles. Consider the profile when deciding the technique. When I am using minnow shaped baits, I generally suspend them at the depth I see bait fish.  Boot tail baits are a great bait to use aggressively in the water column. shads and other baits with action tails can be fished a little more aggressively. Spoons like the Reel Bait Plain Janes are a great option when the fish are very aggressive. Sometimes a plain jig head fished with a piece of meat can rule the day.

We still have a lot of good ice up in the mountains. Grab your auger and your short poles and give this late season bite a shot, but don’t forget the sunscreen.

Slush Sux

There always seems to be a time around mid-ice season when we see slush. Slush generally happens when we get a good amount of snow. The weight of the snow pushes down on the ice causing the water to rise through cracks and holes. The heavier the snow the more pressure on the ice the deeper the slush. There are people who decide to stay home, I would rather go fishing. Here are a few ideas to help deal with the slush.

This can cause us lots of problems. Our vehicles can get stuck, we waddle around in it and get soaked while fishing. Gear gets weighted down, breakdowns are a little more frequent. 

There are a few things we can do to avoid some slushy issues. Let’s start with boots, I’ve been using the Sub- Zero X rubber boot from Clam.  They keep my feet dry, If you’re not into rubber boots. Make sure to use some kind of water proofing on your boots, and re apply often. 

Snow machines should be loaded with a minimum amount of gear, the lighter the sleds the less chance of getting stuck. If your pulling a sled put most of the weight to the rear of it. Mount your hitch lower then the hitch on your machine. These 2 suggestions will help the sled ride “nose up” instead of acting pike a plow. Your best bet is to leave the pull sled at home.

If you’re staying on the lake for a few days take your snow machine out during the day and pack a trail to your spot, then pack down where you want your hut up. Overnight the packed area will freeze and your experience will be drier. If you didn’t get the chance to “pack your track” and find slushy conditions try making a circle on your machine then parking it in a spot that’s not slushy. If you do get stuck, shovel out the snow that built up in the front of the machine. Lift and drop the rear of the machine, this should help rid the sled of slush in the cowling and tracks. Lift the rear of the machine over to “fresh snow. Then grab a ski and pull while your buddy gives the machine gas. 

Atv’s with or without tracks are a totally different experience in deep snow and slush. A winch is a necessary tool. Keep a piece of ¾ angle iron about 4” larger then your auger diameter. Drill a hole a little off center, bolt a 3-4’ section of ¾” chain to it. If you do get stuck you can drill an ice hole, drop the angle iron in the hole and winch yourself out 50’ at a time. 

These were just a few tips to help deal with slush. Go out and find those fish that others aren’t looking for. 

Meet the guides - Sam Hochevar

Sam has been chasing fish in Grand County with a passion that we rarely see. I would see him on the lake at all hours of the day and wonder who he is. After a while we ran into each other on the boat ramp and my respect for this young man grew. He gets clues from the lake most people ( myself included) miss. Then he capitalizes on them. His energy is boundless, yet he is extremely laid back, a wonderful combination to have in a guide.

Sam is a Colorado native who has been fishing in Grand County since he was a boy.  Sam firmly believes that happiness is most easily found on the water with a fishing pole in hand and loves to share that experience with others.  He enjoys teaching others to fish while also continuing to learn as much as he can about every aspect of fishing. Below is an email I received from a gentleman Sam took out. If your interested in a trip with Sam Hochevar +1 (720) 666-0141 please contact him.

Bernie:  Just wanted to send you a note to tell you how much we enjoyed fishing with Sam. He was patient, thoughtful and really worked with us to improve our fishing skills. My friend and I have fished in Canada for many years and think we are spoiled with that fishing wherein you catch 30 fish per day per person. Fishing in your area is more work of course, but we at least got one big Lake Trout as he told you. Anyway, he is good and talented young man and you should be proud of the skills. I think he had fun with my friend and I joking all day on the boat. Good memories. Have a great Summer. Regards, CAM

Meet the guides- Jake Foos

I first met Jake on a guide trip. He was more worried about his dad and Henry catching fish than himself. Ive heard this from lots of people over the years but there was something different about Jake. Since that trip we’ve become pretty good friends and a couple years ago we brought him in on the team.

Jake gets to the lake has the huts set up, heaters going, holes drilled and bait ready to go on the hooks long before his clients show up. His contagious smile is only superseded by his energy and desire to get people on fish. During any trip it is more likely than not, people will laugh so hard their stomach hurts, catch lots of fish and learn a few techniques, lures or/and presentations.

This was a recent review from a gentleman that took his son fishing with Jake. "We had an excellent time fishing with our guide Jake. My son and I have fished all over the U.S. from the coast of Northern Oregon to the Gulf Coast of Florida and many places in between. This was by far one of the best trips we have taken. Jake was always spot on with the lures, bait etc. We caught in the vicinity of 50 plus fish in 2 days and my son hooked into a large lake trout but couldn’t land it. We were more interested in catching numbers than large trout and Jake took care of us. He hustled all day long for us . Jake knows how to get you on fish and keep you on them. Jake has a great attitude and the 3 of us laughed all day both days. I would HIGHLY recommend fishing with these guys. I’ll definitely be back!!!”

Jake has some open dates this winter and in the open water season. Please feel free to contact Jake Foos ‭(303) 434-8468‬ and book a trip with him.

Selective Harvest

(What to keep and what to let go)

Last week I put a post-up of us releasing a 20” fish and it started an interesting debate on our Facebook page. This got me thinking about an article of how and why we choose the sizes of fish to keep and release on the lakes we guide on. After all, most of us like to eat what we catch and like to be aware of the fisheries health at the same time. We get asked a lot of questions about the fish in this area. A big one that seems to pop up is “How do you know what size fish to keep and what size to release?”

 Our CPW biologists do lake surveys. Some are every year others are every few years. We rely heavily on this information to decide the size of fish we should keep. For this article I will concentrate on Lake Granby but the links can lead you to plenty of other fisheries in the state.

Jon Ewert is our local biologist. Every year he sets nets out on Granby.

The original locations were randomly picked and now the nets are set in the same place every year. The nets are set at the same times every year. The nets soak for exactly 6 hours. (This helps keep mortality to a minimum). Due to the ice melting at different times he seems to pay close attention to water temps and set the nets as close as he can to the same temps every year.

A list of the surveys around the state are here. https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Pages/FisherySurveySummaries.aspx

Lake Granby’s survey is here https://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/LakeGranby.pdf

There is a ton of great info on these links. If you think you know a lot about your lake there is always something new here to learn.

Below I copied a graph of the catch rate info off of the year 2018 netting info. As you can see in 2013-2017 there were a lot of 13”-16” fish and very few 22”-28” fish. In 2018 there we had a few less 13”-16” fish but there were more 22”-28” fish in the nets. As with any survey the results can be mis leading, however it’s all we have. If you look at past surveys there are trends to follow.

In 2018 the 16”-18” fish were very prevalent. We decided to try and keep limits on these. With the “bump” in 19”-28” fish we think we have a chance to help a few fish get to the 30” range if we promote these links.

It is our belief if we promote release 19” and over lake trout in Granby we can have a very balanced fishery with larger heavy fish. These links help guide our philosophy and help promote healthy fisheries.

As time passes and these graphs show different results we should think about changing our harvesting habits.

The fishing pressure on all of our lakes have increased greatly over the past 10 years. This makes it even more important for the fisher people to be aware of what’s going on in our waters and adjust our habits accordingly.

It was with this philosophy that the “Lake Trout Mafia” was started. Its goal is to promote healthy lake trout fisheries across our region. It’s an informal group of anglers dedicated to keeping our fisheries healthy. If you would like more information go to https://www.facebook.com/Lake-Trout-Mafia-353872184627753/

Grand County "Where adventures begin"

Grand County

Where adventures begin

I have the opportunity to speak with a lot of people about their experience here in Grand County. It’s generally a very exciting and positive conversation. An idea I came up with a while back is to try and give ideas for daily adventures to people visiting our county. A day should start out with a great breakfast Sharkys in Frazier (www.sharkyseatery.com) or Java Lava (www.javalava.net) in Granby are two of our favorites. Next Winter Park (www.winterparkresort.com) or Granby Ranch (www.granbyranch.com) have great winter and summer adventures. 

For the people who might want to get away from everyone, Rocky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov) has some great hiking trails that can lead you to amazing places. Make sure to bring snacks, water, raingear, a gps and a friend.

Rivers are a great source of fun. Whether its bushwhacking to a tiny creek for brook trout or floating larger waters for rainbows and browns there is a lot of moving waters in the county to explore. The more popular areas are The Colorado river, The Frazier River, Willow Creek and the Williams Fork river. 

Renting a boat and floating on the water, casting a line or looking for animals is a great way to start your mornings. There are marinas on Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain and lake Granby. There is also plenty of shoreline access on these lakes also. 

After a day strenuous day of skiing or hiking Hot Sulphur Springs resort (hotsulphursprings.com) is a great way to relax and soak your muscles. Pay attention to the hillside, there are a lot of deer that hang around just outside of the fence in the winter. 

There’s a lot of animal viewing opportunities in the area. During the summer Rocky Mountain National park is full of Deer, Elk, Moose and you might even see coyotes and a bear. The best times to see animals in the park is very early and late in the day. During the winter months elk and deer wintering grounds are very abundant. Look for south facing slopes with no trees on them. Once again early and late is your best options. 

Early Ice Trout

Early ice trout

Early season is a very exciting and rewarding time. For most people trout rule the ice out west. They are fairly easy to target, fight well and make good table fare. Early in the season the oxygen levels are high, food is very abundant and trout feel the urge to eat.

Trout are notorious cruisers. They will cruise the shorelines looking for food. The first steps I like to take is to look at a topo map and find a point that gradually gets deeper with a sharp dropping inside bend. This will cause cruising trout to hang out and mill around while they are deciding which way to go. Another good option is a small flat, especially after the early morning bite is over. Fish will cruise the flat all day, the bite might not be fast and furious but it could be consistent. 

Their diet is bugs, minnows and crawfish, this gives us plenty of lures to be successful with. During this time, it’s not as important what use but how to use it. There is generally an abundance of young crawfish. A great lure to use in this situation is a Leech Flutter spoon. Drop it to the bottom and just wiggle it never losing contact with the bottom. If fishing over weeds put the spoon on the top layer (or just underneath if the weeds are sparse) and wiggle it. The flash and vibration will attract trout. The hits will be vicious, trout like to ambush crawdads so they can’t get in a defensive position. Chrome with a splash of natural colors will suffice.

Minnows are also a very easy bait to imitate. Tubes, spoons and jigging minnows all do a great job. I like to keep these baits moving slowly around the bottom or just over the weeds. These hits will be a little softer but don’t be surprised if they try and take the rod out of your hands. 

Bugs are a mainstay in trout’s lives. Small hair jigs and tubes are a great option here. I will hang these down near the bottom and dead stick them with very little movement. I like to use a strike indicator if not in a stealth hut. The bites are very soft, if you’re not watching their tip or the jig you might not see it.

Early season colors are very simple. You just can’t beat white, chartreuse or black. Later in the season the brighter colors seem to work very well. 

Travelling light is very important on early ice. Up until I find 6” of ice my spud bar will work great, this also helps me check the ice as I move around. A small one man shelter like the Clam Kenai, Mr. Heater portable buddy, 2 rods and a few jigs are all I need. 

I like to get out very early and drill a few holes in various depths, this gives me the opportunity to move around without scaring the larger spookier trout.

If you haven’t tried trout at early ice, give them a try. They are willing biters and can put up a great fight. 

The mind is a terrible thing, or why I needed logbooks

I remember catching 20 fish one morning weighing over 200 lbs. in Lake Granby. We were averaging 10-15 fish a day weighing around 150 lbs.  I do not however remember the depth, but I do the location and the techniques along with the lures. The other things I do not remember

what we were doing before we learned this technique.

     When I started chasing large fish, one gentleman told me to go buy a day timer. It has a daily calendar which would keep fishing logs for numerous years. The beauty to these is after a few years of keeping this style of log book in my truck, I’ve been able to look back at a particular week and see 3 years of fishing. This gives me a great opportunity to go chase the best bite. 

     Items I write down are simple.

Location, depth, weather, results, what I used, any info I was told about (if I thought it was real). I also started using a GPS back then and Id give my waypoints a code. It is something like PHrds23s. The first letter(s) would be location (Pumphouse) then structure (road, south would be the south end of the road bed) then the depth at full pool (23). Depth at full pool is very important out west because I’ve rarely fished the same lake elevation on lake Granby from year to year.

     By keeping a simple written log book I’m able to glean information about my trips for the past 20 years. This has helped me turn tough bites into a manageable bite. Its also given me the opportunity not to think about what’s happening where, I just look it up.

     I’m not saying networking isn’t important, it is very important. If everyone we fished with kept a written log, wed never miss that very hot bite we always talk about. 

The fall season is just beginning, get yourself a day timer and start writing down your experiences. In a few years it will pay huge dividends.

ICE PREP

It’s just after Labor Day which means we have less then 100 days before we’re walking on ice. I am not one to wait till last minute to get my gear ready. Over the weekend I spent a little time in the garage assessing my gear. I moved the hitches, extra buckets, chairs and stuff like that to the snowmobile trailer. In the weeks to come it will be time to inventory rods, reels, line and tackle. 

While inventorying rods I will check the guides closely for any damage. The reels will get last year’s line stripped off of them, cleaned and lubricated for the upcoming season. After that I will look at the line inventory, if I have enough ice line I will respool them as U get time. 

The tackle is the best part of the inventory. A few years ago, I started using Clam’s jig boxes and soft plastics wallets. These do help keep me organized.  If I’m lucky I put the tackle away in the boxes they belong in, if not it will be taken care of during a preseason game. After organizing my tackle, I can take a quick inventory and make a list on my phone of anything I need to restock. 

Every fall tackle manufacturer’s come out with their new shapes and colors. It’s always a challenge to see what we can’t live without. I tend to be a “shapes and size “guy more than a color guy. By understanding what you like to use, it helps keep your new orders in budget with your wallet.

While the weather is still warm, it’s a good idea to pull out the tents. Are they dirty, torn or just in need of a little tlc? Now is a good time to take note and get these ready. Look at the stitching closely making sure its not coming apart. Are the windows in good shape? How about the zippers? Did you bend or break any poles last year? Are the tubs cracked or worn down?  You still have plenty of time to get these in shape for the season. 

Later in the season I will go through the snow machines and service them. Along with a service I will spend time looking at the body to make sure I did not crack anything last year. Check the hitches closely, these go through a lot of stress during the season. I also start my machines once a month throughout the summer to make sure the fuel does not evaporate and dry out the carbs. 

This is a list I use to get ready for the ice season. It allows me to move at a comfortable pace and be ready when the ponds freeze up here. I always find more to do but that’s the idea, start slowly and keep moving at your comfort level and you won’t be in a last-minute panic. The other advantage of Labor Day is the water is starting to cool down and that great open water fishing will be getting warmed up. Don’t forget to harass those fish and while you’re out there look for new spots to ice fish. 

Keeping fish for dinner? prep it right.

A lot of people like to eat their catch, Im one of “those guys”. Years ago I would catch my fish, put them on a stringer or in a live well. At the end of the day would fillet them. I did notice the fish would be “mushy” and not taste very good. After a fishing trip with a couple older guys I learned a very important lesson. Fish prep before you're off the water. Here are a few steps I do to keep the fish cool and more desirable to eat.

1. After catching the fish, I slit its throat and put it in the live well. The fish will generally bleed out in a few minutes. Bleeding the fish out gives us 2 results. Keeps the lactic acid from entering the meat. It also keeps blood from getting on the cleaning area, less mess to clean up.

2. Keep your live well pumping, the water in your well will get very warm and nasty.

3. I then throw them in a cooler UNDER ice. I always put meat under ice, this helps keep the meat as cold as possible.

4. Ice fishing is a different animal all together. Frozen fish is tougher too fillet. In the winter immediately after the cash I will slit their throats. After they bleed out I will put them in a cooler.

When you get to the cleaning station your fish will be very cool and firm but wait there’s more. After cleaning your fish rinse them off thoroughly with fresh water. This washes off bacteria that will start breaking down the fish. Put them in a plastic bag, under ice, when you get to the campsite or home the fish will be in excellent shape to eat.

If you are freezing the fish for a later meal, either vacuum seal the fish or freeze them in water. We put our fillets in a plastic bag (with the species name and date on it) fill them full of water then force water out of the bag while zipping it shut. This keeps air out of the bag and prevents freezer burn. When thawing out our fish, we will put the bags in cold water. This will help it thaw faster without damaging the meat.

By following these simple tips your fish just might taste a little better. Please remember selective harvest is important. Let hem big fish go so we can have more smaller fish to eat in the future. If your interested in so fish recipes try these. https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/recipes

Organizing, Cleaning and sharp hooks

A few years ago my buddy and I were pre-fishing for a walleye tournament.  The bite was soft and light. He caught about 5 to my one before I decided to check the hook on my jig. I either didn’t check it before the first cast or the hook point hit a couple rocks. It was so blunt it rolled over my thumb nail. To this day he reminds me every time we go fishing to check the hook. 

After that fateful day I’ve become very aware of dull, rusty or bent hooks. I will also keep a close eye on my leader for twists, fraying or nicks. A couple minutes here and there might help keep that trophy fish pinned on your hook. I always tell my clients there are 3 points of release. Bad hook set or dull hook. Bad knot, twisted or weakened line. A drag that’s too tight or to loose. (We won’t talk about netting in this article)

Let’s start with some tips on hook maintenance. When a hook comes out of the package, I like to line the point of the hook up with the eye. Grab a pair of pliers and push the hook from the base of the bend right or left just a little bit. I’m a firm believer an off-set hook grabs more fish. When selecting your lure, jig or plain hook take a moment to look it over. If you see rust around the point grab a hook file and grind it off. While you’re at it check the sharpness of the hook. I do this by running the point over my thumb nail. If the hook scrapes or slides over it, I spend a few seconds sharpening it. Sharpen the hook away from the point so it will not form a burr on the point. If you keep your tackle in boxes make sure they are waterproof boxes or the boxes that drain and breathe. This will help with rusty hooks. To keep hooks sharp protect them by burying the hook in foam. Pipe insulation from the hardware store works wonders. 

Line can create its own set of problems. When fishing clear water for anything I like to use fluorocarbon. I must admit, I have a love hate relationship with fluorocarbon. Its more sensitive and abrasion resistant then mono, but its memory can drive me nuts. We vertical jig tubes for lake trout, the tubes are terrible line twisters. Keep an eye on twisted line, if and when it starts twisting up and causing problems cut it off and retie. Watch the bottom few feet of your line for nicks or fraying, if you see anything change it. If you’re a sports fan, watching a game on tv is an excellent opportunity to learn new knots. (A little practice hear helps land a few more fish.) If you’re still using fluorocarbon or mono from last year this would be a great time to change it out. Fall is right around the corner and those big fish will be looking to break a few hearts and create more stories. When I replace my line on the spools I color coordinate my line. All 6 lb. will have a green tint, 8 dark or smoke, 10 clear. This helps me look at a spool without wondering what’s really on it. 

I always loosen the drag on each reel at the end of the day. This keeps the washers from warping and gives me a smoother drag. Just make sure to adjust it when arriving at your spot. Run a cue tip through your rod guides, if they pick up the cotton there is a nick that could cut your line. 

Have you ever pulled on a snag only to retrieve a nasty old lure? I always throw them in a bucket and let the plastics dry out. When they dry out you will have the opportunity to see the actual color. Waterlogged plastics turn white in the water. This leads to another cool tip. While using tube jigs I always have a few in a zip lock bag of water. As the tube starts to lose its color I will pull it out, put a hook in it then fish it. Those muted colors can really get fish excited at times.  

All my crankbait, jig and hook boxes are vented, there is nothing worse than finding a box that got water in it and developed rust. Once a month I empty my entire boat, clean the storage compartments then restock it. This helps me keep clutter down to a minimum. If I haven’t used something in a while, I ask myself “Am I really going to use it or is it going to sit there”. There is no use in having your late fall gear in the boat during the month of August. While you’re at it check your life jackets. If your using inflatables check the green or red indicator, then act appropriately. Is your fire extinguisher charge good? 

These are some practices that might help catch a few more fish, make your day on the water a little more pleasant or at least help you clean your gear on occasion. I’ve adapted them, it makes me a little more efficient on the water.  My wife just told me she wishes id put as much energy in cleaning the house as I put in my boat. At least she notices.

Water level effects on Lake granby

It was fun this year seeing Dike 3 recede back into the depths.  It rises like a beached submarine every four to six years only to dive back to the depths a couple of years later.  I started guiding over twenty years ago and I have seen it all.  High water, low water, and everything in-between. 

What I haven't seen is horrible fishing.  Each year is not the same, but the fish remain and the habitat withstands the test of time.  Everyone notices the lake trout losing weight and gaining it back but did you ever stop to think about how water levels affect a lake like Granby and specifically a fish like the Lake Trout?  With so many changes, why doesn't lake trout fishing success change? The story is complex and includes two main acts.  Water levels affect feeding patterns of all species but also affects the recruitment at spawning time.  Let's start with how water levels affect feeding behavior.

It all starts with microscopic organisms known as the Phytoplankton (immobile microscopic organisms). These microscopic organisms are not mobile and stay in the top zones of the water column.  Zooplankton (mobile microscopic organisms) eat Phytoplankton but also avoid light.  They migrate up the water column to feed in the evenings and then drop down again to avoid the light in the mornings.  Since sunlight rarely penetrates more than 30 feet into the water the Zooplankton can be found in the top 30 feet of a lake.  

The next level of knowledge necessary to understand lake biology is the Mysis shrimp.  These small organisms were introduced into Lake Granby to feed the kokanee. But Mysis live at the bottom of the lake and Kokanee do not so the food source never materialized.  Instead, Mysis shrimp eat zoo plankton and here is the first detail where water levels come into play---if the water levels are low,   then there  is more of the lake in the 30-foot depth.  With more of the lake at this depth the Mysis are at the same depth as the Zooplankton (who migrate every day) and the Mysis shrimp eat more of the Zooplankton.  

Now we are finally to the Kokanee Salmon.  The Kokanee are filter-feeders and use their gills to filter vast amounts of microorganisms from the water.  They feed mainly on zooplankton and if you follow kokanee on the sonar they follow the daily migrations of the Zooplankton.  Kokanee also prefer a very narrow temperature range.  Their preferred temperature is 54F. At times this temperature range puts the fish outside of the depths of the Zooplankton and they do not feed.  When water levels are down the Mysis eat more of the Zooplankton and the Kokanee struggle to
get their fill.  When water levels are up, Mysis have a tougher time feeding on Zooplankton higher in the water column.

Finally, the Lake Trout prefers colder water (48F) and except at ice-out typically lives in waters 40 feet deep or more.  At extremely low waters levels these fish would be pushed to marginal waters in the deepest parts of the lake.  In some lakes the low waters would warm too much and the lake trout would struggle to stay alive.  Since Granby has many areas with great depths the typical low-water year does not exterminate the lake trout, it just pushes them to new locations.  Small lake trout
(less than 21" in length) often feed on Mysis shrimp and larger lake trout feed on Kokanee
Salmon.

With this knowledge it is easy to see how each part of the food chain operates and  that in low water years more of the feeding zones overlap creating competition.  

To win the competition for food your species must have had a good year for reproduction (called recruitment).  This is the second piece of the puzzle and the key player is the Kokanee Salmon.  The Kokanee only live for four years.  At the end of the fourth year they move upstream to reproduce and, like all salmon species, die after reproduction.  In high water years Salmon do not reproduce well.  So, even with consistent water levels there will always be a shortage of Kokanee four years
after a high water year.

Mysis Shrimp thrive in low water years because their habitat overlaps more with the Zooplankton.  When Mysis levels are high Kokanee suffer from lack of food.  Are you following me here?  High water levels and low water levels are rough on Kokanee recruitment.

High water levels the lake does not stratify. The kokes and plankton lose there "protection zone" the shrimp will live deeper and nothing will eat them. They travel u[p at night and eat the plankton. Then in the morning the kokes have nothing to eat. Low water levels the lake does stratify and the kokes and other fish can eat the Mysis shrimp. The plankton has warmer water and can reproduce.  The kokes do not spawn well in Granby, stocking is the only real way to keep these fish in the lake.
The kokes have crashed, but the CPW is stocking 1.5 million kokes in Granby  this spring. 

Falling water levels reduce lake trout recruitment.  Lake trout lay their eggs in 20 to 40 feet of water during October and falling water levels can put those eggs in jeopardy, especially as water engineers drop lake levels for winter.  When lake trout numbers are down Kokanee thrive because fewer of them are eaten by the lake trout.  Falling water levels also stress larger fish creating the potential for losses at that end of the spectrum too.  

        Low Water Recruitment  Low Water Feeding  High Water Recruitment    High Water Feeding
Mysis Shrimp          Good                 Excellent                      Poor                                    Poor
Kokanee Salmon      OK                     Tough                        Poor                                   Great
Lake Trout               Poor        Ok, if not too warm                Good                                 Good

Too many low water years in a row, combined with lake trout mortality from hooking, fighting, and trips to the hot oil will eventually decline the overall lake trout  population.  These low water years will eventually slow down lake trout recruitment  as well leading to a decline in the fishing success.  While this is possible, we have yet to see more than two low water years in a row during the last few decades. 

Now that you know the details, how does all of this affect lake trout fishing success?  It doesn't!  Since Granby has enough depth to support lake trout even in low water years, the lake trout will only be skinnier or fatter

Life and times of a lake trout bum or How my addiction got fueled

Lake trout spawn in the fall when the water temps fall to 48-57 degrees, eggs hatch about 140 days after being laid. This is a useless piece of information. I thought it would be a good idea to throw it in here, its how my mind works. For years I walked the shorelines of our reservoirs out west. Catching rainbows, browns, lake trout, salmon and pike.  

Sometime in the 70’s a Dave Leman and I saw our first float tube. We saved up money and had one before the next spring. Shortly after that we figured out how to rig a sonar units on them. In time we learned how to move the transducers around to look for shallow fish at ice off. Shortly after that we were fishing Green Mountain reservoir, drifting over a deep point when we saw some marks on the bottom. We got the heaviest spoons we had in our box, dropped them down and were ignored until we started reeling them up. We both got hit, we had no idea how much this would change our lives. 

About that same time Joe Butler wrote a book about trophy trout. I quickly learned casting big minnow imitating jerk baits was a great way to catch early and late season trout. Following Joes recipe for success after the jerk bait bite was over we switched over to paddle tail baits and lead heads. Having descent success with these techniques we were in heaven. 

Sometimes in the late 70’s or early 80’s a gentleman named Dick Gasaway was down at Lake Powell fishing for stripers. During a very successful trip he ran out of spoons, reaching in his box he decided to try a tube jig. The stripers tore them up, fishing was even better with these things. His buddy was headed to Flaming Gorge the next week, Dick reminded him to try those tubes for lake trout and the most famous lake trout jigging lure was discovered. Dick guided on Granby for a few years, then decided he liked fishing more than guiding. 

We heard the commotion about tubes and trout so we went and purchased a few. WOW! These things caught everything. One of our first trips with these was to Williams Fork reservoir near Parshall Colorado. We spent this snowy day walking the shorelines with tubes and caught over 50 fish. As time went on we fished them in our float tubes and figured out how and where to catch larger fish. 

Around 1985 we started seeing paper topo maps. We ran to the stores and found some of our favorite waters. After looking at places we caught fish, then looking for more spots like that we started to figure out what structure fishing was all about. I started a log book, where I would draw tie points to the spot I wanted to fish. This worked very well but the book would occasionally get wet and the ink would run. 

In the early 80’s I was given my first boat. It had fallen out of a pick-up and was in very bad shape. With a lot of help from a great friend (Curt Gallagher) and a few tubes of silicone we made the boat sea worthy (kind of). I could not afford a motor so I rowed everywhere I went. About a year later my dad gave me a 7 hp motor. Now I could go anywhere. After spending afternoons and sometimes an entire night on a windblown bank (The wind taught me the same lesson a lot of times. I learned to watch the weather and get off the lake before I almost died.)

I found an electric motor at a garage sale, built a small deck at the front of the boat and had a great boat. The boat ended up leaking A LOT! This taught us mobility, we could only fish one spot for a little while. We would have to get the boat on plane, pull the plug and drain the water out of the boat. Life jackets and throw cushions were on the bottom of the boat to help keep our feet dry. 

One late September evening a friend of mine and I went out to fish for browns at night in Columbine Bay on lake Granby. There were low clouds, rain and a little wind. Perfect weather for browns. As the night got later the fog came in, we could not see 50 feet. It was so dark we could not find our way out of the last “pond” in the bay. When we finally did we got back to my trailer, I called and ordered my first GPS, this changed everything. 

Now we could use our sonar units, the paper maps, my drawings to locate spots and mark way points on the GPS. I remember going out for hours locating structure and marking it. After a short while I realized the info I was putting on the GPS was a bit incomplete. I had so many waypoints I could not remember what was what. A friend mentioned putting names to them. We started naming spots some were common local names others were just made up. We then realized it would help if we added the depth at full pool this would help us know when to fish what spots. A waypoint might read “GRCC85” This included the lake, the spot and the depth at full pool. It was easy and quick.

In the late 80’s I found a 16’ Starcraft with an 80 hp motor on it. After putting a Lowrance LMS 350a and an electric motor on it, we were off. Then on a curious twist of fate on my way to the lake one day my truck blew a head gasket. That cancelled fishing, I took the truck to High Country Motors in Granby and had it fixed. While I was in the shop the owner came out and asked if I wanted to guide for him. He told me he just purchased an outfitter business for the hunting but needed a fishing guide.  I asked him “Why me” he stated “You are the only one dumb enough to go out every day”. That was my interview and I started guiding on Lake Granby. 

I was just hoping to make enough money to pay for a couple fishing trips out of state. After a couple years I figured guiding also bought new rods and reels. In 2003, guiding was getting busy enough I went shopping for a new boat.  A friend of my brothers was a sales man for Colorado Boat Center, he found out I was looking for a boat and called me. I stopped by looked at what was then a Tournament Series 192. Really liked the lay out and purchased it. The boat center put me on their pro staff, gave me a discount on the boat. All I had to do was work a couple boat shows for them. This is when I met Terry Wickstrom, he was full of great insight and advice in the business. He still invites me on his radio show to share fishing reports and stories. 

The following year I found myself guiding on Grand Lake, Williams Fork and Granby. Working almost 7 days a week between my day job of Utilities manager at Snow Mountain Ranch and guiding. The ranch was having a lot of problems with the water system and the swimming pool on the weekends. My boss came to me and made me an offer I could not refuse. I started working Friday thru Monday and guiding during the week. This opened up even more opportunities for me to guide.

In 2008 I met my wife Leesa while on vacation in Florida, after a couple dates and about 6 weeks we decided to get married. Within about 3 years she convinced me to quit my day job and follow a passion. We bought a house close to Lake Granby, and with great apprehension I started guiding full time. Guiding got busier then I could handle so I started bring a few people on board I thought I could trust. Now we have a great team with Dan Shannon, Randy Hall, Jake Foos and Sam Hochevar. 

I started writing this article on lake trout and the spawn, that subject did not get far. But that’s how fishing goes. Plan on doing one thing, then change to another. I never thought that guiding would give me the career it has. With any luck we can supply enough education, laughs and fish to make everyone happy. Our motto has always been “Learn something, have fun and catch fish”.

GILL LICE SUCKS!!! PLEASE READ

Have you heard the stories about how fishing was so good in the 80’s? We could go and catch 20 fish limits of salmon by noon almost any day of the year. Lake trout fishing was just being discovered and the lake trout anglers had a lot to learn. Let’s “flash” forward to 2018 and think about salmon fishing. It’s incredible at Blue Mesa and Wolford but what happened to Green Mountain, Eleven Mile, Williams Fork and others?

GILL LICE has destroyed some of Colorado’s best salmon fisheries. 

Green Mountainonce a prominent salmon fishery has been destroyed. The biologist at Green Mountain is trying an experiment; don’t stock any salmon for 4 years. Let the hosts die off and maybe they will take the lice with them. He is also not stocking rainbows, trying everything possible to get rid of any hosts. 

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/GreenMountainReservoir.pdf

Williams Fork reservoirused to produce 1-2 million eggs, (in 2007 a record year of 4 million eggs) this year produced about only 150,000 eggs. The DOW will halt egg operations at Williams Fork after this year. The lack of salmon in the run is the reason why.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/WilliamsForkReservoir.pdf

Eleven Mile reservoirused to be an incredible salmon fishery for limits of salmon pushing 20”. There are still a few in there but it will never be the fishery it was.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/ElevenmileReservoir.pdf

Blue Mesathe states largest salmon producer. It has produced runs of 17 million eggs. During the drought of 2012-13 they suffered from a large algae bloom which reduced the egg take to 3 million eggs. In 2016 they cut the daily salmon limit in ½. That year they had 17 million eggs. In 2016 Gill lice were found in 9% of the salmon with an average of 1/salmon. In 2017 the 68% of the salmon in the run had gill lice with an average of 2/fish. The run produced 16.7 million eggs. In 2018 87% of the salmon had gill lice with an average of 9/fish. 

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/BlueMesaReservoir.pdf

Wolford reservoiris a “clean” lake for now in 2018 it produced 2.957 million eggs. Wolford is critical for Colorado’s egg take. If Blue Mesa fails the state will rely on Wolford to supply all the brood lakes. This will mean a lot of the other “salmon” lakes will be shorted or not stocked at all.

http://cpw.state.co.us/thingstodo/Fishery%20Survey%20Summaries/WolfordMountainReservoir.pdf

There are more lakes affected by this, to keep interest in reading this I chose to only include the data above.

Everything I learned about gill lice makes me believe it is being spread around by private hatcheries. A land owner with a private pond calls a hatchery. The hatchery dumps the contaminated trout in the pond. The outlet of the pond flows down to a reservoir, carrying the lice in the currents. Lice then attaches to a fish and proceeds to spread. 

There is a board called “Fish Health Board” Here are their email addresses.

jeremy@lileyfisheries.com

kholmes25@aqua-sierra.com

vicki.milano@state.co.us

wayne.east@state.co.us

kevin_m_johnson@fws.gov

Here is an email for the CPW wildlife commission.

dnr_cpwcommission@state.co.us

Elizabeth Brown heads the ANS program in Colorado.

elizabeth.brown@state.co.us

The Fish Health Board consists of 5 members 1 CPW employee, 1 dept of agriculture employee, 2 private aquaculture peopleand a US Fish and Wildlife person. They decide what “bugs” are legal or illegal. For instance, whirling disease is illegal.  They won’t make gill lice illegal. WHY NOT!! LOOK WHATS HAPPENING STATEWIDE!

Why are the private aquaculture guys outnumbering the state CPW employees? This system makes no sense to me. Why do the private guys outnumber the CPW guys and make the rules they have to follow? 

Here is the way I see it. We are letting a couple guys that run hatcheries make a very good living dumping gill lice in our waters, which in turn is ruining our fisheries.

If you’re not a fan of fishing for salmon, think about this. In ALL the great lake trout fisheries across the west there is one common denominator.  KOKANEE SALMON!!! Every time a state record lake trout has been caught since the 90’s in Colorado the lake that produced that fish had ample supplies of kokanee. Flaming Gorge which might be the best lake trout fishery in the west has lots of….. Kokanee Salmon! The only exception to that rule is Flat Head Lake Montana, it has Lake Whitefish instead of salmon. 

There is another factor in all of this. Drought cannot be controlled, it stratifies the lake and lumps all the salmon into a very tight band of the water column. Which in no time will help spread these nasty little critters. Drought can cause algae blooms and numerous other problems. 

I encourage everyone reading this to write the Fish Health Board, Elizabeth Brown and the wildlife commission (their contact info is above) and demand they make gill lice illegal. Then share this with your friends. We should be able to raise awareness of this problem and get it fixed before we lose more opportunities. 

Here are my suggestions to start to fix this issue.

 1.    Ban the transportation of gill lice.

2.    Give the hatcheries tools to help prevent gill lice from spreading through them. 

3.    Start research projects on smaller infested bodies of water to help determine how to rid our reservoirs of gill lice.

How to download CMAP Genesis maps for your Lowrance by Dan Swanson

About the author
*DAN SWANSON* is a multi-species guide in Northern Colorado. He is an 
instructor and seminar speaker on fishing techniques with a specialty 
around the use of fishing electronics - sonar, GPS and making lake maps. 
Dan competes professionally in walleye tournaments in Colorado, Wyoming and 
throughout the Midwest. He is on the Pro-Staff for Ranger Boats, Evinrude, 
Lowrance, St. Croix Rods, Crowley Marine, Abu Garcia, Berkley and Costa Del 
Mar.