Blue Mesa Reservoir - With new Interest

After talking some last evening with my prospector neighbor Bob Barnes (behind me or to my left), I returned to that hotspot on Blue Mesa Reservoir with the idea that I might be able to catch a Kokanee salmon or two, if I was lucky.  I remembered reading somewhere that the Blue Mesa reservoir is the largest Kokanee fishery in the state and Bob confirmed that this is nearly the time of year that the salmon should start their run up the Gunnison to Roaring Judy fish hatchery -- hook jaws and all.  He had said too that they had caught some in late June and noted that some already were getting the hook jaw -- the four year olds.

Rather than take the morning off from fishing, I spent some four hours up there and released a couple nice ones (a 17 inch Rainbow and a 17 inch Brown).  Two other nice ones released themselves and saved me the trouble.  One other 18 or 20 incher took off with my last favorite Kastmaster as it danced into the western skies -- my knot apparently gave out as I got back an empty line with just the twisted end.  I had a rainbow colored Panther Martin on my backup rod so I started casting that in the same area and got one hit as soon as I started to retrieve the first cast.  Then on the next cast, something big hit the lure really hard after I had retrieved it only about halfway and bang, it disappeared with that lure -- left me the broken line right at the knot.

With no confidence at all, I tried a chrome or silver colored Kastmaster for the remainder of the morning but, got no hits at all -- about what I expected for that lure.  I have restocked those lures again and will most likely be back at it tomorrow morning.  The exercise is good too.

We had a good rain and me and the twins had a good nap this afternoon.  Time for a beer.