Horsetooth Reservoir

I injured my back a couple days ago lifting a load of scrap metal into the truck. Carrying the kayak was painful but I couldn’t resist taking it out on this calm afternoon. Caught a nice cutbow that chased all the way to the surface, and followed it up with a couple of nice smallmouths caught deep off the bottom. The first smallie was 17” (another master angler qualifier), the second around 15”. Although smallmouth are susceptible to barotrauma, I rarely see it on this lake (whereas I do see it more often on deep walleye here). The first was fine but the second one had pop-out eyes. However, I could see on sonar that it swam back down to depth quickly. That doesn’t preclude the possibility of post-release mortality, but from what I’ve seen over the years - if a fish can swim back down quickly on their own, it’s a good sign that they’re going to be ok. The ones that can’t swim back down are typically in trouble.

Slid the kayak down the snowy shore and got out for a few hours this afternoon. Hadn’t been on the home lake in a bit. Air temp was 35F with a few flurries and water surface temp was 47F. Baitfish are consolidating. Found a few bigger fish, still fairly deep. Landed a couple of nice 23” cutbows, and one smaller rainbow. That’s at least the 18th CO master angler qualifying trout I’ve caught on the home lake this year (plus at least 3 MA walleye and a handful of MA bass. Not bragging, just keeping track here for myself since I’m not submitting them).

Took my 7-year-old out for a Sunday afternoon session in the double kayak in our backyard after church. I was jigging while she was drifting. I caught a couple nice smallmouths, and then a very nice 25” cutbow. It was a stout fish; no exaggeration to say it was probably an 8 pounder. I’ve caught a handful of cutbows around 25”, but I’d say this was the heaviest among those, so I’ll call it a PB! I did measure it but didn’t bother getting a picture on the tape, as I’ve caught so many master angler qualifying fish this year, I’m not turning them in unless it’s something extra special. And in this case, I feel it’s just a matter of time until I get a 27+ inch cutbow to make all the quarter inch differences a moot point. After the trout, I let my daughter drift both rods, to give her a better chance of a catch, but for whatever reason the bite cooled off (perhaps rapidly changing weather conditions). I was proud of her for keeping a good attitude and enjoying the trip in spite of not reeling in any today. She gets credit for holding the phone on my selfies, and also knows she usually catches more than me on our shared outings.

Took my 7 year old for a shore session before dinner, and she caught a couple nice rainbows!

Had the rare opportunity to fish the backyard with my oldest son before dinner tonight. He caught two trout and a bass, and I landed one bass and one trout. Yesterday I had a special catch that I haven’t posted yet. I’m excited to share it, but humbled too and I think I’m still processing it. Perhaps I’ll post it tomorrow.

When it gets too windy for boats, and the wind prevails all day, I’ve learned that the best place to fish is often the wind-blown shore with the wind in your face. Predatory fish will cruise that shoreline, knowing it’s a good place to find a meal. Distressed baitfish that get pushed up by the waves. Bugs and other snacks that get swept off the shoreline by waves. It’s not easy fishing, but it can pay off. I didn’t have a lot of time today, but did pick up a smallie in the shore pound.