Jigging Rap

Finally got comfortable with the Jigging Rap. I have always thought it was a cool bait, but I had no confidence in using it. Tuesday I used a Jigging Rap all day at Chatfield and just cleaned up on the Smallmouth Bass. Jigging Raps and Blade Baits are quickly becoming my go-to baits for Walleye!

Here is a great video from Tom Boley that helped me understand how to use the bait.

Ezee Steps

When trailering my Lund I step off the bow onto the trailer so I can crank the boat up while trying not to get wet. It's a little sketchy stepping off the bow and I'm pretty sure eventually I would fall off into the lake. I looked around for some aftermarket solutions and came across Ezee Step. I ordered it and got it installed today. Extremely well built and looks good too. This should make loading and retrieving the boat a breeze now.

Update - Oct 25th. I fished until 7pm on Friday. It was very dark when it came time to pull the boat out. Now I can say I literally LOVE these steps. It made trailering the boat super easy and safe, even in the dark. I have ordered a thick pool noodle that I'm going to use as padding around the step supports just in case the boat ever tries to rub on them. I don't think its likely to, but for the price of $5 I can make it a non issue.

Chatfield 10/13

Diane and I got 19 walleye today. Water temp 55-58. Catching in 13-18 FOW.

Chatfield 10/12

Started fishing about 9:30. Water temp 55. End of day at 5 water temp was about 58. 13 fish.2 giant suckers, rest walleye. Blades and worms. Found a nice rocky spot that help a few walleye.

Chatfield 10/8

A few weeks ago I went on a guided walleye trip with Austin Parr. I have spent most of the last three years primarily targeting Lake Trout. This year I decided I needed to mix it up. That's why I have been taking more pike trips and fly fishing. I contacted Austin so I could learn more about walleye at Chatfield, and just walleye in general.

Because of the heat the walleye were still in more of a summer pattern. We found them shallow on humps around the gravel pits in the back of Chatfield. The three presentations we used were jig and a worm, blade baits, and jigging raps. This was my first time to use a blade bait. I really enjoyed working the blade bait, it was also very effective. I think we managed around 20 fish. Mostly walleye, a few trout, and one 10lb carp!

Austin uses Lowrance electronics. I have always use Humminbird... until this trip! The maps available for Lowrance are amazing. All of the Colorado lakes I fish are mapped in very high detail. You can't get this for Humminbird unless you make your own, which is a tall order for a big lake like Blue Mesa. So I am now the proud owner of a Hook2 9", installed it myself today. I did not hook up the transducer, I'm still using my Solix 12 for sonar. The Lowrance unit will just be used for maps...for now.

I took my new Lowrance and the new techniques Austin showed me and went back to Chatfield today. I was able to find fish right away. I deployed my trolling motor getting ready to spot lock, but it would not turn on... hopefully I will get that worked out soon. So I reset a bit up wind from the fish I wanted to target and threw out my anchor, old school lol. Using the blade bate I was able to catch about 7 walleye. I caught another 3 or 4 on a jig and worm. I am very happy with the results.

If you want to learn more about the Denver area lakes I highly recommend Austin Parr. Of all the guides I have fished with I feel he is the best teacher and just fun to hang out with.

Dream Stream and Spinney

Hit up the dream stream and Spinney with my friend Travis. Managed to catch my first fish nymphing. Caught a a spawning male Kokanee and a small brown trout. In the afternoon we hit Spinney and caught 7 pike.