AAA Colorado ~ EnCompass Magazine

November | December 2006
Volume 80 Issue 6

My Colorado 365 days of fishing

My fish By Eric Beattie

It’s the most addictive drug in the world: fishing.

Whether you’re into fly fishing, fishing with lures, or just using the trusty old hook and a worm, once you start you can’t stop. Your mind and body lose track of time. You forget about all the troubles in the world. It’s just you, the lake and the fish.

Colorado is home to thousands of fantastic rivers, ponds and lakes. The view is breathtaking no matter where you decide to relax and fish. There are giant pines and rolling hills that let you experience the outdoors, making the outside world of work and stress obsolete. It is like a whole new world where only you and the big ones are invited.

Over the past century, new species of fish have been brought to Colorado to create new environments and better fishing. Colorado is now home to many different species of fish. Among them are some of the most sought-after game fish in the world, including largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, catfish, wiper, muskie and carp.

It’s a good thing I live in this state, because fishing is my life. I fish four to five days a week and anywhere from four to eight hours each day. I have fished the east side all the way to the west side of Colorado, from the beautiful Connected Lakes in Grand Junction to the isolated, exotic, jungle-like Chatfield Backponds. It is always new and exciting.

I am not the best fisherman in the world, but when I want to bring in the fish that make jaws drop and competitors cry, I know I can turn to the lakes in Colorado and catch them every time.

Do you have a special memory or humorous story about living in Colorado? EnCompass is looking for original essays that capture the uniqueness of our state. Payment is $60 upon publication. Entries must be typed, double-spaced and 200–300 words. Please include a daytime phone number. Entries will not be returned. Mail to: EnCompass, Attn: My Colorado, 4100 E. Arkansas Ave., Denver, CO 80222, or email: cpatrick@colorado.aaa.com. A response to a submission may take six to eight weeks.