Pikes Peak Region Trail Finder

           Fire up the augers and break out the huts.  As I’m writing this many of the high country lakes are capped and the ice is getting thicker.  Some lakes have had fishable ice for a few weeks now but after this latest cold snap we’ve had the rest of the high country lakes are getting their lids.  Keep an eye on some of the Front Range metro lakes too as they are beginning to freeze over. 

            Now the question is where to go?   If you have some little ones and are looking for some steady action head up to Tarryall or Skaguay.  Both of these reservoirs are heavily stocked and provide consistent action that will keep the kids attention.  As for what to use, small pink and green jigs tipped with a wax worm or meal worm and proven producers.  Small spoons tipped with the same baits also will produce.  Don’t forget the salmon eggs and powerbait either.

            If you’re looking to get into some bigger fish Antero and Elevenmile reservoirs are the places to go.  The fishing may not be as fast as at Tarryall and Skaguay but the fish are going to generally be bigger. 

            If you’re going to Antero try to find the holes in the weed beds or the edge of the weed beds.  Often times the bigger fish will cruise the edges of the weeds looking for a meal.  As far as what to use there are several options.  My go to presentation is a tube jig tipped with a meal worm or wax worm.  My favorites are the 1 inch to 3 inch tubes with pink and orange being consistent producers.  Other colors to try include pumpkin, white, chartreuse, and yellow.  Spoons have also produced several fish.  The standard pink and green jigs also are great options.  Just remember to tip them with either a wax worm, or meal worm.  Another bait I’ve had success with is the smaller gulp minnows on a small jig head.  I like the 1-1.5 inch minnows on a 1/32 oz jig head, sometimes I’ll even go as light as 1/64 oz.  As for line I like 4 lb mono or fluorocarbon are good choices.   With a properly adjusted drag and a little patience even a large fish can be put on ice with this light line.  There are also salmon swimming these waters which can be caught on many of the same presentations used for trout.  They sure do taste good on a smoker!

            If you head to Elevenmile there are several places to go and have a successful day on the ice.  Keep in mind the ice is still forming here so some places may take a few more days to have thick enough ice to fish.  Some of my favorite places on the south side include Rocking Chair, Lazy Boy, and Witchers Cove.  On the north side the North Marina Cover, Rocky Flats and Coyote Ridge are good places to start.  I usually start shallow 5-8 feet in the early morning and will mover deeper as the day progresses if I’m not seeing any fish although I really never fish any deeper than 20 feet. 

            There are several presentations that will catch fish at Elevenmile; it usually takes a little experimentation to find out what the fish want.  I usually start with a pink jig on one pole and a spoon on the other.  I’ll dead stick the jig and actively jig the spoon.  The flash will draw the fish in and if they don’t want to hit a moving lure they will hit the jig.  I also use green, orange, white, and olive jigs if the fish aren’t hitting the pink.  For spoons I like a silver and blue or silver and orange are my top producers.  And as mentioned above always tip them with the baits mentioned above.   Nightcrawlers and salmon eggs also have put many fish on the ice so don’t forget to try them if the fish aren’t cooperating with the jigs and spoons.  One bait that many people don’t think to use is corn.  Now this has been a topic of debate on whether you can use it or not and if it is used as bait the same way you would use salmon eggs then it is legal.  You cannot chum with it.   I’ll usually have one pole with two hooks attached, one about 15 inches above the other and put salmon eggs on one hook and corn on the other.  You can also put powerbait on one hook and corn or salmon eggs on the other.  Tube jigs also work well in the colors and sizes mentioned above.  You may also want to try brown tubes and colors that resemble the abundant crawfish.  One recommendation if you are fishing with a buddy or a few people make sure everyone is fishing with something different till you find what the fish want. 

            If you’re after the toothy critters swimming under the ice look to areas around Witchers Cove, Rocking Chair, Sucker Cove, Stoll Mountain, Coyote Ridge and the North Marina coves.  I’ve had good success for pike using large suckers (8-10 inches) on a tip up.  Waterdogs are also great options for bait under a tip up.  You can also drop them down on a dead stick rod as well.  One underutilized bait for pike are tube jigs.  I like to use the larger 5 inch varieties in a pumpkin, chartreuse, or white tipped with sucker meat.  Large spoons also will also put pike on the ice, and don’t forget the horizontal jigging lures.

            There are also some perch and very nice smallmouth bass in Elevenmile though they often aren’t targeted.  For the smallmouths target the rocky points starting in 20 feet of water down to about 40 feet.  I would try using tubes or crawfish imitating jigs for these feisty fighters.  For the perch some folks have gotten into some on the west end of the lake.  Look for the weedbeds where they’ll be hiding from the pike.   For the perch try small spoons and jigs tipped with gulp maggots or waxworms.  Another tactic that really catches perch is to use fish eyes from either perch or trout.  Once I catch a perch I will dispatch it and the pop an eyeball out and put it on the hook.  I don’t know what it is about using eyes for bait but the perch sure seem to like them. 

            Gill lice have decimated the salmon population in Elevenmile but there are still some salmon to be caught.  I would focus on the deeper waters around Duck, Deer, and Goose islands.  Having a fish finder is invaluable in locating the schools.  A jigging machine with 3 or 4 sets of cowbells actively jigged will help to bring in nearby schools.  I would try small spoons tipped with wax worms or meal worms.  Pink jigs also can be productive.  Tipping the jigs and spoons with shrimp can also work well. 

            I haven’t heard any reports on the Lake Trout lakes but would imagine they are beginning to get a solid lid.  Check with the local bait shops in the nearby towns to get the latest conditions.  When I go after lakers it is hard to beat the tube jig in white or chartreuse.  I use a 1/4 oz-3/4 oz jig head and a 5 inch tube tipped with either sucker meat or smelt if you can find them.  Spoons and airplane jigs tipped with sucker meat or smelt will also work well so give them a try.   

            If you haven’t tried ice fishing give it a try.  It is the great equalizer in fishing as shore bound anglers are now able to access the entire surface of the lake.  The essential gear needed to get started include an auger either hand or gas powered, a scooper to clean your holes, a selection of jigs and spoons, a good chair or bucket and a sled to haul the stuff.  You can use normal fishing poles but the shorter ice fishing poles are more convenient.  Make sure you are using a reel with a good drag and have it set properly.  I like using spinning or bait casting reels, the line on closed face reels tends to freeze inside the reel making them difficult to use.  If you can’t afford an auger most ice fishermen don’t mind drilling a few holes for you with theirs if you ask them.  Don’t forget the safety equipment as well especially on the early ice.  Have a good 50 foot rope, ice picks, life jacket, and ice cleats for your boots.  Nothing can ruin a good day of ice fishing like taking a fall on slick ice and busting you tailbone or worse yet breaking some bones.  You also want to have a good set of warm boots that are waterproof.  Having cold feet can make for a long day of fishing.

            If you become addicted to ice fishing as most first timers do there are a few more things to think about getting.  The first is an ice hut.  They come in a variety of styles, shapes, and colors.  Some things to take into consideration include what is the material made of and will it hold up to the winds of south park if you plan on fishing there.  The next is do you want one that has a sled attached to it or are you going to get the popup type that come in a carry bag.   A flasher or fish finder can also greatly increase your fishing success.  One other item on the market is the underwater camera.  I’ve never fished with one but they can be a great learning tool.  I have seen videos of them showing how the fish hit your baits and many time the fish just suck your jig right in without you knowing it. 

            Get out there and give ice fishing a try, you may become hooked on it like I am.  Good luck and most importantly be safe!