Arctic Grayling Colorado

Normally I try and keep my posts to fish I catch in Texas, but I found a gem in Colorado (Joe Wright Reservoir) that I thought some of you might be interested in.

Arctic Grayling have been on my bucket list since I was a kid and I have tried to get to Joe Wright Reservoir to catch one for the last 3 years. Last year I was within miles of the reservoir, but I could not get to the lake because the road to the lake was closed because of fire.

This year I set aside 5 days to catch an arctic grayling. It took me and my wife 3 days to figure them out, but once we locked in on them we tore them up. We ended up landing over sixty arctic grayling between the 2 of us. Karen caught them on a rod and reel while I caught them with a fly rod (including my first arctic grayling), rod and reel, and Plnor (Pole and Line No Reel) fishing.

The lake is west of Fort Collins and has easy access from the road. Give it a try if you are up that way.

Awesome post.

Totally Agree!

Awesome catch.

Beautiful fish!

Awesome! It looks so peaceful.

Do they taste like trout ?

MO

We deep hooked a few and kept them. They were much better than trout.

Pretty fish and scerery! Curious. what weight was your fly rod set up?

I almost always use a 6/7 wt Browning or Wright McGill fly rod when fishing in freshwater. Many consider it overkill, but it worked great for the grayling. Most of the smaller fish were on top. The big fish were deeper and the biggest ones were caught using my big Texas version of a San Juan worm dragged along the bottom.

That’s awesome! I’ve been wanting to go up there myself for quite some time. Glad you were able to make it happen.

I always wanted to fish (and eat) Artic Grayling but had no idea there was opportunity just a day trip away. Interesting worm! If I go I will take a fly rod similar weight. Thanks for your post and information.

My wife caught several with a copper John or red-tailed prince pulled alone the bottom.

Joe Wright is one of my favorite lakes.

I grew up in CO. Lots of good trout fishing west of Fort Collins. Some really nice brookie streams. While you are Joe Wright you should hit Zimmerman Lake just downstream from it. You have to walk about a mile to it but it is full of Greenback Cutthroats.

I believe they are in the trout family.

Nope. They are an offshoot of the salmonoids but not trout.

your legend grows
catch a giant carp on a tiny fly rod
catch a small fish on a big ol Ugly Stick

fabulous

Well thank you for your comments To me the diversity of fishing is one of the things that really makes fishing fun. I only have a few more record goals to complete then I plan to do a lot more Plnor fishing.

Awesome pics!

I recently caught several Grayling in Montana back in September.

These were about 2lbs and hard fighters.









I've only caught them in one Lake in a remote section of GNP.

Beautiful pictures.

Great pics! Here are a few pics from a trip up to Deadhorse, AK. The trip was a 1 month work excursion but we did find some time to fish the "Sag" river and some small streams coming off the 100's of fresh water lakes. This was Sep. of this year, 2022. This area has a beauty of its own. Also caught a Whitefish on this adventure.

Great pics from Alaska.

Those Grayling really like the that cold and clean water.

Thank you and they sure do like the cold and clean water.

I was shocked out how shallow of water those fish were holding in.

They are pretty good fighters for their size!

PS -> Saw some big bear tracks one day and about a week later - our lead sup. over logistics got a video of one in the same spot we were fishing. NOPE!!!!