The Yampa Tailwaters Preserve - Steamboat

 

Coming down from Rabbit Ears Pass, the view over the Yampa Valley steals the hearts of many.  At the center of this beautiful scene lies the More Ranch.  A private ranch with 2 miles of private tailwaters below Catamount Lake on Yampa River surrounded by 514 acres of rolling tree covered hillsides. The consistent water temperature coming out of the bottom of the lake offers approx. 300 days of trophy fishing every year.  The historical agricultural use has been maintained offering low taxes along with an opportunity to continue that legacy and offer a home to abundant herds of elk and deer.  This unique property gives you the opportunity to spend time enjoying nature and the serenity of Steamboat Springs throughout the year in a place that your family will be asking to come back to more each year.
 
 Owning the Yampa Tailwaters Preserve on the More Ranch will allow you to spend mornings fishing a world-class fishery, enjoy Steamboat’s fantastic recreational opportunities with your family then sneak back for the evening hatch or any combination you choose. It is an ideal place to grow your family and friend's love of fly-fishing while maintaining the legacy of this property.  Private Tailwater fisheries are unique but what makes this property special is that it is located 7 miles from Steamboat Springs. The close proximity to the ski mountain, the convenience of the restaurants and shops in downtown Steamboat and all the trails around Steamboat, gives your entire family things to do while you enjoy yourself on the tailwaters.  
 
A Brief History
The tailwaters have always been a notable fishing area, but the construction and filling of Lake Catamount in 1978 helped improve the fishing in the More Ranch dramatically. Being able to count on the consistent flow of nutrient rich water from the Lake helped transform the More Ranch into the world caliber fishing spot that it is today.  This is where the big fish swim up to feed bringing some of the finest fish in our valley within reach of your fly line without stocking and feeding programs that take the challenge out of fishing.
 
The free flowing water out of the the Flattops wilderness area enters Lake Catamount is given the time to allow the sediment to settle to the bottom.  The water is then released through the bottom of the dam which has been stratified by the thermoclines in the Lake and maintains a very consistent temperature year round.  This allows for outflow temperatures into the Tailwaters to be within the range that fosters the rapid growth of insects and trout.
 
What does this mean? 300 days+ of fishing each year. The consistent flow from Lake Catamount helps buffer against the traditional fluctuations that wild rivers often experience. This gives way for the longer seasons and better conditions for caddis, mayflies, stoneflies and midges to grow, which are then the primary sustenance for those huge world-class trout... 
 
If you are interested in learning more about the tailwaters, please contact Jon.  He can help give you an independent opinion on the property, recreation opportunites and values.  Jon can be reached at 970-879-0879 or via email at Jon@TheSteamboatGroup.com