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Post Info TOPIC: Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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It's That Time Again.....Colorado Fall Colors



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DanWallentine


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Colorado, Glacier Creek, Grand Slam
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Date: August 24, 2010
"Grand Slam" is four trout species in one day. Today I caught cutthrout, rainbows, browns and brook trout plus one cut-bow and all from one creek. A great day fishing.
Glacier creek is in Rocky Mountain National Park. My guide for the day was Frank Drummond, out of Estes Park Anglers. Frank also hand-crafts bamboo rods, local unique flies and can be reached by email at frank@brushcreekcane.com and phone at 303-810-4538.
Method and flies: Several Dry flies including Royal Trude #14, Parachute Adams #16, PMD #16 worked well. A couple fish were taken on a dropper described as a "Frank's Special" #16.
Comments: We fished the creek about two miles up from Glacier Basin Campground. The creek is small and mostly pocket water fishing. I used a 3 wt 8.5' rod, but should have used a 7'. The creek required near surgical casting techniques to very difficult locations of very small holding areas. Without Frank pointing out these little holding areas I would have passed them by. I learned several new techniques that will aid this seasoned fisherman. Everyday fishing is a good day, but four species and one sub-species in one day from one creek is indeed special. Thank you Frank!

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Dan Wallentine
DanWallentine


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Colorado, The Big Thompson River, Estes Park
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Date: August 21, 2010, Saturday, from 7:30 to 12 noon.
Fished the Big Thompson about a mile below Estes Lake. From the Lake down stream to Drake is catch and release only. As the morning wore on the river got crowded with weekend visitors, which made finding "fresh water" difficult and about noon the down canyon winds made casting difficult.
Method: dry-dropper with #14 yellow stimulator and #18 PMD and two fly nymph with #14 Pheasant Tail and #18 PMD emerger, using 6x tippet. The PMD worked in both methods.
Results: 4 browns up to 12" and one rainbow of 13" and of course the usual few hooked, played and lost fish.
Comments: We are staying in Spruce Lake RV and campground which is family friendly. There are many family activities in Estes Park. Within walking distance is Scot's Sporting Goods store. I found everyone at Scot's very friendly, especially Bob Traver who gave specific recommendations on fly selections that actually worked. The store web-site is www.scotssportinggoods.com and the phone number is 970-586-2877.


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Dan Wallentine
dw

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Animas River 7-21-10
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http://durangooutdoors.blogspot.com/2010/07/animas-river-update.html



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dw


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RE: Animas River 3-21-10
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btw, if you do not like fishing muddy high waters, this month could be your last chance through about mid April.
From then until end of June we could see some very high flows this year, possibly up to 5,000 cfs depending on how quickly and how much it warms up.
Thanks!

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dw


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Animas River has just begun to start feeling the effects of the warmer temps as water is starting to cloud up a bit in afternoons from run off. This will continue and get worse as weather gets warmer due to very nice snow accumulation in higher country.

Conditions are bound to change daily in the spring months

Flows are still very low however water is off color through afternoons.  Running just under 200 CFS.

Some great hatches have been seen of midges coming off in warmer weather, prince nymphs and hares ears still producing.  Large streamers, san juan worms seem to be pulling in some bigger fish though.  Behind mall City is building a new pedestrian bridge across the river so beware of construction there.

http://coloradohuntandfish.blogspot.com




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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine


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Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine


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Darin Wallentine


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dw


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RE: Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Animas River
The Animas is low and cold. Some slush on cold mornings but mid day disappears
Fishing has been fair to good with fish eating midges and caddis nymphs deep in pools and pockets.

san juan worms and eggs also catching some medium sized fish. Don't forget streamers- bright flashy yellow patterns producing fair to good.



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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Reports
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Sean


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RE: Colorado Reports
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I caught this 25-inch "Silver Bullet" Rainbow Trout near Lake City, Colorado. Awesome fish!

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Sean


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Another big Rainbow from our recent trip to Colorado. But, just wait until my NEXT post...



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Sean


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I caught this 19" Rainbow Trout near Lake City, Colorado. The fish took a #16 beadhead Frostbite tied by Darin Wallentine. 

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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Reports
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Thanks Bro. If you teach me how to take down a criminal at Warrior School, I can teach you how to fly fish.

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Greg

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RE: Colorado Reports
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Excellent fish/catch...Only VFG can provide that inspiration to become a better fly fisher!!!

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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Reports
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Sean


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I caught and released this trophy Rainbow in private waters near Lake City, Colorado.



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Darin Wallentine


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That's what we need to keep putting on the BB. I will start creating the same this afternoon. Good job!

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Sean


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RE: Colorado Reports
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I caught this beautiful Rainbow Trout on the upper Lake Fork of the Gunnison River near Lake City, Colorado.

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Darin Wallentine


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RE: Colorado Reports
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Looks great Sean!

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Sean


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Catching and releasing a fat 20" Rainbow Trout in Lake City, Colorado. Sweet!



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Darin Wallentine


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Check out the photo below of Sean's acrobatic trout.


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Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ

Here are some of my favorite scenic pic's from Lake City, CO 2009. Thanks to Sean, Dad, and Erik for their photos this trip.

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DanWallentine


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By: Dan Wallentine

Where: Lake City, CO and the Lake Fork of the Gunnison Riv. (an hour south of Gunnison, CO)

When: September 27 to October 2

We, Darin Wallentine, Sean Wallentine, Eric Vail and myself fished mostly private waters. There are detailed postings from each of our group to review elsewhere. I personally caught and released 35 Rainbows and 2 Browns. Most of them on a dry #10 or 12 Royal Stimulator and #16 Pheasant Tail Frost Bite. Several of the pond fish were caught on a black or green Wooly Buggers. Though we were privileged to fish private water, it should be noted that the river just above the Lake San Cristobol for about two miles is public access with the area below the bridge designated as "fly fishing only." This section is a perfect hole, riffle and run trout fishery. The we fished it the activity was slow with only four fish caught. The air temperature had dropped into the high teens so it seemed the fish were entering their winter mode.

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Dan Wallentine
Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
October 2, 2009
Caught 2 Rainbows up to 21"
Flies Used: Black Woolly Bugger #8 and Pheasant Tail Frostbite #14.
Other Details: We returned to the previous day's location where the Lake Fork flows into Lake San Cristobol. We arrived at about 1030 and it was still cold. Just like the previous day it was a tough day of fishing. Erik was the only one to land a trout. We spent the rest of the afternoon fishing the Upper Lake Fork and the ponds. My total for the trip was 61 Rainbows, Browns, and Brookies, with my largest being a 22" Rainbow.




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Erik


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Day 4

Skunked, walked the upper lake fork of the Gunnison river from San Cristobal lake to the bridge and then up about 1 mile. Worked the river hard without a single bite.

Day 5

Walked the same part of the river, caught 1 beautiful rainbow about 16 inches on a San Juan worm. Life is good with the Virtual Fly Guides.




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Darin Wallentine


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Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

October 1, 2009
Lake Fork of the Gunnison River, Lake City, CO

We fished from the mouth of Lake San Cristobol to the bridge, then up from there through the gorge toward Camp Redcloud. We also fished in a private stretch of the river higher up, as well as in two private lakes.

Fish Caught: 9
Species: 6 Rainbows, 2 Browns, 1 Brook Trout
Size: About 5 of the fish were in the 15/16 inch range and the rest were 13 and 14 inches.
Weather: It was 23 degrees in the morning and never warmed past 45. Cold day. A lot of ice on our fly line and the rod's eyelets. A little windy too.

Effective Flies: I caught two nice Rainbows (15 and 16 inches) in the river on a #16 copper Copper John. I also caught a healthy Brook Trout on the same fly. Another Rainbow in the river smacked my olive body rubber legged Stimulator on the surface. In the lake I caught 5 trout on a black Woolly Bugger (#8) that had blue crystal flash wrapping. The fish in the pond included a 16 inch brown, a 15 inch brown and three Rainbows from 14 to 16 inches.


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Darin Wallentine


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Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
October 1, 2009
Caught 3 Rainbows and 1 Brook Trout
Flies Used: Green Flash Woolly Bugger #10; Black Woolly Bugger #8; Muddler Minnow #8
Other Details: Attempting to find new water, we went to where the Lake Fork flows into Lake San Cristobol. We fished in 20 degree temps and frequently had to break the ice of our fly rod guides. It was another tough day of fishing. We ended the day stripping streamers in the Davis and Smith pond. Thank God the fish were more accepting of my fly.



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Erik


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Day 3

Erik Vail
Tucson AZ,

Walked and walked the upper Lake Fork of the Gunnison, it seems that the water levels are quite low for this time of the season. We looked for pockets of water that would hold fish, anything that will change the water flow has the potential to hold fish. Not being as experienced fisherman as the guys Im with, certainly did not put out the numbers these guys did. Brookies are very fast and skitish. You'll need to use a dry fly that is big enough to see with a dropper about 18" down.  We got a little tired of not catching fish so we moved back to the private ponds and got back into the battle.



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Sean


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RE: Colorado Reports
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Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Date: September 30, 2009
Location: Lake City, CO

Water(s): Lake Fork of the Gunnison; high up at Borrow's Park section.
Fish Caught: 13
Species: Brook Trout

Size: Caught a couple 10 and 11 inch fish, which is a good size for the small creek which runs at about 11,000 feet in elevation.

Good Flies: Green bead head Pulsating Caddis; orange Rubber legged stimulator.
Weather: It was cold (very cold in the morning) and EXTREMELY windy. Rain and snow in the morning and into the afternoon. Most of the day the wind was gusting up to 60 miles per hour. I have never fished in such strong winds. Trees were knocked down in Lake City and the power was out for a while. But, I love the wind.

It was very fun catching Brook Trout on small, brush lined creek and in adjoining beaver ponds. The fish were very colorful and full of fight. It was also awesome to see another moose today.


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Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
September 30, 2009
Caught 9 Brookies
Flies Used: Orange Stimulator #12 and Flashback Pheasant Tail #16
Other Details: We headed to the Upper Lake Fork at Burrows Park. As we ascended the road toward Cinnamon Pass, the rain turned to snow. The winds picked up and blew about 50 mph and made for a very cold day. We battled the wind and caught a handful of Brookies.


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Erik


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Day 2

Erik Vail
Tucson AZ,

OMG! We must have caught 90 fish throughout the day. We fished the smith pond with the most success. The fish were aggressive and BIG. The dry flies were the most fun, watching the trout strike was a kick. I must have caught 20, I lost count. Nothing less than 13", the largest at 21". The mountains of Colorado are overwhelming. I cannot stop gazing at the glory of God.


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Sean


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Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Date: September 28, 2009
Location: Lake City, CO

Water(s): Lake Fork of the Gunnison; private lakes
Fish Caught: 25
Species: 23 Rainbows and 2 Brook Trout

Size: Caught a 25 inch Rainbow; also 22, 21 and 19 inch Rainbows as well as numerous fish between 14 and 17 inches. The smaller fish were the Brook Trout we caught in the higher reaches of the Lake Fork.

Good Flies: Red Copper John, Frostbite, Prince, Stimulators, black Woolly Bugger.
Weather: Perfect weather, really. About 70 degrees, some breezes. Very few clouds.

I especially enjoyed catching two fish (pictured below) in the river. The 14 inch fish took a bead head Frostbite "dropper" in a really nice run. The 16 inch fish (later in the day) took a rubber legged Stimulator off the surface. And, the 25 inch silver monster Rainbow was in the air as much as in the water during the fight. Wow.

I also caught some other big fish. Great day!



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Jared Griswold


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love this pics guys. The moose is very cool, what a gift from God to see that. I love that blue sky behind Sean to. The Fish are Beautiful. Totally wish I was there. Have fun!!

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Darin Wallentine


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Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
September 29, 2009
Caught 6 Rainbows and Browns
Flies Used: Orange Rubberleg Stimulator #14; Frostbite PT #14,
Other Details: Tough fishing today on the Lake Fork. Wind kicked up and the fish were few and far between. Finished the day on the ponds to build some confidence. We came upon a bull and cow moose in the early afternoon. Very impressive.


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Sean


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Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Date: September 29, 2009
Location: Lake City, CO
Water(s): Lake Fork of the Gunnison; private lakes
Fish Caught: 5
Species: Rainbow, Brown & Brook Trout
Size: Largest was a 19 inch Rainbow; also caught a 16 inch Rainbow; 15 inch Brown; Brook Trout were small but beautiful.
Effective Flies: #12 Parachute Adams; #12 Rubber Legged Stimulator;
Weather: It was cool, around 65 degrees and very windy (a front is coming in)

Overall it was a slow day. We fished A LOT of water and caught very few fish today. We did see a bull moose which was cool.


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DanWallentine


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Dan Wallentine
Irvine, Ca

September 28, 2009
Lake Fork of the Gunnison (private water)
Fished a private lake and caught 18 Rainbows 15-22" and 1 brown 16"
Used Royal stimulator and Pheasant Tail frost bite dropper and green Wooly Bugger.



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Dan Wallentine
DanWallentine


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Dan Wallentine
Irvine, Ca

September 27, 2009
Lake Fork of the Gunnison (private water)
Caught six rainbows from 14 to 19 in. using a #12 Royal Stimulator and a Pheasant Tail nymph dropper. Weather was clear and cloudless.


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Dan Wallentine
Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
September 28, 2009
Caught 25 Rainbows and 1 Brown up to 22"
Flies Used: Orange Stimulator #12; Frostbite PT #14; Black Woolly Bugger #10; Copper and Green Copper John #16.
Other Details: Fished the Lake Fork through the Davis property. Dry/dropper was the preferred strategy with the Pheasant Tail Frostbite as the HOT fly.



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Darin Wallentine


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Colorado Photos, Videos and Reports
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Darin Wallentine
Tucson, AZ

Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Ponds near Lake City, CO
September 27, 2009
Caught 14 Rainbows and Brookies up to 20"
Flies Used: Orange Stimulator #12 and Frostbite PT #14
Other Details: Fished along the Davis property with a dry/dropper. The hot fly was the Pheasant Tail Frostbite.




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Sean


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Sean Wallentine
Sacramento, CA

Date: September 27, 2009
Location Fished: Upper Lake Fork of the Gunnison River and Private Lake
Fish:  10 caught; 8 Rainbow Trout; largest was 21 inches; several fish between 15 and 19 inches; 2 Brook Trout.
Weather:  Sunny and clear
Flies used: Royal Stimulator; Orange Rubber Legged Stimulator; #16 Frostbite; #16 Red Copper John; #16 Green Pulsating Caddis

Great first day of this week long trip to Lake City, Colorado. Fishing in the river and in the lake(s) is very good. However, since we are so late in the season the water is very low, but clear and still fishable. Fish size and quality in the river is great. The lakes are always home to big fish.

We also fished the upper section of the Lake Fork above Cottonwood Creek. This section is almost exclusively Brook Trout. Fun pocket water fishing with dry/dropper combo.



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Erik


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Day 1

Davis pond, couple really nice 19" and 21" rainbow trout. I caught them Royal stimulator and Pheasant Tail Frost Bite. What a kick. The Colorado mountains are AMAZING to this Arizona boy.

Upper Lake Fork Gunnison river, caught about 5-6 rainbow and brookies off Frost bites and dry flies, it does not matter. The  fishing is always good with the VFG.

Chief  Hyatt, is this big enough for ya ?


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Jared Griswold


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RE: Colorado Reports
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here is the spot. Google earth it.
38*42'56.18N 106*15'20.63WIMG_1139.JPG


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Darin Wallentine


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Thanks for posting it anyway, even if it was the "honey hole". By the way, is there a pic that goes with the "honey hole"? Or did you want to try to keep this spot under the radar?

DW


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Jared Griswold


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RE: Colorado Reports
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you weren't suppose to tell them about this one. smile.gif

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Xian


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Location:  Upper Chalk Creek
Fish:  15 brown's and rainbow's up to 12 inches
Weather:  Sunny and clear
Flies used:  Caddis, Copper John, and Prince Nymphs

This is a location my friend Jarred and I stumbled upon that felt like a "honey hole" once we got there.  Not necessarily because the fish were huge, but because there was no one there and there were lots of fish!  Chalk Creek down by the camp grounds tends to be a bit thin and steep and mostly allows for only pocket fishing around small falls and breaks.  But if you continue up past the camp grounds, it really widens and flattens and makes for some excellent fishing.  Although I would normally keep this place our little secret, it is one I'm willing to share with VFG.

Christian Hill

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