FISH CATCHING TRAVEL

Knockin Tail Lures by My Coast Outdoors

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The plan was to head out first thing to the Rio Grande Reservoir.  It is about a 40 miles drive with the last 14 rough road (Which will rattle your teeth lose.) as it is way back in the mountains.  It is on a road where we have seen moose and I got lucky this morning seeing a moose going in and coming out.  How rough?  The spare tire carrier broke on the way in, and it cut the spare so have to figure that one out but safe to say no pain no gain.

A nice moose on the way to the lake.

High up in the Rockies.  It does not get any prettier than this.

The Rio Grande Reservoir is the third highest lake in Colorado at 9,400 feet.  I was really looking forward to fishing it but somehow got my lakes mixed up.  I was hoping for lake trout and kokanee but once I got to the ramp learned otherwise.  Not sure where I got the idea they were in there but no matter, it is only trout.  They make it clear that the only ramp is best for small boats but calling it a ramp is a stretch.  It is nothing but a washed-out rocky mess leading to the shoreline where you are basically backing in on the bank.  A ramp it is not.  In fact folks fish there as it is the only place you can get close to the water.  It is pretty sketchy but boy is there lots of trout.

Beautiful out of a high mountain lake.

I was set up to troll for the lake trout and kokanee but since it is basically rainbows, cutthroats and browns started with the baits I had on and other than increasing the size of the Rapala stayed with the same baits the whole time.

An easy 40 today but who’s counting.  Forgot to take a picture of the nice cutthroat and did not boat a brown.

First I headed up lake and on one stretch caught 5 or 6 but when I got near where the river comes in it was off color and I did not raise a bite.  So I headed back down and hit the jackpot.  The Weminuche creek comes out of the wilderness area about 1/3 of the way before the dam and the runoff was in full swing.

Once I got close the bite began.  The green spoon with yellow spots has worked on any lake and it continued to produce.  On the other rod I was using a small Rapala which they liked but I wanted to upsize to a 3 hook which they really liked.  When I trolled right where the water hit the lake the whole locator lit up, there were literally thousands of trout.  In fact, so many that I only made a couple of passes that close because it was too easy.  Once I started trolling right down the middle of the lake, which is 40+ feet deep it was consistent fishing until I called it day.

Not a boat in sight but did meet a couple of guys who filled me in on the lake.

So not sure how I confused what fish are in the lake but at least the guys I met at the ramp let me know.  One was actually a close neighbor who has been fishing it since 54′ and he and his buddy just come up there to fish for the scenery.  As he said to me, “Boy is it beautiful.”  I could not agree more.  On the way out saw another moose.  While there are not tons of them around this road is the best place to see one, and today did not disappoint.

And another on the way out.  Looking a little shabby as they shed their winter coat.

So while the fish I am chasing were not in that lake there is no shortage of places.  And while the carrier breaking is a hassle, as we all know just break out more money, I literally hammered them.  Just another day in my learning curve and it sure does keep things interesting.  But best of all, I had a 50,000-surface acre lake all to myself.

**************The Wade Right Fishing Belt and the new Madre Sling.

For all your wading needs.

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And this interesting question from a reader.

Are you able to recognize if any of the rainbows you harvest are native or hatchery stock.
Keep posting

The basic answer is no.  Not sure how to tell but the stockers are easy to spot.  And when you catch one that has been in the lake over a season they are so pretty.  It will take me a while to learn more about the fishing and who does what and when, but I will keep fishing and posting.  Thanks for the question.

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Sitting by the road in our subdivision.  You know you live in the great outdoors when you see this, and no one having to guard it.  Love it here.

This area is all about the outdoors, hunting and fishing, 4 wheeling, hiking, and everything else you can do in the mountains.  So, when I got home from the lake and saw this sitting down the street from the house, I thought how fitting.  They are all well done mounts and a couple are real studs, along with an African plains game or two.  Momma must have decided time to clean up the house.

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That will work.

My brother and buddy Clyde are doing their annual northern swing and they have been catching them. But when it comes down to it nothing beats a big ass muskie.  Plus they also saw a bear today.  Way to go boys.

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I know there has been a dearth of reports and I am so appreciative those of you who have not deserted the blog.  While the posts will come a little farther apart I will be fishing and keep writing the story.  So keep stopping in and thanks for reading my stuff.

Good Luck and Tight Lines

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