Steamboat Lake Marina

Archive for the ‘General Info’ Category

This morning was an active day for the Division of Wildlife at Steamboat Lake. A total of 58,512 hatchling Rainbow Trout were stocked into the lake this morning. That’s good news for avid fisherman that enjoy nothing more than the tug of a “live one” on the end of their rod.

Now before you start dreaming of that trophy trout… one of the 58,000… know that these fish are extremely small. Stocking the lake is something the DOW does several times a summer based on the surveys they take from the lake. The periodic stocking of the lake is meant to seed future generations of the species and a well-rounded habitat.

But avid anglers should be excited none the less.  This many fish will create a nice influx of both future large trout as well as bait fish for the current stock of mature trout.

As I sit and look out the window of the marina this morning and notice the calm in the air, I’m reminded of the fact that summer is definitely winding down. The last batch of fudge has been made, the last order of live bait as been placed and we’ve seen a noticeable increase in sweatshirt sales. Yes… it all leads me to the sad reality that very soon the boats will in fact be on dry land and the skies will begin to snow.

As I reflect on how the summer has gone, I think back to the church group that rented our wakeboard boat for 5 hours. I’ve never before seen a group of happier kids with wider smiles in my life. The sheer enjoyment they experienced that day is something I’m sure will stick with each of those kids for a very long time. And the idea that we were such a large part of their weekend entertainment really hits home in the grand scheme of what the Steamboat Lake Marina is all about.

Hardly a day goes by that we don’t get area campers, fisherman, hikers, bikers and folks from all walks of like stopping by to say what an enjoyable place this is. We are priveledged to be able to operate our business within one of the top-rated State Parks in Colorado and appreciate each and every customer that has walked through our doors. It’s easy to get caught in the rut of thinking we are in the “boat rental” business but every now and again I’m reminded that we are, in fact, operating a “people business.” It’s a two-way street too. We couldn’t survive without the patronage of our wonderful clientele and our area visitors are happy that we are here for them.

So as you think back on your summer and the memories that were created we hope that part of your recollection includes an experience or two at Stemaboat Lake. If we were lucky enough to have showed you some fun this summer, we hope you return. If you didn’t get a chance to come see us, please start thinking about next summer. We’d be honored to have you!

After the steaming hot days of July, it seems that August has become a reminder that autumn is just around the corner. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to speed up summer or fast forward through any of the spectacular days we have left on the lake. But waking up to see mist on the lake and then sheltering from the almost daily afternoon rains we’ve been seeing gets me thinking about winter to come.

One of the most special things about working at a business located within a State Park is the opportunity to see firsthand the changing of the seasons. Having only really started here in May, I saw the late spring snowfall and battled harsh windy days while witnessing the ice of the lake slowly melt away. I was here for the stretch of 85+ degree days that made jumping into the lake the only viable option to escape the nagging heat. This week has been a reminder that the “monsoon” season is here and days are twiddling down before the kids are back in school and the leaves begin to change colors.

While it’s hard to predict what Mother Nature will serve us tomorrow or when the boats will in fact be pulled from the water, one thing is for certain. The constant flux of weather and beauty that you find within the Steamboat Lake State Park will always be something to treasure.

I was lucky enough to get out on one of our pontoon boats this morning for an early awakening in the fresh mountain air. As I motored out through the no-wake zone of the marina exit, I couldn’t help but notice the family camping on Bridge Island. The kids were playing some form of “tag” and their dog was happily sniffing the wildflowers. No doubt in search of new territory to mark! Mom and dad seemed to be busy whipping up breakfast for the troops. I was trying to capture the smell of griddled bacon and pancakes but they were too far off to tell for sure what the morning delicacy was to be.

The swim beach on my right was already packed with swimmers lathered in sunscreen and splashing away. Pop tents had been set out to give a bit of shade to the picnic tables on what is shaping up to be another sunny day in paradise. I couldn’t help but think back to my childhood and how a simple day at the beach with my sister and family was like an entire vacation experience all to itself. If I could sip from the Fountain of Youth and go back to those carefree days, I surely would.

On the far side of lake near the dam, I saw a cloud of dust kicking up from the trails along the shoreline. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was a troop of pack horses gently carrying a group of riders along the hillsides and valley’s of our area. What a way to spend the morning in North Routt County. Nothing but the trail, the animals, the camaraderie of good friends and the gentle hint of simpler times to make a person truly appreciate this life.

Little by little, it began to dawn on me. Tomorrow is the first day of August. Kids will soon be back in school and our green aspens will soon be turning bright yellow. Things at Steamboat Lake will start winding down and there are really only a handful of busy days left in our summer calendar. Not to sound cliché, but where did the time go? When I began working here at the marina I was told how fast the summer will fly by. Thinking back now, it really did.

So for anyone looking at this summer in the same way I am, I have one bit of advice. If you haven’t made the short trek from Steamboat Springs to the Steamboat Lake State Park this summer, GO! Don’t think, just do it. And when you start making your way north from Steamboat, try to contemplate how glorious this life is. Take in all the sights, sounds, smells and colors you see on your way up here and try to remember that summer memories like this are like a candle in the wind. Don’t let yours blow out before you’ve had a chance to experience its light!

Happy Trails!

-DAVE

For the past 17 years, Carolyn White (aka “The Fudge Lady”) has been whipping up the tastiest treats in Colorado. Year after year, tourists and locals alike have made the trek to Steamboat Lake to get their hot little hands on the creamiest confections in the area.

As a retired school teacher, Carolyn moved to Hahn’s Peak Village in 1993 with her husband Carroll. Carroll, an avid fly fisherman, began work at building up a fishing store and Carolyn focused on running a local gift shop. Through her research of the next great items to stock at the store, Carolyn stumbled upon the concept of selling fresh fudge and began to pursue it whole-heartedly.

Carolyn sold 2,000 pounds of fudge the first year and she was off and running! Now, Carolyn makes 75 pounds of fudge every other week and it’s sold here at the Marina. But Carolyn’s reputation branches out much further than just our store. People travel to Hahn’s Peak all summer long asking “where’s the fudge lady?”

The ingredients are selected weekly by Carolyn and she always seems to throw in a special flavor or two each time she bakes. The hottest sellers remain to be the Heath Toffee Crunch, Mint Chocolate and the Peanut Butter Swirl. Some of the other delicious flavors you can expect are Coconut Swirl, Strawberry, Maple Nut, Snickers Fudge, Creamsicle and of course… good old, melt in your mouth Chocolate!

So the next time you’re at the Marina, ask if the “Fudge Lady” is in today. Or perhaps, simply follow your nose!

 

That’s right, the Steamboat Lake Marina now has a new toy for rent. You’ve asked for it, now here it is. Please welcome the newest member to our fleet – the Master Craft “X-Star” wakeboard/water ski boat! We launched this sucker and got her in the water for the first time today. We are planning to offer piloted wakeboard, water ski and wake surf lessons for all abilities starting as early as next week. Rental of the boat comes with all of the equipment you desire, a driver and hands-on instruction. What more would you expect from the most cutting edge marina in Northwest Colorado?

Here are some pics of our lovely lady. Call to inquire about rental rates and availability. Perhaps we’ll consider some discounted sessions for the lucky few who get to help us officially christen this bad boy on the lake. 970-879-7019… ask for Dave.

Specs on this baby:
- Vortec, 8.1 Liter Engine (similar to a Corvette!)
- 450 Horsepower
- 22 feet… 12 passenger capacity
- 17 speakers… CD/MP3 equipped
- On-board cooler / 12 cup holders
- Official boat of the X-Games
- The “Gold Standard” of all wakeboard boats on the market!

Quite an exciting weekend the 4^th turned out to be.  I’m here to report that one of the most uncommon events I’ve ever witnessed took place over the past few days… the sinking of a vintage ski boat just yards from the no-wake buoys at the marina entrance. 

Now this wasn’t an intentional sinking of any kind.  You know, the way the Navy might intentionally sink a machine boat or retired ship to create a diving attraction.  No, the theory on this sinking was simply a loose plug which allowed an overwhelming amount of water to flow into the back end of the craft.  With more water on board than the boat could handle, the vessel sank faster than it takes to microwave a burrito.

Luckily, all the passengers on the boat were able to quickly swim from danger and nobody was harmed in the accident.  The trouble then became finding the boat and hiring a salvage crew to remove the craft from the bottom of the lake.  Choppy waves created by a busy 4^th of July made it difficult.

Finally on Monday the 6^th, certified divers found the sunken vessel and were able to secure it to air-filled buoys.  Giving the boat a slight lift off the bottom, salvage divers were able to handily guide it to the boat ramp and the owners of the boat were able to get it secured to their trailer.

Miraculously, the boat suffered very little structural damage and the owners are fully intending to get it back on the water very soon.  The entire salvage process caught the interest of both boaters and visitors to the park alike. 

Now that the boat has been safely retrieved, one has to beg the question… what will do for excitement around here?

Steamboat Flyfisher, Steamboat’s year-round flyfishing-only store, located in downtown Steamboat by the river at Fifth and Yampa streets, has recently opened a second location. The newest flyfishing experience can now be accessed at the new store located in our very own North Routt County area.  Within Steamboat Lake Outfitters, the new Steamboat Flyfisher is just minutes to Steamboat Lake, Pearl Lake, Hahn’s Peak Lake and the upper Elk River (all excellent fishing spots).

Owner Tim Kirkpatrick announced that the new location is open 7 days a week and stocks gear specifically chosen for North Routt County fishing conditions and wildlife.  Having such a longstanding outfit now located in the Steamboat Lake area can only benefit anglers of all types, and we at the Marina are happy to call them neighbors.

You can contact the store and manager Keith Hale at 970-819-1385. The store is scheduled to be open through September.  The store’s downtown Steamboat Springs location can be contacted at 970-879-6552 or SteamboatFlyfisher.com.

A big congratulations goes out to the Reverend Gina Jackson of Oklahoma for landing this lunker of a Rainbow!  Having fished for several hours, Gina caught a couple of “keepers” but this one in particular made the rest look small.

This fish measured a whopping 21-inches which made it a great fight as she was trying to get it into the boat.  In fact, Gina reported that her reel actually broke when landing the fish and she had to reel it in using the old “hand over hand” method of pulling the line.  What a great story! 

This beauty was caught just off Placer Cove using an articulating rainbow pattern Rapala lure.  Not a bad choice of bait considering the results.  Since Gina is an ordained minister, her husband Chuck Jackson wanted it in the records that “It wasn’t caught on a Sunday.”   Hey Chuck, I think the congregation would understand in this case!  Besides, some holy being must have been on your side that day since these larger fish can be hard to come by.

And lastly, a special note from Gina to Ron… “Wish you were here!”  (sounds like Ron couldn’t make the trip this year)

As a father myself, there’s nothing I love more than spending time with family and friends on the lake.  Here are a few photos that sum up my love for this place more than words can say.  Be sure to check out our frequently updated “Daily Photos” for a photo timeline of how much this place evolves.  As famed skier/videographer Warren Miller likes to say:  If you can’t make it to Steamboat Lake this summer, you’ll just be another year older when you do (or something like that!):

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