Weekly Report 7/14-7/21...We're There!

As I have been saying, the rivers (in general) are picking up, but it is even more apparent this week than last. As you arrive to the river this week, the first thing you will notice is the dramatic drop in water levels. Safe to say that any snow melt after this point will be pretty insignificant in relation to changing flows.

Because of the lower flows we are seeing a lot more activity both in and around the streams. You will see a lot more bugs out there, including a lot more mayflies and stones. Caddis are making a strong surge,  coming on more and more and each day. Also, you will notice that those trout are being less selective about where they spend their time. Really start to explore those riffles, especially later in the afternoon.
As far as pattern selection, the more buggy, the better. A couple of the hotter patterns this week have been Amy's Ants and Fat Frank's; while PMX's have still been producing as well. A couple others have been tan chubby chernobyls, and the gold or olive would work as well. And don't forget to try some hoppers. Nice and buoyant, especially when crafted out of foam, and the take is always explosive.
If you see major hatches, try to match it if you like. I like to use something nice and visible when I do. Look for PMD's coming on stronger, as well as spinners, and some little yellow sallies.
Either way, the fishing has been good. Get out there and keep your selections on the smaller side right now, and keep em' buggy.

 

Tight Lines

7-18-13 New Fly Recipes!

Check out the Fly Recipes Page for some great new patterns. I have included a Callibaetis RS-2 and a Black LZ Prince nymph. Also, because of the arrival of the new pic-taker, I have thrown some updated photos of the prior fly recipes up there, making it the first official posting with the new Fuji S4800.  Such a name dropper. But hey...look at those nice pics!

Here is a preview. Click on the link below to see full size pics.

For these and more recipes click here:  http://rockymtnflyangler.blogspot.com/p/fly-recipes.html

7-9, 7-10, 7-11, & 7-12-13 Caddis Hockey

Big Thompson (Below Estes)
The T is fishing great right now in the evenings ( I haven't been any other time of the day recently) and it is more than worth checking out. There is an amazing caddis hatch happening when the sun goes behind the hills and from there on the fishing just gets better as the daylight starts to fade away. Try throwing some Elk Hair Caddis in tan and if you have to substitute color or caddis pattern, just make sure you sure are in the same size range; that being a size 16. I have noticed that they just weren't as interested in the next size larger.

Try skating those caddis on the surface for more consistent action. Not to say that a dead drift won't do it, but it is not as effective (or fun I think). To skate, just get that fly moving across the surface however need be. Actually make it 'skate'. You can achieve this in a dap kind of technique on your shorter approaches or just strip in a similar manner as a streamer.

The one difference you will notice in the strip technique as opposed to stripping a streamer is the lack of weight. That weight really helps you get that slack out of the line. So I like to throw my line straight out (perpendicular to the current) and then either start stripping then or wait until it runs down down the river a little and then swings across. Once it starts swinging, keep your rod tip high and let the current do the rest. You can even steer it if you want.

I have noticed that on a straight strip technique, there are a few things you can do to make the technique easier. First, right when you cast, throw an upstream mend, and quickly. After that, lift the rod butt up to your upper chest area as you start to point that rod tip at the fly. Look at your rod tip almost as if you are looking down the barrel of a shotgun. And then follow it just like that too. Strip that line and try different retrieves as well. I almost think the more erratic you make each series of presentations to a hole look, the better off you are as that really does mimic the caddis flying all around.

Well give it a try and hopefully you can put some in the net as well.

Tight Lines

6-29-13 Glacier Creek is Melting

It's melting because it's starting to catch fire!

It's not quite there but if today was any sign, it is right around the corner. It was really fishing good today. I took out 3 clients and we arrived fairly early, at least enough to beat the traffic and the crowds. I headed right to one of my new favorite (guide) holes and the picking was all for us.

We got started right away, throwing some dry attractors and san juan worms. The one client who had experience started getting right into trout on the attractor, a yellow grand hopper. He pulled in a rainbow, which is a little rare in this section. It was a good sized rainbow too.

The clients continued to fish, concentrating more on the ripples than the pools; for the first time all year in my visits this area seems to be holding more trout; a definite sign that water is heating up (54 degrees) and the flows are dropping. Another sign is the fact that they wanted nothing to do with the san juan worms. I suppose all the little fellas have been turned over and swept down already.

With that said, I tied on some different dry dropper combos. I kept the grand hoppers, added some Chubby Chernobyls, RS-2's and natural pheasant tails and it was pretty effective, as they continued to get bites all morning. They caught two more, 1 being a brown and the other was professionally released early.

With the waters getting a little thin and crowded we decided to move up to other waters; there was another guide in the area trying to get in my pocket-I disallowed it. We headed up to the next stop and kept fishing. The two other clients hadn't yet caught any, even though they were getting bites, so I took them to the skunk hole.

The one client said "I already got a skunk, I don't want to go to the skunk hole".

I explained that this was the skunk hole because it's where we get rid of the skunk. I put the experienced fisherman in a lower hole I call the five dollar hole and challenged him. (I still have my $5). I put the other two right below the beaver pond where it is almost a certain catch.

Sure enough, the youngest client, on the first cast got a bite. Unfortunately, it was going after the RS-2 on the rise and he just missed it. We moved up slightly and the other fish less client, who didn't want to be in the skunk hole, caught 1. Redemption! And then heartbreak...as he lost it real soon. But right after that, we did pull in one brookie on a PMX. With the rain starting to get crazy, and then the lightning making way overhead, we started to make our way back.

All in all, a great day. I would have liked to see the 3rd client get a fish to the net but he got a bunch of bites and lost one none the less; I think he still had a real good time. As did the others. We bid adieu and went our separate ways. Another great trip, and another great day on Glacier Creek. Can't wait to get some for myself.


Tight Lines

6-27-13 Boulder Creek

I got to get out on the river today for the first time in a few weeks, and on Boulder Creek for the first time in at least a month or so. I could tell that the flows were slightly up since the last time I had been out on a guide trip, less than a week ago.

I was due to meet a friend in a while and wanted to get in a little bit of fishing before hand. I managed to hook into a really nice rainbow and bring him to the net; a nice reward to yet more hand tied San Juan worms. I manged to catch one brown, much smaller, later and then called it quits for a while. It was fishing a little slower, but it was 4:00 in the afternoon and hot as heck.

I ended up taking an hour long nap in my truck before my buddy showed up. It was his first time out and I just gave him my rig. Within minutes, he hooked into a brown trout; a nice reward for both. For him, his first fish on the fly; and for me a first for a friend, and an employee of which I am completely grateful for.

We continued to fish around the Roger's Park area for a while. I received a few more bites on a 20 incher, Pheasant Tail, RS-2 combo. He ended getting a few more bites on a purple San Juan worm, tied with a beadhead, and one on a Chubby Chernobyl, with a yellow under body.

Being close to dark now, we called it a day. It was nice to get out for a change and although it was a little slow, I had a good time.  I always appreciate teaching a friend to fish. It was nice to get out of the heat too; it was 10 degrees cooler in the canyon than in Boulder. The water was 52 or so and made for some semi-cold wet wading.

Soon, the water temps will rise, the flows will drop and the dry fly bite will go from skittish to crazy. Perfect for wet wading...and dry fly fishing in the afternoons.


Tight Lines

Can't Wait