05-15-2012, 06:36 PM
Well it is official...I am moving to Montrose, Colorado at the end of the month. I will miss regularly posting on this forum, but I will be visiting and fishing Utah fairly frequently. I haven’t had the opportunity to post in quite a while, but I have had some fishing trips that I would like to mention.
First from the float tube:
I had a free afternoon and decided to hit a fairly close lake in the hills. I was excited to see that the gate to the lake was still closed. This lake gets stocked regularly and turns into a small city in the summer. I only like to fish it before the stockings begin and the crowds show up.
I brought my old tube, but had a little hike due to the closed gate. I approached the lake near a small inlet. My presence spooked some rainbows in the small brook spawning. They looked like a fairly good size for this hard hit puddle
I launched and started throwing the blue fox while dragging a wooly bugger. Casting towards shore showed that the rainbows were still aggressive.
![[Image: 121_0958.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0958.jpg)
For the most part the spawn seemed over. It was great being in this popular spot with nobody around. The only guy I saw was looking for bear tracks. It was fun and fast fishing.
![[Image: 121_0964.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0964.jpg)
The bows were super dark
![[Image: 121_0968.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0968.jpg)
I was fully ready to share the name of this lake openly, until I started getting into brook trout. I know they do stock brooks here, but usually there are so many planter rainbows that it takes a while to get to them.
As I ventured into deeper water the wooly bugger started getting more attention.
![[Image: 121_0961.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0961.jpg)
I made note and started using some marabou jigs. It was brookie time
![[Image: 121_0963.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0963.jpg)
![[Image: 121_0966.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0966.jpg)
There were many fish caught. These brooks had a ton of energy and a lot of fight. Most would not even pose for a picture. A lot of my brookie pictures ended up like this
![[Image: 121_0960.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0960.jpg)
Or this…
![[Image: 121_0967.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0967.jpg)
That’s no joke, the fish jumped for freedom right before the shutter captured it.
It proved to be a very rewarding trip, and it felt so great to be out on my old float tube.
![[Image: 121_0959.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0959.jpg)
![[Image: 121_0970.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0970.jpg)
I picked this guy up walking back to my car. He was in the super small brook. I was just walking up the hill with a worm and was surprised to find this funky lookin’ fella.
![[Image: 121_0956-1.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0956-1.jpg)
Second from the boat:
My dad and I had a day off so we decided to take the boat out for the first time this year. We were torn on where to go. I wanted to avoid crowds and he didn’t want to drive for 2+ hours. Decisions decisions…
We finally decided to hit a lake that I desperately wanted to hit at ice off, but was prevented due to being in Colorado. This deep cold lake boasts wild Yellowstone Cutthroats, a wild Rainbow population, and Tiger Trout. It is one of my favorite areas on this planet.
We immediately started finding fish in coves near inlets. The minnows received the most attention. First to strike were the tigers.
![[Image: 121_0971.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0971.jpg)
I was using a marabou jig in about 22’ of water. The water clarity was awesome and I could see my jig down to about 15’. What was just amazing to me was watching the tiger trout absolutely tear my jigs apart. The fish were super aggressive and would follow my jig back to the boat. They preferred the jig to be wild and fast. It was just one of those breathtaking moments in fishing where I could watch fish and how they function in their own environment.
![[Image: 121_0977.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0977.jpg)
I didn’t photograph every fish during this trip. It was more about spending quality time with my dad before I move. There were plenty more tigers caught. They fought pretty well and their size seemed to improve since last year.
We did start finding the beautiful cutts too. They would hit everything from blue foxes to jakes and marabou.
![[Image: 121_0972.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0972.jpg)
The colors were vibrant.
![[Image: 121_0974.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0974.jpg)
This guy followed my minnow rig all the way to the boat. He struck right next to the boat. There was another tiger right behind it following the minnow too! I hooked him in the lip, but he had another hook hidden in his stomach with line hanging out his mouth. Super aggressive fish!!
![[Image: 121_0975.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0975.jpg)
I talked to my dad all day about landing a rainbow to clinch all three species found here. You may not believe me and that’s ok, but I did get one on a kastmaster. I found him a little deeper in about 35’. It was around 17-18” and was a chubster. I brought it up and unhooked it. I gave it to my dad while I went for my camera…and he just released it while my back was turned.
Eh oh well it was a fun trip even though we had to deal the wind and cold. We released all our fish to find another day. I really love this area. This lake has so much to offer and you can’t really see the best parts from shore…well without miles and miles of walking. Using a boat to get up into some of the coves is just fantastic.
It was a day full of gorgeous fish
![[Image: 121_0976.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0976.jpg)
Cute lil’ fella
![[Image: 121_0978.jpg]](http://i1072.photobucket.com/albums/w377/jeremycjensen/121_0978.jpg)
This life we live is short, please live it well.
[signature]
First from the float tube:
I had a free afternoon and decided to hit a fairly close lake in the hills. I was excited to see that the gate to the lake was still closed. This lake gets stocked regularly and turns into a small city in the summer. I only like to fish it before the stockings begin and the crowds show up.
I brought my old tube, but had a little hike due to the closed gate. I approached the lake near a small inlet. My presence spooked some rainbows in the small brook spawning. They looked like a fairly good size for this hard hit puddle
I launched and started throwing the blue fox while dragging a wooly bugger. Casting towards shore showed that the rainbows were still aggressive.
For the most part the spawn seemed over. It was great being in this popular spot with nobody around. The only guy I saw was looking for bear tracks. It was fun and fast fishing.
The bows were super dark
I was fully ready to share the name of this lake openly, until I started getting into brook trout. I know they do stock brooks here, but usually there are so many planter rainbows that it takes a while to get to them.
As I ventured into deeper water the wooly bugger started getting more attention.
I made note and started using some marabou jigs. It was brookie time
There were many fish caught. These brooks had a ton of energy and a lot of fight. Most would not even pose for a picture. A lot of my brookie pictures ended up like this
Or this…
That’s no joke, the fish jumped for freedom right before the shutter captured it.
It proved to be a very rewarding trip, and it felt so great to be out on my old float tube.
I picked this guy up walking back to my car. He was in the super small brook. I was just walking up the hill with a worm and was surprised to find this funky lookin’ fella.
Second from the boat:
My dad and I had a day off so we decided to take the boat out for the first time this year. We were torn on where to go. I wanted to avoid crowds and he didn’t want to drive for 2+ hours. Decisions decisions…
We finally decided to hit a lake that I desperately wanted to hit at ice off, but was prevented due to being in Colorado. This deep cold lake boasts wild Yellowstone Cutthroats, a wild Rainbow population, and Tiger Trout. It is one of my favorite areas on this planet.
We immediately started finding fish in coves near inlets. The minnows received the most attention. First to strike were the tigers.
I was using a marabou jig in about 22’ of water. The water clarity was awesome and I could see my jig down to about 15’. What was just amazing to me was watching the tiger trout absolutely tear my jigs apart. The fish were super aggressive and would follow my jig back to the boat. They preferred the jig to be wild and fast. It was just one of those breathtaking moments in fishing where I could watch fish and how they function in their own environment.
I didn’t photograph every fish during this trip. It was more about spending quality time with my dad before I move. There were plenty more tigers caught. They fought pretty well and their size seemed to improve since last year.
We did start finding the beautiful cutts too. They would hit everything from blue foxes to jakes and marabou.
The colors were vibrant.
This guy followed my minnow rig all the way to the boat. He struck right next to the boat. There was another tiger right behind it following the minnow too! I hooked him in the lip, but he had another hook hidden in his stomach with line hanging out his mouth. Super aggressive fish!!
I talked to my dad all day about landing a rainbow to clinch all three species found here. You may not believe me and that’s ok, but I did get one on a kastmaster. I found him a little deeper in about 35’. It was around 17-18” and was a chubster. I brought it up and unhooked it. I gave it to my dad while I went for my camera…and he just released it while my back was turned.
Eh oh well it was a fun trip even though we had to deal the wind and cold. We released all our fish to find another day. I really love this area. This lake has so much to offer and you can’t really see the best parts from shore…well without miles and miles of walking. Using a boat to get up into some of the coves is just fantastic.
It was a day full of gorgeous fish
Cute lil’ fella
This life we live is short, please live it well.
[signature]
] have you fished the area??