Lake Vail 5/9

[JeffB]

Very cool. I've been wanting to fish that lake. I have a friend that likes to fish it.

[Caseym]

Theres an awesome campground there too. Kinda weird but the lake is past the turnoff for the campground (seperate entrances off hwy 79 south). Mountain biking trails all around the west end. A yearly pass to use the lake was 5,000 bucks last i checked. 5,000! Probably why u dint ever see it crowded. Theres always talk of developing those hills, but for now, like you said, undeveloped and clear to the eye...rare.
Fyi

[troutking]

Did they change the rule at Vail? Last time I fished the lake it was a catch and release only lake.

[buddha]

Originally Posted by troutking

Did they change the rule at Vail? Last time I fished the lake it was a catch and release only lake.

The water district bought the lake last year and it is no longer a catch and release lake.

It is 150 to launch a boat.

50 to launch a kayak but you can share the parking fee.

[taggermike]

You can keep fish from the lake now. The ranger said they have crappie up to 2 lbs in Vail and that most of the cats are in that 5-10 lb range. With out a fish finder it can be tough to locate crappie unless theyre in stick ups or trees. I didn'ttry for then at all. Id say the price is similar to fishing Barrett or hitting a 1/2 day boat. I like fishing new places even if I end up feeling lost in the area. There were coves just bubbling with shad. Fished those areas hard with many different lures but the bass weren't after the shad that day. Mike

[buddha]

Originally Posted by Caseym

Theres an awesome campground there too. Kinda weird but the lake is past the turnoff for the campground (seperate entrances off hwy 79 south). Mountain biking trails all around the west end. A yearly pass to use the lake was 5,000 bucks last i checked. 5,000! Probably why u dint ever see it crowded. Theres always talk of developing those hills, but for now, like you said, undeveloped and clear to the eye...rare.
Fyi

Do you have a link to that $5,000 membership fee? There is a regular at sdfish who fishes it every week and he said he only pays about 2000-2500/yr. but he has been a member for a long time so maybe he has a grandfather clause?