Heading on vacation to Leadville (grew up there) and plan on hitting the inlet at turqs, flyfishing the upper arkansas near granite and maybe up to twin (or probably forebay). Anybody been out that way lately or have any kind of reports? Macks slow down or move deeper at Turqs with the hot summer? Usually a lot of skinny 16-20 inchers hanging around the inlet.
I've been in UT for a little over a year now and use the ut forums pretty regularly and its crazy the difference between those boards and COs. Lot more action on the UT boards, but a lot more hostility too. Deterant quite often. The UT boards are very open w/ reports and tips in general though. How is it in Colo. Clearly not as many reports. A lot of PMing for tips and whatnot? Either way, glad to not see the 'clicks' and hostility on the Colo boards
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You have the skinny on Turquoise. Not much to add there. I haven't heard anything from Twin. The macks in other local lakes have gotten real tough. If you can find better fish they seem to have lockjaw.
The Arkansas has been fishing great all summer. The usual stuff - caddis, BHPTs, RS2s, etc. It should be hopper time now, too! I haven't been up there all summer. Stupid of me!
Everything is in great shape up there right now and the frenzy at Antero has diverted some pressure.
You're right about the Utah board. It's always been very active and the folks there are very helpful. Just not as much activity here, but we're working on it!
Good luck and please post a report about how you do.
Thanks!
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Well, managed to get time to fish Turquoise and Forebay (above Twin-lakes). Fished turquoise thursday night and Friday morning, both times at the inlet. Suprisingly, the lake was pretty much at capacity and they had the flow from the tunnel turned off. I say suprising because most reservoirs I'm fishing in UT are dropping quick!
Anyhow, rained out after 1/2 and hour Thursday night. Fished white swim-baits, various rapalas, couple jigs and even some spinners. No luck on anything. Noticed fish rising and by the time I grabbed my flyrod, the rain was coming down heavy!
Came back at about 6am Friday morning armed with only a flyrod and dries. No W$%@ and the water was dead calm. Presentation had to be PERFECT with the conditions. Got a number of strikes but most were very subtle. Softest topwater 'nips' I have ever experienced! Out of about 10 hits that morning, I only hooked-up to one fish, an 18 inch (guesstimate) mack, but he got off near shore. Basically a skunk at Turquoise, but I quarantee you that ain't the first time! It was beautiful out there with a fog hanging at the base of the mountains. I wasn't complaining!
Fished forebay mid-day Friday too. Lots of rising fish at the bubbler (N side) even at 4pm. Got a couple decent rainbows topwater with my flyrod. Chunked out some sucker meat in the hopes for a wandering mack or two, but no luck there. There was a huge mack out there rising to something or chasing minnows the whole time I was out there too! Huge splashes and you could see his flank and know it was a big mack.
No Arkansas action (no enough time) though. All in all some good fishing, wish I had more time though![cool]
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Thanks for the report Hartz! Sorry you didn't do better but glad you had a good time. Come on back any time!
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Great report. I saw the same thing at forebay a few years ago. After allot of persistence I got what I thought to be a big mack to take a fly. It ended up being a big brown 30plus inches. I didn't even know the browns were still in there until then. Anyway I had a guy trying to help me land it and he broke the leader with the net[mad]. I don't know if there are many browns in there but it's funny you saw the same thing I did several years ago.
I grew up in Leadville also. When did you leave? We may of met or have acquaintances
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The most beautiful brown I have ever caught came out of forebay. Dark brown with bright spots, no pics[mad]. Another time, I was float tubing there maybe 3 yrs ago and had seen the same thing then. Huge fish taking something off the top. My friend and I tried for a while to get 'em to bite but it got too frigid and we had to get off the water. Shhh maybe just huge browns there...[
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Anyhow, I graduated Lake County High in 2001 and have essentially been gone since. My parents still live there and I try to get back fairly often. Small town, I'd bet we know a lot of the same people!
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I have been away from leadville since 87. I still have family there and I still hunt it quite a bit. It would take a tremendous amount of money to get me to move back. I love the country but the winters suck and I don't care for the town very much. Anyway next time you come up shoot me a pm and maybe I can get away and meet you. Or at least get up to date fishing info for you.
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