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Letter from Larry and Rena
The following are some suggestions for fishing Blue Mesa Reservoir in Gunnison, Colorado:
“We have been fishing Blue Mesa for over 30 years and have tried all means and methods of trying to catch Brown Trout, Rainbows, Kokanee, Lake Trout and now the Yellow Perch. Everyone has their own personal preference and ideas on how this should be done. You need to Make up your own mind and pursue that method, always be ready to try something new. We used videos, T.V. shows, how to manuals, anything we could to get better at this sport. Some things work and others don’t. You have to be very dedicated, persistent and willing to spend many, many hours on the water. When something doesn’t work, you try something different.
Browns and Rainbows can be caught early mornings and evenings trolling Rapalas very close to the shoreline or casting Maribou jigs into shore, or fishing from shore on various baits.
Kokanee are caught trolling with lead core line or jigging with many different Kokanee lures out there now. Be willing to switch things up when nothing is happening, including color of lure and depth.
Yellow Perch are fairly new to the lake, no limit on these guys. Great eating, keep everything you catch, do not throw back. They are very prolific and are trying to take over the lake. The size gets bigger each year. We have heard talk there could be new state records on Yellow Perch coming out of Blue Mesa. Catch through the ice with small jigs and mealworms. Summertime in the coves 5’-30’ water with small jigs and piece of red worm. Once you get one to bite the rest go crazy. Great fun.
Lake trout can be caught jigging with various types of jigs and colors, and trolling with lead core line with Rapalas and flatfish various colors and sizes (they will even take a Kokanee lure).
Lake Trout live to be very old fish. The last 3 state record holder’s fish were aged by the Colorado State University and found to be at least 29-30 years old. It takes a very long time to grow a Lake Trout to this size. The bigger fish are not that good to eat. If fishermen who want to keep their limit of fish would only keep the smaller ones to eat and release the bigger fish, it would help save a World Class Fishery. If you would like to mount a great fish like this, take a good color picture, weight, length and girth. Bob Bernhardt in Buena Vista (719-395-3292) will make a replica for you that is awesome, no one will ever know it’s not the real thing.
Please be careful when you practice catch and release with these big fish. Minimize your weighing and picture taking time. If you have caught the fish in deep water, put the fish back in the net and in the water. Slowly head back to shore and release in very shallow water. Some bank fishermen use baits, these fish can be difficult to release. The fish will swallow the bait, do not pull it out, cut yout line. The fish may still not make it, because of the hook in his belly. It takes a long time for a hook to rust out.
The most important thing is, whether you catch or not, enjoy your time in the fresh air, on the water and the beautiful scenery with the ones you love and enjoy (and like to win fishing bets with, Larry still owes me a couple of lobster dinners). It’s a great time with great moments you’ll carry with you the rest of your life.”
Sincerely, Larry and Rena Cornell
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