Colorado

Quotable “The best all-around bet is Lonetree SWA, because of the number of ducks and the number of places there to hunt.” — Amy Rydel, Colorado DOW, discussing early season duck hunting options for hunters.In the Oct. 5, 2006 issueFISHING Spawning browns * Spawning lakers, brookies * River Trends * Pike tournament results * Fall walleye recipe * Beaver pond browns * Bear Creek browns * Kriley Pond troutHUNTING Season Dates Watch * Where to Shoot * Mountain lion hunting, Part 1 * Tamarack SWA ducks * ID lynx * Photos from the Field * Hunting Dog Tales * Top picks for ducksCOLUMNISTS Shore Anglers Only: Eric Allee * Through the Scope: Gary HagueEVERYTIME Statewide Trends * Editor’s Picks * Quotable * Outdoor Lineup * Trophy Tale * Astro Tables * In the Bullseye * Photo Contest Winners * Where To Go on the Web * Where To Go * Outdoor Outlet * Gearing Up

This Issue’s Featured Article

Cat harvest: Jeff Davis of Grand Junction holds his 150-plus-pound Colorado mountain lion in a bear hug. Davis hunted with an outfitter and dogs to catch up with the big cat. (F&H; News photo by S.L. Merriam) Beaver ponds tops for brownsWalden — Any discussion of good autumn brown trout hot spots has to include beaver ponds.The biggest difference between fishing beaver ponds and other waters is that the trout that inhabit these ponds are super-sensitive to vibration, shadows and predators. Not only do they have to elude the master craftsmen that built the pond, but beaver pond trout have to elude other predators as well, particularly anglers.Most ponds have very clear water, and if the angler is spotted, the jig is up. If the pond sports deep holes, however, you might be lucky enough to get a lure or ‘hopper/dropper rig to a far bank or inlet where the browns can’t see you. There might also be willows to aid and simultaneously hinder the whole process.What to throw: If there’s a hatch happening, matching the hatch is always a good strategy.But fly fishing isn’t the only approach. A size No. 4 Panther Martin (gold blade/black body/yellow-spotted) is deadly for beaver pond browns. You can also up the ante by using a No. 9 Panther in fluorescent orange blade/yellow body/orange spots. During a recent trip to some beaver ponds in the Snowy Range, that No. 9 Panther Martin produced a 22-inch brown that weighed over 4 pounds.Where to go: Colorado and Wyoming both have abundances of beaver ponds. In North Park, check them out up in Walden between Ranger Lakes and the Colorado State Forest Visitor’s Center, and below the North Michigan Reservoir for rainbows and brookies.In the southern part of the state, near Antonito, head in to the Rio Grande National Forest and follow the West Fork of Rio Chama for German browns. In Wyoming, up in the Snowy Range there’s beaver ponds north of Bear Lake, or try Douglas Creek below Rob Roy Reservoir, both for brookies.— Sam Grothe