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.

Late ice is nice.

The temperature outside is forecasted for 42 degrees with no wind and a high sun. I am getting dressed for a day of ice fishing on Lake Granby. Meeting my clients on the boat ramp I quickly realize I had overdressed for the day.

We headed across the lake to a small point about 60 feet deep. After drilling a couple holes, I rig a 3/8 oz jig and tip it with some meat; Bill dropped it down the hole and started a routine lift and drop jigging motion. Meanwhile Bob was preparing to start when Bill reared back and set the hook on a Lake Trout. After a short battle a 19" fish comes though the hole. Bob starts grumbling something about Bill getting the first fish as he drops his jig in the water. It never hit bottom and Bob sets the hook on a fish that does not move. He tries to lift the fish but it decides to start swimming another direction. After a short tug of war Bob starts to gain ground (or should I say line), the fish takes a couple of good line burning runs then gets tired and his head starts to poke through the hole. We land it take some pictures and carefully release it. This scene replays itself many times this warm and sunny day.

When the lakes along the Front Range start to open up, people tend to forget about ice fishing. The pressure drops and the fishing starts to get better every week. Some of our early season spots start to produce again and unlike early season you need sunscreen instead of extra gloves.

When coming out on the ice late in the season safety has to be the most important thing on your mind. Local tackle shops, the internet and friends can help out with reports of safe ice conditions but you should always check as you go and bring a friend.

Structure becomes more important and you should start thinking about where these fish are going to eat. A lot of the earlier season bait is getting tougher to catch. They are running in tighter schools so the Lake Trout can pick out a single fish and will attack it. The shallow living fish have figured out how to swim under the ice right next to shore to escape their predators. 

The open water season is when I start thinking about structure and ice fishing. Our lakes in Colorado have an excellent mapping choice. https://www.genesismaps.com With this subscription I’ve made maps and utilized the social maps for new lakes.  

The Lake trout themselves have been seeing a lot of lures swam and bounced in front of their faces and have been hooked a couple of times. They have seen other fish eat a tasty morsel just to be reeled to the surface, and maybe never come back.

This all sets up for a great chase: "Fishermen vs. Fish." We can win this game by presenting a bait with a twist. There are a few different things I look at when selecting a lure for late season fishing. First of all is profile. If a 2” jig is not getting bit, try a 3” or 4” maybe size down to a 1.5’. A couple years ago I was using a Bio Bait twister tail, the fish were not eating it very well and I decided to switch things up. I tore the tail off and dropped it down as a simple little grub body with a fresh piece of meat. This simple little change produced over 20 fish in the next few hours. Jigs in different shapes present unique profiles. Consider the profile when deciding the technique. When I am using minnow shaped baits, I generally suspend them at the depth I see bait fish.  Boot tail baits are a great bait to use aggressively in the water column. shads and other baits with action tails can be fished a little more aggressively. Spoons like the Reel Bait Plain Janes are a great option when the fish are very aggressive. Sometimes a plain jig head fished with a piece of meat can rule the day.

We still have a lot of good ice up in the mountains. Grab your auger and your short poles and give this late season bite a shot, but don’t forget the sunscreen.

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.