sansou
11-26-2007, 11:39 PM
Finally back from a long trek around the southwest. Left a week before Thanksgiving and flew out to Albuquerque and drove the 4 hours or so to Pagosa Springs CO, only after gorgin myself on anyhting that had the infamous Hatch chillies in it!
As luck would have it, on arrival I had some quick emergency documents I need to pump out and fax, so I spent the first few hours trying to work....but with a view like this from the desk, I realized there is no way I could ever set up my practice in CO. More daydreaming than work was accomplished...
[attachment=8:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 011.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
I eventually made it into town to fax my crap and stop by my favorite fly-shop for some wooly buggers and beadeds I knew I would need for some planned river outings. This is a pic of downtown Pagosa, 100 feet or so behind the shop where you can take a rod from the store and actually try the flies and rod!!! I think it's kinda funny listening in to the hardcore fly guys pray about the possiblity of one last late season Blue-Winged Olive hatch, or some other fly stuff I've yet to come to truly appreciate or understand. I know it kills them to sell their meticulously tied local patterns to some doofus from California who's going to tie them to a spinning reel and small bubble.... Ha ha!
[attachment=7:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 013.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
The following are pics from Hatcher Lake which is a private 80 acre lake walking distance from the front door. I've been fishing this dock for the past 10 years or so. The lake gets stocked a couple times a year with supplemental subcatchable rainbows, and has a thriving population of brown trout, along with a smattering of rough fish. The rainbows in there can get huge. In years past I've nailed 4 and 5 lbers... This last trip I pulled a bunch in the 2.5-4lb category with one notably thick and gravid one (see below). As of this year, and much heated debate among the homeowners association, it is now artificial only for all trout. This is where I go to test gear and goof around when I have 20 minutes to kill here and there.
Here's me with one of the neighbors. I inadvertently caught this stocked White Amur on a wooly and bubble, which is the hands down favorite way there for many of the anglers if they aren't into spinners and stuff. I've never had one actually take a fly, though I have snagged a bunch over the years (and broke off!) on spoons while fishing shoreline in the fall for browns. This late in to the season it's a little tougher catching fish on hardware, as the water temps are down low and the fish slowing down, hence the fly/bubble combo, or any insect imitations, as opposed to baitfish imitators (ie. spoons/spinners).
[attachment=4:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 070.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
Here's a rainbow that thinks it's going to productively lay some eggs.... Man was that thing fat!
[attachment=3:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 090.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
[attachment=2:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 091.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
I caught a few at Hatcher on another afternoon with some Lip Ripperz spoon. I wish I got a better pics with the spoons in their mouths..
[attachment=1:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 087.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
[attachment=0:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 088.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
As luck would have it, on arrival I had some quick emergency documents I need to pump out and fax, so I spent the first few hours trying to work....but with a view like this from the desk, I realized there is no way I could ever set up my practice in CO. More daydreaming than work was accomplished...
[attachment=8:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 011.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
I eventually made it into town to fax my crap and stop by my favorite fly-shop for some wooly buggers and beadeds I knew I would need for some planned river outings. This is a pic of downtown Pagosa, 100 feet or so behind the shop where you can take a rod from the store and actually try the flies and rod!!! I think it's kinda funny listening in to the hardcore fly guys pray about the possiblity of one last late season Blue-Winged Olive hatch, or some other fly stuff I've yet to come to truly appreciate or understand. I know it kills them to sell their meticulously tied local patterns to some doofus from California who's going to tie them to a spinning reel and small bubble.... Ha ha!
[attachment=7:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 013.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
The following are pics from Hatcher Lake which is a private 80 acre lake walking distance from the front door. I've been fishing this dock for the past 10 years or so. The lake gets stocked a couple times a year with supplemental subcatchable rainbows, and has a thriving population of brown trout, along with a smattering of rough fish. The rainbows in there can get huge. In years past I've nailed 4 and 5 lbers... This last trip I pulled a bunch in the 2.5-4lb category with one notably thick and gravid one (see below). As of this year, and much heated debate among the homeowners association, it is now artificial only for all trout. This is where I go to test gear and goof around when I have 20 minutes to kill here and there.
Here's me with one of the neighbors. I inadvertently caught this stocked White Amur on a wooly and bubble, which is the hands down favorite way there for many of the anglers if they aren't into spinners and stuff. I've never had one actually take a fly, though I have snagged a bunch over the years (and broke off!) on spoons while fishing shoreline in the fall for browns. This late in to the season it's a little tougher catching fish on hardware, as the water temps are down low and the fish slowing down, hence the fly/bubble combo, or any insect imitations, as opposed to baitfish imitators (ie. spoons/spinners).
[attachment=4:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 070.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
Here's a rainbow that thinks it's going to productively lay some eggs.... Man was that thing fat!
[attachment=3:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 090.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
[attachment=2:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 091.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
I caught a few at Hatcher on another afternoon with some Lip Ripperz spoon. I wish I got a better pics with the spoons in their mouths..
[attachment=1:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 087.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]
[attachment=0:f43ff]Colorado Fishing Nov 2007 088.jpg[/attachment:f43ff]