Post By: Herf Posted: 11/2/2022 9:37:14 AMPoints: 172
Good Morning Everyone
I know this will be a long shot but figured what the heck.
Yesterday, I lost my reel and pole into the water at a cold high country reservoir. Was there with my dad (from WI) and went out for the day, we were packing everything up, when a fish grabbed my line and pole went in. Had the reel open, to prevent this but something must have stuck. Anyways, I was able to snag the line, and we brought in a small lake trout (see picture). Tried to get the pole but it was stuck in a rock or so and line snapped. I would guess it is in 15' of water about 20' from shore.
So long story short, I am wondering if anyone does or knows anyone that does some cold water diving. We can talk in more detail. Please send me any email.
Thanks in advance for all of your help
Ty
P.S. Attached is the picture of the lake trout, I thought it would be much bigger to do that.
Reply by: Hawaiian Punch Posted: 11/2/2022 9:49:27 AM Points: 10682
Try some of the diving shops,they may have a lead on someone that might do the dive . . . .I lost my keys overboard at C.C. and no one would even talk to me about it(too dark and soupy to see anything) Most divers will charge you more than the rod and reel are worth . . . .be ready for sticker shock!
Reply by: Herf Posted: 11/2/2022 9:52:14 AM Points: 172
Already have emailed three of them in Denver area - haven't heard anything back.
I will just say this is my most expensive rod and reel set - that is the only reason I have even looking into this, but in the end, I know I will just need to get a new set
Reply by: Herf Posted: 11/2/2022 10:12:40 AM Points: 172
Thanks Jim
What a freak thing, I have been fishing for 35+ years. First time it has happened to me, and just was not expecting that one a fish of that size. But at least I got the fish
Reply by: Hawaiian Punch Posted: 11/2/2022 10:31:38 AM Points: 10682
Take the plunge and buy another set up.Keep looking for someone to dive for the set you lost(if you recover it you have a back up) you might go to the CPW office and ask them who they use for diving.
Reply by: Hawaiian Punch Posted: 11/2/2022 11:34:03 AM Points: 10682
You say high country? Can you launch a canoe there? Here's an idea . . . .get a plastic bucket,cut a hole in the bottom and cement a piece of glass in the bottom of the bucket . .now you have a looking device and you might be able to go out and "look" for the rig . . .bring a snagging hook rig and snatch it up. See what happen's when I have too much time on my hands.This could help you and it's lots cheaper than a diver(if you can find one)
Oof sorry about that! I also am doubtful you will find a diver for less than the cost of the gear. In the middle of the summer, I would consider diving with a snorkel on a hot day, I can usually withstand a good minute of an alpine lake, so long as I can warm up afterward, but no way now :-) Again depending on how much its worth to you, another thing to try would be to bring in a belly boat or packraft, and try to grapple it from above.
Thanks for all the suggestions. I did hear back from one dive company. It wasn't cheap but either is that rod and reel set up. I would say within $50 of either using them or buying a new set up(the exact same).
I was hoping to find someone whom happened to know someone that does some recreational diving that I could make it right with them.
I would agree with the snorkel on a summer day, but this body of water, the levels change greatly, and in the middle of the summer, there will be an additional 20'+ of water above of where I was standing.
Again, thanks again for all of the suggestions, but there really is only one smart thing to do.
If you give up on other options, you could try posting a bounty here on FXR, just in case. Tell us exactly where it is. Maybe someone else will go up there to fish anyway, and try to snag it for you. Years ago, I had to abandon a bunch of ice gear during a storm. I posted a bounty here and got it all back the next day. If the "high country" reservoir were say, Carter Lake, I'd consider snorkeling it with my wetsuit because I live near it. But since we're talking about Lake trout I'm thinking it's quite a bit higher and a lot further away, Gross and Chambers would probably be the closest options I can think of.
If you know right where it is, why not rig something up with a HUGE magnet and some rope to drag it over the bottom to see if you can grab it? Most reels still have a fair amount of metal in them, and if you rig something up that reduces the whole set up from snagging on the bottom, I'd bet you could come up with it for at or maybe a little more than $50 TOTAL.
That's not a bad idea either. I have a huge "magnet fishing" setup that I got off ebay awhile back for like $20. I'm not sure how you would totally eliminate snags though if you were throwing it from the shore. If you could get out over it and drop straight down, that would be ideal. Search ebay or amazon for "magnet fishing kit".
The rod and reel are snagged(from being pulled in) a magnet and rope are only going to dig it in deeper.You are going to want to pull it up and or backward to free it from the snag it's in.Underwater camera and snagging hook is a good idea . . .if you can get a boat or canoe above where you think the gear is. Tossing a magnet on a rope out and pulling it back is a total blind mans trick and the chances of the magnet touching the reel are slim to none,let alone hooking the reel with the magnet and getting it unstuck.I'm not trying to rain on your parade,but you will need to be above and or behind where the rod is stuck to recover it.
Reply by: Herf Posted: 11/3/2022 10:38:31 AM Points: 172
Good Morning Gentlemen
Thanks for all of the comments/suggestions.
I don't have a boat or a camera- do have a belly boat but really don't want to be trying to snag with a hook or magnet. Just for the fact you would have to hook it/pull it out at the right angle.
I was able to talk to a diver and he said that he could do it for me in the next few days. Yes it was pricey for the diver but still cheaper then having to replace that exact set up. And if he can't find, well to me its worth the gamble of trying.
Yeah, this has gotta be a Colorado first! High altitude dive in November exclusively for fishing gear. Please do report back with the full story and pics!
Thanks everyone for all of the suggestions on getting this back. After talking with the diver, trying to hook it or use a magnet to get it out, the way it was stuck in the rocks, it would have gotten it out but in pieces.
Yes everything is in good working order and just like new.
And I hate to say it but yes, I did eat his a$$, after all of the stuff he put me through, I thought he was pretty tasty on the grill
I’ve made this post before and I encourage folks to put rod floats on their tackle. For about three bucks per rod they won’t sink.
I fish primarily the South Park lakes and will not go on the lake without floats on my rods, fortunately I’ve never lost a rod in over one thousand trips in the past seventeen years. Hope this helps, Bill
