Fly Fishing

joey · Newbie Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 111 Location: Colorado

I saw what boz had posted on a previous entry and was wondering if anyone had braved the unknow? Winter Fishing on the East Outlet. I would be interested to hear what people have to say about this. I know that alot of big fish move up from Indian pond in the fall to spawn and they get big. I wonder if they stick around in the winter. Somebody get up there and fill us in.

ChrisR · Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 10:56 pm Post subject:

Joey I can't specifically remark on the EO. But I would hazard to guess it is pretty tough fishing. I fished the Battenkill in Febraury on a nice 50+ degree day. While it was nice getting out there the water was still 36deg. So there was absolutely nothing going on. I'd imagine if you put a lot of time in it would eventually pay off.

Right now I'm just dying to get out though. I just moved to Mass where trout is all year on most rivers. So I'm thinking about giving it a go soon.

Just out of curiousity do you check water temps on the CO rivers when you fish them in the winter months? When I lived in Denver I didn't spend as much time fishing as I would have liked to. But the average air temps seemed a lot higher than in New England. I would guess the water temps on most rivers would be somewhere in the mid 40's. Definitely closer to temps where the fish would be more active.

Also how much less active do the fish seem this time of year out there? I know you've posted some beauties that you caught out there in the winter months.

Boz · Newbie Joined: Oct 16, 2005 Posts: 65 Location: Portland

Joey... it is open for sure...

I havent heard of anyone fishing it and catching anything since the new year. I don't think they plow the road on the north side..so you'd need snowshoes to get far...

I don't anticipate many people driving up there Jan-March when the temps can be -30... Then again next November will likely be very busy, as October has been for years. Coincidentaly Oct-Nov is when the small % of wild fish in that river are most sensitive. So it'll be interesting to see what effects this will have if any...

How does Colorado regulate fishing during spawning seasons???

P.S. Saw those photos of your winter float on lateraline... the other day...Was that your boat in the photos? Sweet rig...

joey · Newbie Joined: May 31, 2004 Posts: 111 Location: Colorado

WOW -30 is pretty chilly. I guess that you might be removing ice from your face as well as your guides. But, I bet Nov and into Dec are going to be killer up there. All the hunters will be in the woods and the river should be less crowded. Especially on the weekends.

The water out here is pretty chilly right now I did a trip yesterday and the water was in the 30s. We managed to hook 2 fish but they are pretty lethargic. Personally I like to fish the tailwaters in the winter. The water hovers around the same temp year round and ther are midge hatches everyday. But, like anywhere it can be hot and cold day to day. As you know chris they don't close fishing season here so you can get out whenever you want which is great, espesially when cabin fever sets in.

Boz- As far as the spawning season goes it is encouraged to stay away from fish on their reds. I am sure some hammerheads still find spawning trout and rip them out but I haven't seen it...yet. I think there are enough decent people on the river as well as guides that would say something if people were harassing spawing fish. Spring will be intersting with some big rainbows moving upstream to stage.

The boat in those pics is my buddy Paul's. He has a sweet set up. Mine is very similar but not as many options. What kind of boat do you row?

ChrisR · Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2008 2:09 pm Post subject:

I definitely hear you on the cabin fever. The temps here have been up. So I'm hoping to get down in the river that is right in my backyard as soon as enough of it thaws. It supposedly has a trout population from the states spring and fall stocking program. It is nice having the option to fish in winter. After seeing some of your pics of CO I wish I spent more time fishing it. I always had skiing on my mind though.

Austin · Newbie Joined: Jan 10, 2005 Posts: 84

I think that november should be red hot! i have always heard from people that fish the river often that it only seems to get better as october comes to an end.
What does everyone think about fish being in the river this time of year? I couldn't imagine any salmon in their right mind that would want to stay in such a fast moving river throughout the coldest months. it would seem much more sencible for the fish to go back to the pond instead of trying to fight those fast flows....

Hunter · Newbie Joined: Dec 06, 2006 Posts: 39

There will be a few fish in the deeper pools this time of year, but in general most of the fish will have exited the river given the option. Fast moving rivers aren't a good environment for over wintering. In my experience fishing places like GLS, the fish just aren't in the shallow pools opening day. Some years, if it's cold enough they exit to the lakes from the deeper pools as well (if it's been cold enough long enough to start forming a lot of frazzle ice).

The problem I have with the way the regs read right now, a lot of the good spawning gravel is adjacent to the pools that have a chance of holding a few fish, right where anglers are bound to stand during the winter. In fact, the beach pool is probably the best chance of hooking something IMO as it offers the most shelter from the flow, and also offers a lot of the spawning bed area.