Antero Ice Fishing for the First Time

My first 'iced' rainbow trout.

     A guy from Wisconsin, a Jayhawker, and two South Africans step onto Antero Ice for the first time.  Stop me if you’ve already heard this one.

     Hiemal fishing has never been my forte, and my first time ice fishing started out on the chilly side, but by the end of the day I warmed to the prospect.

Tyin' Flies and Takin' Names

     Soon after learning the basics of fly casting, and seeing the pride in others when a fly they tied works on the river or lake, I decided to take up fly tying.  But where to start?

A Fly Fishing Primer

     Learning how to fly-cast from a book was not as difficult as I thought it would be.  Joseph Petralia’s Flyfishing: First Cast to First Fish! did the job for me.  A long time ago I had my first fly-fishing experience.  A friend invited me along on a trip to one of the best places in the Midwest to catch big trout.

10 Things I Am Thankful For



Ute Lake, NM.  Killer strike, the smallie
watched the Repo Man fly through the
air and hit it as it landed 6 inches from
the bank!


A fisherman’s list of reasons to be thankful this year.

10. I am thankful for the sudden strike.  The one that, when the catch is done and the big one is released, leaves me trembling and wanting more.  And that, even after all these years, I still feel this way each and every time it happens.

Winter Bass Fishing



Capped with ice, or clear water,
winter bass hunker down.



Like much of the U.S. of A., bass fishing in Colorado during the winter comes almost to a standstill, like the bass do, as well.  But that doesn't mean you can not catch bass during the wintertime.  Here are a few techniques to catch lethargic lunkers lurking down deep.

Winter Bass Fishing

Here in Colorado, just like other parts of the U.S. of A., bass fishing gets really tough over the winter.  The bite shuts down sometime after early to mid-November and doesn't start to pick up again until early March.  But that doesn't mean you can't catch bass over the winter.  You just have to adjust your fishing techniques.

Monster Fishing

We all have monsters that we remember, the ones that got away, but how about the times fishing when we truly got scared?  My two most memorable lake monsters came from the same place.

DOW/Parks Merger Needs Your Voice.

This is the opportunity and the time for sportsmen to have a voice in the Colorado Parks and Wildlife merger.  Don’t wait until decisions have already been made before you let your voice be heard!

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Colorado Department of Parks and Wildlife (DPW) have posted online a request for public input concerning the transition stages of the merger between the Colorado Department of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks.  Meeting dates, group reports, and public input results will be posted online.  Public input may be submitted in writing.

A Black Eye For Professional Bass Fishing

Recent events cast a shadow over and otherwise honest endeavor.

As a Board of Director Member and former Tournament Director for the Rocky Mountain Team Series, and long-time bass tournament competitor, I find it disheartening when I hear a story like the one that is currently raging through the bass tournament world and splattered all over the internet.  Cheating in bass tournaments is no joke, in any circumstance.

Summer Deep Bass Pattern

Wacky-rig FT Sinko

     Summer bass patterns can be tough.  After the early top water bite, what is the next best technique to catch bass that move from and suspend out away from the bank?  Last weekend taught me something that in the past I had little experience with.  I know have more faith, and a better understanding, of what it takes to stop casting to the bank and focus on deep water.

Canada Pike Log, Vol3, Days 7-9

My primary rig: Revo Toro Winch, a Fenwick 7'H, Spiderwire
and a 20# Berkley leader, the Hollow Belly Swimbait.

     The last day of fishing and we return to Colorado.  It's been a great trip and the final day was the best for big pike.  Each boat got the largest of the week on the last day and the largest overall was caught in the last hour! 

Canada Pike Log, Vol2, Days 4-6

Part 2 of the fishing trip to Lake Mirond, Saskatchewan.  The decent size pike get more numerous, but I am still hunting for one over 40 inches.  Everything I throw seems to be working, be it casting or trolling.  This blog may also be viewed at http://www.fishexplorer.com/ 

Pike in Canada, Log Vol. 1

The road between Melfort and the Lake Mirond turn-off
is just as remote as it looks.  I expected a whole tribe of
Sasquatch to cross at any time.

     I’m finally sitting down to write this, having fully recovered from a two-stage marathon road trip across Saskatchewan, Montana and Wyoming to return to Colorado.  I may need to educate my travel partners about the dangers of blood clots before next year.

2011 Canada Pike Trip: Prologue

This is the largest from 2010, just over 39 inches.  I am hoping to beat that this year.

     I left today for a Pike trip to Canada.  We are driving and bringing everything we need except the boats and lodging; instead of flying in and being limited to 40 lbs. per person, we can bring whatever we want as long as they will let us across the border with it!

Spring and Early Summer Bassin'

This Ute Lake Smallie hit a topwater as it landed right next to the bank.

It has been a busy and fruitful spring and a lot of fun bass fishing.  A variety of lures have been used to land numbers of fish so far this year.

Topwater Action

     The bass spawn is near, on, or waning, depending on where you fish, but the topwater action is heating up.  A few days ago at Pueblo the topwater bite was on early, and then again later when the sun was up high.

First 2011 Tournament

Fishing the Colorado Bass Federation Nation State Team Qualifying Tournament at Truman Lake, MO.

     I fished my first 2011 tournament last week and had satisfactory results; 3^rd overall and within a few fish of winning.  I only had a limit on one day, and the four fish missing on the other two days were all the difference between 3^rd and 1^st.

Spring Prep

Prepping for a tournament is not a simple thing.  Since we have a lot of hard water for most of the winter the boat often can sit for several months without seeing the light of day.  So when the time comes to get out on the water there are a lot of things to check. 

Got My New Habers!

  Got my new HaberVision sunglasses.  Model: Cima.  Very lightweight and comfortable.  Most importantly, they completely cover my vision and allow no light to creep in from the sides, bottom or top; makes seeing through the water column that much easier and that's what having polarized sunglasses is all about.  Plus, before HaberVision, I was paying at least $150 more for prescription sunglasses from the Big Box, brand name stores.

What is RMTS?

Bass tournament fishing is not for everyone.  If you prefer to drop anchor, cast out a line and kick back for a snooze while waiting for a bite, tournament fishing is definitely not for you. And if you prefer to fish on the nice days and stay home if conditions might be tough, then relax and enjoy those sunny days.  But, if you like to test skill and knowledge against variable conditions and unpredictable, sometimes downright stubborn bass, and maybe even take home some prize money, you might be a tournament fisherman.