Jackson Reservoir

[EricCO]

Anyone fish this reservoir yet this year or ever and have any advice?
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[DonInDenver]

Hey Eric-

Did you give Jackson a try? I notice it's listed in the Denver Post website today as a warmwater"hot spot" for wipers. I was wondering nhow you did.
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[EricCO]

All I caught was trout and lots of them trolling. I didn't see anyone catch any wipers either. I even drifted and tossed crawlers, curly tail grubs, and minnows up shallow for a few hours, but nothing.



I wonder how they are catching them?
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[DonInDenver]

The blurb I saw on Jackson said they're taking the wipers on traditional trout lures, small spinners and such. It's now on the Colorado fishing reports web page: [url "http://wildlife.state.co.us/fishing/fishcond.asp"]http://wildlife.state.co.us/fishing/fishcond.asp[/url]

I saw you had posted someplace that you were going to try Eleven Mile yesterday. Did you make it up? How was it?
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[EricCO]

I got skunked. Not sure what I should have done. I did have a big fish come from the bottom of the lake in about 50 feet to look at my kokanee killer I was trolling in about 25 feet of water. Do they have lake trout in there?

I trolled fast and slow: cranks, spoons, spinners, crawlers, dead minnows. Then I casted to shore with crawlers, spoons, and crankbaits. Then I anchored and drifted crawlers and grubs.

What should I have done?

It was the first time I've had that boat in the mountains (now that I have a new truck!) and the first time I've ever fished 11 Mile from a boat. It was fun passing people on the way up the mountains pulling a boat! LOL
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[DonInDenver]

Hi Eric-

Boy, it sounds like you tried about everything. I can't think of anything different I would have thought to try.

As far as lake trout in Eleven Mile are concerned, I have an old lake bottom map (from Hydro Surveys, I think) that lists lake trout as being present. I also saw a pic this winter on one of the Eleven Mile bait place websites that showed someone holding what looked to me to be a small lake trout. It had a deeply forked tail. Now I suppose it could also have been a splake that was trucked down when they drained Antero. I remember thinking "lake trout" when I saw the picture, and wondering whether there is still a small population of them in Eleven Mile. I wasn't thinking about splake. When I get home tonight and have more time I'll see if I can find that picture again.
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[NealCO]

When I started ice fishing there in 1982 I was told there were some leftover Lakers from stockings in the 60s. I actually had one that looked to be about 20 lbs chase a school of Kokes under my hut. I guess there could still be some left? I would tend to lean towards the Splake theory?

Without a doubt the toughest lake to figure out in Colorado? With the exception of the Pike.
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[DonInDenver]

Hi Neal-

I got curious after Eric and I had our exchange earlier today so I called 11 Mile Sports and talked with Larry. He said there might still be a few lakers. He told me he has seen a grand total of 2 lakers from 11 Mile in the last 28 years. So, I'm leaning toward splake, too.

You're right. It is the toughest to figure out, especially this year.
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[NealCO]

If there are any Lakers left I would imagine they are probably over on the east side where it is rocky and deep. About a 30% of the lake is off limits on that side.

When I was in my 20s and didn't care about sleep, I use to go up and fish there at night. That is a very different lake once it is dark. Now it is much easier to fish the morning bite at Spinney, then return in the afternoon to fish for Pike.
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