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Landing the big one on Vallecito

Fishing tourney kicks off season as new era of marina approaches
An angler tries his luck near the Vallecito Conservation & Sporting Association’s new “floating office” on Vallecito on Tuesday. A VCSA-operated marina is expected to join the structure just to the fisherman’s left in the next month.

All of the pieces are in place for the return of the Vallecito Conservation & Sporting Association’s Summer Fishing Contest at Vallecito Reservoir.

Well, there is something missing – or, rather, a piece yet to return to the mix on the popular fishing and recreational lake north of Durango.

Summer-like temperatures have arrived, water levels are healthy at Vallecito, and all signs point to an equally-as-healthy fish population at the highly regarded fishery for Saturday’s tournament. The new marina at Vallecito is still about a month away, but that a marina is a reality this summer is the buzz in this small community that so embraces the lake.

According to Jim Schank, president of the VCSA, a grass-roots volunteer organization started in 2008, after Doc’s Marina left Vallecito following the 2014 open-water season and two other potential marina operators backed out this past spring, the VCSA stepped in to provide marina operations on the lake this summer and moving forward.

“No marina is bad economics,” Schank said of the marina revival effort at Vallecito.

It’s been a whirlwind process that didn’t really start for the VCSA until after those two potential operators both backed out in April. But with the work of Schank and the VCSA, a loan was obtained and the contract was signed with the Pine River Irrigation District and the Bureau of Reclamation, Schank said. And recently, the VCSA ordered a fleet of 10 16-foot fishing boats with 9.9-horsepower motors, purchased a “floating office” and ordered 38 watercraft slips and accompanying buoys with the hopes of opening in early July just north of that floating office that’s already “docked” off Sawmill Point near the southern end of the lake.

Schank said 10 slips already have been sold, but more filled slips – and donations – will be needed to help keep the operation going strong.

“It’s going to be the Vallecito lake community’s marina,” Schank said. “We’re setting it up so as to offer the lowest rates possible. We’re not in it to make money, we’re here to make it better.”

While the immediate plan is just to be operational, Schank sees the marina eventually adding more slips – up to a maximum of 198, he said – as well as numerous varieties of watercraft, including paddle boats, canoes and kayaks. He hopes to provide pontoon rentals early on, renting those from private parties just to make them available, at least in the early going.

But all that takes money, and Schank and the VCSA are trying to raise as much as they can as fast as they can to get the operation where it needs to be.

“To do the whole thing right will take $450,000,” Schank said. “That’s a pretty big community investment.”

The fishing tournament essentially will serve as a mini-fundraiser for the marina. Entry fee is $35 in advance and $45 the day of the contest.

The tournament, being held in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Free Fishing Weekend, runs from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. and boasts a first-place prize of $500 in each category (northern pike, trout, salmon and smallmouth bass). Second place is a $200 gift card from Sportsman’s Warehouse in all categories. For more information or to enter, go to www.vallecitosportingclub.org or call Kelley at 970-769-7277.

While such fundraisers will help the marina’s cause, the VCSA is hoping for additional donations and to fill as many watercraft slips as possible.

Even joining the VCSA – membership fees are $25 annually – helps the cause.

To access a marina slip reservation form, go to www.vallecitosportingclub.org/slip-reservation-form.html. To make donations, go to www.vallecitosportingclub.org or the VCSA Facebook page at www.facebook.com/groups/vallecitosportingclub or call 970-884-0999.



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