After taking so many trips to the same place, you need to change it up. And after 100 other people take a trip to the same place that is the same place as your same place, you really need to change it up. So today I decided to take a client up to Wild Basin and check out the north fork of the St. Vrain.
This is an area that I haven't spent a ton of time in for one reason or another. I have however had decent success when I have fished the area. Last year I took a couple clients up one day and there was yellow bugs (PMD and Sallies) everywhere. All day, we just kept tying up yellow and catching.
But access points are part of the problem for sure. I sometimes forget that on the rivers that I have memorized hole for hole, that it took a while to get to that point. And I like to be to that point on any river I fish. Simply exploring an unknown river is sometimes the best solution for not only finding the best fishing that day, but finding future gems.
So today I decided early that we would do just that; a little exploring. My client was on day 2 of a doubleheader with us, taking a trip with another guide yesterday. They went up to Glacier Creek and Moraine Park yesterday and I knew he wanted different water today; so setting out like Lewis and Clark was on the agenda for sure.
A few weeks ago I spent a morning with clients in the lower stretch of the North Vrain in the Park and although it was too high that day, I could see some good fishing opportunities waiting so I headed to the same spot. It was still running slightly high, but really cold. It was a frosty 39 degrees surface temperature (ST) when we got there at 9 a.m. and although I didn't feel great, I felt confident. Long story short, it blew. Hardly any bugs out, barely (if any) fish visible moving around, and still somewhat tough wading.
So about 11:00 or so I told my client we were heading to the T and we started making our way back to the truck. Well having being up river so far as to where we started we found ourselves in some completely different territory. We searched around, heading in the general direction of the river and road. At one point I could hear the creek and as I looked west to spot it, all I could see was lake holy trout rising. Everywhere. There was a huge beaver pond and a ton of trout rising in it. This thing was large, and just magnificent.
We set up shop there for another hour or so, catching only two, but getting over 15 bites. We were throwing everything from Purple Haze, to Para Adams, beetles to RS-2's. We also had a little luck with micro-may's. It was a nice salvation to the morning and although I (personally) would have stayed there for a few more hours (don't leave trout to look for trout-guide rule no. 42.c), the client wanted to eat. We broke around lunchtime and headed to the park. (See post 'Big T up high 6/18/14')
Although the fishing wasn't great, or good, I am excited to head back to the Vrain in this area soon. It will be a real treat getting clients into some less fished waters. And it will be a delight introducing myself to some new trouts.
Side note-I cut out of the river on the south bank at one point to tcb and I found a lone Columbine flower in a small meadow standing all by itself. I don't see them all that much and being a Colorado boy, it is always exciting.(Columbine-Colorado state flower-check it) (Didn't I do a horrible job of taking my camera with me? When will I learn?)
Tight Lines
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Big T Up High 6/18/14
You never know what you are going to get when you do a little exploring. That is just what we found this morning in the Wild Basin (See post 'Vrain not the place to be...6/18/14). Heading up to the Tom-Tom is not usually the same story. I am pretty familiar with the entire Big T basin up to 'The Pool' or so. The only thing I wasn't sure of today was the conditions.
I knew that it was flowing in the low 200's as of the last few days or so but wasn't quite sure what the fishing would be like up towards the top. As we got up there I could see that the lowest put in from the trailhead was relatively flat and navigable, but almost too much so, as it was real shallow. So as I originally thought, we headed up to my normal put in for this location. As we arrived I noticed a guy in our hole fishing (sheesh) and so I kept walking. As I walked past I noticed that the guy was a lady and wasn't fishing at all, she was just chilling. But I kept ago as I didn't want to mess her chill.
I knew if we kept going the spots would be harder to find but I still liked what I was seeing. About half way to the end of the run, we cut in to fish. I led my client right through a maze of woods cause I knew exactly where we were, and where to go. Upon arriving at what I thought would be a hole, I found across the river a real nice slick behind a huge downed tree. Looked like a perfect place for a small golden Chubby Chernobyl. I tied on and showed my client where to go. After not getting really too close after a few attempts I told him to hand me the rod so I could show him a tip on mending and casting to a hole with an extremely fast current in the middle.
As I cast, I could tell that I was putting my fly right where I was trying to describe. I showed him how to throw a quick mend after the fly landed and then really high stick. It was a perfect demonstration. As I asked him if he got it and then I set my hook. Sweet!
A real fat brown came up to take that big ole' bug. I handed him the rod and said "reel this in". I got down stream from him and watched the trout go right into the current. I told the client to "let him run and then steer him". He did so perfectly and landed my trout. I set the trout on his way and I was happy.
I told him that I thought that fly would work and to do just like that. Well he did, and he got a bunch of bites but never could land one. One trout that looked like he was probably 16" or so even came up and tailed it. But the client missed it.
We kept moving on and I knew where there would be one more hole. We showed up there and sure enough, he was getting all kinds of risers. He missed about 8 or so and then landed a real nice brook.
The rain came in and we headed out. Another good trip in the books.
Tight Lines
I knew that it was flowing in the low 200's as of the last few days or so but wasn't quite sure what the fishing would be like up towards the top. As we got up there I could see that the lowest put in from the trailhead was relatively flat and navigable, but almost too much so, as it was real shallow. So as I originally thought, we headed up to my normal put in for this location. As we arrived I noticed a guy in our hole fishing (sheesh) and so I kept walking. As I walked past I noticed that the guy was a lady and wasn't fishing at all, she was just chilling. But I kept ago as I didn't want to mess her chill.
I knew if we kept going the spots would be harder to find but I still liked what I was seeing. About half way to the end of the run, we cut in to fish. I led my client right through a maze of woods cause I knew exactly where we were, and where to go. Upon arriving at what I thought would be a hole, I found across the river a real nice slick behind a huge downed tree. Looked like a perfect place for a small golden Chubby Chernobyl. I tied on and showed my client where to go. After not getting really too close after a few attempts I told him to hand me the rod so I could show him a tip on mending and casting to a hole with an extremely fast current in the middle.
As I cast, I could tell that I was putting my fly right where I was trying to describe. I showed him how to throw a quick mend after the fly landed and then really high stick. It was a perfect demonstration. As I asked him if he got it and then I set my hook. Sweet!
A real fat brown came up to take that big ole' bug. I handed him the rod and said "reel this in". I got down stream from him and watched the trout go right into the current. I told the client to "let him run and then steer him". He did so perfectly and landed my trout. I set the trout on his way and I was happy.
I told him that I thought that fly would work and to do just like that. Well he did, and he got a bunch of bites but never could land one. One trout that looked like he was probably 16" or so even came up and tailed it. But the client missed it.
We kept moving on and I knew where there would be one more hole. We showed up there and sure enough, he was getting all kinds of risers. He missed about 8 or so and then landed a real nice brook.
The rain came in and we headed out. Another good trip in the books.
Tight Lines
Saturday, June 14, 2014
Glacier Creek The Place To Be 6/4/14-6/14/14
Glacier Creek is heating up!! It literally has gone from not so good to fair, fair to good, and now it is starting to really turn over.It hasn't been great yet but you have periods where you see shades of what it normally is. Mornings and especially afternoons have been pretty good though.The middle of the day is horrible, especially when it is really bright and sunny out. You might as well go eat lunch and take your time. The water is dropping fast though; in a week, average flows dropped by at least 8 inches. Remember that this early in the season, the prior's day temps (especially over night) will affect the next day's fishing.
Last week, we were fishing dries but were really getting all of our luck with nymph droppers. One thing I am seeing up there is the fly of the day is changing a lot, based on daily conditions. One dropper will work one day and then not the next. The most consistent nymphs have been stone patterns-copper johns and princes especially. Keep it on the small side though. Try some small midge patterns too.
As for dries, they are working; just periodically. Same thing here, try some smaller stone (or stone-like) patterns (Stimulators, Amy's Ants) and also just other attractors that are real leggy and fuzzy. See Chubby Chernobyl. In my opinion, this looks like a stonefly to trout. Long, leggy, short tail. Most of the bigger dry action is coming in the afternoon though. Throw some smaller bugs in the morning (para-adams, midges and BWO's) and you will have some luck too. But get out there early as the middle of the day has been pretty slow. It has also been getting busy up there too some extent.
Remember to do some exploring, especially when it is busier (on the weekends). There is a ton of good fishing on Glacier Creek and a lot of trout. Just be willing to do some looking. One day, I took some clients to some beaver ponds that was the result of Brian Harris doing some looking and giving me the tip. It was great fun and something different.
Tight Lines
Last week, we were fishing dries but were really getting all of our luck with nymph droppers. One thing I am seeing up there is the fly of the day is changing a lot, based on daily conditions. One dropper will work one day and then not the next. The most consistent nymphs have been stone patterns-copper johns and princes especially. Keep it on the small side though. Try some small midge patterns too.
As for dries, they are working; just periodically. Same thing here, try some smaller stone (or stone-like) patterns (Stimulators, Amy's Ants) and also just other attractors that are real leggy and fuzzy. See Chubby Chernobyl. In my opinion, this looks like a stonefly to trout. Long, leggy, short tail. Most of the bigger dry action is coming in the afternoon though. Throw some smaller bugs in the morning (para-adams, midges and BWO's) and you will have some luck too. But get out there early as the middle of the day has been pretty slow. It has also been getting busy up there too some extent.
Remember to do some exploring, especially when it is busier (on the weekends). There is a ton of good fishing on Glacier Creek and a lot of trout. Just be willing to do some looking. One day, I took some clients to some beaver ponds that was the result of Brian Harris doing some looking and giving me the tip. It was great fun and something different.
Tight Lines
Monday, June 2, 2014
Check out the new content!
Check out the new flies page, and also, take a gander at the new installment of ChronicHulls while you are over there.
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New fly page!
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