[Neal/CO]

Since we all have spring fever, what are your favorite walleye lakes? Mine are.

1. Chatfield
2. Bonny
3. Lonetree
4. Pueblo
5. Cherry Creek at night.

Now that Horsetooth is back on line, I would also like to try it! I have always used Aurora as a place to take my sons and nephews that is close, for trout and perch, but I think I will fish it more seriously after seeing how well Donald does there!

Actually Glendo is my favorite! But I only get up there about twice a year if lucky

 

[epic]

Which ever one they're biting on and I'm fishing on!

 

[don broeren]

Great topic Neal!

My favorites are:
1. Pueblo
2. Aurora
3. Cherry Creek
4. Chatfield

All of these lakes have good populations of walleyes and the chance for a real hog, hopefully this will be the year I get one over 10 lbs.! ;D

 

[epic]

..... hopefully this will be the year I get one over 10 lbs.! ;D

you need to edit that to hopefully this year I get one over 10 lbs In one of the tournaments I'm fishing.

That would be good!

 

[don broeren]

I'll take a 10 pounder anytime I can get it, during a tournament would be even better! ;D

 

[Zman]

1) Aurora - some real pigs in this lake and I think it gets overlooked...my best day I took and 8 and 10 pounder from shore...I have caught more from shore out there than from out of my boat...no noise or waves from jet skiers or waterskiers...

2) Lonetree - I have fished it half a dozen times and caught two walleyes and several wipers...havent figured it out yet is a real tough nut to crack...the colorado fisheries biologists will tell you it is loaded to the gills with fish...it is also loaded with shad...when on it the fish finder is alive with fish...figuring it out is a goal for this summer...it is also wakeless so no jet skiers or water skiers...see a pattern here?

3) Chatfield - I think there may be more walleyes in this lake per acre than any lake in Colorado...keeper fish can be tough to come by...and then there are the water skiers and jet skiers...but it is a hop skip and jump from my house...I plan to refine my night fishing skills here this summer...

4) Trinidad Reservoir - has walleyes and saugeyes...I fish the dam for them from shore...havent hauled my boat down there...the nice thing...you never know what you are going to catch...all from the same area...bass, trout, walleyes, saugeyes or channel cats...it is way of the beaten path but the campground is first class...it is my early spring bail out reservoir when the weather is crappy here...can be 10 to 20 degrees warmer in the spring...

5) Carter - I needed five...I have heard good things about it but havent fished it...another one to hit when I cant figure out Lonetree...

 

[James]

zman, could you tell me where you took the walleyes from shore at Aurora? I have a hot spot map, but it doesn't list species. Also what time of day was it?           Thanks.

 

[slayerfish]

Yeah,tell me too!!!

 

[NeWcS]

Ive only caught Walleyes at:

Aurora: Small 15"
&
C.Creek. 11lbs'er a few years ago.


-Jay

 

[idratherbfishing]

Don't be stingy with the info now! Inquiring minds want know where.

Dan

 

[slayerfish]

My fav is Big Mac in neb.Fairly easy to catch big ones.Another is nee gronde,not much pressure.

 

[Zman]

I'm not going to tell you guys...just kidding...I actually have had luck from shore in 3 areas...Senac on east side...the marina cove on the south side but most of all have been by walking/biking away from the crowds on the dam...with 4 pound line you can easily reach 30 feet of water...they seem to move in and out and arent always in the same place and they can violate most of all the wives tales attributed to walleyes...Aurora has some of the clearest water I have ever fished for walleyes and I grew up in Minnesota...but yet they violate most of the rules...I have caught 4 walleyes after 4pm from the dam...and not for lack of trying...my best day...I caught a 7, 8 and 10 pounder...the sad part...they were all between 9:30 and 11 am on a no cloud in the sky colorado day in the heat of the summer and NO WIND...dead still...I think the key with the dam is they can slip in from 60 feet of water to get at food in the shallows...the consistantly best days are when the wind is blowing straight from the south into the dam...if it isnt calm or from the south I no longer go...if it switches to the east I go home immediately they just arent there on a cross wind...although I havent tried the westside dam face when the wind is from the east...I guess part of me believes in the old proverb...when the wind is from the east the fish bite the least...based on cold fronts and unsure weather conditions...there also is a good population of huge wipers in the lake too...my biggest is right at 9 pounds...but my friend Dennis has one that went almost 14 pounds...the real kicker...the one the rangers said we couldnt do...we use 4 pound line for them too...the first one Dennis hooked spooled him...took all 250 yards of line off his reel and left it empty...we have better luck getting them to turn now...we have also caught rainbows to a hair over 10 pounds and smallmouths to 4.5...all off the dam...it is a great fishery...

 

[Guest]

BIG MAC!

 

[slayerfish]

My Hero! Now thats what I'm talkin about!!!

 

[idratherbfishing]

Are you trying to make feel inferior by posting those pictures? If so its working.

Dan

 

[Guest]

Are you trying to make feel inferior by posting those pictures?  If so its working.

Dan

It was pure luck. I'm the worst fisherman I know. When I caught those, everyone else was catching twice as many.

 

[Zman]

EricCo

Those are great pictures...I think at ice off or next winter I am going to learn about Macs...big trout on a short rod are a hoot...and I think you are better than you think...being lucky is a good thing...maybe you just havent used it up yet...I read a piece where the author said the reason little kids always have pictures of great big fish is they havent used up their luck yet...what's the saying...I would rather be lucky than good...but they are great pictures...

 

[1eyered]

EricCO

Goodness

I envy... Yes.. I envy.. Great catch!! I believe you are a better fisherman than you think.

My father used to speak of Big Mac with the highest enthusiasm. He used to go there every other weekend from Boulder with just an inflatable boat with my uncle. They used to cruise the shorelines over the shallows hooking up with a variety of different fish. He was after white bass or wipers, I forget, but he would bring home an occasional walleye about the same size as the ones in your pictures.

I hope to catch at least one that size this year!!

 

[chris]

Couple I like to fish are Boyd and Horsetooth.

 

[Nawanda]

Zman,

I have caught about 3 baby walleyes at Aurora, but I've no experience in catching them anyway. I did catch a 10+# wiper in Aurora last summer. That was a thrill.

I'd sure like to learn something about Walleyes but I don't have a clue. I usually fish with nightcrawlers out there. One weird thing is that I've taken minnows out there, fished them deep and with almost no weight at all, and come away totally skunked. That's happened at least twice.

The trout are nice; but I really go for the Wipers. They can be actively feeding all around, but won't touch anything I offer, so I'm not an expert on them either. Just lucky.