[Rip Lip]

Fished Rifle Gap yesterday from about 11:30 to 3:30. Mid 60's, sporatic clouds, medium wind. Was fly fishing from shore in shallow water with a deciever type minnow fly. Was also throwing spinner baits and jerks, but was too shallow to be effective so the fly was the way to go. Landed two pike, both around 30", one about 10 lbs and the other about 12 lbs, very fat and healthy. Both were C&R. Had one other short strike that I could see. These fish were caught in less than two feet of water. Water was pretty warm to the touch so I would imagine a couple really warm days will get the fish moving towards deeper water. Guaging by the water temp and the mood of the fish at Rifle, I would guess Stagecoach and Willies Fork will be heating up in another week or two once the pike finish thier spawn and recover. Here's a few photos. I was fishing alone and used the camera on my phone so the quality is not the best, but you get the idea. Get out there and do some pikin while the pikin is good.

Tight Lines,

Rip Lip

First Pike of the day, around 12 lbs???? Fat & Healthy

Second Pike about 20 minutes later, around 10 lbs????

 

[Rip Lip]

skinzier - That is a grande pike you are holding. One sping up at Stagecoach we say 4 or 5 huge dead pike shortly after ice off. I could only think that spawing takes so much out of a fish like that they never recover and die. We never saw any small ones dead??? Either that or old age, don' know. Here is some more inspiration for ya all. Put your time on the water and one day it will pay off with a big fish like these.

DoninDenver - About as gratifying to me as those huge macs you're catching up at the Gorge. As you know it takes time, but is well worth it in the long run.

My fishing buddy with what we estimated as a 48" pike, around 32 lbs, still swimming

Myself with a personal best: approximately 42", 21 lbs. Still swimming

 

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Skindzier - I didn't notice you said that dead pike was taged. I'm surpised you never heard anything back from the DOW, well not really. It would be interesting to see what, if any data they have on that fish. I'm sure they could tell you when it was taged and how big it was then. They have to have record of it, i'm sure. I may hit up Rifle this weekend, but will most likely be targeting the Coach in the next few weeks. All the rivers are blown out so it's stillwater season for me. I love the variety.