Stagecoach

[John19]

Congrats on the goose! Where are you going for crappie?? Have you heard anything about the lake John tourney this past weekend?
John

[Guest]

Thank you. Sorry to be so vague but I got the goose on the Colorado, between Glenwood Spgs and Grand Junction. Also had ducks decoying all morning, got 2 mallard drakes, 2 gadwall, 1 scaup and a buffle head.
As far as the crappie, lets just say it's one of the only places that holds them in Routt County.

[davey crockett]

Sounds like that crappie lake must be Elk Head. Am I right?

[Guest]

Hello everyone, a newbie to this site here.
Fished Stagecoach Sunday and did well for trout. They liked everything I offered. Pike have not been "on" yet, but saw a 30" swimming 4 foot under the ice from my tent. Caught an 18 inch pike at the end of the day. Looks like crappie fishing for me next weekend...
PS: Shot my first goose on Saturday!

[Guest]

You are right. However I have never caught them through the ice there and I heard from others that tried, it can be quite difficult to find them. Anyone ever been there? Any luck?

[IceNutt]

Just talked to a buddy in Craig about Elkhead. He has heard of some activity latley but didn't remember much more than that. I've been by Elkhead a number of times in the winter but hardly ever see tracks or holes. FYI guess they are starting some work on the dam next summer to increase capacity. Sure would like to hear of a crappie bite.

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IceNut

[John19]

I've never been there, but a friend of mine limited out in 45 minutes on Sunday @ Cherry Creek. If you like fishing on 2inches of ice, the place has been hot I guess, but I like alittle more under my feet!!

[Guest]

Wow 2 inches of ice does not sound like my bag at all. I am going to hold off on the crappie this weekend.
Went out on Stagecoach yesterday and again, limited out in 1 hour and stayed for another hour catching and releasing, it was a blast. Average size was 16" (no joke)smallest was 12" and largest was 22", I haven't seen it this good in quite some time. I am sure the bite will end soon so I will be going there again this Saturday.

[IceNutt]

Fished Stagecoach 1/20. Took all day for three of us to fill with 'Bows. It was such a nice day we didn't mind. We did catch an 18" Golden Rainbow....really pretty. Park ranger said there are many goldens in the lake over 20"

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IceNutt

[Guest]

I fished Stagecoach on the 18th and did pretty well on the trout, the action has definately slowed down. Tried for pike but they would only look or nudge the jig & bait. Also my buddy fished it on the 19th and the fishing was even slower. It is snowing right now, I always thought a weather front would pick up the fishing???

Hey Icenutt, where abouts did you set-up? Did you keep that Palamino (Golden)? Those things are pretty. Last summer I saw a bald eagle flying with one of those in his claws, they must be a good target for the eagles.

[IceNutt]

We fished off the campground below the ranger station. Broke off two during the day which I assume were pike but happened so quick I couldn't guess the size. We did keep the golden as she was bleeding pretty bad.

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IceNutt

[IceNutt]

I'm thinking about Stagecoach Wed or Thurs this week. How was it last weekend?

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IceNutt

[Guest]

IN THE BOAT, there is a difference in a PALMINO TROUT (ALBINO) and a GOLDEN RAINBOW, a golden rainbow has a red stripe down the middle like a rainbow trout, a PALIMINO does not.

[This message has been edited by BOB AND ANG (edited 02-04-2003).]

[IceNutt]

To shed some light on the "Golden" question I did alittle c-research into this matter. Golden Rainbows and Palomino Rainbows are both color variations of the Rainbow Trout. The Golden Rainbow has a somewhat more vibrant gold color than the Palomino. FYI the Golden Trout is the state fish of California a completely different fellow from the above.

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IceNutt

[IceNutt]

Fished Stagecoach Mon 17th....ugh!!!! Really slow at least we didn't get skunked. Seemed liked guys with snow machines were fishing the SE shore but didn't talk with any of them. The surface is as typical getting very slushy.

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IceNutt

[mtreno]

use to live in steamboat but never did any ice fishing. how much ice do you have on stagecoach? how late in the season do you have safe ice? can you use live bait? barb-less hooks? going to be in fort fun (fort collins)soon and may be in town to visit old friend - maybe also to get some lines wet.

[IceNutt]

Ice is currently about 18" with the top half being frozen slush. Water temp at 10' is 36. Unless spring arrives early the ice should last another 4 wks min. As always at Stagecoach the lake gets really slushy towards spring. Sorry no live bait besides worms on the western slope. Barbless hooks OK.

[Guest]

About that slush on top of the ice, it gave me a good scare a few weeks ago when the top of the slush was frozen and my atv broke through it, "aahh" thought I was going down. There was water in between the top layer and the real ice.
How safe is the good ice with all of that slush on top, is it insulating it or is it to much weight? how much of a ratio is unsafe? 5" of ice and 10" of slush?