Steamboat Area (March15th-22nd)

[John19]

Hey Guys! We are going to Steamboat for spring break, and would like to get out on the water between ski days as much as possible. So any information about the area, (mainly Stagecoach) would be greatly appreciated! How are current conditions? Any hot bites anywhere? Any other lakes within striking distance? Or any other Info. would be great.
Thanks alot!
John

[Guest]

Stagecoach has been fishing well for trout, pike has been slow this year. Expect lots of slush (4-10"). There are a few places within an hour for more ice fishing but I do not have personal reports from there ie. Wolford Res., Steamboat Lake, Pearl Lake. The river through town is open and fishing well (catch n release). Below the dam at Stagecoach is fun if you enjoy flyfishing small flies (sz 18-24). Need suggestions on where to eat, I can help with that too. Anything else?

[John19]

Hey Thanks! A place or two to get a good burger or meal would be nice to know. Also, what about a baitshop , or a place to pick up some sucker meat. We may set up a tip-up or two. I've never fished Stagecoach, is there a place on the lake we should hit first? We will probably have a couple of youngins with us, so a huge trek across the hardtop might not be adviseble. Any other tidbits of information will be more than helpful!!!!!

[Guest]

A what shop? Just kidding, well not really, there is no bait shop, but...you can go to the town of Oak Creek and find Spiro's to get frozen sucker meat or just bring your own. Oak Creek is no more than a 1/2 hour out of the way. I believe they are closed on Sundays (more than once I got forgot about this). There number is 970 736-2443 if you want to call ahead. Try the very south end of the Res. near the inlet, actually cross over the bridge of the inlet and park at the first spot on the left then walk out as far as you'd like and check your depths, it can be pretty shallow in parts, if you find the river channel that's a good place to start. If you are not up for the few hundred yard hike, super easy access and likely no pike then go to the marina and fish where everyone else goes. Or my spot is just left of the boat ramp you walk down from that marina, in that little cove, not a far walk either, you'll see where I have set up the tent in the past. No big secret, hasn't been great for me this year for pike, but that's where we pulled out a 39" 19lber so that area kinda has a place in my heart.
OK places to eat...Double Z (on Yampa Ave) is has great burgers and BBQ (possibly a heart attack). Gotta try the Smokehouse (on Lincoln in town) for the cool atmoshere, very cold beer and peanut shells on the floor. There's always Slopeside Grill (on the mountain) for Apre Ski and live music as well as great pizza. Good, inexpensive, big burritos can be found at Azteca Taqueria on the main drag downtown (Lincoln Ave) at 4th St & Lincoln. Its not hard to find a place to eat in this town but don't miss the above mentioned. I hope you have a good time and enjoy your vacation.
By the way, are you seeing any snowgeese out east?

[This message has been edited by In the boat (edited 03-12-2003).]

[This message has been edited by In the boat (edited 03-12-2003).]

[davey crockett]

Last I heard, the fishing was pretty good for some nice sized trout, but not too good for pike. There is about 12 to18" of snow over several inches of water, on top of about 20" of good ice. The going is really tough-you keep going into the snow/water up to your knee before hitting the solid ice. Might want to reconsider taking the young ones.

[John19]

Wow Boat, sounds like you've got Steamboat down pat! We will definately hit a few of the places you've mentioned. Any place with very cold beer has a place in my heart . We can't wait!! No snow geese yet, but there have been quite a few Canada's on the move. Thanks for all the info, I'm really not planning on catching a 39incher, but I guess you never know! we'll keep you posted on how we do!

[Guest]

Hey John19 did you get to Steamboat? What did you do? I fished Stagecoach yesterday, no pike but a few trout in a few hours. The slush was just over my boots (8") for 20 feet from shore then it was fine. Let me know how you did.

[John19]

Boat, We made it to steamboat and had an absoultly fantastic vacation!!!! I fished the mornings Wed, Fri & Sat, and caught tons of trout. I went Tues night(5-6:30) to check it out and fished off the point, below the ranger station. I could't beleive how deep it was. 20 yds from shore, and it was 30ft of water. I finally moved about 10yds in and fished 18ft of water, catching one fish. Wednesday I fished off the boat ramp about 50yds out, 14ft of water, perfect for the Rainbows!!!. I fished those same 2 holes the rest of the days. Wed: fished 7-11:30,3-5pm catching 17 fish. Fri: 6-9am caught 10,
Sat: 5:30-10am caught 24

Biggest was just a hair under 18 inches, with most running 15-16 inches. It was alot of fun, and it was great being so close to the city. I could get 3hrs of fishing, then spend the rest of the day skiing!! I never fished for pike, but the rangers said it was a very slow year for them. It was great having the whole lake to ourselves. A guy fished by me for an hour one day, and another guy walked towards the dam on Saturday, and that was the only people other than rangers I've seen the entire time. Almost all fish were caught on a 1 inch Pink/White tube jig, tipped with a meal worm. They absolutly pounded it on the fall. They even nailed it when I left it still, but they really prefered alittle movement. Slush wasn't a problem, But old hole were! My daughter stepped in one Wed , but that was the only bummer for the entire trip! We had a Great time! ( and the skiing was awsome too! )

Later, John