The BIGGEST TROUT in Colorado Live In This River!

[@mikeorowitznewski]

Great video and keep working at it! The fish on Pelletstone Ranch aren’t as easy as folks say. Feeding consistently make them selective. They are also old fish who have been fooled a few times. It’s been going on, the feeding, for over 25 years. Old fish are smart fish….. Enhanced or Free Range. Best artificial fly, nymph, lure or whatever for the Pelletstone is a brown wooded jewelry bead. 5 mm. Peg it and float it or sink it. It sucks when you hit the river and the feed wagon appears. FYI, the whole river was engineered to fish from the east shore as a walk wader. Holding structure is center channel mostly. Float east side generally. Get back with some wooden pegged pellet eggs and really do a video. Also fishes better on weekends. No workers to feed or drive around burning daylight checking floaters.

[@lukesmith9734]

As a local who fishes this all the time I enjoy you keeping it a secret. Keep doing it!

[@ower2532]

Booo

[@bigsteezer924]

my friend caught the same 27inch bow in the same spot a year apart on this river....yay for pellet heads that dont move

[@hansziegler6698]

The biggest fish in Colorado do live in that river. The section you caught those fish is private and owned by a billionaire. He has a fish hatchery, breeding ponds and a biologist. They are stocked and fed. It’s certainly no secret. Thank PTJ

[@xaviergonfishin]

This is very well known information, but it doesn’t take away from how fun it is! Thanks for watching!

[@arrowzen7433]

@@xaviergonfishinshouldn’t it though? - I sure only dream of wild fish…

[@jcarry5214]

Kinda like when you see elk hunting videos of muscle bros bowhunting in Utah and it turns out the homies are on private land in the chalk creek unit, a pure petting zoo, and they're paying 50 G's for a bull? I can see that. One Bronut's sweet memories, one bros make believe privilege exercise.

[@xaviergonfishin]

@@jcarry5214 that’s definitely an interesting take. Unlike those elk bros, this is a publicly accessed river. The big thing here is this landowner is trying everything to restrict river flow and prevent boats from going down, such as creating water diversion, huge weir systems, barb wire in the river, and having his private fleet harass you as you go down. So it isn’t quite the same because none of us who float it pay for it, it’s our right to be on it and someone is actively trying to illegally take it away. So call it what you want, but please know the facts before comparing it to high fenced/giant private ranch hunting. If there’s anything like that in Colorado, it’s all the private water on the north fork that people pay $1000+ a day to have their hand held through a groomed river for 30”+ trout dumber than a rock. Pay to play and being on public water definitely are not the same thing. Oh, and this landowner is also in coordination with the federal government for land swaps that would further restrict river access

[@xaviergonfishin]

@@arrowzen7433fishing is fishing to me and I certainly don’t discriminate! I much prefer wild fish as well, but it’s fun to mix it up here and there. Check out my other videos, they’re pretty much all wild fish. Thanks for watching!

[@kimovercash2887]

Love the idea of floating the rich guy’s hand fed pig trout section. . Great video!

[@MountainStateAngler]

Great video! Always hoped someone would make a raft video of this great river! Thoroughly enjoyed it! Glad you didn’t share the name. Don’t let anyone guilt you into it!

[@xaviergonfishin]

Haha thanks AJ I’m glad you enjoyed the video! Never will let that happen though, there’s enough publicity in this state

[@thomasleonard9685]

Even though the comments will always tell a secret

[@jorygoesfishing96]

Man, those are some amazing fish dude!! Looks like a great time out on the river! Also, I don’t understand why people feel the need to get on and leave a negative comment. If you don’t like the video or this type of fishing, just move on. 🤷🏼‍♂️ Good stuff man!

[@xaviergonfishin]

I couldn’t agree more. If people want to do that they can, I dont care! They won’t ever be positive people by acting like that. Thanks for the positive comment man, been watching your stuff a while now!

[@mannyshchukin9741]

Just a question. When the fish is holding during the fight why not get the fish on the reel instead of having all that line in the boat. I'm from NZ and guide in NZ and we get are line on the reel as soon as we can during the fight and let the drag do the hard work. Just a thought... Nice fish

[@Hancock-r2v]

Should always go with line in hand your your drag will not keep up with a big fat fish and he will snap your lines you are better off using your fingertips to use as drags I think your new zealanders get away with using a lot heavier line than us Americans because you have so much less pressure

[@mannyshchukin7349]

I use 5.5x and 5x towards the summer months on 5-8lb browns so I wouldn’t say we use lighter lines. We get it on the reel asap

[@rstrouts]

@@Hancock-r2v You're telling an NZ fishing guide how to fish his native waters??? Come on. It's obvious you've never fished New Zealand. I've fished both islands many times...the trout are waaaayyyyy tougher fighters than here in the US. They run you up and down the river, line you, jump 5 feet out of the water, etc., etc., etc. Many times you must have the line in the reel with a good drag set or they'll bend your hook big time and laugh at you all the while. I've also fished many times with hardcore NZers. When they tell you to bring the line to the reel when a fish is on, they mean it. Just sayin'... Manny, just curious...whereabouts do you guide?

[@kimovercash2887]

Get on reel calmly asap.. Be ready to hand strip line off reel if necessary as a big fish may dictate.

[@timingram8953]

Been there, caught them! Tight Lines!

[@xaviergonfishin]

Haha they’re a lot of fun! Thanks for watching man!

[@exposingthedarknesswiththe9190]

Looks like early Spring or Summer runoff, which I don't believe you mentioned.😊

[@GettingToHeaven]

Wow! What a meal! Nice catch!

[@dankochanek8056]

I need a drift boat/raft!! Can only walk/wade so far on that stretch. Such a rad video. Thanks for sharing!!

[@xaviergonfishin]

I’m glad my buddy has one otherwise I’d never float haha thanks for the kind words!

[@KBBOUTDOORS]

thats no indicator that's a bobber haha love it great vid

[@logan-gonzalez]

Sure do pull some tanks out of the south platte this time of year!

[@xaviergonfishin]

Gotta love the south Platte!

[@slezy-1983]

nice catches!! tough fighting them with all the underwater obstruction. Smart fish!

[@xaviergonfishin]

You got that right, they’re tough fighting fish which makes it so much fun!

[@geraldbyington6836]

What type of line and flies were you using?

[@xaviergonfishin]

I was using a sa amplitude textured infinity on a 7wt with 1x tippet. I had to use a ton of different flies this day, but the bigger cuttbow at the end took a red perdigon. Will be making a full video in the near future breaking down everything I use!

[@janetgilmore8006]

We have been fishing the same waters for over 45 years Colorado , Wyoming Idaho and the fish get bigger every year catch and release is the key ..? We are fishing a hot spot on a small river in Wyoming this week seems like they are hitting everything we through at them mostly Browns and Cutts , waiting on snagging season to stock up our freezer for winter and the smoker..next stop Idaho..?

[@NijimasuHeaven]

WOW! A giant resident rainbow!

[@ericmoser5568]

There are fish that dwarf those below the spillway on blue river. Was able to go thru the fenced area with an employee for the water district, he would not let us fish but said we could look in the big pool at the bottom of the spillway. Huge 20lb plus rainbows holding right where the water comes out of the pipes at the spillway. These fish were the biggest rainbows ive ever seen. Guided in colorado for a long time. These fish were incredible.

[@joecopeland4586]

Jurassic park, on the Blue . Great fishing all the way to the highway.

[@joecopeland4586]

River below Taylor reservoir dam . Monsters ! From Dam to the Bridge .

[@cnofz17]

It's because that spillway is literally known as "Paul's water". He takes the biggest fish from his ponds and puts them into that section of water so he can fish for them.

[@Malcolm_Q]

Folks asking about this river... there are only so many rivers in CO to float fish. It's easy to find this section on one of them with 10 minutes of searching.

[@cnofz17]

Not to mention, it's on quite possibly the most controversial property in Colorado. Ain't a soul in this state that doesn't already know abt these pellet pigs 😂

[@jimtruscott5670]

Some great footage of hands stripping line and reeling !

[@xaviergonfishin]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for watching

[@jimtruscott5670]

@@xaviergonfishinAre yo ever going to learn ?

[@SUZMXR157]

Great fish! Too bad you couldn't get much goin on the streamers. I love when the truck just stops on the bridge and watches you guys fight that fish.

[@xaviergonfishin]

😂😂 it was so funny, bet he was hoping for a tank! But I know, the water was so high I bet nothing was even seeing it

[@HP-jm3zb]

Looks like they are fishing streamers, pretty tough water to fish anything else ! Although it looks like a strike indicator on their bridge fish.

[@ewowen]

Fun water. I only have a hard side drift boat, so I only get to get when invited by someone with a softie

[@xaviergonfishin]

Yup I’m the same way, I except I have no boat at all 😂 thankful for good buddies

[@ashleyhockenberry2187]

A+

[@Mattymu]

Gotta love cut bows theyre the best of both species! That was a bruiser

[@xaviergonfishin]

Couldn’t agree more! Cuttbows are awesome

[@Mattymu]

@xavier_gon_fishin I catch a lot of hybrids in southern Alberta southern rockies and there's a sweet spot. Up stream all cuts downstream mostly rainbows but right in the middle stretches is a haven of greedy hard running cutbows that are some of my favorite fish on earth.

[@bowen-l1g]

what river did you go to?

[@xaviergonfishin]

It’s not a secret, but I don’t like putting names out there regardless of how popular they are. Pretty close to Denver area though. Thanks for watching!

[@coloradoman4042]

@@xaviergonfishinjust say blue river, its not a secret. Really only need to gatekeep the spots further from the front range

[@bumpsandriffles1041]

Great video! I want to float this but I have heard it is a tough float am still pretty new on the sticks so might need a few more years of experience. What's the toughest part about rowing this section? Also, was this pretty recent?

[@xaviergonfishin]

It’s a very technical river that doesn’t really let up until the end. The canyon stretch has very large waves that’ll pull you into canyon walls, the weirs aren’t overly difficult but there’s definitely a few that’ll give you a run for your money, and a ton of boulder dodging. The Colorado is a much better bet to start and getting familiar with its “sketchy” stretches will make this river a lot easier. Best thing to do as well is go with someone who’s gone before. Made my learning curve a lot easier. Thanks for watching!

[@xaviergonfishin]

And it was a few weeks back now

[@bumpsandriffles1041]

@@xaviergonfishin Perfect! Thanks so much for the insight, we are actually going to float the Colorado tomorrow, I am excited to row some legit rapids. Keep the videos coming!

[@brianenglish888]

Getting your boat in is the toughest part. Not a real tough river to row just stay "a few moguls ahead" and you will be fine.

[@bumpsandriffles1041]

@@brianenglish888 Appreciate the help! I saw that boat ramp in the Fall and knew it would take some preperation and dedication haha.

[@Irideus]

like it

[@brianenglish888]

Pellet fed fish. But it is kinda fun.

[@greenarmy2643]

This is what kills fish when fly fisher men use the lightest rods and can barely reel a fish in tire them out to the point of death

[@cnofz17]

Relax bro, they're sterile triploid rainbows that are raised by a billionaire on his own property. Their diet is literally hundreds of pounds of pellets

[@alexgodina3661]

The take out is worse than the put in, drag your boat, frame and all your shit a couple hundred yards after you have been fishing,rowing and drinking beer all day

[@xaviergonfishin]

Yeah the takeout sucks, I didn’t film it for that reason 😂 was definitely tired

[@kevinwilson3499]

Maybe make a cart with big strong and lite wheels from a couple old/free wheel chairs.

[@MrReaganKelly]

Great video Xavier, thanks. Where on the Taylor were you fishing? Nice fish! Keep up the good work.

[@lucaskaplan3582]

taylor🤣🤣

[@xaviergonfishin]

Thank you so much!

[@JamesMorlan-tv2fr]

This river is the rio grande first river scene showed the fish canyon ash flow tuff of the palisades

[@ericmoser5568]

Pellet fed trout, not the biggest trout in colorado, the colorado river has bigger trout. Look ar cpw when they shocked the river by pumphouse, 22 pound brown, enough said.

[@forrestpeck2117]

Paul Tudor Jones is Colorado's most notorious illegal streamside landowner. Under federal law what he does is 100% illegal, he thinks he owns the beds and banks of this navigable river. Federal law says any navigable river, including the beds and banks, are public below the high water mark. State law is irrelevant due to the supremacy and commerce clause in the constitution. It is a federal offense for Jones to do what he does and have his fleet of wussies harrass you and try to claim ownership of the beds and banks since the river is navigable. But money talks and bullshit walks, sadly. Some of his security detail have been beaten up though by anglers before.

[@exposingthedarknesswiththe9190]

Pulling hard or bitting hard-haha!

[@WillTheFlyGuy]

love the vid might have to check out your fly shop.

[@xaviergonfishin]

You absolutely should man, hope to meet you in the shop soon!

[@NoHair-pk3xg]

Pretty work with the fly rod. FYI, when you grab a salmonid with your bare hands, it removes the slime that protects them from disease. Consequently, every fish you "release" is likely to die within a few weeks. Just thought you might want to know.

[@xaviergonfishin]

Thanks for your input, but I always wet my hands before handling a fish. Wet hands = safe fish. Thanks for watching!

[@swbuckmaster]

Absolutely false. What hurts them is handling with gloves

[@DoctorSess]

@@swbuckmaster handling fish, even with wet hands, is still potentially harmful and can cause infections but we do the best we can to minimize the risk. Sometimes it doesn’t work and they die after release. That’s the nature of the game.

[@smattext]

He doesn't care he just wants followers guy is a joke!

[@cnofz17]

These are sterile triploid rainbows that cost pennies to raise compared to Paul Tudor Jones billionaire assets. I understand the sentiment for wild fish, but these pellet head monstrosities are replaced every single year by a hatchery Paul runs on site.

[@toadflax636]

It's the Taylor. And no, no one eats rainbows out of most rivers in Colorado. Too, their meat has selenium in it.

[@Saucygremlinsks]

And high concentrations of mercury

[@cnofz17]

This is not the Taylor

[@coleholloway2523]

@@cnofz17definitely not the Taylor 😂, glad I got to this spot before it’s gotten to busy

[@kenlewis11]

I fish the Taylor. This isn’t it

[@isaiahluna9838]

Your pulling to hard brotha

[@Jccmd]

No private lakes have bigger fish

[@GunBrosShooting]

Would you say the guy in the truck was happy for you or not?

[@cnofz17]

Probably an employee of Paul Tudor Jones, I'd be willing to bet he wasn't very happy

[@lucap7]

Hello, i did not really understand on which of your videos we should comment on so... I'll just add this comment on all of them. :) I got nothing but time... :P

[@Chad81B]

Pellet fed monters but still f'n monster fish. 💦🤘🏻

[@Hancock-r2v]

Yeah it must be easy fishing on that private land i drive by to get to the hog trough

[@maxbigelow8805]

Is that the lower Blue?

[@leomartinez1213]

Three guys on a raft on private water showing how not to land a big fish 🤠. oh the river location is secret too lol.

[@hablep]

Gunnison?

[@xaviergonfishin]

There’s some really good float fishing in that area!

[@michaeldavid6284]

The biggest trout in Colorado don't live in a river. They're in Blue Mesa Reservoir.

[@H3DG3xC043]

I heard there was a albino near the dam

[@xaviergonfishin]

There’s a few in there!

[@montemiller3592]

fish or human?

[@tedlivermore6955]

​@@montemiller3592lol

[@adventurfly879]

That cutbow was one eye blind

[@xaviergonfishin]

Good eye 😉

[@sklett68]

There a reason u don’t mention the name of the river? 🤷‍♂️. Top secret I guess 😅

[@xaviergonfishin]

Not a secret at all! I just don’t really mention the names of the fisheries I’m on

[@sklett68]

i can understand not wanting to publicize a specific spot, but not even the name of the river is frustrating as a casual viewer. @@xaviergonfishin

[@johnkahler9559]

@sklett68. Take some clues and google....easy to find, took me a whole 2 min

[@NugzGalore]

​@@sklett68Because a lot of people are jackasses, start naming all the good/beautiful spots and they aren't for long. Do your own work and research!

[@FreeFormFlyFisher]

​@@xaviergonfishingood on you for not putting the names. People need to stop being lazy and put in some work. Cool video 🤙🏾

[@chiefvan]

Get the line on your reel

[@kevinpeck5873]

The Yampa holds some absolute monsters. Ive seen a 20lb Brown take a swipe at one of my lures in Hayden. These fish are pretty sub par to what ive seen personally.

[@cnofz17]

And they're raised on a pellet diet, the monsters you speak of in the Yampa are all wild and eat a natural diet

[@jordanduchein691]

Googan

[@TTomky]

That's funny. Come talk to us when those cutbow reach 20lbs AreTard

[@troutmancraig]

Don’t waste your time! Private water, stocks, and fed fish.

[@muzzy590]

this is a certain section of the Colorado River ;)

[@xaviergonfishin]

Something like that haha

[@nikkikiska]

Not a fan of catching stocked fish, but whatever floats your boat. My sole gripe though is the intro to the video where you say "this section of the river PRODUCES some of the biggest..." I think the term "produces" in such a context implies they are wild fish.

[@cnofz17]

Exactly, the only thing "producing" these fish is an on-site hatchery run by an Uber eccentric billionaire

[@sharperfisel]

uh hello, whats the river

[@NugzGalore]

Do your own work/research!

[@ThePanamaCollection1-lv5po]

I'm with you - when they don't even name the river, the whole video is worthless. Unless of course you just get off watching some dudes catch some fish...............

[@paigeloomis]

Float fishing this spot doesn’t much appeal to me, considering the contentious atmosphere of it. Not what I go fly fishing for. I’ll leave it to all the young badass guys. 😊

[@ScottGansmann]

Floated that before you were born….

[@cnofz17]

I bet that was glorious before Paul came in and filled the river with pellet heads😂

[@shaneobrien8922]

I was waiting for the monster and it never came. Also why edit the catch? got it on the line then fought for a bit then cut to the picture.

[@Nitestalker65]

This is not in Colorado!!!! Everyone stay the hell away from this state!!!!!!!

[@michaeltardibuono9330]

How not to land a fish

[@ericstrauss5198]

Don’t let anchor touch the ground, either. Drone patrol will git you. Wish more billionaires would spend money improving fisheries.

[@davidcrowell5280]

I could be wrong but I don’t believe you’re allowed to stop on private section

[@antcheco6612]

Definitely don’t waist your time here frying pan is better

[@qwerty-s7i]

Don’t give away the good spots or the damn tourists will trash them

[@bertrenolds5]

jurasic park. 7 wt. helps when a billionaire funds the tributary. don't touch the ground. like watching the streamer technique. still gotta catch the hogs