Starvie Report

[MACMAN]

Had planned to go and fish Starvie Tuesday and Wednesday. Got there Monday afternoon to my reserved cabin - to discover I was the only visitor to the park. Not a single camper, not a single boat. Nobody. Even the showers were locked up and the dumpsters still turned upside down for the winter. 

Tuesday dawned at 30 degrees and a mild wind. I let it warm up a bit and got on the water at 9. By then, there was a "walleye chop" on the pond and I headed for the river inlet hoping to find stained water and walleye. Found the stained water. Not a sign of fish. Dragged a worm and threw plastic in 6 to 30 feet of water. Nada. 

Moved to Rabbit Gulch about noon. Found much clearer water at the same 43 degrees as the river arm. Dragged and pitched again. Nothing on my finders or my lines. Headed for the other end of the lake. Pulled cranks in the same 6 to 30 feet of water. Finally saw another boat and checked with them. They were fishing for 'bows and had one nibble. 

By now, the wind was coming on strong and within a minute or so, there were 3-footers and whitecaps. Both boats made a run for the ramp. I had to crawl along at 5 mph or get pounded to death but still had waves crashing over my gunwales onto me. Could move only directly into or across the waves. Quartering was flat dangerous. 

Took me four tries to get my boat to the courtesy dock because of the wind, and then three tries to get on the trailer. Had about five gallons of water in the bilge. 

Wednesday morning, my clothes still wet and the wind still blowing - at 34 degrees. Still not a soul anywhere in the park but me. Realized how much trouble I'd be in if I had boat trouble or fell in. Decided to pack it up and come home. Discretion and valor. 

I noted that they have built a fifth cabin. This one is much larger, with a wheelchair ramp and what looks from the outside to be a sleeping loft. About twice the size of the original four. The ospreys are back and nesting.

Thank you for the report. I have wanted to stay at the cabins and do exactly what you are doing. I enjoy the walleye fishing but am pretty inexperienced up there compared to most on the board. I too have been pushing the wind and waves. I fish alone a lot and need to listen and learn.

You can learn a lot about starvation walleye by attending Rocky mountain tackle meetings and check out YouTube for starvation.

I agree. It’s actually Rocky Mountain Anglers. The club meets the second Tuesday of the month at Scheels, 7:00 in the upstairs meeting rooms.  The club has gotten to be more of an all species focus, but you can learn a lot and meet some great people. My son and I are members and make most of the meetings and outings. It’s a great local resource and open to all.