TroutFishingBear..... you out there. It appears to me that your the one with good intel on Blue Mesa. I was wondering if you have any info on the latest conditions. A group of 8 are leaving on the 8th of March for our annual pilgrimage to the Gunnison area for four days of ice fishing. We usually spend a minimum of two days on Blue and a minimum of one on Taylor. The last day is usually a slack day depending on conditions and results. We normally fish Elk Creek for kokanee and the Iola Basin for Bows and Browns. We take snow machines to Taylor and depending upon conditions (slush) we fish for the Macks anywhere from out front of the boathouse to the west shore just to the right of the dam. Any feedback would be appreciated.
Blue Mesa/Taylor Res Latest Report
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
Joined
·
2,952 Posts
Ya know...I just haven't heard much about taylor this year. My favorite spot is off of the point where that creek comes in kind of close to the dam (but just east of it) you know the one.
Blue mesa has been fishing okay for small lakers around sapenero and also in dry creek cove. Main lake points and flats, and underwater humps seem to be the ticket. I heard a couple of unverified reports of a few big fish landed this year. People are having good catches of kokanee just about 1 mile away from where you first get on dry creek cove. Just walk west down the reservoir and around that point. I'm sorry I can't get more specific than that, but that is the info my friend told me (he claims he caught 7 kokes one day). Also, a few people are still catching kokanee off of main lake points in dry creek cove and some in the usual spots (read, channel) in iola. A lot of people have been catching nice rainbows this ice season, averaging 16" at middle bridge. Browns have been difficult to find all season. For example, my brother caught one on the bottom in 52 fow, and I have heard of others catching a few deep also, and of course a few have been caught in the usual 10-15 foot zones. Perch fishing has been slow. Blue mesa has been hit or miss this year. well, it's always hit or miss. I guess blue mesa has been miss more this year than it has hit :-\
Blue mesa has been fishing okay for small lakers around sapenero and also in dry creek cove. Main lake points and flats, and underwater humps seem to be the ticket. I heard a couple of unverified reports of a few big fish landed this year. People are having good catches of kokanee just about 1 mile away from where you first get on dry creek cove. Just walk west down the reservoir and around that point. I'm sorry I can't get more specific than that, but that is the info my friend told me (he claims he caught 7 kokes one day). Also, a few people are still catching kokanee off of main lake points in dry creek cove and some in the usual spots (read, channel) in iola. A lot of people have been catching nice rainbows this ice season, averaging 16" at middle bridge. Browns have been difficult to find all season. For example, my brother caught one on the bottom in 52 fow, and I have heard of others catching a few deep also, and of course a few have been caught in the usual 10-15 foot zones. Perch fishing has been slow. Blue mesa has been hit or miss this year. well, it's always hit or miss. I guess blue mesa has been miss more this year than it has hit :-\
The point where the creek comes in at Taylor is my fav as well. Have caught many fish there. At Blue we used to find the browns just west of the boat ramp at Iola near the rocks. Hell, even caught Kokes there one year. Have also found browns at Elk Creek walking out from the boat ramp around the point on your left facing east. A couple of years ago we slayed the kokanee off the same point but haven't experienced the same luck since. Thanks for the info. By the way if your in the area look for us. We have numerous shelters (Clams, Shappels, and Eskimos) and a couple of older snow machines one is brown and the other is black/purple. We'll be in Fords, one a red extended cab, the other a blue super crew. Always looking to meet people who love to coldfoot as much as us.
Joined
·
2,952 Posts
I just might be at blue next weekend. Blue beenie or a black no fear hat and sunglasses.
Joined
·
505 Posts
Hey Checkers....I am attending Western here in Gunnison and have been fishing Blue a few times a week. I usually fish for lakers. I can have been able to catch lakers every time I go out, but nothing over 5lbs. My buddy caught a 12 lbs laker in January and the DOW survey lady said that the biggest fish she's measured this year was a 41" mack also back in jaunuary. Several times while fishing over 50 fow at several spots around elk creek we have had schools of salmon come through between 10 to 30 foot down. We usually don't fish for them, but they sure to come through thick sometimes. The browns have been hit or miss. I think we caught 8 one day while fishing for lakers around the island just east of middle bridge. The biggest was 24" 4lbs and came out of 45 fow. The lake city bridge has been the most productive and consistent for rainbows and browns.....hope this helps a litte...good luck!
Joined
·
2,952 Posts
It sure is great at ice off for big browns and some nice rainbows. That whole area is.Fisher4ever said:
a 41" mack is a nice fish. There just aren't many left
It's a shame- catching a 15 pounder every time or two out there used to be common I've heard- now it takes a whole season.Fisher4ever thanks for the report. Like I told TroutFishingBear if your out on the lake stop by and say hey. I fish out of a Clam (Yukon) and drive a blue 03 SuperCrew with eagle decals on the rear fenders. You can't miss it. We always stay at Island Acres Motel between the bridges west of town. We'll be there the 8th of March thru the 11th. I'm hoping the weather holds and the ice is still in good shape. It was 60degs+ in Pueblo yesterday and it is supposed to reach the 70's today.
Joined
·
505 Posts
Checker.....It has still been pretty cool here, especially at night so the ice should still be pretty thick unless we get an extreme warm-spell. I have class on the 8th and 10th, I will probably be out there on the 9th and i'm fishing the 11-mile tournament on the 11th. Maybe i'll see you on that thursday..not sure where i'm going to fish yet. I might be going to Taylot this weekend; if I do i'll let you know how it is....
Hey TFB, the DOW survey lady said the guy kept the 41" laker because he didn't have a camera and nobody would believe him. It's sad that the trophy laker population is being depleated because of this. Hopefully more big fish will show up around iceout...to be caught and released of course!
Hey TFB, the DOW survey lady said the guy kept the 41" laker because he didn't have a camera and nobody would believe him. It's sad that the trophy laker population is being depleated because of this. Hopefully more big fish will show up around iceout...to be caught and released of course!
Joined
·
94 Posts
What's the word on Blue and Taylor?
I'm heading up this weekend and plan to hit Taylor Saturday morning, and Blue Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
How is the ice at Blue? Is Sapinero and Cebolla still safe? Where are the best areas in these basins?
How deep are the Macs now? When I fished it on newyears, we caught them at 40 fow, and no deeper or shallower.
Where are your favorite spots at Taylor? I usually fish right out from the Marina, but would like to get further away to reduce fishing pressure. I've heard of a spot near the dam where a creek runs in? Where is that?
Thanks for all the help!! I'll post a report when I return.
I'm heading up this weekend and plan to hit Taylor Saturday morning, and Blue Saturday evening and Sunday morning.
How is the ice at Blue? Is Sapinero and Cebolla still safe? Where are the best areas in these basins?
How deep are the Macs now? When I fished it on newyears, we caught them at 40 fow, and no deeper or shallower.
Where are your favorite spots at Taylor? I usually fish right out from the Marina, but would like to get further away to reduce fishing pressure. I've heard of a spot near the dam where a creek runs in? Where is that?
Thanks for all the help!! I'll post a report when I return.
Joined
·
505 Posts
I was there about a week and a half ago...ice was still 8-24" We've had a recent cold snap so the ice should be fine all over the lake. We have been on the lakers anywhere from 40-80 fow....60 fow has probably been the most consistent. White tubes and sucker are a sure bet as usual. Last time I was out smaller lakers (15-18") were schooling up and chasing zoo plankton, first time I've ever seen this....if you have electronics you could see them right on the bottom all the way up to 20 feet off the bottom. Anywhere in Sapinero, dry creek, windsurfing area, and elk creek, on flats and humps have been pretty consistent. I have marked a lot of salmon coming thorugh about 20 feet below the ice near the channel at elk creek and around that area...haven't really tried for them. Bows can be consistently found in 20 fow or less around rocks and sand transitions, or anywhere for that matter...browns seem to be around 50 fow on flats in the same areas as macs....I haven't heard much about taylor...Good luck...I'll probably be out there Sat and SUn, not sure where though!
Fished Blue and Taylor Wednesday thru Saturday of last week. Caught numerous bows on Blue at Elk Creek in 20' or less. We also got into the kokes anywhere from 30 to 40'. Swedish pimples seemed to be the best lure for the kokes. In regards to the trout, it seems that they would hit most anything tipped witha mealworm. Didn't even attempt to fish for Lakers on Blue. If your planning on hitting Taylor, I hope you have a snow machine and a good hut. Last Friday we experienced extremely high winds and zero visibility the whole time we were there. However, we did get into the lakers. We fished Willow Creek just out from the boat house to the east and also right off the point at Bull Creek. White tube jigs tipped with sucker meat worked the best. We fished in 30' in both places no more than a foot off the bottom.
Joined
·
94 Posts
That's good info, thanks. What kind of presentation were they liking? Did they want it still or moving? Did they hit all day, or was it just in the morning?
Joined
·
17,087 Posts
Ha-Ha do you want him to hold your rod also? Ha-Hacorpeleven said:
Joined
·
505 Posts
Ha-Ha do you want him to hold your rod also? Ha-Ha
...........lol...
As far as blue mesa goes...the lakers really turn off around 12....the only time I have consistently caught them after twelve was a week and half ago when they were schooled up after the zoo plankton, but only smaller fish were active....you will have to experiment to see if they want it jigged or dead sticked, but always fish within a few feet of the bottom unless otherwise indicated by your electronics!
...........lol...
As far as blue mesa goes...the lakers really turn off around 12....the only time I have consistently caught them after twelve was a week and half ago when they were schooled up after the zoo plankton, but only smaller fish were active....you will have to experiment to see if they want it jigged or dead sticked, but always fish within a few feet of the bottom unless otherwise indicated by your electronics!
Corpeleven, the answer to your question is "yes". Just as fish4ever has pointed out you need to expirement. That's why they call it "fishing" and not "catching"!! However, my buddy was consistently hooking lakers with a jigging action while I caught the majority of my fish on a dead stick. Go figure. In regards to the bite, we only fished until 1PM due to weather conditions. The fish weren't as active in the afternoon as they were during the morning and it was hard to leave fish that are biting but we decided it was smarter to get off the ice than risk trying to ride out the weather front. We've been to Taylor numerous times during the winter and this by far was the worst we had experienced. Fortunately, we got off the lake when we did because it was a bear getting out due to low visibilty and drifting snow.
Yeager, in regards to Cottonwood Pass out of Buena Vista, I would suggest grabbing a Snickers......... because its probably gonna be awhile. ;D
However, my buddy was consistently hooking lakers with a jigging action while I caught the majority of my fish on a dead stick. Go figure. In regards to the bite, we only fished until 1PM due to weather conditions. The fish weren't as active in the afternoon as they were during the morning and it was hard to leave fish that are biting but we decided it was smarter to get off the ice than risk trying to ride out the weather front. We've been to Taylor numerous times during the winter and this by far was the worst we had experienced. Fortunately, we got off the lake when we did because it was a bear getting out due to low visibilty and drifting snow. Yeager, in regards to Cottonwood Pass out of Buena Vista, I would suggest grabbing a Snickers......... because its probably gonna be awhile. ;D
Joined
·
94 Posts
Yeah, could you come down and catchem' for me? that sounds like a good plan. I know how fickle they can be, so I try to prepare the best I can before I go. Thanks for all the good tips.
that sounds like a good plan. I know how fickle they can be, so I try to prepare the best I can before I go. Thanks for all the good tips.Corpeleven, all due respect the only "rod" I hold is my own! ;D ;D ;D Thererfore, you're going to have to hook them yourself. Good Luck out on the ice. Hopefully, you'll post a report upon your return and let us know how you did.
1 - 20 of 24 Posts
