The Elusive Kokanee Salmon

Yesterday, before the first afternoon showers arrived, I headed up to Beaver Creek Reservoir to try again to catch one of those Kokanee Salmon like the ones we caught there last year.  The day before it had rained off and on all day long so I stayed in and tested some martini recipes in the afternoon.  When I made the turn to Beaver Creek, I stopped first at the bridge there and checked the South Fork of the Rio Grande to see if it was still running black -- and it was still not looking good at all.

Since the construction at the reservoir has the access to the dam blocked, I headed to the area I had caught my first Kokanee last year (the first minor pullout after the dam) and climbed down the steep embankment to the sandy shore at the water's edge.  I took the telescoping net with me just in case I ended up on the boulders and rocks farther to my left -- which I did.  I tried for about an hour using a rainbow colored Panther Martin and had no strikes so, I switched to the reliable brass spinner with the black body and yellow spots.  By then, I was climbing the boulders below the cliffs and after about 5 minutes I caught one of those small but, pretty Rainbow trout and released him (or her).  Then, I caught and released another shortly after that and then I hooked a nice fish -- one of those Kokanee Salmon and he gave me a nice fight and made several runs away from the boulders and the net I was trying to get him in.  Finally, I succeeded to get the fish landed and gave my thanks for the fish staying on the hook.  Just under seventeen inches and a beauty.  Thank goodness I had that net too.


I grilled the fish with a couple burgers and four hot dogs -- only ate half of the fish last night and really enjoyed it (Tiger enjoyed some too).