Adventures on ice

Winter mornings in the Rockies hold a special place in my heart. The air is brisk, snow crunches when you walk on it and the magnificent sunrises are forever imprinted in my memories. There are 2 reasons to get up early in the winter. The best one is to go catch breakfast, the other is to eat fresh fish for breakfast. If you’ve never tried ice fishing, it might look ridiculous. A bunch of people standing out in the cold staring at a hole? Not at all, it’s like a chess match with a fish. 

Let’s talk gear. You will need warm clothes, good boots (preferably waterproof) an extra pair of gloves. Ice augers can be gas, electric or hand operated. A short rod, small box of jigs and a little bait. Rainbows and brook trout gear should be light rods with a small indicator and 4-6lb test. Lake trout gear should be a little heavier, a medium to med hvy rod, 8-10lb test line. If you want to stay toasty warm, a hut and heater can be added for comfort.

Rainbow trout are plentiful in the county. They are fairly easy to catch and most people seem to like their flavor. Rainbows cruise the shoreline but do tend to stall on points and the backs of small coves. They live in shallow water (under 15’) and eat bugs, crawfish and small minnows. A small bright colored jig or spoon tipped with a meal worm or wax worm will generally get bit. 

Brook trout can be very eager to eat small jigs and spoons, live in shallow water and have a unique flavor. Brook trout tend to roam certain areas of a lake, points and weed beds seem to hold fish.

Lake trout live in deeper water35’-120’ of water), eat crawfish, larger bugs, minnows and fish. 3/8 ounce jig heads, 1-3” plastics (twister tails, grubs and tubes) spoons or just plain bait. Points, deeper humps, and flat areas attract these predators. 

A few general techniques will work on all these fish. Dead sticking is when you place a bait in the water column and do not move it, a fish will swim by and eat the bait. This works well as a second rod technique or when you just do not want to move it. A slow steady movement of the bait will help make it look alive, vary the speed and how high you raise and drop the jig until you get bit then repeat. 

Lets talk about lakes to go to, the ponds just outside of Frazier (Lions fishing pond and Cozens ranch ponds) are great places to take the kids. They are small bodies of water and a short walk from the car.  Rainbows, browns, and cutthroat trout reside in these ponds.

Lake Granby is a bigger body of water but the fishing can be excellent for rainbows and lake trout, the size can be intimidating but just pick a shoreline and fish it. Monarch Lake behind lake Granby is full of brook and rainbow trout along with an occasional brown. It is a mile or so hike from the gate so be prepared for that.

Grand Lake is a great place to fish for rainbows and lake trout then be able to run to town to get a cup of coffee or breakfast. 

Willow Creek reservoir has rainbows, browns and (kokanee) salmon in it.

Williams Fork reservoir has rainbows, browns, lake trout, a few salmon and pike.

Wolford has rainbows and salmon.

For the people that would like to fish open water we have a couple great tail waters in the county, Shadow Mountain Dam and Williams Fork generally fish very well all winter.

There are plenty of tackle shops that can help you select gear and might even rent you what you need. Guides and outfitters are a great bet, they have local knowledge and the correct gear to help ensure you have a memorable time. 

This winter, if your up on vacation, try something different. Go spend a fun day on the ice and possibly get a fresh fish meal out of it.

Slush Sux

There always seems to be a time around mid-ice season when we see slush. Slush generally happens when we get a good amount of snow. The weight of the snow pushes down on the ice causing the water to rise through cracks and holes. The heavier the snow the more pressure on the ice the deeper the slush. There are people who decide to stay home, I would rather go fishing. Here are a few ideas to help deal with the slush.

This can cause us lots of problems. Our vehicles can get stuck, we waddle around in it and get soaked while fishing. Gear gets weighted down, breakdowns are a little more frequent. 

There are a few things we can do to avoid some slushy issues. Let’s start with boots, I’ve been using the Sub- Zero X rubber boot from Clam.  They keep my feet dry, If you’re not into rubber boots. Make sure to use some kind of water proofing on your boots, and re apply often. 

Snow machines should be loaded with a minimum amount of gear, the lighter the sleds the less chance of getting stuck. If your pulling a sled put most of the weight to the rear of it. Mount your hitch lower then the hitch on your machine. These 2 suggestions will help the sled ride “nose up” instead of acting pike a plow. Your best bet is to leave the pull sled at home.

If you’re staying on the lake for a few days take your snow machine out during the day and pack a trail to your spot, then pack down where you want your hut up. Overnight the packed area will freeze and your experience will be drier. If you didn’t get the chance to “pack your track” and find slushy conditions try making a circle on your machine then parking it in a spot that’s not slushy. If you do get stuck, shovel out the snow that built up in the front of the machine. Lift and drop the rear of the machine, this should help rid the sled of slush in the cowling and tracks. Lift the rear of the machine over to “fresh snow. Then grab a ski and pull while your buddy gives the machine gas. 

Atv’s with or without tracks are a totally different experience in deep snow and slush. A winch is a necessary tool. Keep a piece of ¾ angle iron about 4” larger then your auger diameter. Drill a hole a little off center, bolt a 3-4’ section of ¾” chain to it. If you do get stuck you can drill an ice hole, drop the angle iron in the hole and winch yourself out 50’ at a time. 

These were just a few tips to help deal with slush. Go out and find those fish that others aren’t looking for. 

Meet the guides - Sam Hochevar

Sam has been chasing fish in Grand County with a passion that we rarely see. I would see him on the lake at all hours of the day and wonder who he is. After a while we ran into each other on the boat ramp and my respect for this young man grew. He gets clues from the lake most people ( myself included) miss. Then he capitalizes on them. His energy is boundless, yet he is extremely laid back, a wonderful combination to have in a guide.

Sam is a Colorado native who has been fishing in Grand County since he was a boy.  Sam firmly believes that happiness is most easily found on the water with a fishing pole in hand and loves to share that experience with others.  He enjoys teaching others to fish while also continuing to learn as much as he can about every aspect of fishing. Below is an email I received from a gentleman Sam took out. If your interested in a trip with Sam Hochevar +1 (720) 666-0141 please contact him.

Bernie:  Just wanted to send you a note to tell you how much we enjoyed fishing with Sam. He was patient, thoughtful and really worked with us to improve our fishing skills. My friend and I have fished in Canada for many years and think we are spoiled with that fishing wherein you catch 30 fish per day per person. Fishing in your area is more work of course, but we at least got one big Lake Trout as he told you. Anyway, he is good and talented young man and you should be proud of the skills. I think he had fun with my friend and I joking all day on the boat. Good memories. Have a great Summer. Regards, CAM

Meet the guides- Jake Foos

I first met Jake on a guide trip. He was more worried about his dad and Henry catching fish than himself. Ive heard this from lots of people over the years but there was something different about Jake. Since that trip we’ve become pretty good friends and a couple years ago we brought him in on the team.

Jake gets to the lake has the huts set up, heaters going, holes drilled and bait ready to go on the hooks long before his clients show up. His contagious smile is only superseded by his energy and desire to get people on fish. During any trip it is more likely than not, people will laugh so hard their stomach hurts, catch lots of fish and learn a few techniques, lures or/and presentations.

This was a recent review from a gentleman that took his son fishing with Jake. "We had an excellent time fishing with our guide Jake. My son and I have fished all over the U.S. from the coast of Northern Oregon to the Gulf Coast of Florida and many places in between. This was by far one of the best trips we have taken. Jake was always spot on with the lures, bait etc. We caught in the vicinity of 50 plus fish in 2 days and my son hooked into a large lake trout but couldn’t land it. We were more interested in catching numbers than large trout and Jake took care of us. He hustled all day long for us . Jake knows how to get you on fish and keep you on them. Jake has a great attitude and the 3 of us laughed all day both days. I would HIGHLY recommend fishing with these guys. I’ll definitely be back!!!”

Jake has some open dates this winter and in the open water season. Please feel free to contact Jake Foos ‭(303) 434-8468‬ and book a trip with him.

Grand County "Where adventures begin"

Grand County

Where adventures begin

I have the opportunity to speak with a lot of people about their experience here in Grand County. It’s generally a very exciting and positive conversation. An idea I came up with a while back is to try and give ideas for daily adventures to people visiting our county. A day should start out with a great breakfast Sharkys in Frazier (www.sharkyseatery.com) or Java Lava (www.javalava.net) in Granby are two of our favorites. Next Winter Park (www.winterparkresort.com) or Granby Ranch (www.granbyranch.com) have great winter and summer adventures. 

For the people who might want to get away from everyone, Rocky Mountain National Park (www.nps.gov) has some great hiking trails that can lead you to amazing places. Make sure to bring snacks, water, raingear, a gps and a friend.

Rivers are a great source of fun. Whether its bushwhacking to a tiny creek for brook trout or floating larger waters for rainbows and browns there is a lot of moving waters in the county to explore. The more popular areas are The Colorado river, The Frazier River, Willow Creek and the Williams Fork river. 

Renting a boat and floating on the water, casting a line or looking for animals is a great way to start your mornings. There are marinas on Grand Lake, Shadow Mountain and lake Granby. There is also plenty of shoreline access on these lakes also. 

After a day strenuous day of skiing or hiking Hot Sulphur Springs resort (hotsulphursprings.com) is a great way to relax and soak your muscles. Pay attention to the hillside, there are a lot of deer that hang around just outside of the fence in the winter. 

There’s a lot of animal viewing opportunities in the area. During the summer Rocky Mountain National park is full of Deer, Elk, Moose and you might even see coyotes and a bear. The best times to see animals in the park is very early and late in the day. During the winter months elk and deer wintering grounds are very abundant. Look for south facing slopes with no trees on them. Once again early and late is your best options. 

Early Ice Trout

Early ice trout

Early season is a very exciting and rewarding time. For most people trout rule the ice out west. They are fairly easy to target, fight well and make good table fare. Early in the season the oxygen levels are high, food is very abundant and trout feel the urge to eat.

Trout are notorious cruisers. They will cruise the shorelines looking for food. The first steps I like to take is to look at a topo map and find a point that gradually gets deeper with a sharp dropping inside bend. This will cause cruising trout to hang out and mill around while they are deciding which way to go. Another good option is a small flat, especially after the early morning bite is over. Fish will cruise the flat all day, the bite might not be fast and furious but it could be consistent. 

Their diet is bugs, minnows and crawfish, this gives us plenty of lures to be successful with. During this time, it’s not as important what use but how to use it. There is generally an abundance of young crawfish. A great lure to use in this situation is a Leech Flutter spoon. Drop it to the bottom and just wiggle it never losing contact with the bottom. If fishing over weeds put the spoon on the top layer (or just underneath if the weeds are sparse) and wiggle it. The flash and vibration will attract trout. The hits will be vicious, trout like to ambush crawdads so they can’t get in a defensive position. Chrome with a splash of natural colors will suffice.

Minnows are also a very easy bait to imitate. Tubes, spoons and jigging minnows all do a great job. I like to keep these baits moving slowly around the bottom or just over the weeds. These hits will be a little softer but don’t be surprised if they try and take the rod out of your hands. 

Bugs are a mainstay in trout’s lives. Small hair jigs and tubes are a great option here. I will hang these down near the bottom and dead stick them with very little movement. I like to use a strike indicator if not in a stealth hut. The bites are very soft, if you’re not watching their tip or the jig you might not see it.

Early season colors are very simple. You just can’t beat white, chartreuse or black. Later in the season the brighter colors seem to work very well. 

Travelling light is very important on early ice. Up until I find 6” of ice my spud bar will work great, this also helps me check the ice as I move around. A small one man shelter like the Clam Kenai, Mr. Heater portable buddy, 2 rods and a few jigs are all I need. 

I like to get out very early and drill a few holes in various depths, this gives me the opportunity to move around without scaring the larger spookier trout.

If you haven’t tried trout at early ice, give them a try. They are willing biters and can put up a great fight. 

The mind is a terrible thing, or why I needed logbooks

I remember catching 20 fish one morning weighing over 200 lbs. in Lake Granby. We were averaging 10-15 fish a day weighing around 150 lbs.  I do not however remember the depth, but I do the location and the techniques along with the lures. The other things I do not remember

what we were doing before we learned this technique.

     When I started chasing large fish, one gentleman told me to go buy a day timer. It has a daily calendar which would keep fishing logs for numerous years. The beauty to these is after a few years of keeping this style of log book in my truck, I’ve been able to look back at a particular week and see 3 years of fishing. This gives me a great opportunity to go chase the best bite. 

     Items I write down are simple.

Location, depth, weather, results, what I used, any info I was told about (if I thought it was real). I also started using a GPS back then and Id give my waypoints a code. It is something like PHrds23s. The first letter(s) would be location (Pumphouse) then structure (road, south would be the south end of the road bed) then the depth at full pool (23). Depth at full pool is very important out west because I’ve rarely fished the same lake elevation on lake Granby from year to year.

     By keeping a simple written log book I’m able to glean information about my trips for the past 20 years. This has helped me turn tough bites into a manageable bite. Its also given me the opportunity not to think about what’s happening where, I just look it up.

     I’m not saying networking isn’t important, it is very important. If everyone we fished with kept a written log, wed never miss that very hot bite we always talk about. 

The fall season is just beginning, get yourself a day timer and start writing down your experiences. In a few years it will pay huge dividends.

ICE PREP

It’s just after Labor Day which means we have less then 100 days before we’re walking on ice. I am not one to wait till last minute to get my gear ready. Over the weekend I spent a little time in the garage assessing my gear. I moved the hitches, extra buckets, chairs and stuff like that to the snowmobile trailer. In the weeks to come it will be time to inventory rods, reels, line and tackle. 

While inventorying rods I will check the guides closely for any damage. The reels will get last year’s line stripped off of them, cleaned and lubricated for the upcoming season. After that I will look at the line inventory, if I have enough ice line I will respool them as U get time. 

The tackle is the best part of the inventory. A few years ago, I started using Clam’s jig boxes and soft plastics wallets. These do help keep me organized.  If I’m lucky I put the tackle away in the boxes they belong in, if not it will be taken care of during a preseason game. After organizing my tackle, I can take a quick inventory and make a list on my phone of anything I need to restock. 

Every fall tackle manufacturer’s come out with their new shapes and colors. It’s always a challenge to see what we can’t live without. I tend to be a “shapes and size “guy more than a color guy. By understanding what you like to use, it helps keep your new orders in budget with your wallet.

While the weather is still warm, it’s a good idea to pull out the tents. Are they dirty, torn or just in need of a little tlc? Now is a good time to take note and get these ready. Look at the stitching closely making sure its not coming apart. Are the windows in good shape? How about the zippers? Did you bend or break any poles last year? Are the tubs cracked or worn down?  You still have plenty of time to get these in shape for the season. 

Later in the season I will go through the snow machines and service them. Along with a service I will spend time looking at the body to make sure I did not crack anything last year. Check the hitches closely, these go through a lot of stress during the season. I also start my machines once a month throughout the summer to make sure the fuel does not evaporate and dry out the carbs. 

This is a list I use to get ready for the ice season. It allows me to move at a comfortable pace and be ready when the ponds freeze up here. I always find more to do but that’s the idea, start slowly and keep moving at your comfort level and you won’t be in a last-minute panic. The other advantage of Labor Day is the water is starting to cool down and that great open water fishing will be getting warmed up. Don’t forget to harass those fish and while you’re out there look for new spots to ice fish. 

Keeping fish for dinner? prep it right.

A lot of people like to eat their catch, Im one of “those guys”. Years ago I would catch my fish, put them on a stringer or in a live well. At the end of the day would fillet them. I did notice the fish would be “mushy” and not taste very good. After a fishing trip with a couple older guys I learned a very important lesson. Fish prep before you're off the water. Here are a few steps I do to keep the fish cool and more desirable to eat.

1. After catching the fish, I slit its throat and put it in the live well. The fish will generally bleed out in a few minutes. Bleeding the fish out gives us 2 results. Keeps the lactic acid from entering the meat. It also keeps blood from getting on the cleaning area, less mess to clean up.

2. Keep your live well pumping, the water in your well will get very warm and nasty.

3. I then throw them in a cooler UNDER ice. I always put meat under ice, this helps keep the meat as cold as possible.

4. Ice fishing is a different animal all together. Frozen fish is tougher too fillet. In the winter immediately after the cash I will slit their throats. After they bleed out I will put them in a cooler.

When you get to the cleaning station your fish will be very cool and firm but wait there’s more. After cleaning your fish rinse them off thoroughly with fresh water. This washes off bacteria that will start breaking down the fish. Put them in a plastic bag, under ice, when you get to the campsite or home the fish will be in excellent shape to eat.

If you are freezing the fish for a later meal, either vacuum seal the fish or freeze them in water. We put our fillets in a plastic bag (with the species name and date on it) fill them full of water then force water out of the bag while zipping it shut. This keeps air out of the bag and prevents freezer burn. When thawing out our fish, we will put the bags in cold water. This will help it thaw faster without damaging the meat.

By following these simple tips your fish just might taste a little better. Please remember selective harvest is important. Let hem big fish go so we can have more smaller fish to eat in the future. If your interested in so fish recipes try these. https://www.fishingwithbernie.com/recipes