High Country Brooks…signs of winter

This is a somewhat late and quick update as the fish and pictures aren’t enough to milk into a long drawn out post. But there is enough quality information to make a short blurb useful. So many of my trips go un-posted.

The fishing trips are starting to require more fortitude as we roll into colder weather. Even after we did the homework and picked a “good” weather day, we still faced colder temps and harsher conditions than forecasted.

(Most of the fish were tiny. This was my largest on the day. Just to get my money’s worth from the POS Kodak…I drug it along on this trip and darn near $%^&* up every shot with it. 2010 will require some equipment upgrades.)

Another mentionable note is the snow encountered. During the previous drought cycle snow was not a concern until we reach late November. This year we seem to be falling back into the traditional weather cycle and the high country is getting more snow and it’s sticking pretty well in spots. Instead of looking at the forecasted high temperatures anglers need to be more concerned with the forecasted low temps on the day you are fishing and dress for that especially if you are hitting the spot early in the morning.

(Above: Here is a trail section covered with snow. Puddles are forming ice and it won’t be long before ice fishing starts. One side was snow covered and about 30 degrees in air temperature. A stark contrast to the other side.)

Fishing all year round in Colorado requires the ability to transition through seasons and weather conditions. Fishing in the cold season requires a lot of fortitude. I do not control the weather so rather than loathe and complain about the cold season…I simply find ways to fish through it.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.

Monster Shark bites shark…still roams Australia waters

(This is nearly a 10-foot shark with a huge chunk taken out of it by a much larger shark. This “Monster Shark” is estimated at possibly 16 feet long and still prowling the waters near Queensland Australia. How @#$%^ amazing is this!?!)

A "MONSTER" great white shark up to 6m long is prowling a popular Queensland beach after biting another great white almost in half.

Swimmers were warned to stay out of the water off Stradbroke Island after the shark mauled another smaller great white which had been hooked on a baited drum line.

The 3m great white was almost bitten in half.

The fictional shark at the centre of the Steven Spielberg blockbuster Jaws was estimated to be more than 1.5m longer.

"It certainly opened up my eyes. I mean the shark that was caught is a substantial shark in itself," says Jeff Krause of Queensland Fisheries.

Link to full article:

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21498,26265642-948,00.html?from=public_rss

Are you Fawlkinz Bloggin’ Me?

The blog format seems to be working out pretty well. Easier than the website and I don’t pay a nickel for hosting. It doesn’t have all of the bells and whistles of a hosted site but the simple format makes it great for quick updates. Yep, the blog format is pretty cool but I often wonder if viewers feel the same way as well as how many other fishing blogs are out there.

If you have a fishing blog, feel free to add me to your “follow” list. It will make it easier to keep track of your bloggy friends without having to save shortcuts in your windows browser. Every time you log in they are there. It also makes it easier for me to know you exist out there in blogland. I will add you to my list as well. (Check out MKG’s blog while you are at it. Excellent high country angler blog.)

If you like my blog (or even hate it for that matter) and view regularly it would be super cool if you showed some love by adding a rate or comment once in a while. Otherwise I have to add a super cheesy looking web hit counter or the meticulous blog hit counter with statistical research that quite frankly is a lot of work to dial in. Market research is better left to the other sites. I just want to fish and share tidbits along the way.

If you want to start a fishing blog or have general bloggy questions, feel free to shoot those over via the e-mail address at Coloradocasters@yahoo.com I may or may not be able to help. I am not a super tech savvy guy to be quite honest. Heck, you should be impressed that I was even able to hotwire this thing up at all.

Fishing is not a pastime for some of us. It is an obsession. The results are sometimes so amazing that the shameless bragging is somewhat justified. A blog is a great way to do that and more. Until I get more response I will always wonder… Are you Fawlkinz Bloggin’ Me?

Battling with the Big Meows

I have been telling myself for some time: “One of these days I am going to focus on catching catfish.” I have caught quite a few catfish by complete surprise and wondered for a while now how well I would do if the focus were placed purely on big catfish.

The recent burst of warm weather was a welcome sign for warmwater fishing. The rise in temperature opens a window of opportunity. So Saturday I left the house targeting big catfish. Had I known the full extent of what would unfold…I surely would have packed a lunch. The day turned into a battle of the big meows.

(Above: Beastly looking catfish. This guy was a work out to land. I’m using an old Shakespeare setup and 8lb line.)

The first one battled me for what seemed like hours. Just the sheer weight of these beasts makes them difficult to land. Forgot to weigh or tape the big ol cat and regretted that for several moments afterwards.

Then I got a second bite and another battle. Man, these fish can wear a guy out. Every time I thought the fish was beat, it would manage to turn its head and surge back out. Then it is a matter of grabbing and landing the huge fish. I thought the first one was tough. The second was almost impossible.

(Above: First pic of second fish-Just look at this fish! By far my largest catfish and rivals some of the pike I have caught in Colorado.)

If people knew what really was swimming in Colorado waters…they would not let their dogs and children play in them. =D

(Above: Second pic of second fish-What an amazing experience to battle such a physically powerful fish. The second fish was absolutely huge.)

The second fish weighed in at 12lbs on my lame spring scale that is half rusted. This may be a way off and not very reliable. The tape said 32-inches and I am more confident that is correct (the best I could do solo on the pontooner).



All fish were released, as big monster catfish like this deserve a lot more respect than they get these days.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.

Hitting the jigs and jig combos.

These gear articles are not really my forte’. There are so many experts, pros and more experienced anglers that cover the gear so much better than myself. It is only on the rare occasion that I feel compelled to write a “gear piece” in order to fill the gaps that may have been missed. Honestly, I am here just to fish and post some pictures once in a while.

Jigs are something I fish with a lot. Jigs are loosely defined as creature baits as they look like a critter as opposed to a fish. Creature baits are perfect for a wide range of Colorado fishing conditions and species. There are several aspects that make the jig work. The first and foremost of these aspects would be its versatility. You can get various weights, shapes and styles that suit anything you are trying to do. Before I write a novel and try to cover everything about jigs, let me cover some of the basics and a few of my favorites…beyond that you are on your own.

Essence of jig: A jig really is nothing more than a hook with the weight attached just below the eye depending on the style. The weight and shape are critical to the type of structure you are trying to fish. Too heavy and too rocky of terrain and you are just going to lose a small fortune in jigs. Too light and too open of water and you won’t be able to cover the water effectively enough to find cruising fish. To match the common types of forage I pretty much confine myself to the smaller weights and then compliment it with some sort of plastic trailer. See my combo section for detail on this.

Gear setup basics: Heavier line in the 10lb range, braided for heavier cover and a medium to heavy action rod is preferred for jig fishing. Pulling the jig from rocks and heavy structure as well as being able to drive in a good hookset, the heavier action rod is key. If you don’t have

Where the jig works best: Fish love the jig where it most resembles the forage base at the lake or spot you are fishing. Crayfish are probably the most common and can thrive in almost any situation. However crawdads prefer muddy bottoms or gravel type structure. Riprap is good too for crawdads but the spectrum for good jig fishing starts to fade the closer you get to areas that snag easily. I find tremendous success fishing the jig at the edge where heavy structure meets the flat. Large rocks or “patches” of structure is another great place to work to the jig.

Mud/clay/sand: Fish as slow as possible with a jerk/stop motion. I will often pull the rod tip back with a quick snap motion that gives the jig a “pop” action. This literally calls the fish to it.

Gravel/rock/riprap: Bumping the cover with your lure makes most bass go crazy and hit the lure hard. Speeding up the retrieve will also help keep avoid the snag ups. In the next paragraph we get a little more in depth.

Jigs are not to be considered a snag free or weedless lure. The jig works best in areas where the bait won’t constantly snag up on heavy weed cover. Other structure types such as submerged tree cover and rocks are more complicated. The quandary is the difficulty to fish the jig in heavy structure but there are fish there. The key is fishing heavy structure with caution and confidence. You have to face the fact that losing a few jigs in heavy cover is going to happen but the fish are worth it. A few tips that will help you lose less jigs in heavy cover are listed below.

1. Speed up the retrieve. The jig will bounce off of the structure as opposed to getting stuck in the crevices or cracks.

2. Skirts and plastic trailers allow more buoyancy and bounce. There is that mentioning of trailer combos again.

3. Fish lighter weight or “finesse” style jigs as they are not as snaggy as say a ¾ oz big-craw like they throw in Texas. Finesse jigs take longer to fall and typically don’t provide rattles. This rule has some give and take.

Action element-Add the trailer: The versatility of the jig is very much reliant upon the trailer or skirt that you add to the weighted hook. Most styles of plastic trailers look very lifelike and active with even a little bit of movement placed on the lure. A steady “pop-pop-pop” motion is often all it takes to get a strike. The fact you can select and change the color and size nearly every cast is supreme for dialing in just the right pattern for that day or even hour.

Grubs and crawdads are probably the most common jig trailers used for all sorts of species. I didn’t run a bonafide survey or anything to find this out either. The grub is so popular as a jig combo that they sell a number of colors and sizes all boxed up together ready to tie on and throw. Crawdad plastics are my number two combo trailer for the jig. End of survey. Crawdads are like little lobsters and fish (bass, trout and more) will be hard pressed to pass them up.

More plastic combos (Tubes, minnows, worms and bait-so many options):

Tube jigs are another great minnow or creature pattern. Anytime I think the water has a good crawdad base, tube jigs are going to get some game time. The jig-n-tube can even tackle heavy rock structure without substantial torment. Sure you are going to lose a few. Don’t let that hold you back. Fish are holding in those rocks. Maybe the best fish is holding in those rocks. You don’t know til you throw so losing a few jigs is worth it. Colors for the tube jig should match the forage you are trying to copy. I use a brown and black pepper 3” tube and try to keep the lure bouncing off the rocks and as close as I can get without snagging. And I still snag up…part of the terrain.

Plastic minnows make a good trailer as well. My preference with plastics is usually weightless but when I need a fast drop or raise-drop motion, the jig-n-minnow works great. I also pick up fish with a “dying minnow” presentation on the jig-n-minnow. I use the same 1/4oz or even 3/16oz jig with your favorite minnow plastic. Cast out and let the bait drop. After two or three minutes I twitch the bait and make it look as if it is convulsing off and on. After a while I lift the rod tip and raise the bait a few feet and then drop it back down again to repeat the convulsing. You will lose a few jigs here as well but I love this for a fall and winter bass pattern. Patience is another primary tool for this bait.

Plastic worms are rarely worked on the jig simply because a Carolina or Texas rig setup is going to give you the best action for this lure type. But when I am fishing a hot spot for a while and the action on the tube or grub dies, I will change the bait to a worm style presentation on the same jig. This will offer a different pattern to suspecting fish without having to re-tie. One or two casts and you know if that was a good move. It’s 50/50 but that 50 is better than nada.

Skirted jigs are my favorite and hopefully everyone has stopped reading this article by now. The multi-colored strands that make up the skirting provide action, buoyancy and even help prevent snagging up. Instead of the usual lead-head why not dress it up a little?

(Above: This is my go-to jig-n-grub combo that does really well in certain areas. This rig doesn’t resemble a lot of forage types but the color and action gets bites in quantity.)

As mentioned before I am not the best source for gear information. Hopefully my feeble attempts at explaining gear, lures and tactics is somewhat useful to the one or two readers of my bloginess.

(Above: This is my go-to jig-n-grub combo that does really well in certain areas. This rig doesn’t resemble a lot of forage types but the color and action gets bites in quantity.)

As mentioned before I am not the best source for gear information. Hopefully my feeble attempts at explaining gear, lures and tactics is somewhat useful to the one or two readers of my bloginess.

Good luck and Good Fishing.

Losing another great fishing spot due to public pressure

One of the elements that I illustrate quite a bit on this blog is the affect of human pressure on public water. Some people have no qualms with going all yackity-shmackity about their favorite fishing spots on fishing forums or other sources. At first, I was in a similar frame of mind. Nowadays I have a very contrasting view after seeing the damage done by less than respectful recreational users. As the population continues to accelerate in Colorado, more anglers join the fray and the public waters are seeing the increased damage from this activity.

Most anglers are respectful and the damage is minimal. Others are much less so and taking a serious toll on our public water. The smaller percentage that leave trash and wads of fishing line are forcing some agencies to throw in the towel and close the lake to public access altogether. Case in point…one of my former favorite fishing spots: Wellington.

The place is shutting down for the winter and possibly for good as the owners have seen significant loss of quality due to increased recreational use. Beyond the article recently released by 9news (link below) I have had personal conversations with Della (the manager) over the years expressing some of the owner’s concerns. Revenues have been up but so has the extent of damage. The trash and non-respectful visitors pushed them over the edge in my opinion.

Over the last three years there has been more exposure to Wellington on fishing forums and a few articles in Colorado Fishing and Hunting News (discontinued publication). According to the owners, the last few years have been intolerable in regards to the trash, fishing line and rule violators. This is not about money. The owners have been considering alternatives for a few years now. Sadly they can’t stand by and let it continue. The damage is done and now the owners are looking to go another direction. Most likely it will move to exclusive\higher priced access on a yearly membership basis (that is my guess anyway).

Once again this was one of my favorite fishing spots that has lost its former fishing quality and now being shut down. If it does reopen…for the love of nature…keep the place on the down low. Take the lesson learned at Wellington and keep more water to yourself. Is it selfish to horde fishing locations? Maybe? But how selfish is it to expose fragile waters to the countless masses if it results in losing the place to everyone virtually forever?

More on the recent news release below.

http://www.9news.com/news/article.aspx?storyid=125183&catid=188

Frosty Morning Run on Clear Creek

This recent cold snap has been a frosty awakening for most of us here in Colorado. Snow is falling in the high country. The morning air is turning crisp and bites at our exposed skin. The cold weather can put a serious dent in recreational traffic. In that regard frosty fall mornings can be the best time to fish.

(Above: This stretch is usually clogged with kayaks and quite a bit of traffic. On a frosty day like today it was virtually void of everyone but a few joggers.)

Work has kept me pretty busy and I have had to work the last few weekends. With only a few hours to spare I braved the frost to do a little creek fishing. The lack of pressure and kayaks really seemed to make a difference. Starting above the Washington Bridge section I caught a few dink browns.

“Well that is a start.” I said brushing off the skunk. “Better than a sharp stick in the eye.”

Then I move above the larger hole and cast into the white froth pouring into the deep blue water. As soon as a little spin was put on the lure pulling it up from the bottom BAM! I felt a solid tug. Normally I expect a little pull. This was a serious fish or at least a good deal better than I was hoping for. The fish was landed at shallow end of the pool, photo-op’ed and then released (no measure or weight taken).

(Above: I dare say that this is a 14-inch brown, a bit on the thin side possibly from spawn activity.)

Larger sized fish like this are not as common as I would like in Clear Creek. But even small water will surprise you at times. The summer traffic seems to make the bigger fish more wary so the colder season offers a chance for less pressured fish.

The bigger fish seemed to favor the base of the white water and closer to the bottom. Edges, flats, rocks and other areas came up empty. Water levels have dropped forcing fish to larger pools with more oxygen. At least that is what the fish seem to be telling me at the time.

Then I cast over to the edge with a deep current and undercut bank. The rod tip is lifted as the lure hits eliminating the slack. Steady retrieve on the reel. One crank, two cranks and wham! Another solid hit from a heavy fish. My heart starts racing as I see the silver and pink colors flashing in the water. A few surges in and out of the current and the fish is finally landed.

(Above: Wow! This is a glorious cutbow with a fat belly. Not bad for this slip of water.)

The brook blade pattern and silver\blue pattern attracted more attention than others that I tried. To be honest today wasn’t so much a day of aggressive fish as it was being able to pick off a few bigger trout. It was also a matter of getting out and fishing when the water was void of pressure.

My name is Matt and I’m fishaholic.

Walker Ranch-The Montage

The Walker Ranch trip was not intended for the video montage but decided to give it a whirl anyway. There was so much footage compiled that it would be a shame not to. Similar to the Waterton montage, Walker Ranch is a beautiful fishing experience that requires some additional effort. The fish are not big but very colorful. Enjoy.



This year has been a real challenge for the video montages. My camera purchases in 2009 were possibly the worst in digital camera choices that I have ever made. Don lost his camera on a previous trip and one of the cameras that I use for a backup was busted on a hiking excursion. The batteries, chargers and other accessories total over a grand and that doesn’t include the upgrades and replacements needed. This has definitely put a damper on the overall quality of my media releases and is literally killing my montages.

Rest assured that the kinks are going to get worked out and will hopefully be better than ever.

Photos from the field

There is a never ending sense of adventure that compels me forever onward. So many places that I have not yet gone and so many adventures that are never posted. These pictures are a smattering of snapshots from my humble attempts to live as adventurous life outdoors as possible in this modern and often crazy world.

(Above: “Hesperis Fritillary” I could not find the common name for this butterfly. This was an amazing shot taken from the Waterton trip. The picture was put into the video montage but not the post itself. This was one shot worth taking the time for.)

(Above: This dragonfly hitched a ride with me while belly boating. The dual wing setup looks crazy cool close up.)

(Above: Pair of hooded mergansers taken with a little bit of zoom factor. These are some cool looking ducks that are a bit timid towards humans. I rarely get a chance to get a close shot so some zoom factor had to be utilized.)

(Above: Wild turkeys are something that I rarely see in the wild let alone photograph. I was very fortunate to get a shot of this group.)

(Above: Making some waters AFLO/C&R virtually guarantees quality fishing in these lakes, ponds and river sections. Following and enforcing these additional regulations in designated locations is a huge step towards better fishing in Colorado. Bait and take management will always be a mainstay of Colorado but there should be more emphasis to save more waters through AFLO/C&R…my two cents.)

(Above: This is the flip side of the coin. Do they really think they are stopping anyone here with a sign and a piece of wire? The trail to the lake is practically worn to the dirt. Enforcement varies greatly per area and body of water. Quality will also vary depending on said enforcement.)

Why can’t they make more signs like this? (see below)

There has to be a stronger message of respect towards public water. The wads of fishing line, empty beer bottles and cans is not only damaging to wildlife but also disgusting to look at. The usual “have a nice day” approach isn’t working anymore.

(Above: Photos like this are the reason I created this additional aspect of my posting material. Some pictures are so great that they can even overshadow the fishing shots. Nature is incredibly magical. My photos can only hope to capture a fraction of this glorious beauty.)

(Above: Ralston Rainbow. Ralston Creek may be the smallest water that I have fished in Colorado. The slip of water nearly dried up completely a few years back and at the highest flow only a foot or two across. The water is inches deep. Catching this fish is still a highlight of my 2009 season…so many trips that don’t make it to my blog.)

(Above: This is a fish with an identity crisis? I think it is actually trying its best to be a smallmouth. Come to think about it…this little guy fought pretty tough for a panfish.)

(Above: “Tree Skull”. I believe this to be a deer skull that someone has hunk up in a tree near his or her campsite. I am not sure if this was meant to be an omen or a welcome of sorts. It was a good reminder to watch my step and be careful. “Don’t want to end up like this poor fellow…no sir.”) I hope you have enjoyed this segment “Photos from the field”.

Best of species…Chub !?! WTF?

A lot of anglers track their “best of species” in regards to sport fish. This is a good way to track your best catches as well as motivate yourself to do better. But what about those species that are not so well acclaimed? Do we track those as well? Where is the Master Angler Award for Creek Chub?

This may be the craziest looking fish in the region. It has a lipped mouth a bit like a sunfish or even bass and a body like a trout. Honestly this fish looks like a carp raped a trout. The Creek Chub is considered a native fish and common throughout most of North America. Honestly I had no idea this species even existed until two or three years ago.

(Above: Creek Chub, this picture does not do this fish justice…what am I saying? It’s a @##$%^& Creek Chub!)



The website below shows the Creek Chub along with several other minnow and chub species. These fish are not the most glamorous but this time of year conditions fall into place that allow me to hammer a handful of these guys in just a few minutes.

http://www.maine.gov/ifw/fishing/species/identification/baitfish.htm

Colorado has so many different fish species that it may just take me a lifetime to catch all of them. I feel very blessed to be in an environment that provides endless opportunity in regards to fishing…even Creek Chubs!

Good luck and good fishing.

Scented baits on AFLO Water-A Mattsabasser take on the debate

Every once in a while I dust off my e-mail box when a message pops in there. Someone asked me about scented plastic rules on Q and other Artificial Fly and Lure Only water. This is a larger debate than one may think as the regulations define artificial lures as one thing but then caveat that definition with additional terms. The definition of “bait” has been modified to include any type of scent attractant before or after the manufacturer process. Rather than go all poindexter on my blogilicious I will simply post the link to the actual definitions and rules. Top of page 4)

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/6DE0299B-B621-4248-B56A-00DFF8A66BB3/0/fishing.pdf

By the DOW’s definitions 90% of the plastic products made and sold are forbidden at any lake, stream or puddle listed as A.F.L.O. “Heck, I guess we might as well be fishing with worms or salmon eggs as far as the CDOW is concerned.” Is how a lot of us bassers view this regulation. At first this rule change made me steaming mad. Now I have come to terms with something that us “plastic using bassers” have no control over. Just for fodder I will submit my own personal vantage, debate and even rant on the issue. For some it will be enlightening and for others it may just stir the pot of confusion a little more.

Note: the states that are primarily fly fishing/trout based are or have adopted this definition. States that are warm water based do not deem fishing with plastic lures as heinous or evil.

What really is the issue here?

To me the real issue is this: Are you fishing with plastic or are you fishing with scent and salt? If the lure is all scent and salt then what are you really doing so “artificial”? A lot of plastics are not heavily salted and scented so what is with all the hassle?

Then they told me what happened. A bunch of guys started slamming big fish at the Dream Stream, Taylor River and a few other AFLO/Gold Medal spots with scented/salted plastics. Fly guys pretty much went ape-#$%^. So then they clamped down on plastic use on AFLO waters and the bass guys went nuts. See how complicated these matters can get?”

Enforcement is subject by each individual ranger and a second part of the problem. In most cases the rangers that govern over our metro warm water fisheries are reasonable in regards to plastic use. What they are really looking for are bait dunkers and troublemakers. They check everyone at the Q with eye contact first and not afraid to take things to the level of “full cavity search” if needed. Other places, not so much and they suffer for it. As I said before, each ranger and even body of water is different. Bottom line: If I think I am going to get hassled by the Gestapo, my plastics are left home or I use the non-scented stuff. In most cases there is no hassle unless you are fishing something so goopy and stinky that they practically smell you coming. Sadly one or two rangers view any plastic bait right there with that smooshy-stinko worm so consider yourself forewarned.

So what is the answer?

Modifying the rule with an altitude restriction for state/public waters similar to minnows would release 90% of the backlash as this rule eliminates a huge section of the warmwater fishing tactics considered a mainstay in the AFLO bass community. It’s not so much that we can’t go with other lures but the whole thing just smacks of elitism. The altitude restriction would also allow a heavy hand in the jurisdiction they wanted this rule to focus on in the first place.

It would also help a lot if manufacturers would list the amount/percentage of salt and scent on their packaging. This way management officials would see that most of this stuff isn’t coated, dunked or dipped in anything. It’s a soft PVC material and even more artificial than those tied horsehairs and bird feathers are.

Gulp baits (by the way) ARE in my opinion “bait”. The mold is not from PVC plastic but a synthesized material triple-loaded with scent. Once again the use of this product is subject by local enforcement at Q and PX. This is the product most of the rangers are looking for (once again, my opinion). Read the bottom part of the description page from the actual maker. It really is just like fishing with power bait mashed into a grub or worm shape, not PVC like other plastics. (Sorry about the product slam there but it goes along with the subject.)

http://www.berkley-fishing.com/gulp_description.html

Madman makes a killer 100% no scent product. I have purchased and used these in places where my beloved senkos don't pass the snuff test by rangers. Based out of Utah, Madman has some versatile products. Make sure you keep the original packaging and labels with the product to show the rangers. Never had a problem with this stuff anywhere and virtually 100% Gestapo free. The link to their website is listed below.

http://www.madmanlures.com/

For the record: I use live bait every year when teaching youngsters and introducing newcomers to the sport. Please do not take this blog as an attack against people that use live bait. There is a place for almost all angling in Colorado. Some waters are more precious and deserve some additional protection. All places deserve our respect when we enter them. So many other places are made with easy access and ample opportunity to learn and love the sport as much as fishing nuts like me. Those places are open to all kinds of recreation and that is good for all…in moderation. Sadly those places show the signs of impact. That is why we have places where the rules are more strict. Do you see the point I am trying to make here?

My final thoughts all wrapped up in a Jerry Springer show closing with half backspin…

Report the violators and cherish the AFLO folks…even if they use plastic. Every licensed angler is precious as it adds to the overall revenue base that funds public water. Be careful where you draw the lines as you will make more enemies than allies. Heck, I didn’t know anything about fishing until someone taught me. Maybe that is all the next person needs to open a whole new world of fishing. The level where both fish and angler are rewarded from the experience through respect and preservation. Fishing is good in Colorado but could be so much better.

Good luck and good fishing.

Garden of the Gods: A No Fishing Trip

They tricked me by saying that we would go fishing later in the day. What they didn’t tell me is that the hiking and exploring would eat up most of the day. By the time we left there was little energy and even less daylight to fish. I had been successfully duped.

The place is actually quite picturesque with brilliant colored rock formations and natural area that has been dubbed Garden of the Gods in 1859. The history is nearly as colorful as the landscape especially during the gold rush period.

(Above: Garden of the Gods is located near Colorado Springs and contains some impressive rock formations, quality hiking and unique history. But there is no fishing.)

The trails, visitor center, gift shop, and other amenities guarantee what I consider a “plush” hiking experience. A few of the back trails can offer a more rigorous hike for those that seek a harder venue. Heck, they even have mountain climbing.

(Above: Balancing Rock – How many times have you seen this rock in a Wile E. Coyote cartoon?)

There is more to life than fishing and few precious things in this world make me realize that more than family. Once we got hiking and exploring the lack of fishing didn’t matter. Well that much I guess.

(Above: These are my two daughters and far too awesome for words. They take precedence over anything else in my life…even fishing.)

It’s actually quite comical that people have to virtually kidnap me if they want me to attend anything that does not include fishing. Kidnapped! Kidnapped I tell you.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic

Be careful-even in small water (Update on Thompson man drowning)

News article from DesMoines Register

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090926/NEWS/909260335/1001/

An Urbandale man on a fishing trip with friends drowned in the Big Thompson River west of Loveland , Colo. , on Wednesday, according to the Loveland Reporter-Herald.

Phillip Dorff, 59, of Urbandale was fishing separately from his three friends, according to the Larimer County coroner's and sheriff's offices.

The friends, who had last seen him at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, began to worry when Dorff had not returned to Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch by 9 p.m., the deputy coroner told the newspaper. End article.

Coloradocasters was up here shortly before this happened. I wanted to wait for more details to come in on this before releasing anything on the bloginess. This is a tragic story and it seems that we lose a few anglers every year for one reason or the other. This accidental death brings one important note to my mind…Anglers need to be careful regardless of water size.

This reminds me of all close calls I have had on small water that I did not take as serious as if I was on the Platte River or other “big water”. This is a primary factor of why smaller water may actually be more dangerous at times. Let’s be careful out there.

Another Fall bass run 9-19-2009

(Above: Rolling in at sunrise. Let’s hope the fish are awake this early.)

Fall fishing can be sporadic and will often require patience. The fish won’t be as easy to locate as most of the fish are transitioning towards fall feeding grounds and near their winter territory. Hoping to catch a few quality fall bass Don and I headed over to a Front Range pond. As usual we hit things pretty early.

The water level was very low. The lake was at its lowest level that I had ever seen it before. What made things worse was the vegetation was becoming overgrown. A lot of areas were difficult to fish or completely out of the water. The weed bed did however provide visible structure. We targetted this structure as it makes excellent ambush territory for fall bass.

(Above: Just can’t help myself. Even in fall I have to hammer a few panfish when I see them.)

Baitfish are suspending les and less. Most of the forage can be located near deeper structure where they can hide from predators. Bluegill and sunfish could still be seen rising up and nipping bugs off the water’s surface. I managed to pick off a few larger sunfish like this guy. (see above) Seeing baitfish moving around is a good sign. Hopefully there would be plenty of big fish looking for them.
(above: Kingfisher on top of tree. I should have asked this guy for some tips right off the bat.)

Less than an hour into the day Don hooks up with a big bucket. He throws a large in-line spinner bait that tends to rock the big fish this time of year. This was his third fish on the day and a real beauty.

(Above: Solid bucket. This picture does not do this fish justice.)

I am throwing a few patterns that consistently work here spring to winter. But for some reason the fish were not hitting. I rolled with the senkos in three flavors before switching to other rigs on the backup rods. Finally I start getting a few bites and even better…fish.

(Above: This is my first “keeper” or quality sized fish of the day. ‘bout time!)

One fish was pulled off the rocks using the jig and grub combo. The weed-matte made this lure virtually unfishable in most of the water. With Don’s presentation doing so well it was safe to conclude that baitfish patterns were going to rule the day.

“Something a bit more flashy.” I thought to myself. Don even suggested black and white.

It worked. The crappie pattern was so delicious that even with my spurt of bad luck I managed to catch a few more respectable fish.

(Above: Finally putting some fish on the board. Love throwing the spinnerbait combos. I should throw this a lot more than I normally do.)

Casting our way through the morning and staring into the afternoon we had now covered most of the lake. Don is in his belly boat, I am on my pontooner. Don casts to the edge of a section of weeds. The lure plops into the water and Don’s fishing rod doubles over as if it wanted to break itself in half. It literally pulls Don toward the weeds. Cranking the reel and pulling the rod tip back he was able to keep the fish from getting back into the weed matte. This was a dark lunker for sure.

(Above: Beast of a fish! Look at the dark color and the glowing eyes. This fish is pure hawg. Must release!)

I believe in full disclosure and being as honest as possible in regards to my fishing blog. As much as I brag shamelessly about my fishing game, this Don guy comes up with a lot of big fish through out the year. On this day it was pretty much “The Don Show” The fish in the last picture was fantastic!

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.

Still Fishing-Waterton Canyon Youtube release

The Waterton trip captured a lot of quality footage. Even though the fishing was not as productive as it could have been due to cloudy water, there was still far too many pictures and video footage to put on a blog post. When this happens the best thing to do is throw it all into a video montage. If you want to see more of my of my fishing videos, please visit my youtube page.



The parking lot for the trailhead to Waterton Canyon is located southwest of Chatfield State Park on Waterton Rd. Take the Wadsworth exit off C-470 and head south about 3 miles to Waterton Rd. Turn Right on Waterton Rd and the parking lot is the second parking area on your left (go past the Audubon entrance and turn left at the crosswalk signal).

In the previous post I forgot to mention the no dog regulation. Directions to the parking lot can be tricky for first time visitors so I added the map above.

There are two formats for my fishing videos: The MAD Fishing show and Still Fishing. Both formats have a similar style with great fishing footage. These video montages take a bit of work to make and have been less of a focus in 2009. I will try to do more of these in the future.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.

DOW releases fishing regulations in Espanol.

How many times have you tried to point out AFLO regs to folks out at Spratt Platte? Or tried to explain the keep limits on various waters or species only to get in response, “No habla English.”

The language barrier can lead to all sorts of confusion and misunderstanding that undoubtedly leads to so many violations in regards to fishing and water regulations. This one simple addition will go a long ways to educate and eliminate the problem.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/NR/rdonlyres/A75CC4FE-CC5C-412C-A3EA-12BA06DC2209/0/FishingRegulations_Spanish.pdf

Cultural and racial differences are what make this country the fantastically diverse melting pot that it is today. The problems caused by the language barrier in regards to fishing are for the most part simply a lack of understanding. Please be understanding when you reach out to anyone on this matter.

Today I am printing these regulations out and keeping several copies in my truck. Instead of attempting to learn a second language (let’s face it…English is still kicking my butt) I will simply hand these out instead. I urge other anglers to do the same.

One more step towards better fishing in Colorado.

Boulder Creek – Walker Ranch section

Epilogue:

Originally my plans were to hit a local pond for some fall bass. However the weather forecast called for a huge drop in temperatures with a high around 68 degrees mixed with rain. This would hurt bass action in my opinion so at the last minute my plans were changed. Instead of a local warmwater run I switched things up for some local coldwater. Looking to fish some water that I have not been to in a while, Walker Ranch section of Boulder Creek was selected. The colder weather would help in regards to hike in and out.


(Above: This is a shot at the top of the trail. It is only bad on the way back out and definitely not a place for those that lack ambition.)

Boulder Creek – Walker Ranch section

Last week I was at Waterton Canyon for a bike and fish. This week I took another physical fishing challenge in the way of Boulder Creek – The Walker Ranch section. The walk in from the parking lot to the picnic section is 1.75 miles. It doesn’t look that bad going down but is more strenuous on the way out. This makes the Walker Ranch Section a great “Hike and Fish” fairly close to home.

(Above: This is a shot of the map sign at the parking area. I believe you can park at Flagstaff Road and walk down the other way…but where is the fun in that?)

The water level has fallen quite a bit recently. I was hoping for higher water flows that favor the spin gear. Alas my timing was off and had to settle for more seasonable conditions. I recommend the fly rod for that method is suited far better than the spin gear on such small water.

(Above: Classic fly guy shot near some larger pools. The best areas are often a bit more crowded.)

This is one of the few sections of water where I bring light spinners in the 1/8oz size as well as fly patterns. Throwing fly patterns on a spin rod is not ideal but can be done. Beaded nymph patterns are preferred as they carry some weight to them. Why don’t I just bring a fly rod too? With all the hiking and bushwacking involved I want to carry only one rod and the light tackle bag. Had I known the water levels were back down to normal…I might have reconsidered.

Similar to Waterton Canyon the fish are not going to be enormous. These trout are going to average on the small side with most of the fish being under 12-inches. However there are many fish in the 10-inch category as well as the shot at a few in the 14 or even 16’er range.


(Above: Stocky brown trout. These fish are a staple in Boulder Creek.)

The population of trout is surprisingly good in this stretch considering the size of the “creek” itself. Water levels fluctuate and this might be the last stream in the Front Range that has not been hit by an asphalt truck this year (knock on wood).

(Above: Gorgeous rainbow trout caught in a rugged rock section. The picture does not do this fish justice in regards to the amazing color.)

Bait and take pressure is “tolerated” here as normal state regulations apply. This could help or hurt the system overall. Without some removal in such a small stretch of water the trout could quickly overpopulate and the fish would suffer greatly. But the bait and take folks usually prey on the largest fish. This takes down the quality of the sport in my opinion and only slightly helps population out overall. Leaving the fewer large fish and removing the most common medium sized slot would be more appropriate.

My name is Matt and I’m a fishaholic.

Did asphalt trucks declare war on Colorado waters or something?

What the heck is up with these asphalt trucks? Three times now we have had a huge spillage into some river, creek or stream. Poudre got hit twice and now Clear Creek. (In no way am I making light of the death of the driver involved in the Clear Creek incident. My sincere condolences go out to the friends and family.) What I am trying to stress is an obvious lack of safety and monitoring in regards to these large construction vehicles. Mistakes happen. But three times in less than three months is beyond ridiculous.

Incident One:

8/26/2009 A stretch of Colorado Highway 14 in Larimer County will be closed overnight as crews clean up asphalt that spilled into the Cache La Poudre River from a tanker rollover this morning.

The Peterbilt semi hauling 24 tons hot asphalt ran off the highway and rolled into the river at about 10:30 a.m., according to the Colorado State Patrol.
The driver, Kenneth Gale, 52, of Rawlins, Wyo., was taken to Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins for minor injuries. Charges are pending, according to the state patrol.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_13203965

Incident Two:

9/3/2009 The Larimer County Sheriff's Department said the tanker crashed about 9:37 a.m. Thursday, on Colorado 14 northwest of Fort Collins, dumping 5,000 gallons of asphalt about 3 miles downstream from the earlier incident.

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/newsarchive/20707436/detail.html

Incident Three:

10/10/2009 IDAHO SPRINGS, Colo. -- The driver of an asphalt truck was killed when it rolled at the bottom of Floyd Hill, exiting Interstate 70 Thursday morning.
As a result of the crash, the ramp from westbound I-70 to U.S. 6 and Colo. 119 was closed for more than an hour.

The truck landed in Clear Creek, spilling an unknown amount of asphalt in the creek. Both saddle tanks on the truck also ruptured, spilling 100 gallons of diesel into the creek

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/20833996/detail.html

Hopefully there is some serious increase in concern and focus on the safety for all large vehicles that travel on Colorado’s mountainous roads that are treacherous and require additional caution. These roads also for the most part follow waterways such as rivers, streams and seasonal drainage. These waterways are crucial for so many reasons. Even after cleanup is done, it will take years if not decades for these areas to recover.

What you can do to help:

Do not dispose of household materials in your sewer and storm drains. In most cases, these drains lead to Colorado waters. You will just be making the problem worse. Dispose of these chemicals properly.

Disinfect, don’t just inspect your boots, waders, flies and other fishing materials as you transfer from one body of water to the other. Just assume you are carrying invasive species and you probably will be correct half of the time.

Don’t leave trash or debris in natural areas as well as pick up any that you do find. A little bit goes a long ways to making things better or at the very least not making them worse.

You may not be able to stop an asphalt truck but you can make things better. Personally I think we all owe a huge responsibility as sportsman to conserve and protect the areas we use for recreation. Conservation, preservation and making fishing better in Colorado is a large part of why ColoradoCasters was formed. I don’t ask for money or sponsored support. What I do ask is that you respect our natural areas. Please don’t assault them with trash, pillage and even asphalt trucks. Fishing in Colorado is good…but could be so much better.

Good luck and Good Fishing.

Wall of Shame

In an effort to make fishing better in Colorado anglers need to trumpet the good and shine a huge spotlight on the bad. Changing the poor mentality of people in our natural areas is the only chance we have to stop the abuse. And that is exactly what it is…ABUSE!

Having said that I submit to you a photo of “bait dunkers” fishing right next to the no fishing sign off the first big spillway up Waterton Canyon.

A great rule in life is “Pick your battles wisely”. When confronting violators the same rule applies as not everyone is going to be agreeable to you pointing out the regulations. These guys could have easily pummeled me if I got too pushy. So what does a person do in this situation? I could not just walk away. Instead I employed a little subtlety.

I pulled the bike over and went right up to the sign and started taking pictures. When the two made eye contact with me, I pointed at the sign. The two “anglers” (and I use the term loosely) turned away quickly as if they were oblivious. At that point I pulled out my cell phone to notify authorities. All of this was done at a safe distance from the perpetrators but they could see what I was doing. Unfortunately the canyon has high rock walls and my cell phone couldn’t get service.

So I played up the call as if there was someone on the other end. The perpetrators got the idea and started moving up into the areas that were actually legal for them to fish. 9 out of 10 times there is a safe and polite way to point out abuse or violations. Calling the authorities is the recommended approach. Sometimes the response is quick and sometimes it is not. For state parks, national forests and other state run areas, the number below is your best bet.

http://wildlife.state.co.us/RulesRegs/LawEnforcement/OperationGameThief/

1-877-COLO-OGT, Verizon cell phone users can dial #OGT

Good luck and good fishing.

The MAD Fishing Show: “Ponds M”

Once again the MAD Show has come up with another off the hook fishing video on our next to nothing fishing budget. This one was a bit tricky to work in as we lost one of the cameras on a later trip trashing the memory card before I could make the transfer. That memory card contained the footage for most of Don’s fish on Pond 2.

However half of the footage was better than nothing and we were still able to put together a quality montage. The MAD Fishing Show officially submits…”Ponds M”



There are a few more video montages in the works for both The MAD Fishing Show and Still Fishing episodes. Stay tuned for more and don’t forget to rate and comment the videos posted on youtube for both pages.

Good Luck and Good Fishing!