The Eldora season is over and Chris is out suckers!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I went down to Pueblo to fish the tailwaters, see the old boss, and have some good times with the crew from the mountain. I have never fished this piece of water and although there was definnitely some nice fish in there, I wasn't too impressed. I had no idea that the tail waters were 2 minutes away from Pueblo. Or more like 1. Talk about some real urban fishing.
After stopping in at the Drift Fly shop off highway 50, I headed out there. I recommend this shop to anyone near abouts (look in the dictionary, it's there) to stop on in. When I was there I spoke to Travis. He was real chill and they were just what I wanted from an unfamiliar fly shop...not pushy.
He was real helpful and told me that up until the last 2-3 days, the fishing had been great. He had suspected that the recent storm and heavy pressure were the culprits of the tight lipped fish. He recommended and sold me some flies, pointed me the way to where he liked to fish, and even suggested a camping spot.
I got out to the Valco(?) ponds area and was surprised. Just not what I expected. Nice water, just not nice scenery really. Not horrible though. Just different. I fished for about an hour or so to no avail and finally moved upstream a bit. There was a decent amount of fellas out, but not a ton. I did get high holed several times. I would have let this bug me but I was on such a ridiculously high euphoria from finally being out of work that I just fished on. I didn't switch up much as far as my offerings, but did however change my rig alot.
I was strictly nymphing, as the guy in the shop mentioned that the dries were quiet for the last few days. I was fishing a ninja midge with a something something on the bottom that was a shop specialty. Then after a while, I tied on a purple san juan. Or red. I can't remember. I kept adjusting my depth, really trying to get to the bottom. I don't fish the bigger water much and it is still a new idea to me somewhat. Somewhat. I can hold my own though. I am noticing that I do better than every one around me on big water and that used to not always happen.
Anyways...speaking of foreign things...7x tippet. Travis said that the guys were switching up to 7x to make it happen since it had slowed up and there for, I bought me a roll. I never fish 7x, but I was down. So after a while of adding weight, changing depth, adding a fly on, changing my depth again, and then reattaching my weight some more, I started to see a little movement below the surface. I had em' at least looking finally.
I kept ago, and finally found one hole that looked the like the 1 that was going to give it up on this tubborn day of fishing. I threw at it for over 10 minutes with nothing, and then I felt it. The smack.
THE SMACK.
One unlike the usual take for me. The smack where the second it, well, smacks, you smile ear to ear because you just know.
Now remind you, the 7x tippet. Kind of foreign to me. Real delicate stuff. This guy was pushing me to my 7x limits. He ran for a good 25 yards before I could contain him to a realistic speed. As I was pulling him in, he was shaking the you know what out of my arm. Again, a feel that I am not used to on my usual small water. I remember thinking at one point "wow, my arm is actually getting tired".
I worked him like a true ace, even though I knew it wasn't going to be easy getting this pig trough in. Sure enough though, I got him in. He was beautiful, and huge. After measuring him to my rod, I estimate a good 20". Fat though. And with that 7x, what a fight.