Weird Fishing Day - Colorado Style
True Colorado weather down here today after some violent storms last night -- which had me turning off the TV while watching the Nuggets and Laker playoff game (assume they did win as they were comfortably ahead at that time). There was a flash of lightning and the thunder clap right at the same, which told me it was close so, I even unplugged the laptop as well. Tiger and Molly were not startled as much as I would have expected but, maybe the fish dinner later last night had them too pleasantly full to be bothered by it -- they stayed right on their red blanket at the foot of the bed.
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Barely had a glimpse of the sun this morning around sunrise but, seemed to be less clouds as the morning progressed so, I got some grocery shopping done early and washed dirty dishes before having a cup of oatmeal. Think it was only in the low 50s when I couldn't resist getting an early start at Beaver Creek Reservoir after yesterday's catch -- arrived there close to 10:30 and fished for nearly an hour, switching from one lure to the next looking for action like the day before. Did finally get one fish on but, he got off just as quickly. I could see rain drops hitting the water and I had become somewhat chilled anyway so, I decided to head for the Jeep and got there just as the storm hit around 11:30 -- it lasted for 40 minutes and it was rain, sleet and hail mix. Good time for a nap.
Noticed when I got to the Jeep that another white Jeep Cherokee had arrived in the parking lot and the people stayed in their car too. When the storm stopped and I had a sense that some sunshine would be hitting the picnic area and shoreline, I cleaned off the windshield wipers and headed back to a spot closer to the parking lot -- saw more clouds and nasty weather approaching and figured I might get a half hour of fishing before the second storm hit. That's just about what it turned out to be and I anticipated it better than the guy and his two sons -- they got pretty wet, I think after stayin out for about 10 minutes (maybe expecting it to let up which it didn't). This storm lasted about another half hour and the white Jeep left before the storm stopped.
I headed back to the shoreline below the picnic area and fished the point to both sides with only 2 or 3 strikes and no fish. Then, I could see some really serious clouds approaching with thunder and lightning so, I decided to call it a day and headed back to South Fork to check out one of the little diners there -- hoping for a beer and maybe a snack -- turned out they had some spicy-hot chili (just right for such a day) and the waitress said they had "Colorado Native" beer so, I tried it (pretty good amber lager). The beer is only sold in Colorado and is made from all native ingredients and, of course, Rocky Mountain spring water.
After I got back to the RV, I cooked a pot of rice with green peppers, onions, garlic and diced tomatoes and checked the weather station for updates. A neighboring camper couple came in a two days ago from Denver and the husband (Gene) knocked on the door to say they didn't have any luck at Big Meadow and said it was really windy and cold there -- didn't catch a thing he said and they really hoped to bring back some fish for me (I had given them the two Rainbows I caught yesterday for their dinner last night). A little after he had come by, I went over and gave them the two Brown trout for tonight's dinner -- I still had one to reheat from yesterday.
After the rice was done, I set it aside and checked the radar again and thought I saw a small window between the storms so, I headed back up to the reservoir around 5:30 as a few raindrops were still falling. As I approached the dam, the opening in the weather seemed to be just about to arrive and I could see the rain and sleet moving to the northeast away from the picnic spot. After waiting 5 or 10 minutes, the sun came out and so did I -- with fishing pole in hand and stringer in my pocket. I tried the sandy point again with no strikes and worked my way to the steeper boulder covered bank and this time I caught a small Brown trout which I released. I continued across the boulders and worked the shallows over the boulders until I finally caught another Brown -- a keeper of about 12 inches. I left him on the stringer and worked my way acrosss the boulder field until I reached a sandy area and a large red boulder I had seen yesterday from the road -- took note of the sandy areas at both sides with the idea I might try the spot. No luck at either of the two areas but, I could see marks in the sandy shore from somebody's chair and foot prints on both sides -- some bait fisherman had already been there today.
Once again I could see some more nasty weather approaching so, I worked my way back to the stringer and headed back for the point and the area below the picnic spot -- throwing the lure alternatly in each direction as I went, anticipating a dash up the bank between the rocks and boulders. Another bag of beer cans and trash and one trout with me as I hustled to beat the light rain and sleet to the Jeep. As I drove back toward the dam, I stopped once at a little turnout to look down the bank but, then continued on to the dam. As I approached the dam, I noticed the near corner, just behind the sign for the dam looked to be possibly accessible and the sun began to shine again as I stopped to peer down the slope. Yeah! Why not? So, down I went with pole in hand -- left the stringer and one fish in the car with the bag of trash not fully expecting to catch anything as I had seen some trucks parked here earlier in the day.
It wasn't a very difficult or long climb down and from the steepness and boulders all around, I thought this should be a perfect spot for those Brown Trout -- and it was shielded nicely from the wind by the dam. After a couple casts, I had another 12 inch Brown from the rocks and boulders to my left. Since I left the stringer in the car, I had to put the fish under a large stone so I could try a few more casts -- after two casts into the same spot I caught another Brown trout (biggest for the day at 14 inches). Two more fish (no stringer), two hands and one fishing rod -- time to leave for sure (pockets weren't big enough to stuff another fish into).
I will definitely be back there again -- maybe tomorrow. :)
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Noticed when I got to the Jeep that another white Jeep Cherokee had arrived in the parking lot and the people stayed in their car too. When the storm stopped and I had a sense that some sunshine would be hitting the picnic area and shoreline, I cleaned off the windshield wipers and headed back to a spot closer to the parking lot -- saw more clouds and nasty weather approaching and figured I might get a half hour of fishing before the second storm hit. That's just about what it turned out to be and I anticipated it better than the guy and his two sons -- they got pretty wet, I think after stayin out for about 10 minutes (maybe expecting it to let up which it didn't). This storm lasted about another half hour and the white Jeep left before the storm stopped.
I headed back to the shoreline below the picnic area and fished the point to both sides with only 2 or 3 strikes and no fish. Then, I could see some really serious clouds approaching with thunder and lightning so, I decided to call it a day and headed back to South Fork to check out one of the little diners there -- hoping for a beer and maybe a snack -- turned out they had some spicy-hot chili (just right for such a day) and the waitress said they had "Colorado Native" beer so, I tried it (pretty good amber lager). The beer is only sold in Colorado and is made from all native ingredients and, of course, Rocky Mountain spring water.
After I got back to the RV, I cooked a pot of rice with green peppers, onions, garlic and diced tomatoes and checked the weather station for updates. A neighboring camper couple came in a two days ago from Denver and the husband (Gene) knocked on the door to say they didn't have any luck at Big Meadow and said it was really windy and cold there -- didn't catch a thing he said and they really hoped to bring back some fish for me (I had given them the two Rainbows I caught yesterday for their dinner last night). A little after he had come by, I went over and gave them the two Brown trout for tonight's dinner -- I still had one to reheat from yesterday.
After the rice was done, I set it aside and checked the radar again and thought I saw a small window between the storms so, I headed back up to the reservoir around 5:30 as a few raindrops were still falling. As I approached the dam, the opening in the weather seemed to be just about to arrive and I could see the rain and sleet moving to the northeast away from the picnic spot. After waiting 5 or 10 minutes, the sun came out and so did I -- with fishing pole in hand and stringer in my pocket. I tried the sandy point again with no strikes and worked my way to the steeper boulder covered bank and this time I caught a small Brown trout which I released. I continued across the boulders and worked the shallows over the boulders until I finally caught another Brown -- a keeper of about 12 inches. I left him on the stringer and worked my way acrosss the boulder field until I reached a sandy area and a large red boulder I had seen yesterday from the road -- took note of the sandy areas at both sides with the idea I might try the spot. No luck at either of the two areas but, I could see marks in the sandy shore from somebody's chair and foot prints on both sides -- some bait fisherman had already been there today.
Once again I could see some more nasty weather approaching so, I worked my way back to the stringer and headed back for the point and the area below the picnic spot -- throwing the lure alternatly in each direction as I went, anticipating a dash up the bank between the rocks and boulders. Another bag of beer cans and trash and one trout with me as I hustled to beat the light rain and sleet to the Jeep. As I drove back toward the dam, I stopped once at a little turnout to look down the bank but, then continued on to the dam. As I approached the dam, I noticed the near corner, just behind the sign for the dam looked to be possibly accessible and the sun began to shine again as I stopped to peer down the slope. Yeah! Why not? So, down I went with pole in hand -- left the stringer and one fish in the car with the bag of trash not fully expecting to catch anything as I had seen some trucks parked here earlier in the day.
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| Ready for cooking. |
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| Day's End - Weird Day |
posted by Ray at
9:02 PM
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