Some people want to slide down the slopes. Others would rather be catching trout in the lower elevations. Steamboat Springs has something for everyone. Photo by Glenn and Maxine Bamburg.

If your winter plans include a trip to Steamboat Springs for a few days of skiing action, bring your fishing poles as well as ski poles. This alpine mecca offers some of the world's finest powder for downhill skiing, snowboarding and other seasonal activities. But it also gives anglers an opportunity to fish one of Colorado's premier rainbow trout streams -- the Yampa River.

Cascading out of the rugged Flat Tops Wilderness Area, the Yampa winds northward through Stagecoach Reservoir into Steamboat Springs before turning west to merge with the Green River near the Utah state line.

Ski-season anglers can always find plenty of open water in the tailwater section below Stagecoach Reservoir and often along the river in Steamboat's historic downtown district.

Thrilling rainbow action also awaits ice-fishermen aboard Stagecoach Reservoir. As a bonus, hard-toppers enjoy the prospect of pulling a new Centennial State-record northern pike from the lake's icy depths.

Here are a few tips and techniques to keep your fishing reels steamin' in the winter at the 'Boat!

TAILWATER TREAT
John Duty, owner of Bucking Rainbow Outfitters in Steamboat, said that the Yampa tailwater is a phenomenal fishery year 'round.

"Trout numbers are mostly higher than all designated Gold Medal Waters in Colorado," he said.

Many think the 0.6 mile of public water just below Stagecoach Reservoir is Gold Medal quality as well. But its length is too short to meet the DOW's requirement for a Gold Medal river.

"But it definitely fishes better than many Gold Medal streams in our state," said Duty. "They really stacked up in winter, especially in February and March when all the big fish start moving up to spawn."

Anglers must use artificial flies and lures from Stagecoach Dam downstream for 0.6 of a mile. All trout must be released immediately. This stretch also flows entirely within Stagecoach State Park. All park regulations apply to fishermen as well.

In the roiling tailwater, anglers catch browns, brookies, cutthroats, cuttbows and whitefish. But rainbows are the game fish most commonly caught.

Average size runs 14 to 17 inches. Duty said that anglers have caught trout up to 29 inches.

In winter, elk migrate through the area, so the access road is closed to motorized vehicles. But it's maintained so that workers can service the bottom of the dam. Anglers can snowshoe, cross-country ski or mountain bike the 1 1/2 miles to the tailwater from the park's main entrance on Colorado Route 14 -- or snowmobile the final 3 1/2 miles of C.R. 18 through Pleasant Valley to the east entrance and walk a short distance down to the stream.

Tim Kirkpatrick, the co-owner of Steamboat Flyfisher, said that the tailwater runs crystal-clear all winter long.

Water flows out of the reservoir at about 95 to 120 cubic feet per second. Its temperature hovers around 40 degrees. Ice is seldom a problem.

Be aware that after a big storm, snowdrifts can make it a little more tricky to get from the plowed access road down to the tailwater -- even though in most places, it's less than 50 feet away.

Kirkpatrick said that the highest concentrations of trout will be hanging out in deeper pockets, pools and runs.

"They like to feed in channels between the rocks and along the edges of current seams. I'm always looking for the slowest water in the river, where fish expend the least amount of calories to keep them in the current. That's where you'll find the biggest trout."