Trip Report - South Fork Colorado 7/29-8/5
Aug 12, 2018 10:26:00 GMT -6
underhillsbill, turfdawg, and 1 more like this
Post by dainw on Aug 12, 2018 10:26:00 GMT -6
A little late in posting the report bc it’s been a busy week since getting back. Had a very eventful trip to southern colorado. Was a little frustrating to be honest. Low water levels had temperatures on the main Rio grande warmer than you’d like. Had to be off the main river by noon as temps were 60-61 in the morning and 65 by middday. Best fishing was up in the high country but even there seemed slow. We did catch some fish though and a good time was had.
Day 1 - Guide trip with Peter in lake city. Big rains the night before so Peter suggested the lake fork in the morning. Lake fork was on fire with several big healthy cuttbows being landed. Walked up stream around 11 that morning to find my dad landing an absolute toad of a wild rainbow. Taped at 24 inches. Afternoon we went over to cebolla creek to try some small stream fishing for browns. Good time there but challenging as casts had to be on target the first time. Several nice small stream browns landed.
Day 2 - Hiked down into the box canyon from river hill campground. Don’t think we hiked far enough and mybe got started too late or maybe water temps were just off, but only landed one small brown. I did hook or turn 4 or 5 good fish but couldn’t keep them buttoned up.
Day 3 - fished down stream of south fork on the main Rio in the morning in the gold medal water. Picked up 7 or 8 decent browns on stonefly nymphs but nothing huge. Broke for lunch. Fished the south fork right below big meadows reservoir in the evening. One of the best times we had this trip. Caught a couple rainbows and a healthy brook trout. Dad caught about a 15 inch brown (no pics of this one) all on dry flies. Left them rising once it was too dark to see our flies.
Day 4 - fished the Rio around and above 30 mile campground. Beautiful water but fishing was tough. Landed a small brown but that was about it. Hit the south fork for the evening hatch a little lower down this time. Similar results. Called it early so we could get back to town before all the restaurants closed.
Day 5 - Back to lake city. Fished the lake fork again. Caught a few healthy rainbows but definitely slower with water about 50 CFS lower than the day before.
Day 6- got some rain the night before and a cold front moving in. Figured the Rio might be fishing well again. Headed downstream to the gold medal stretch we had fished the day before. Caught 4 or 5 on a parachute hopper before calling it a day. Got some lunch and rested up for the drive home the next day. Pics to follows
Day 1 - Guide trip with Peter in lake city. Big rains the night before so Peter suggested the lake fork in the morning. Lake fork was on fire with several big healthy cuttbows being landed. Walked up stream around 11 that morning to find my dad landing an absolute toad of a wild rainbow. Taped at 24 inches. Afternoon we went over to cebolla creek to try some small stream fishing for browns. Good time there but challenging as casts had to be on target the first time. Several nice small stream browns landed.
Day 2 - Hiked down into the box canyon from river hill campground. Don’t think we hiked far enough and mybe got started too late or maybe water temps were just off, but only landed one small brown. I did hook or turn 4 or 5 good fish but couldn’t keep them buttoned up.
Day 3 - fished down stream of south fork on the main Rio in the morning in the gold medal water. Picked up 7 or 8 decent browns on stonefly nymphs but nothing huge. Broke for lunch. Fished the south fork right below big meadows reservoir in the evening. One of the best times we had this trip. Caught a couple rainbows and a healthy brook trout. Dad caught about a 15 inch brown (no pics of this one) all on dry flies. Left them rising once it was too dark to see our flies.
Day 4 - fished the Rio around and above 30 mile campground. Beautiful water but fishing was tough. Landed a small brown but that was about it. Hit the south fork for the evening hatch a little lower down this time. Similar results. Called it early so we could get back to town before all the restaurants closed.
Day 5 - Back to lake city. Fished the lake fork again. Caught a few healthy rainbows but definitely slower with water about 50 CFS lower than the day before.
Day 6- got some rain the night before and a cold front moving in. Figured the Rio might be fishing well again. Headed downstream to the gold medal stretch we had fished the day before. Caught 4 or 5 on a parachute hopper before calling it a day. Got some lunch and rested up for the drive home the next day. Pics to follows
