Nope, it is not over yet.
Upper Boulder Creek that is.
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
10-17-2012 New Fly Recipes
Check out the Fly Recipe page for our new fly recipe patterns. I just added a Hull's Gummy midge which I talked about in the 10-15-2012 post, and also a Purple Poison Tung; which isn't my creation, it's Craven's. But you don't see it everywhere and I want to give any fly tyers out there a recipe for it. Check em out!
http://rockymtnflyfisher.blogspot.com/p/fly-recipes.html
http://rockymtnflyfisher.blogspot.com/p/fly-recipes.html
Here is a sneak preview.
10-15-2012 Discovering new places is great!
My new spot.
I said new places, not new rivers. That's right...Boulder Creek again. Hey, I'm trying to save on gas money okay. But the fishing has been great anyways so what the heck right. Well to begin, I got the camera working again after falling into the river a while back. So we have pictures on today's post. Great.
So as for discovering new places, that is exactly what I did today. I decided on my way to the river that I did not want to drive up and down the canyon chasing trout. So I was picking a spot and fishing there for the next 6 hours. I won't say where I was exactly but I will say this. We (locals) have all fished the put in on this spot but I am assuming that most haven't fished upstream of the put in as I did today. I never see anglers in this section when driving by and have fished with others who take out at the same spot. If you upstream, it doesn't look great. But I found out today that was not the story.
I started, as I said in the usual put in spot at 11:00. I fished the same setup as I did last time out and it was pretty good fishing. I was using the prince/poison tung combo as mentioned in the previous post. I was getting into quite a few fish and again, like the week before, it slowed down around the same time. I remembered to change it up as I did the week before and hopefully that would help.
At around 12:30 or so, having only fished less than a tenth of a mile in just an hour and a half; which was testament to the great fishing, I headed up towards a real steep section and decided to keep moving as it was pretty steep and did not possess too many pockets. As I got to the top of this section I came upon a real nice flat section where I could get some real nice drifts going. I decided to tie on the trusty old beetle as the sun was coming overhead and that was all. I had a feeling it would not need allies. It ended performing just fine by itself. I caught about another 20 or so in the next two hours and again, as I could have predicted, they slowed down around 2:30.
My mid-day break spot, and a beautiful fall day.
I decided to keep fishing after taking what is, by my usual norm, a significantly long break. While taking a break on a really nice hole I noticed trout moving around and feeding right in the bottom of the water column in the dead center of the main current. I took note and tied on a new rig. The first fly I used was the same wire prince from the morning and tied about 15" below my indicator. That fly was used to mostly cover the depth that I had already been catching trout at, and also as a weight for my other two flies.
The second fly I had tied on was an experimental fly that I had tied this last week and had a great feeling about. I spent a decent amount of time thinking exactly how I wanted this fly to look and when I finally got around to figuring it all out, it came out so perfect the first time. And I kept it at that. One prototype until it is proven. I tied it on about 18" below the prince; and to the prototype fly I tied a pheasant tail with about a 24" spacing. I knew it was a deeper set up than the water levels dictated, but with this bottom fly I wanted to let it bounce all over the place and go as deep (or shallow) as the current predicted.
All I'm gonna say about this setup is I will really try to post a pic of my new fly very soon. It was off the hook this thing. I caught probably 12 on that fly alone in the next two hours. I managed another dozen or so with the pheasant tail on the bottom and even pulled in 2 or 3 with the prince. My prototype performed just as I thought it would. Sometimes, when you're tying something new, you just get a feeling.
The new fly doing what is was built to do. A fine engineering job I do say.
All in all a great day. I was really glad that I stuck to this section. It was a great piece of river and I saw not one other angler all day. I really encourage everyone to get out fishing right now. The bite is on and those browns are aggressive as heck. They are just plain hungry!!! 
My company for the afternoon.
Hope you enjoyed the report and the pics.
Tight Lines!
10-8-2012 Boulder Creek...but not the same
It is another Boulder Creek report, but it's not quite the same (beetle, beetle, beetle trip) report as it has been. Although, I don't know why you would get tired of those reports. See: "Tie beetle on, fish all day, catch fish all day" report. Really! You know what I say; "If ain't broke, don't tie on a different fly."
Well, anyways. Why is it a different report? Because of the...snow. That's right. We got our first snow fall in the Denver metro area this year. It wasn't much obviously, but the cold front that stuck around for three days was enough to drop the river temperatures for sure. The maximum surface temperature reading I got all day was a chilly 40 degrees. It was a nice day outside, just a cold one in the river.
Having known that the temps were lower I tried to stay a little lower in the canyon and concentrate on finding the sunny spots. I figured after three days of that cold nonsense, sun would be just what the trout doctor ordered. I was right. They were real lethargic all day in the shade until about 3:00 or so.
To start off, I got to fishing about a mile above the mouth of the canyon. I started around 10:30 and found a real nice sunny stretch. I hadn't fished since my last creek trip and still had that good old beetle tied on. But stay tuned, it's not what you think. The beetle did work, pretty efficiently actually but only sporadically through the day. In the lower section, it fished great with that same Callibaetis RS-2. But by 11:30 or so, it started really slowing down. I did manage to catch about 12 or so in that first hour or so.
So around 12:00 or so I drove upstream towards the falls switched up to a beetle with a green and black wire beadhead prince nymph. That seems to have been the trick in this section lately and it worked today as well; but again slowed after a few hours.
So then I drove back down to my original spot and decided that I would start nymphing entirely. I tied on a purple poison tung below the same prince nymph and man let me tell you, that was what they wanted. They were all over this thing. I recently tied some of these up after seeing them before but never really bought or tried one. I'm not sure that what I tied is the exact same but it worked none the less. I will post a pic later.
After a few hours, I called it quits. I caught probably upwards of 30 trout all day and had quite a fun time. A complete day for sure.
Tight Lines!
Well, anyways. Why is it a different report? Because of the...snow. That's right. We got our first snow fall in the Denver metro area this year. It wasn't much obviously, but the cold front that stuck around for three days was enough to drop the river temperatures for sure. The maximum surface temperature reading I got all day was a chilly 40 degrees. It was a nice day outside, just a cold one in the river.
Having known that the temps were lower I tried to stay a little lower in the canyon and concentrate on finding the sunny spots. I figured after three days of that cold nonsense, sun would be just what the trout doctor ordered. I was right. They were real lethargic all day in the shade until about 3:00 or so.
To start off, I got to fishing about a mile above the mouth of the canyon. I started around 10:30 and found a real nice sunny stretch. I hadn't fished since my last creek trip and still had that good old beetle tied on. But stay tuned, it's not what you think. The beetle did work, pretty efficiently actually but only sporadically through the day. In the lower section, it fished great with that same Callibaetis RS-2. But by 11:30 or so, it started really slowing down. I did manage to catch about 12 or so in that first hour or so.
So around 12:00 or so I drove upstream towards the falls switched up to a beetle with a green and black wire beadhead prince nymph. That seems to have been the trick in this section lately and it worked today as well; but again slowed after a few hours.
So then I drove back down to my original spot and decided that I would start nymphing entirely. I tied on a purple poison tung below the same prince nymph and man let me tell you, that was what they wanted. They were all over this thing. I recently tied some of these up after seeing them before but never really bought or tried one. I'm not sure that what I tied is the exact same but it worked none the less. I will post a pic later.
After a few hours, I called it quits. I caught probably upwards of 30 trout all day and had quite a fun time. A complete day for sure.
Tight Lines!
10-1-2012 Again with the Boulder Creek
Like I said, it is now my turn to get some fishing in with the guide season being done and all. I figured since I had been getting clients into a ton of fish in the mid-canyon stretch of the river, I would head there myself.
I'm going to keep it short here. I lost my trip notes (for now?). It was a phenomenal day. Beetles, beetles, and more beetles. They slowed down about 2:00, about the time that I headed out as well.
Get out!
Tight Lines!
I'm going to keep it short here. I lost my trip notes (for now?). It was a phenomenal day. Beetles, beetles, and more beetles. They slowed down about 2:00, about the time that I headed out as well.
Get out!
Tight Lines!
9-24/27/29-2012 Boulder Creek
Well this was kind of the last hoorah for the summer as far as guiding goes. It is already winding down and it will only get slower from here. I would love to have taken clients somewhere else this week but the park is slow, a half day trip to the Big Thompson isn't the most ideal, and quite frankly Boulder creek has been fishing great so why not. Isn't that what we want.
The three days were all just about the same. On the 24th, it was more of the same as ti has been; beetles. I can't stress it enough people. Beetles. Use them, now! Also, we threw some RS-2's and olive pheasant tails and those also worked. Got alot of bites on the swing or on the line up take of the roll cast on the RS-2 too. (2 too!) Overall, another great day except I smashed my face on a rock, bad, and we are not going to talk about it that much here. I will say this: after I hit, I slid on my face down this rock (cartoon style) and into the river all the way up to my chest and got water in my waders. Pretty classic if you got to witness it. Enough said.
BTW-the RS-2 I used was tied with Callibaetis super fine dubbing. AWESOME results. Highly recommend them. On this day they were more effective than the Grey RS-2's too. (2 too!). I will post a pic of one soon.
On the 27th, the weather was chilly! We had a cold front come through and it was not quite completely out before we got to fishing. We were looking for some olives with the overhead clouds and precipitation and we found them. RS-2's, grey, Callibaetis, and olive were hot. Beetles worked more towards the mid day.
The 29th was awesome. As of now it was my last rip of the year. Is that what made it great? No. It was the fact that the gentleman I went out with was very experienced and by 10:30 a.m. he had caught more than 20 fish and he called it good for the day. It was sunny all morning so guess what we used. Yeah...a beetle.
Some great trips, some great early fall fishing, and a great end to the guiding season. Now, it's my turn...
Tight Lines!
The three days were all just about the same. On the 24th, it was more of the same as ti has been; beetles. I can't stress it enough people. Beetles. Use them, now! Also, we threw some RS-2's and olive pheasant tails and those also worked. Got alot of bites on the swing or on the line up take of the roll cast on the RS-2 too. (2 too!) Overall, another great day except I smashed my face on a rock, bad, and we are not going to talk about it that much here. I will say this: after I hit, I slid on my face down this rock (cartoon style) and into the river all the way up to my chest and got water in my waders. Pretty classic if you got to witness it. Enough said.
BTW-the RS-2 I used was tied with Callibaetis super fine dubbing. AWESOME results. Highly recommend them. On this day they were more effective than the Grey RS-2's too. (2 too!). I will post a pic of one soon.
On the 27th, the weather was chilly! We had a cold front come through and it was not quite completely out before we got to fishing. We were looking for some olives with the overhead clouds and precipitation and we found them. RS-2's, grey, Callibaetis, and olive were hot. Beetles worked more towards the mid day.
The 29th was awesome. As of now it was my last rip of the year. Is that what made it great? No. It was the fact that the gentleman I went out with was very experienced and by 10:30 a.m. he had caught more than 20 fish and he called it good for the day. It was sunny all morning so guess what we used. Yeah...a beetle.
Some great trips, some great early fall fishing, and a great end to the guiding season. Now, it's my turn...
Tight Lines!
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
9-22-2012 Sylvan Dale Ranch
Last week I got a call from the shop asking if I would like to go to Sylvan Dale to help out a couple other guides on a group trip. They said that all the people going were experienced fly fisherman and that it was more of a rules and regulation enforcement role as opposed to a guide role. They also told me that there would be some fishing for myself involved. So of course I went, right? I told him I would love to and jumped at the offer.
As the convoy of vehicles headed up towards the private ranch in Loveland, I jumped behind them on the north side of Longmont. We had a "great big convoy headed right towards that way". It was about a 30 minute drive form there and I think it just gave everyone more time to get their juices pumping.
When we arrived at the ranch we headed towards Daddy J's picnic shelter for some introductions and rules/regulation training for all the clients. Soon after I headed down the river, into a canyon, that you can only fish if you have access on the ranch, with three gentleman and it was indeed a beautiful morning.
We started on some micro-mays about 3-4 feet below the surface upon the recommendation of the shop guys who had been there the past few days. It produced a couple of quick fish for one guy and that was about it. We all changed up to different setups. I put on some RS-2's and pheasant tails below some hoppers and ants that really got the fish going. By noon we had all brought at least a couple to the net.
Soon there after, a few gentleman that had been fishing the private lakes all morning came and joined me and the guys that fished the river all morning went to the private lakes. I mostly ducked out of fishing the afternoon session mostly because I had reached that "satisfied point" in the day where nothing else matters; you caught fish, it was great, great day, what else you need? Get it?
However, the guys that did fish the river later weren't very adventurous and ended up just fishing one of the holes right by Daddy J's. They were using rainbow warriors and RS-2's and they were pounding those trout. I ended up tying on a Humpy and a pheasant tail just for fun, (I wanted some straight dry fly action), and it was great. I caught about 5 over the course of a half hour.
Soon there after everyone on the river called it quits. I went and met one of the other guides and drove over to the private ponds for some more fishing. I ended up only fishing about ten minutes and called it good. Not really my thing, the private pond and all but I do recommend it to those seeking to land into some huge trout in that setting.
Overall, just a great experience. I really recommend one of these group trips if you get the chance to sign up for one at Rocky Mountain Anglers next season.
Tight Lines!
As the convoy of vehicles headed up towards the private ranch in Loveland, I jumped behind them on the north side of Longmont. We had a "great big convoy headed right towards that way". It was about a 30 minute drive form there and I think it just gave everyone more time to get their juices pumping.
When we arrived at the ranch we headed towards Daddy J's picnic shelter for some introductions and rules/regulation training for all the clients. Soon after I headed down the river, into a canyon, that you can only fish if you have access on the ranch, with three gentleman and it was indeed a beautiful morning.
We started on some micro-mays about 3-4 feet below the surface upon the recommendation of the shop guys who had been there the past few days. It produced a couple of quick fish for one guy and that was about it. We all changed up to different setups. I put on some RS-2's and pheasant tails below some hoppers and ants that really got the fish going. By noon we had all brought at least a couple to the net.
Soon there after, a few gentleman that had been fishing the private lakes all morning came and joined me and the guys that fished the river all morning went to the private lakes. I mostly ducked out of fishing the afternoon session mostly because I had reached that "satisfied point" in the day where nothing else matters; you caught fish, it was great, great day, what else you need? Get it?
However, the guys that did fish the river later weren't very adventurous and ended up just fishing one of the holes right by Daddy J's. They were using rainbow warriors and RS-2's and they were pounding those trout. I ended up tying on a Humpy and a pheasant tail just for fun, (I wanted some straight dry fly action), and it was great. I caught about 5 over the course of a half hour.
Soon there after everyone on the river called it quits. I went and met one of the other guides and drove over to the private ponds for some more fishing. I ended up only fishing about ten minutes and called it good. Not really my thing, the private pond and all but I do recommend it to those seeking to land into some huge trout in that setting.
Overall, just a great experience. I really recommend one of these group trips if you get the chance to sign up for one at Rocky Mountain Anglers next season.
Tight Lines!
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