Dream Stream
Friday I spent the day scouting South Park. First I stopped at Antero Reservoir, just north of route 24 about 25 miles east of Buena Vista.
Antero re-opened this summer after a long closure. It has been managed as a trophy stillwater fishery and the results are undeniable. An 18 lb cutthroat was taken already this summer and there have been many 5 lb + fish.
But the big fish hype comes at a price. As I walked the banks on the south side of the lake I was saddened to see the trash that has already been left behind by thoughless anglers. I was even sadder when I saw two dead, graying trout bobbing in the water next to shore. Each was bigger than the biggest I’ve ever caught. Add the crowds of shore anglers and an amada of boats and tubes and it’s not a scene I want to repeat while there are so many beautiful places in Colorado to enjoy.
Speaking of beautiful places. Pictured above is the “Dream Stream” aka the South Platte River that flows between Spinney Mountain Reservoir and Eleven Mile Reservoir. The Dream Stream has the character of a spring creek, with the cold water, weedy streambed and large trout that one would expect. The stream has a reputation as a trophy hunters paradise in the spring and the fall when the rainbows & cutts (spring) and browns (fall) come into the stream to spawn from Eleven Mile Reservoir. The summer can also offer some good fishing to stream resident fish but like you’d expect with a spring creek the fish can be picky and I’m told small bugs and fine leaders are the way to success.
I also had a good look at Spinney Mountain Reservoir which along with trout fishing is also known for its northern pike. On entering the park there is a large sign encouraging anglers to harvest pike in an effort to resore the balance between pike and trout in the lake. I look forward to helping them out with that.
Thursday I drove up to Cottonwood Lake just west of Buena Vista. It’s not exactly a high mountain lake but it does sit at about 9,000 feet and is flanked by tall mountains. The highest, Mt. Princeton to the south is one of Colorado’s Fourteeners at 14,197 feet.
The one in the picture may be stream or lake bred. It’s hard to see but he had excellent colors and a bright red tip on his adipose fin. Even the stocker fish were no push-overs. I began fishing with a large attractor and a small nymph dropper. I took a few fish on the dropper but the water was clear and I could see fish come up to the attractor, almost touching it with their noses and then turn away. I switched to a Dave’s hopper and went a size smaller on the tippet and immediately started catching fish on the surface.