Early ice on a mountain lake above 10k

[COlipripper]

If you aren't in the mood for storytime; the quick/dirty details are: we caught multiple species of trout including tiger trout. Some lakes at or above 10k are nearing 4" thick or better (or not) and the trails leading to them that aren't yet closed at the first gate have about 5-6" more or less of snow on them. South facing trails are just as rocky as you remember them in summer. The weather isn't cruel enough to make the hike or sitting on the vodka chiller suck too bad yet.

Storytime:
There's something very magical about early ice on a high mountain lake. The crowds have dissipated and the snow has made everything look new and untouched. On top of that it's the 4x4ing, the hike up a quiet snowy trail, the mild weather, and the tiny, suicidal trout that will bite even a baitless jig.

My buddy and I headed out Sunday afternoon to 4x4 up a trail with high hopes we'd find ice thick enough to stand on. We took his full size Chevy with KO2s and it handled the 5" snow packed trail easily. We arrived at the gate, grabbed the bare minimum ice gear, and set out on the hiking trail: 8" mora, scoop, cleats, safety picks, rope, 1 short rod each, a small assortment of ice jigs, waxies, a little vodka, and 1 Vexilar.

Our thoughts raced and the chatter picked up as we crested the last hill, went through the trees, and spied the lake for the first time. Would there be ice? It was iced! Yes! Would it be thick enough this early? Let's go see. We approached the lake quickly but cautiously and I slowly went out on it. Immediately, I could see from the bubbles it was at least 3" of clear, solid ice. And it didn't crack as I walked; which was nice. I drilled a hole 10' off shore and found it was 4.5" thick. Plenty! I ventured further out to access deeper water and drilled while my friend stayed on shore asking over and over again if I thought it was thick enough.

"Again 4.5 inches," I hollered. So he followed my cleat tracks out as I kept moving slowly towards the middle of the lake staring down while constantly calculating the thickness of the ice beneath my feet. I drilled a few more holes every 15' or so. After about the 5th hole towards the middle of the lake, I encountered 4" of ice so I stopped and dropped a line. Within seconds my Vex lit up and I had the first fish on my line. I walked backward to ice it since I use an old spooly reel and fiberglass rod that's easier to pull line out than it is to "reel." It's my lucky ice setup. My first fish was a colorful and fiesty 10" rainbow. His first was soon to follow. It was a tiger trout and a big first for him! Even though it was probably the single smallest fish in the whole lake, I don't know if I've ever seen him so excited. I still hadn't ever landed one but that would soon change. We would stay around 1 hour catching and releasing about 10 trout between us. Sunday afternoon's weather was overcast, almost zero wind, and around 30 degrees. With a perfect start to the ice season behind us we trekked down the snowy trail to the truck and had fun bounding back to dry pavement.

I recently put Falken wildpeak AT tires on my gen 1 Taco and wanted to put them to the test on a snow packed trail so I drove Monday. I'm not a morning person but my buddy is and was at my door at 7am while I was fumbling around trying to make coffee. I made a big breakfast of peppered bacon, 6 backyard chicken eggs, toast with homemade strawberry jam (thanks mom/dad), and set out again. The tires performed as well or better than the KO2s that I previously ran but for a fraction of the price. Our plan Monday was much more serious now that we knew there was good ice. We were going to "map" out as much of this lake as we could and we were going to catch 20 trout each and bigger tigers. We were also going to tow my large JetSled with skis mounted up on 3" risers loaded with more gear than we needed to live up there for 2 weeks. It's like a Smitty sled but the skis are fixed. So we slogged that sled up together to "Increase our leg strength in preparation for hiking to the Colorado inlet of Granby."

My first tiger came at around fish number 6. It was a 12" hog! So cool looking too! We moved around the entire lake starting in the middle and moving towards the shore and then the inlet. Ice got much thinner near the inlet at around 3". We could see open water right where it turns from stream to lake so we ventured no closer than about 50'. We caught fish from 12' to 35' fow and everywhere in between. We fished for 3 hrs(9:30-12:30) and quit when we both had landed our 20 trout. I reached that total 2 fish ahead of my buddy. I win! We got 6 tigers, 2 brooks, and 32 bows all told. Almost all were caught on small pink ratfinkies tipped with waxies. I tested the baitless jig theory and proved it. They're very hungry but their body composition was still proportionate and solid.

We had an amazing time getting out on the ice and this was the earliest either of us had made it happen. I'm posting this primarily as a report for those on the fence about heading up to your favorite early ice lakes above 10k. They probably have ice on the butt puckering side of your tolerance but are all building nightly. Make a solid plan with your buddy and get up there to get your early ice on! I hope you enjoyed this long story and if you want to know the lake; feel free to PM me. You earned it by reading all the way to the bottom

Here's my buddy's first ever, giant, hog tiger trout!

[tbern]

Congrats on your early ice trip. Sounds fun and nice you caught all the different fish. Thanks for sharing your story.

[lostbrit]

great story a congrats on the tigers

[Deal Ninja]

What fun you lucky devils!   Great story and photo! 

[Bigassbassman]

Great story, Adam!  Sounds like you guys had an awesome first couple of days up there.  It's always great to share an experience of someone's "first", like your buddy's first tiger.  Still on my bucket list of fish.

[COlipripper]

You include me in your quest to repeat your 2011 LM bass victory; and I'll take you with us back up to this place on Sunday morning. You WILL catch a tiger!

12" tigers = 22' LM bass through the ice 

[SLAYERFISH]

Great storytime but I dont need to ice fish that bad-

[Bigassbassman]

You include me in your quest to repeat your 2011 LM bass victory; and I'll take you with us back up to this place on Sunday morning. You WILL catch a tiger!

12" tigers = 22' LM bass through the ice 

lol, not sure those are quite equal ---   

[dntbeamenace4031]

well done sir.  I travel for work through the Dakotas, MN, IA, and NE and they are SOOO jealous of what we have in CO.  first ice is special, good on you for getting after it. there is ice up in them there hills if you know where to look

[Lamar84]

Thanks for sharing man. I have been on the fence about driving up but you've got me motivated. Those tiger trout are awesome.

[Bigassbassman]

I'm also on the fence about heading up to that area this weekend.  Maybe not THAT lake, but one close by.  They're supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow tonight --- not sure how those roads would be getting up there on Sunday.  Mitch (MN Bassfisher) and I had an "fun" time on one of those roads a few years back. Solid sheet of ice. We basically ended up sliding down the road sideways, although it turned out ok, no damage done.    What do you guys think?

[da_teacher]

I'm also on the fence about heading up to that area this weekend.  Maybe not THAT lake, but one close by.  They're supposed to get 3-6 inches of snow tonight --- not sure how those roads would be getting up there on Sunday.  Mitch (MN Bassfisher) and I had an "fun" time on one of those roads a few years back. Solid sheet of ice. We basically ended up sliding down the road sideways, although it turned out ok, no damage done.    What do you guys think?

Dooooooooooooooooooooo oooooo it!

[tbern]

possibly have to try and find some tire chains for your vehicle for those roads.

[Strangebow]

Awesome story!
I think I know which lake that is but I am curious.....
Please email me and let me know if I'm right if you don't mind...I'd really appreciate it!
[email protected]

[Beerslushy]

Good job getting on the ice.  Gotta love this time of year.

[d1rtydeedz]

I'm headed up to Denver tomorrow for Thanksgiving.  I'm thinking on trying to make it to some high ice, maybe around I.S. Friday.  Anyone else interested?  I've never been up there and could use some tips or someone to tag along with.  Let me know.

[JohnnyO19]

Way to get after it Adam! Have never caught a Tiger or Grayling, 2 fish on my list this year