9-20-2012 John, Paul, George, and Ringo

Need I say more?  First cast, caught a fish. Caught trout all day. Tied on one fly all day. Beetles, size 16 and 18. Foam, yellow post. Client Happy! Report over.

Tight Lines!

9-19-2012 Boulder Creek

Me and the bro wanted to get a taste of the great fly fishing lately so we headed to the canyon. I pretty much needed one thing. A solid dry fly bite. I got it.

Having found some pretty good fishing the day before I figured we would head right back. Again, we showed up early so we started off with some attractors and wire princes. We were getting into fish pretty steadily. But then we stopped to take a break and enjoy it for a while. We drank 2 more 90 schillings; one left now, thanks Olson's, and headed on.

I told steve with the temps warming we should try some terrestials and lose the nymphs. I tied on an ant and a hopper with no luck and then a size 16 beetle. That was the ticket for the next 3 hours. We pounded those trout solid until about 3:30 or so and then it finally slowed down. We never tied on another fly and once the bite slowed we left. What a great day. We even had a double hook-up at one point. That is how exciting the action was.

Steve won nicest trout of the day but forget his 90 trophy in the truck. It'll be there next time bro! Get out there everybody. And get some love bugs before you go!

Some pics before I go:

The Tomahawk! (Sweeeeeeet)

The bro!

The 90 winner!

Tight Lines!

9-18-2012 Boulder Creek, again but higher

I don't usually take a client who has signed up for a full day trip to Boulder Creek. It is pretty standard that we either go below Estes Dam, and then the park, or just straight to the park. But having had a slow day out the last time up here, (see post 9-16-2012), I decided we would be best off fishing closer to the shop. Upon arrival, the gentlemen had let me know that they had fly fished before and were really looking to get into more trout than scenery so it was a good decision.

Upon our arrival, we started simple. It was early and I knew the dry fly bite wouldn't be crazy, but figured we would make it happen anyways. We had to keep it pretty fresh, changing up often for the first hour or so. After about 9:00 or so, the trout started to move around a bit and were chomping on our caddis and stimulators. We threw some smaller attractors, and even some smaller midge and mayfly nymphs patterns, but they really seemed to be looking up.

Starting off in the morning, just below the falls.

The guys were getting several bites early on after tying on the stimulators and caddis, but it slowed around 10:30. Having a couple trout already landed, we left and headed up stream, again staying below the falls a bit. 

The next stretch of water, I recommended trying my own hand tied beadhead wire prince nymphs. Sometimes, but not always, you just know. I knew. Something about this fly in this roughly quarter mile stretch of water just nails it! I find stones on the rocks here, obviously, but also in other stretches where this fly may not be as effective. Intriguing!

Either way, it worked great, especially after recommending to one of the guys that he take off his bb weight that he had added and then showed them both how to approach these larger boulder plunge pools. Don't stand on the rocks I tell people. Stand behind them and stalk the trout like John Rambo. I would even go as far as recommending camouflage for your face and a headband too. Hey, if it helps right? 

One of the clients taking on "Rambo Style" for the first time, minus the face paint and headband, of course. Successful Mission!

After painting our faces and playing with our survival knife toys, we decided to go eat some of our delicious prey: Oscar Meyer turkey sandwiches served with cold 90 Schillings, courtesy of the 9-16-12 trip clients, the Olson's. Thanks, they were great. Only three left now. What a great lunch though. We ate right next to Barker Reservoir in Ned and it was just gorgeous. No wind unless you were down next to the water submarine-ing Schillings.  

After lunch, we headed up towards Eldora for some small time creek fishing. I told the guys that the grand slam was a definite possibility, and it excited them as they were true fly fisherman. Just my kind of crowd.

Good to be back in this neck of woods! There is usually snow everywhere when I'm up in this area.

We went with the same set up as before, as I knew there was a slight chance of catching on the same set up as well. Also, they were feeling it so I just wanted to get them fishing again as soon as possible.

Sure enough, right in the first hole they caught a brook trout, on the Amy's Ant. No surprise, as summer time brookies love big and ugly terrestrials. Immediately, I reminded them of the grand slam.

The first hole we hit in Eldora, with the brook trout coming just below where the client is standing and the rainbow came just above the bridge; which is on the right of the blue spruce, which is also pictured on the right.

One of the gentleman proceeded to leap frog the other and now ended up above the bridge that was splitting the huge pocket water above from the long flat pool below. The guy I was standing next to got another bite and I told him I was the going to go tie on the other client a san juan worm. Well right when I walked up on him, I noticed a heavily arched over rod. I ran to net it and he had just landed the nicest rainbow trout. It was pretty. I can't stress how gorgeous this trout was. It was pushing 11 or 12 inches, which is huge for this section of stream, had a bright pink stripe down the side, a dark drake colored back and the most perfect spotting. I shook his hand and told him that he had actually just made my day. Any day you get to see a trout like that is a great day for me. I asked what he got him on and he said "the one was slow so I tied on a san juan, pink". I just smiled and told him "great minds think alike".

I tied on a san juan for the other gentleman and again, reminded him of the grand slam and told them that if they needed to get it between the two of them, that works. They continued to work upstream, trying to stay in the sun as it seemed to be producing better results. The temperature was 60 degrees, which made it a good 8-12 degrees warmer than below the dam, but bug activity was sparse none the less.

We continued fishing for another hour or so and did see a ton of flying ants on a beach at one point, and even saw a (one only) trout rise to a decent caddis hatch after that. But after tying on a flying ant, Elk hair caddis and both a caddis emerger and larva without luck we decided to get going. 

 Working a small meadow between our 'in' and the town of Eldora.

Nice looking stream, huh? I would say so myself.

It was a great day out and although the client fell just a cutthroat shy of a grand slam, they were happy. They had caught trout in all 3 sections and I felt like coming to Boulder Creek really paid off. And even though we weren't in the park, we were treated to some great scenery none the less.

Having drove their own vehicle so they could venture to Lyons afterwards, I was free to do whatever. I fished, but wasn't feeling it so quit after maybe five minutes or so. Just didn't feel it. I did however get this great, semi-genius idea of taking a couple of really clever pictures.  So here they are; pictures of my office, from my other office.  Keep in mind that I was shooting straight into the sun so the picture quality is not great but...look at where I work in the summer (foreground) and in the winter (background). Can't beat that!!!

"Office, meet office."  I'll say it again, you can't beat that!

Looking west towards La Cerveca Mas Fina

Barker Reservoir on the way home. My summer office is located behind where I am standing, in front of me and pretty much all over the place. Crazy. The winter office? That is in the mountains right in the middle of this picture. Awesome!!

Tight Lines-

9-14-12 Boulder Creek

I had a quick trip out this afternoon and the canyon was fishing great. We were below the falls and the fish were hitting on Para Humpies, PMX's, Beadhead wire princes in green & black and also olive and black. One of these days, I will put the recipe with a photo up. And one of these days, I will not have such a half effort report either. But what can I say; that is what worked, that is what we used, and there is where we fished. I guess I will tell you that we fished from 1:00 until about 5:00.

And no pics because the memory card was at home. Sorry!

Get out there!


Tight Lines

9-16-12 Big Thompson

Early afternoon on the Upper Big Thompson.

I had the privilege of taking a couple of locals up to the Big Thompson river yesterday; both below the dam and in the park. It was a beautiful day, although a bit on the nippy side when we arrived at the river at about 9:30. Once the sun came over, it warmed up nice and quick though. At about that same time we were through with our in-lot instruction and we headed down to the river.

It was flowing very clear, and a slight bit on the high side as compared to where it has been. We started fishing a couple of holes right below a real nice long run. The client was casting midges, girdle bugs, rainbow warriors, and blue poison tungs. They would get a bite here and there but it was a little slow going. After moving above the bridge that was blocking our stretch, we found a really nice hole and for the first time all day I sighted some trout moving around in the shallows. Just what I wanted. They were not sipping dries but I figured I would give them a look at one anyways.

I tied up one of the clients with a size 18 Royal Wulff and an olive Pheasant Tail, we started getting some real bites.  The trout were quick on the take and although we could not get one on the hook, it wasn't from a lack of bites, especially in this particular hole above this bridge. Having realized that it was nearly 1:00 I suggested to the client that we should head into the park.

We arrived in Moraine Park at around 1:30 and ate lunch. We found a nice spot to enjoy lunch, on the back of my truck, because somebody had taken my table. Yes, it is my table. I called dibs on it at the beginning of the summer. And not to mention there was more people in Moraine than I have ever seen. There was cars parallel parked virtually the whole way all the way back to where the meadow ends and the trees begin, closer to Fern Lake and Cub Lake TH's. Unbelievable I thought. But we made the best of the situation, as I figured we would because the clients were really chill and I think they really enjoyed lunch none the less. They just seemed to be having a great time despite the slower fishing and all the people.

Having completed lunch, we drove further up the road to look for a parking spot. Finally, at the very end of the road was a spot. We geared up and now headed in the opposite direction to get started. Cutting into the woods was really nice because as I mentioned, there was just so many people. We hiked down the river a good 1/2 mile and then got started at the first big left (northward) turn of the creek coming into the meadow. If you don't know, you won't; and if you do you will. That is all I'm saying about that. Beautiful area though, I will add that.

Pictured: A look back at the bottom of our stretch of water. A.K.A. "If you don't know, you won't; and if you do you will."

This section is beautiful, but water levels were down from even two weeks ago, (See post: 9-6-12 Hangin with Mr. T).
Not only that, the visual bug activity was almost non-existent. The client even noticed this. Around 6:00 we had a pretty relevant caddis hatch and once that happened the trout really started looking up. The client got a couple more bites on a size 16 tan Caddis (EHC) but none on the cadddis emerger. The client, having felt spent, called it a day and we headed back.

Looking west towards the divide.

In all, it was a slow day. We did manage to bring one in on a size 18 Purple Haze, but even that required some special technique apparently as it was submerged when it was working. The list of flies used includes, but is not limited to (get ready for this), Stimulators, Ants (black and brown, dry and submerged), Amy's Ants, Beetles, Hoppers (parachute, baby boy's) PMX's, Humpy's (and Para Humpy's too), Adams (and Parachute Adams), BWO's, PMD's, Royal Wulff's, H&L Variants, Caddis, CDC Midge, Griffith's Gnats, Fat Albert's. And the nymphs: Pheasant Tails, Prince Nymphs, black beauty, miracle nymph, RS-2 emergers, Girdle bugs, Sow bugs, RW's, Tungs, San juan Worms, and an array of different PMD and BWO nymphs. Holy Jeez!!!!!!!!!!   That is a lot of flies. In fact, the most I have tied on all year in one day. Unbelievably uncooperative trout.

But in the end, the client had a great day, really enjoyed everything, and plans on getting back out soon.

On a side note, at the end of the day one of the clients mentioned that she was getting her indicator to bob up and down in several spots but at the time, she assumed they were rocks. Looking back she realized they were bites. I think she herself got a good kick out of that one. A great trip and I hope (think) we got another guy hooked on this great sport.



Tight Lines!

9-6-12 Hangin' with Mr. T

Big Thompson River (Big T, Mr. T), Rocky Mountain National Park

Got up to the Park yesterday morning with Pops (Lee) and headed for the Big T. It was a beautiful morning and the place was quiet for a change with a good portion of the summer vacationing crowd being absent. We headed up to a spot that is usually slow with not too much pressure, and today was no exception. We saw one angler, well downstream, on our way in.

We suited up and headed out. I started by throwing a size 18 Royal Wulff. After 2 holes and no bites I quickly switched up. I tied on a size 18 Amy's Ant and almost immediately I received 3 quick bites, one of which I really should have had. Lee started out with a orange stimulator and was receiving very little action. Meanwhile, right when he ties on a Amy's Ant as well, on my recommendation, it completely goes quiet. We fished another few holes and moved on. As I was watching Lee cast into a hole, I checked the water temp. A very cold fifty degrees!

Immediately I cut my line and tied on a Blue Poison Tung with a new pattern that I have recently been tying, an olive Pheasant Tail. I stuck on an indicator and got to throwing. Soon thereafter, fish on. The prettiest 2" brook trout was on the end of my line. Not quite what I had in mind but it got the skunk off. I caught one more and then Lee tied on with the same rig. He started receiving some bites as well.

We worked our way upstream and then headed south to this little fork in the stream. It is a great little hole that harbors a few nicer size trout. The last time up here, I had a client go 1-on-1 with this hole. He wasn't getting bites on the fly that was working everywhere else so we gave him a tiny little midge and mayfly pattern. I told him he would need the perfect cast and sure enough on the first cast, a huge strike. He ended up missing him but the client left feeling like he had gone to war with this trout and at least got him to come out and fight.

So now, approaching it again, I wanted my dad to go finish the job. We approached quietly, almost stealth, and he started casting. Within a few casts he received a few 'so subtle you couldn't hardly tell' bites. The kind where your indicator barely moves and once you set the hook you just the fish swim away. Real light takes. So we kept working and working. I suggested that he cast to the far side of this boulder on the top side of the hole and he did. After a few casts, not only fish on, but a nice little fighter. Ended up being a real pretty 9"-10" brook. A healthy brook for this section indeed. He worked the hole some more and ended up landing another one, smaller this time. It was a victory for sure.

Meanwhile, I was having a real problem cracking the 2" barrier. Awesome, right? Well we kept working the stream and eventually a found a real nice run that harbored a ton of little guys. I caught a few more and suggested Lee throw in as well. He got a couple of bites and we then decided we better get going for I had to be back in town. On the way back I decide that we should both take 2 more holes. So we do.

The hole I pick had the first actual visible cruising trout I had seen all day. I start re-tying frantically as I knew we were short on time and it appeared that the water was warming up enough for trout to start moving around. Just a bit earlier, I had taken a second reading revealing that the temp was 54 degrees, so that made sense for trout to start waking up a little bit. 

As I'm re-tying Lee comes up and says he is good for the day. I tell him that I finally saw some trout movement and that I am tying on a stimulator; the same one he started with actually. I throw the fly and some line on to the water, in preparation for the perfect first cast. I then bring my rod back with one stroke and then forward, placing my fly right where I wanted it. I thought it was the ticket. As it got right above the money, I see a trout, the further left and healthier looking of the two I have seen, swim right over. Right when I think my stimmy has passed his hold, I lose sight of him. Almost immediately thereafter, I realize why. Because he is about one inch below my fly and looking at it real hungry like. Right then, slurp time!!! Put up a short fight, but compared to the 2" barrier I was having trouble with, this near 12" brown put quite the smile on my face. That was just what I needed on my way out.

It definitely appears as if fall is in near full effect in the Park. The crowds have left, the hatches are diminishing and the temps, both the air and water, are dropping quickly. Just two weeks ago, this same section was 60 degrees in the late afternoon. Trout were eating almost any properly presented dry, and the sight fishing was great. Not the story any more now, but this is when us die hard anglers come out. We come for the big browns and if there is one thing I 'felt' today, it was the fact in knowing that those big browns are coming. Maybe that is why my day ended the way it did. A foreshadow of sorts.

Well, it was a great day fishing. Get out there. It's not too late. The Park is spectacular right now, and the fishing isn't bad either.

Tip of the day: Check the water temperature early and often.
Tight Lines

Side note-I got a new camera!!! Actually, a new used camera but yeah! So look for the quality of the pics to go up. And look for the date on my camera to get fixed too. Whoops!

9-5-12 Hey, look at me!

Here are some random pics from the summer that I have not posted yet. Enjoy:

Roaring River:

Not quite sure where this was, but nice fishy! Big T maybe??

Nice Shot of the Battle Axe on Boulder Creek late one evening

A picture of the statue that the City of Loveland dedicated to me in honor of all my fly fishing contributions! Seriously, how cool is that to be honored in such a way. And I got, you guessed it, a tight line.

Solo photo gone wrong...

 Big T

How goofy do I look here? Really goofy! 

Look pretty weird here too!

We had to wait for this Huge bull elk to get out of our way up at the Big T in Moraine

There's that Axe again 

Gross Reservoir, from the canoe 

Yes, that is me and the kid (C-Dog, Christopher) at Yellowstone Lake and yes, I am about to catch a 21 3/4" cutthroat trout out of that lake, but not with this fly rod. And yes, I mean no, I don't have a pic of it. But I have 2 witnesses so ease up on the spin rod hating!!!!!

I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorite rivers in the whole state; the Ark. Almost positive.

This bear actually ate the fish that I had just caught. No, just kidding!! We all know I would have kicked that bears arse before that happened. 

The 2011 World Fly Fishing International Championships, in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Pictured are the 4 finalists. The one in red won it all!!!!!!

Hey did anybody see this picture of the rainbow I caught up on the Blue earlier this... 

You would think since I enjoy the canoe so much I would get it out more. ??? 

This lake, still, has the biggest cutthroat I have ever seen in a high lake in Colorado. I'm not telling but if you ask nicely I will take you there.  

Same story here 

You thought you figured it out with this next pic, but you didn't. Not even close. This is on the way up to Rollins Pass, sucker! 

I forget where this was. Really! I could find it again. I know where it is I just forgot the name.

Take a guess at this one.  

And this one! 

Wow! Nice largie! 

Another secret spot here, but I will eventually reveal the location. 

The Trout Wagon! Before it got banged.

What you don't what when you are in the backcountry, 5 miles from the Trailhead: 

I won't tell you where that was either, but let's just say it wasn't very 'Peaceful'.

Gross, in early March a few years back. Pretty.

A south Boulder Creek fatty. Not quite sure why I never fish there. DURRRR!!! 

SBC 

SBC 

On the way up to Gross, SBC

The Axenheimer, on the St. Vrain below Button Rock Preserve I believe. 

 Again, BRP

The World Fly Fishing Champ, using a spinning rod???? That's odd.

James Peak Wilderness, maybe??

John "Jubby" Woods. National Runner-Up @ the 2011 Fly Fishing Nationals 

Too cool for Colorado, too. Lame!

The Hull Bros., on the Firehole River. 

This Grizzly actually came out of the woods in Yellowstone and started to walk around the lake we were fishin at to eat us. We got the heck out of dodge, quickly.

Me and the boy at Firehole Falls.  

Destination unknown:

All of these pics are from Wild Basin in RMNP:

Beautiful! 

Your guide for today... 

But not these: 

or these,

 

Tight Lines!