Epic Granby Trip 6-7 to 6-10

Great fishing trip. Spent the first day at Williams Fork trying to get one of the big fish to bite. Could not get any fish on the point to bite, but did manage to get a 29" to bite on the flat. Next day we fished Granby and had a 50 fish day back in the channels. Nothing big. At the end of the day I decided to check shallower for big ones. Found some big marks and missed a good bite. Next morning I started shallow at Granby. Caught a 33.5" and a 31.5" right away. Went a little deeper in the channels and got 33" :D. Diane hooked a nice 33" too. Next day we managed another 33"! Also hooked a really nice Brook trout in Monarch. The fish was really dark with white tipped fins. Took me a minute of this fishing dragging me around on the float tube to get it in.

Water temp was 57 to 59. Depth was 35 to 50.

Williams Fork June First

Diane and I were supposed to go to Eleven Mile Reservoir this weekend but decided to go to Williams Fork at the very last minute. Eleven Mile is a far drive and we get skunked 50% of the time. Williams Fork is a pretty cool lake that offers the change to catch big Lakers and trophy Pike.

We left for Granby Friday at 3pm. Checked in to our hotel about 5:30. Since it was still early we decided to hit Monarch lake and fish a little. This was my first time to use my float tube. We both caught a couple of brook trout. I caught one that was pretty decent size and put up a good fight.

Next morning we got to Williams Fork at 5:15am! only to discover the boat ramp did not open until 6am. While waiting for the boat ramp to open I started to get the boat ready. It was then I discovered the drivers side windshield was completely broken. Glass was everywhere. I spent the next 45 minutes cleaning up the glass, my hands got cut up and it just sucked overall. I have a replacement on order, should arrive in two weeks, cost $485 :(

I did not let this stop me from fishing. We launched the boat and headed to a spot on the lake I heard about. I then spent the next 1/2 hour mapping this section of the lake with the sonars autocharting feature. Once I found a nice flat in about 50ish feet of water I started seeing huge fish everywhere! We fished for about an hour when I hooked into a HUGE fish. My pole was completely bent double and line was screaming off the reel. I pumped the rod and reeled in some line, huge head shakes, this went on for about two minutes...then the fish was gone!!! I was little bummed, but more just in shock and happy to have the experience. Managed to catch a could of fat 28 inchers. We caught some dinks the next day.

I know have decided I want to make/pour my own jigs. I also want to order some rock tamers for my truck.

Note to self: Some guy caught a 44" pike there that weekend. Pike bite is on.

Memorial Day @ Blue Mesa

What a trip. Had multiple 50 fish days and even a 100 fish day. Caught 12-14 fish between 22" and 32". All the fish there are so fat that anything over 20" looks huge and puts up a good fight. Learned how to sharp shoot Lakers using sonar. Learned you can basically lindy rig for Lakers by dragging a tube really slow. Probably one of the best fishing trips ever.

Granby 5-18 and 5-19

Took my friend Joe fishing at Granby. Water temp was about 45-48. We fished the channels in about 38-40 FOW. Did really well. 35ish fish the first day with one 26". It was just me the second day and I only fished about 2 hours. Got 10 or 11 with one measuring 27.25". The 27"er put up a really good fight, I thought I had hooked into a 30"er.

This weekend I set a new goal for myself. Calling it a 'hat trick'. A fish each in the same day from Granby, Willow Creek, and Williams Fork. The best I have managed so far is a bunch from Granby and one from Willow Creek in the same day.

That weekend I also hit Willow Creek and Williams Fork. Managed one small Rainbow from Willow Creek. We were only at Williams Fork for about 15 minutes before we got blown off.

Granby 5-10 to 5-13

Fished the channels in Granby Thursday to Sunday. Water temp between 42 and 46. Depth about 38-40 feet. Fishing was great, I personally had a 30 fish day on Saturday. Between the wife and I we caught about 90 fish in 3 days. Sunday we went to Williams Fork and tried trolling and got skunked. Also hit up Monarch and Willow Creek in the evening. Caught a small trout on my 9 weight at Willow Creek.

I definitely plan on going back to Williams Fork. I want to target pike but not sure how to do it from my boat with the wind blowing it around. Think I just need a longer casting rod.

Twin Lakes 4-30

Friend from work went to Twin Lakes on my suggestions. They caught four over 30 on fly rods!

Granby 5-5 and 5-6

Water temp: 39-41 Depth: 36'-40'

Great trip. Caught about 65 fish in two days. Diane got at 32.5" and a 27".

Twin Lakes 4-30

Decided to go for big Lakers at Twin Lakes one more time. Kept hoping to catch big Lakers from shore after ice out. I think it can be done but you just have to be there at the right time. Twin Lakes is just too far to keep hitting and hoping for big Lakers. The boat ramp is not even open so you have no choice but to fish from the bank.

That said we still had a great time. We arrived Friday about 6pm. I was really itching to catch my first fist with a fly rod, so that's what I started with. I was using a clouser minnow that was really too big for my rod I think. Either way I caught my fist stocker trout within 10 minutes. This trend continued all weekend. Diane and I both also caught a few on conventional gear. I feel I got a lot better at casting this weekend.

Next I really want to catch something besides stocker rainbows on the fly.

Fly Fishing @ Aurora Reservoir

I received a fly rod as a wedding present 2 and a half years ago. Wednesday I finally tried it out. This was also my first time to go to Aurora Reservoir. The reservoir is a great lake, looks very fishy and has produced a lot of state record fish. I plan on fishing this lake a lot more.

The fly fishing went ok, actually went pretty good for a first trip I think. I spent the first half of the morning getting caught up in trees and everything else. Last half I decided to fish the dam. The dam seems a perfect place for a new to fly fish from the bank. It has no trees or rocks and drops off into deeper water right away. I had a few follower trout, but no takes. Overall I am pretty happy with the casting and think had I started at the dam I would have caught my first fish on the fly. I'm headed up to Twin Lakes today after work. Thinking I'll catch my first fish on the fly there this weekend.

First Trip to Chatfield in 2018

This weekend Cherry Creek was having a fishing tournament which meant the lake would be really busy. Diane and I decided to head over to Chatfield and avoid all the boat traffic. This is our first time to Chatfield since all the construction has started. The new boat ramp is pretty nice. We decided to get an exit decon on the way out. That process took about 25 minutes... hopefully they will get better at it.

Fish was pretty decent. We only caught four walleye, but Diane caught a 21.5" Walleye!

Twin Lakes 4/15

Drove to Twin Lakes Saturday afternoon. Fished Sunday morning targeting big Lakers. Threw big swim baits, spooks, and spoons. No luck. Downsized to a husky jerk and caught a couple of stockers. Going to try again in a week or two and see if I can catch the Lakers up shallow.