Visiting Denver -- Front Range Bass?

[Bigassbassman]

Boston area hard water fisherman that primarily targets bass.  Moving to Denver this summer, and visiting family in Feb.  Thought I'd get out for a day, but I never really got any experience with local bass ponds. I've heard Boyd and Chatfield hold some bass -- any others?  No honey holes, but feel free to PM info about known bass haunts.  I'm willing to drive a good distance from Denver, too!

Also, I use shiners on tipups (5) almost entirely out here -- recommend any local Denver area bait shops?  I know we can only use two tipups in CO

Thanks all -- looking forward to learning more about my new home!!

Nate

[salty]

From one Bostonian to another good luck! I am coming out to the Springs on Super Bowl Sunday for a snowboarding trip and Jim & Ken at X-stream Custom Bait & Tackle are going to take me out one day on the hardwater for some trout. They both seem like great guy! Good luck with your move Salty

[Bigassbassman]

Thanks, Salty -- hoping there's more ice out West than our sad, ice-free Boston metro.  I caught the IS tourney winner this time last year on a local pond that currently has open water!

Oh, well -- anyone have ice condition info on Boyd?

[Don In Denver]

Boyd is basically ice free.  Last Friday there was a little ice in the marina area, but nowhere else.

[Bigassbassman]

Dang -- any other spots with ice where I can find some smallies or LM?
No ice fishing on horsetooth, correct?

[Don In Denver]

Everything on the Front Range is now pretty much open water, or the ice is so rotten you don't want to think about getting out on it.  There may still be some folks venturing out on the Chatfield ice, but I wouldn't.  The snow is starting now and is supposed to dump 10" - 20" on Chatfield and the rest of Denver along with significant wind.  That should pretty much finish it off.

[Bigassbassman]

Yeah, I figured the front range might be done.  How about the ice in the Springs area?  Any smallies or LM in the higher country?  Got some family down there, so maybe I can head south to the Springs. 

Anyone ever fished Big Johnson reservoir thru the ice?

[arkansas angler]

DeWeese has smallmouth bass and good ice.

[Prairiegoat]

No safe ice in the Springs. Big Johnson is closed to the public.

[coboy]

You may have to suck it up and fish for...OMG... TROUT! Seriously if you don't care to eat them,catching a 20'' or more rainbow is a lot of fun. Eleven Mile does have some smallies,but I haven't targeted them because I'm after that personal best trout. The ice is around 20'' thick. Best wishes on your move.

[Bigassbassman]

Thanks for all the help with ice conditions -- yeah, sounds like I may have to go after trout.  Not sure if i want to venture 3hrs to ice at Echo Canyon.  I guess the Stare record LM was caught out of there, but seems a bit far.

Might make it up to elevenmile, we'll see.  I assume you guys mostly jig for big lakers and bows up there?  Anyone have luck using water dogs?

[coboy]

You can't use live fish above 7,000'. No lakers in 11-Mile that I know of but heard there are some. Definitely some 10 lb. rainbows there. May be one of the harder bodies of water to catch fish,but if you pay some dues you can get some very nice fish out of there.I haven't done well on waterdogs,but I don't target pike.