WATER FLOW:       39.6  CFS   IN   105  CFS OUT

TROUT:  FAIR TO GOOD: Its not only Cross Creek holding fish. The hard part is finding where those other spots are. With last weeks ice cover conditions making it easier for those without a handicap access permit (the 99%) to explore we have found nice fish hanging around rock structure. Try Witchers Cove, Deer Island, Corral Cove and North Shore.  We are talking right up against or directly over structure. Kastmaster, Swedish Pimples and Krocodiles have done well on aggressive days. Sparkle tubes in pink and orange along with other micro jigs, crappie jigs and tube jigs have produced. Change up when rejected. Some days it won’t matter but often times it does.

SALMON: FAIR: This week has seen some improvement in the action and size of the fish being caught. The bite has also become earlier with 7:00AM to 11:00AM being a better shot. Swedish Pimples, pink Sparkle tubes and the Cripple Herring taking down some kokes. A little Nitro Grease on the worm doesn’t hurt either. Speaking of Nitro Grease Eagle Claw has finally thrown in the towel on that product. First they were sued for using the word “Nitro” so they just start calling it Grease and put in an unattractive package. Sales down product now discontinued. We have a small stash but it won’t last long.

NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR: Some decent activity on the West end. Try the over flow channel accessed from Stoll Mountain. Its a hike but it can be worth the effort. Tubes and spoons and you can really get lucky on a Paddle Bug if they don’t chomp it off.
WINTER HOURS: Saturdays and Sundays 6:00AM- 4:00PM  M- F by reservation or if we happen to be in the store. We have fresh meal worms, frozen suckers and lots of ice fishing bait and stuff. Lots of stuff!  Krystal Lazers, Tiny Tots, Paddle Bugs, Sparkle Tubes and more.

SPORTS COLUMN COLORADO CLASSIC TEAM ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT 2012

SOUTH PARK ICE MASTERS: February 11, 2012. This team event is Trout only. Two fish per team may be weighed in. Winner is for heaviest total weight. There is also the optional BIG FISH POT which can be as high as $1,500.00. Win both first place and BFP and you could win well over $3,000.00. Some anglers feel like the same teams win every year and there is some truth to that. There are teams that participate every year and often show up in the money but we pay 20% of the field so you do not have to be first to win cash. In addition the winners each get the coveted Masters green jacket and their name enshrined on the Traveling Trophy.  Early entry $75.00 per team $95.00 day of contest. If you are feeling lucky today sign up now. This is the biggest money contest of the season in the State and the competition brings in anglers from all over. The 1oth Anniversary trophies to be awarded to the Classic winners, 2nd and 3rd places at the end of March Madness will be on display.

HOT WINTER DEAL:  VEXILAR FL SE-8 PRO PACK  $299.00  only one available.

STOP WISHIN GO FISHIN

WATER FLOW:       123  CFS   IN   117  CFS OUT

TROUT:  FAIR: Week in and week out it appears that Cross Creek continues to hold lots of fish. Its not that you can’t catch them in other areas its just a numbers game and the fish seems to be hanging out on the west end. No doubt the river coming in brings food and oxygen things that fish really like. Lots of days see fish on the move but not in the groove. Lookers but no takers. If its slow go small with a Tiny Tot or scud looking jig. When they are aggressive it doesn’t seem to matter what you stick down. Try a single salmon egg on the smallest of hooks. Lay it on the bottom with a small split shot. Strike indicator a must when trying this technique. See that sensor move better set the hook quick

SALMON: FAIR TO POOR: If you have the time you’ll score a limit. Meaning fishing multiple days in a row from early to late. You just don’t know when they will show up but they have been showing up. Late morning and afternoon are consistent. Mostly smaller groups if you call two and three a group. Every now and then the Vexilar screen fills with red and a large school parks themselves under you and then its show time. Best to have a bucket of rigs ready. When we are salmon fishing having five or six rods ready is the best way not to miss a lick when they finally start biting. If you are prepared and they come in you will limit in short order. Pitch the rig grab another and get back into the game instantly. Oranges and pinks are productive colors.

NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR TO POOR: Smaller fish don’t seem to be a problem but the big ones are fat and happy and you need to be there on the day they are hungry. That’s why you go fishing because it certainly could be the day you go. White and light Green tubes jigs do well. The big fish are leery of almost anything they see. Stay quite and try not to spook them when they come in. Rocky Flats, North Shore to Coyote Ridge around the rocks has been good. Howbert to Goose Island is another good spot to try.
WINTER HOURS: Saturdays and Sundays 6:00AM- 4:00PM  M- F by reservation or if we happen to be in the store. We have fresh meal worms, frozen suckers and lots of ice fishing bait and stuff. Lots of stuff!  Krystal Lazers, Tiny Tots, Paddle Bugs, Sparkle Tubes and more.

SPORTS COLUMN COLORADO CLASSIC TEAM ICE FISHING TOURNAMENT 2012

SOUTH PARK ICE MASTERS: February 11, 2012. This team event is Trout only. Two fish per team may be weighed in. Winner is for heaviest total weight. There is also the optional BIG FISH POT which can be as high as $1,500.00. Win both first place and BFP and you could win well over $3,000.00. Some anglers feel like the same teams win every year and there is some truth to that. There are teams that participate every year and often show up in the money but we pay 20% of the field so you do not have to be first to win cash. Heck 5th place can be as high as $500.00 depending on total team participation. (Antero’s contest saw 553 participants and a first prize of $500.00). In addition the winners each get the coveted Masters green jacket and their name enshrined on the Traveling Trophy.  Early entry $75.00 per team $95.00 day of contest. If you are feeling lucky today sign up now. This is the biggest money contest of the season in the State and the competition brings in anglers from all over.

WATER FLOW:       99.3   CFS   IN   105  CFS OUT

TROUT:  FAIR: Division of Parks and Wildlife stocked three truck loads of 12-13 inch Cuttbows last week at North Shore. They should be spreading around the lake soon enough but if you wanted to be sure to catch something with the kids the North Shore around the marina is a good bet. Other action decent. Try Rocking Chair, Lazy Boy and Stoll Mtn. for bigger fish.

SALMON: FAIR: Still hit and miss. If you hit you are happy because the action is fun. Pinks and oranges are the better colors. Try the spoons tipped with a wax or meal worm or a pink Gulp grub.

NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR: Lots of lookers but the takers are not as prevalent. Patience is the key. Large tube jigs with or without sucker meat. West end or East end around the rocks.
WINTER HOURS: Saturdays and Sundays 6:00AM- 4:00PM  M- F by reservation or if we happen to be in the store. We have fresh meal worms, frozen suckers and lots of ice fishing bait and stuff. Lots of stuff!  Krystal Lazers, Tiny Tots, Paddle Bugs, Sparkle Tubes and more.

Finally got some data and photos added to the Grand Slam Results page. Check it out.

WATER FLOW:       99.3   CFS   IN   105  CFS OUT

TROUT:  FAIR: At last Saturdays Denver Sports Column Colorado Classic Grand Slam 115 teams participated and around 40% of the teams weighed in fish consisting mostly of Trout. Does that mean you have a 4 in 10 chance to catch on your next trip? Every day is different. One thing is for sure lots of quality fish weighing over four pounds were weighed in. The biggest one caught at the contest was by Brandon White (Winners Circle Seminar Presenter) almost 7 pounds. And yes he caught it on the bait he told seminar goers has been his most productive jig, the no longer made but available at the Marina store Berkley Sparkle Tube in pink. Some really nice Browns were also weighed in.

SALMON: FAIR: If the contest proves anything its that  Kokanee are being caught. The winners of total weight had a limit. They caught them off North Shore. Its still hit and miss but they certainly hit on Saturday

NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR: The contest did not see a lot of Pike weighed in but the range in size was from huge to minutia. Tyler Elwell caught the 15 plus pounder on the 3″ white tube jig by Outlaw Baits “so good they oughta be illegal”. You can only find those products in two stores in Colorado. One in Fort Collins the other, 11 Mile Marina.
WINTER HOURS: Weekends as soon as ice on 6:00AM – 4:00PM. December 26 – January 8 EVERYDAY 6:00AM – 4:00PM   We have fresh meal worms, frozen suckers and lots of ice fishing bait and stuff. Lots of stuff!  Krystal Lazers, Tiny Tots, Paddle Bugs, Sparkle Tubes and more.

Contest results are posted but pictures, details and points standing will be added later. We have been busy busy. Been at the Big Rock West Dealers Show in Las Vegas  opening tomorrow with space at the Denver Boat Show Friday – Sunday. Come by and say hi!

WATER FLOW:       99.3   CFS   IN   105  CFS OUT

TROUT:  FAIR: Although a decent number of fish are being caught not everyone is finding it easy. There are those days when you see plenty of fish but they just won’t cooperate and then you see very few fish but the ones you do see are aggressive. Spoons with some orange on them continue to work well tipped with a meal worm. Pink micro jigs like the Sparkle Tube and Paddle Bug doing good. The west side of the lake continues to fish better. Water is murky on that end with visibility less then 6 feet. Stoll Mtn, and Cross Creek are the hot spots for now. Usually water from 10 to 12 feet in depth is the best.

SALMON: FAIR: For those making the trek to deeper water Salmon are being caught. 16 to 18 inchers have shown up at Duck Island and North Shore. Waiting game is the name. The bite has been sporadic. Fish may be underneath you but getting them to bite is the trick. Pink is the good color. Spoons will also work. Jigging machine doesn’t hurt and those catching them are using them.

NORTHERN PIKE: FAIR: A few fish here and there, mostly smaller. Five and six pound fish have been landed.  Spoons and tube jigs also working. Waterdogs always the best.
WINTER HOURS: Weekends as soon as ice on 6:00AM – 4:00PM. December 26 – January 8 EVERYDAY 6:00AM – 4:00PM   We have fresh meal worms, frozen suckers and lots of ice fishing bait and stuff. Lots of stuff!  Krystal Lazers, Tiny Tots, Paddle Bugs, Sparkle Tubes and more.

GRAND SLAM UPDATE: About 90 teams have signed up so far. Slots still available. Sign up day of the contest cost $95.00 per team. Food this year provided by The Smokin Q restaurant from Divide. Giant breakfast burritos in the AM. Brisket and pulled Pork sandwiches in the afternoon. No ice fishing contest in Colorado gives away as much money as the Sports Column Colorado Classic. Lots of door prizes too!  We will have Waterdogs for sale.

SEMINAR AND SWAP MEET: A huge success. We want to thank all those that participated.