Spin Fishing Colorado Rivers

[hank franklin]

I'm gonna be in Summit County this spring and want to spin-fish the Blue River and tribs. No fly rod here, just Missouri hick crawdad crankin'! Okay, maybe a little Cleo or Mepps for sport. Assuming this is legal (I've looked at the regs, no specific prohibition on spinning gear that I see), my question is how much grief if any will I get from the fly rodders.

Pile on if you wish, you're not gonna stop me. Just want to know what to expect.

[Smalliebigs]

screw them!!!! you can fish the blue with Cleos and mepps.i lived there for two years in Silverthorne and caught many huge trout on spinning rods right below Dillon Res and thru town all the way to green mountain Res on big Brown trout rapalas.Use orange and pink rapalas if you can find them as the trout grow big from fresh water shrimp below the darn.I fish Flyrods and spinning gear for trout and have never looked down on anyone ever for using a spinning rod.Half of the flyrod guys out there would have never picked up a flyrod until they saw Brad Pitt do it, so don't worry about fishing with a spinning rod......to hell with any flyrod guy that looks down on you for fishing with a spinning reel.

[hoglaw]

I couldn't agree more. I like to fly fish and one of my fondest experiences was whacking a bunch of western trout on a panther martin while all the high dollar orvis goobs were trying to match size 20 nymphs.

[ozark trout fisher]

I'm gonna be in Summit County this spring and want to spin-fish the Blue River and tribs. No fly rod here, just Missouri hick crawdad crankin'! Okay, maybe a little Cleo or Mepps for sport. Assuming this is legal (I've looked at the regs, no specific prohibition on spinning gear that I see), my question is how much grief if any will I get from the fly rodders.

Pile on if you wish, you're not gonna stop me. Just want to know what to expect.

You won't encounter any legal problems if you fish spinners, spoons, cranks, or other non-soft-plastic artificials. If there are any fly fishing only stretches of public water in Colorado I sure as heck don't know where they are, and I lived there for 5 years!

As for the grief, who cares? Spin fish if that's your thing, and don't listen to anyone anyone that gives you crap about it. Personally if I were going to go out there I'd fly fish, but if you want to spin fish then that is by all means what you should do, no questions asked. It doesn't matter what some possible snobs may say to you, and I will not rule out the possibility that some jackwagon may confront you, especially somewhere like the Blue RIver.

Bring size 0 Mepps and 1/32 ounce Panther Martins, preferably of the dressed variety. Those will be your best lures and you might not use anything else the whole time and do well. I don't like Rooster Tails on mountain streams because they tend to ride too high in the water column. Gold and silver blades both work well. Forget spoons and crankbaits on those mountain rivers, although you cannot beat a little cleo spoon for stillwater fishing out there. They often won't work properly in the fast currents that you'll be spending most of your time fishing. The exception is in the deeper, slower pools.

[hank franklin]

Thanks guys for the feedback. My question was at least partly tongue in cheek, as I've fished in Colorado way back in the day and got a sullen look or two then. In Summit County I imagine my gear will be low-dollar compared to the guys at the fly shops. But I'll fling my cranks and try to spook one of the bigguns out.

Question to OTF and any others who may know: What about whitewater rafting this time of year? The family (5 total) would like to try it though it's very early in the season and I fear wouldn't be a high-quality experience. It's also quite costly (we would be using an outfitter). Might be a fun splurge but I don't want to kill myself and family in ice cold raging snowmelt. Any pointers? Thanks.

[ozark trout fisher]

Thanks guys for the feedback. My question was at least partly tongue in cheek, as I've fished in Colorado way back in the day and got a sullen look or two then. In Summit County I imagine my gear will be low-dollar compared to the guys at the fly shops. But I'll fling my cranks and try to spook one of the bigguns out.

Question to OTF and any others who may know: What about whitewater rafting this time of year? The family (5 total) would like to try it though it's very early in the season and I fear wouldn't be a high-quality experience. It's also quite costly (we would be using an outfitter). Might be a fun splurge but I don't want to kill myself and family in ice cold raging snowmelt. Any pointers? Thanks.

I don't have any really solid suggestions on the whitewater rafting thing (I'm from a lot further west in Colorado than where you are going, and its not something I ever got into). That said, spring run-off is when I believe the whitewater season is at its peak. An outfitter will not take you out if it isn't safe...They are not keen on the possibility of getting sued.

I wish I could give you better advice on that, but that's about all I know. In any case, you'll want to talk to someone who knows a lot more about whitewater rafting than me before you book something.

Good luck on your trip. I'm sure you'll have a great time out there, spinning rod or fly rod.Truth be told the fly fishers that gave you a dirty look your last time there probably had just bought his expensive set up at one of the local high-end fly shops and didn't have much clue how to use it. People who are just out there to fish, chill out, and have a good time don't act like that. It's always the folks that feel they need to prove something.

[stlfisher]

Try floating the Arkansas River in Colorado. There are many outfitters that can guide you. For an easy relaxing float stick to Class 1,2, or maybe class 3 rapids. Anything higher might be too challenging for the kids . Kinda depends on your desired adventure level. We did a class 5 Gore Canyon years ago. Had to take a swimming test beforehand and got launched out a few times...all the good stuff. My buddy got bounced almost straigh up in the air and ended up in my lap somehow. Naturally, I lauched him over the side.

[68pointbuck]

This is the exact info I have been trying to find. We are doing a family vacation to Breck this June and the first thing I did was look up the trout fishing in the area. It's pretty impressive, but appears to dominated by fly fishing, as I mostly expected. I will bring my light spinning gear and waders, trying to find a few spot to jump in a get lost on the river! I have been scouring youtube trying to find some videos of non fly fishing, and I found a few... one in particular that was having tremendous success... catching multiple 16"+ rainbows like clockwork. I guess my biggest concerns is finding areas of the river that have enough depth to fish some rapalas or marabous style baits. The video of the kids catching the nice rainbows said he was using a 1/64 tube head with 1.5" crappie colored tubes. I assumes that similar color combo of a marabou jig would work?

 

Looks like its been a LONG time since this thread was active. Let's see if I can get a bite! Thanks in advance!

[Gavin]

Think you do well in CO. Rainbows love Kastmaster spoons and Ned rigs if legal there. Will eat a small suspending jerk bait better than a rapala.  Have fun!

[ness]

Blue River, which goes right through town, should be running pretty high in June. Plenty of easy access. Watch out for these:

I walked right up on these two just outside town.