Lake John, Delaney Buttes?

[Outdoorjunkie970]

Anyone been poking holes up at lake John or Delaney?  Called the resort said it was fishing decent.  Me and the old man are going to hit some ice tomorrow just wondering if its worth the 2 hour drive or if we should try something closer to Fort Collins.  Thanks

[Moosemilk]

Not sure about the buttes, but John has been well worth the drive so far this year. 

[Fishlike-a-twelve-year-ol]

We are here already, because we heard it is fishing very well. We will give you update after we see what day brings. Enjoying a chicken fried steak at Antler Inn, after a slow day at Granby. A 17 inch Laker was my best, although I saw several guys in the double digit counts and some were 24 inch or so.

[Sawtooth]

I often hit North Delaney first thing in the morning and see if I can catch a hog, and then stop by John for a sure thing to top off the day with the fat 17"ers.  Been there three times this season and had great days each time.

[Outdoorjunkie970]

Thanks guys.  Ya Sawtooth I think I saw some pictures you posted earlier this season from Lake John.  I'm familiar with John but not so much North Delaney.  Managed to catch a few hogs there when there was about 20 yards of open water last year on ice off but an unfamiliar how to fish it on hard water any advice? Lures to use, depth, area of the lake? Thanks

[Sawtooth]

Nice fish, OJ.  Maybe you need to tell me how to do it.

I'm far from an expert on N. Delaney.  There is a good map with contours that includes John and the Delaneys that you could find useful.  They sell it at the Lake John Resort or Sportsman Warehouse, and probably Bass Pro.  Bill, at Lake John Resort, has a fishing report that is up to date, and it is on his website.  You can also request that Bill put you on his fishing report mailing list and get the updates sent to your e-mail.  He reports white has been working well lately.  We've done well with the little white Rat Finkies.  As far as other lures on the Delaneys (no bait at all alowed there), I've done well with 1"-2" gold Kastmasters.  Some people use flies.  I usually go off the southern boat ramp in about 12' of water, but some fish really shallow, at the edge of weeds, along the south shore.  The point, on the east side, is said to be good at times.  Others are up at the NW edge. 

[Outdoorjunkie970]

Thanks Sawtooth!  Ill be sure to get a hold of Bill tomorrow and hopefully we can hook into a couple of nice ones.  A group of about 4-5 of us are heading up all day Friday so if anyone else is heading up or looking to get up the more the merrier! 

[Sawtooth]

I'm planning on bringing a friend up for his first ice fishing experience at John.  Am hoping to be assembling a new Frabill Flip over shelter tonight.  Otherwise we'll have a red Eskimo fatfish hub shelter and I'm driving a silver Toyota Tacoma pickup.  We'll be fishing right off the picnic talbes below the lodge.  How might I recognize you? 

[Shoe]

I was thinking of heading up to John on Friday, tomorrow from the Fort with my 12 yo son.  Not sure what car we will bring but I wear a "Green Bay Packer" colored suit, you can't miss me.  Stop and say hi if you see me.

s

[Sawtooth]

I am no longer a Bears fan, so we can speak.  Looks like it will be a bit chilly with a little wind, so the heavy jackets are in order.  I will have a red Eskimo shelter, and I'll have a red parka and brown bib overalls.  We should be on the lake before 10. 

[Outdoorjunkie970]

We will be driving a white Chevy Silverado.  Our hut is an old school hut black on the sides and white on the front.   If my buddy comes we might also have a blue clam hut as well.  We're leaving Fort Collins around 3:00 am to get up there early.  Thinking maybe North Delaney early maybe hook into a hog then John in the later morning for the rest of the day.  Come say Hi!

[Shoe]

Ha ha.  I didn't say I was a Packer fan just got the floating suit in that color because it was cheap...  I will call it "John Deere" colors.  We were Bears fans growing up several hours west of there.  I will look for others but I am NOT getting on the road at 3 am.

s

[Shoe]

Convinced my son to go.  We will have a blue Clam cube shelter.  Driving a silver Subaru Forester.  We may try the area between the north boat dock and the north point.  Location subject to change.  Hope to get there by 9:30.

s

[Sawtooth]

Outdoor Junkie - Did you make it up Friday?  Shoe and I fished John.  Pretty slow day.  I had plenty of lookie-loos, but no bites, except on my Jawjacker.  Shoe and Shoe Jr. caught a few nice ones and some small ones.  I' wondering if N. Delaney was so good you never left.  Bill at the Resort said they were knocking the dead at Delaney with white jigs.

[Outdoorjunkie970]

I did make it up.  We got there early around 6:30 and setup initially on the far end of the lake where the road dead ends think by the inlet?  We caught a lot of little ones and a couple around 16.  after about 2 maybe 3 hours we went below the resort by the picnic tables.  You probably heard us we were the jackasses with the gas auger running for about 20 minutes (had it serviced and the guy sharpened the blades wrong)  spent the rest of the day there caught 5 keepers and called it a day when that storm started moving in.  Never made it to Delaney (dads decision) but from what you said I wish I would have tried harder to get us over there.  Pretty sure I saw shoe as we were leaving unless there was someone else in a green and yellow getup.  Any one heading up for the tourny this weekend.  I may head up but avoid the crowd and try and catch some big ones at Delaney.

[Sawtooth]

Well, darn.  Wanted to meet you.  Shoe did have that bright green and yellow outfit.  We were right off the north picnic tables in the red shelter, and were about the last to leave at about 4:10.  According to Bill's fishing report last night, since we were there they've been hammered with wind, snow and high drifts, so I think our timing was pretty good. 

I wonder if you were just north of our shelter? Glad you caught something.  We're going up Tuesday (tomorrow), and I think we'll go straight to N. Delaney and see if the bite is a little stronger.  I think, since we did get hits on the Jawjacker, that we were just missing the light bites.  At Shoe's recommendation, I've ordered some Venom Floats bobbers that can be adjusted to neutral bouyancy to catch light taps. 

[Outdoorjunkie970]

ya I'm sure we'll get a chance to meet up!  Hope you catch some monsters let me know how you do and how the weather is Im thinking about heading up Thursday.

[Sawtooth]

I had to bail today.  Fishing partner and I both had "life" interfere today.

[Outdoorjunkie970]

Life happens.