New Fly Patterns

Head over to the Flies For Sale page to check out some new patterns that are now available for purchase. I have included some great new original patterns that I have been fishing lately in The Park and some old standards with a C.L. Hull touch to em'.

The first pattern I added was actually two different patterns. The black McAnt and the Candy Apple McAnt. I started tying the black McAnt in response to wanting an ant pattern that was visible, without having a ridiculously large looking indicator post on it. I just wanted a realistic ant that was not ridiculous looking. So I came up with this thing:

Black McAnt

Simplicity at it's best. This thing has been killing em' too. At The Park and Boulder Creek. 

But one day while I had a client using these ants and pounding trout, I was sitting bank side and noticed a bunch of black and red ants. So that night I went to the fly tying table, and came up with this thing in response:

Candy Apple McAnt

The next day, it took my client all of 15 minutes to convince me that this one might be better, at least that day. My client killed it. He got over 75 bites up at Glacier with this ant pattern. I also had one day in particular up on Boulder Creek where it was getting a bite on almost every cast. Crazy. The picture does no liberty as to how beautiful this fly is. Once I tied it, I wanted to eat it. It really does look like trout candy. And the great thing is that both of these patterns do just as well on top as they do submerged. 

Here are some other new patterns that are available for purchase now on the Flies For Sale page. 

7-29-14 Glacier Creek Still Hot

Glacier is still on fire. I have been recently been fishing some different (than normal) sections and have been having some great days up there. The bugs are kind of the same as they have been, with some additional gems thrown in.

Early on, same thing. Look to match the hatch. Mostly seeing PMD, midges and some stones. But also start looking for some Rusty spinners to start returning. Mid day, you want to start throwing the big buggy stuff, in smaller sizes and also some terrestrials. I have been having a lot of success with a stimmy, chubby, or an Amy's Ant on top, followed by a McAnt, either black or candy apple. I also like throwing a beetle on the back. I recommend the fire belly beetle (available on the Flies For Sale page, as is the McAnt). Both of these work great suspended, while the McAnt sometimes shines when drowned.

If the rains start to come out, this is when it can get real fun. I have a couple of recent 2:00 rainstorms that brought out all kinds of bugs, including some huge Gray Drakes, PMD's, and some afternoon spinners. I have been matching the drakes with a size 14 Para-Adams, the PMD's with small and plain PMD patterns. The more simple, the better, I have found.

Other bugs that have been working have been Elk Hair Caddis, Humpies, 409's, pheasant tails, prince nymphs, rainbow warriors, poison tungs, Royal Wulff's, and of course, the PMX.

Either way, fishing great. Try throwing some different bugs after you have caught a couple. You will be surprised at the flies that have been in your box for a while that will catch fish on Glacier Creek. Think attractors.

Tight Lines

7-28-14 Boulder Creek

Well it only took 4 years for the creek to calm down this summer, but it finally happened. The payoff has been huge too. Fishing has been great, and the creek is as beautiful as always.

We had one day with the kids camp up by Castle Rock where the camp leader gave me a sabbatical to go fish an hour. In one hour, I caught about 40 fish and missed another 20, easily. The hot fly that day was a Candy Apple McAnt (available on the Flies For Sale page) and an Amy's Ant. You should maybe get you some.

Other bugs that have been producing trout have been prince nymphs, copper john's, poison tungs, rainbow warriors, chubby's, stimmies, humpies, adams, and we even managed a couple the other day with a Hull's T.U.V. Midge, available only on the Flies For Sale page).

Either way, fishing has been good. Get out there.

Tight Lines

7-20-14 Glacier Creek

Glacier Creek has been on fire for the last two weeks. Hatches have been prominent in the a.m.; including some really great PMD and Little Yellow Sallies. I have been going with a size 16 PMD behind a PMX early and then switching over around 10-11 a.m. In the middle of the day, think attractors and terrestrials, fuzzy and leggy. Amy's Ant's, Chubby's, Humpies; with or without legs, Stimulators, beetles, ants...you get the idea.

Speaking of ants, I have been tying up a new black ant with a really small but highly visible post lately. I tied it up in order to achieve the great ant dilemma; fishing an ant pattern that remains true to the original while still being visible. Usually, you can't see the darned thing or if you can see it, it has a ridiculous looking indicator tyed into it that is way too big. So with this pattern, I wanted to keep it small, true to form, and visible. So I tyed some up, took them up to Glacier on a trip out with a client, and his words exactly were "you should patent this thing and retire". Well that said it all; this thing is money, everywhere. I have tried it up at Boulder Creek too and it killed em' there too. And the good news, when it drowns, you keep getting bites. Really explosive action on the subsurface. More of a sip on top, unless you are in brooky water where they just slam it. My other hope with this fly was making an original and effective ant pattern that you can't get any where else besides through me. So look for it soon on the site. It's called Hull's black McAnt. It's for sale if you want it now, but I haven't posted it on the flies page yet -soon. Also, I have recently, because of stream side observation, taken to tying a black and red ant with red legs and the same post, just a different color. It will be going through alpha level testing tomorrow on most likely Boulder Creek. After that, if successful, it will go to beta level; as in 'beta' catch me some fish cuz it has before. I expect it to be just as successful as the original, and I have yet to ever test an original fly pattern that didn't make it to the fly box in increments of 6 at a time. In other words, it will work. I can almost guarantee it. Look for an update soon. But it will work...

(And it's such a good looking fly too).

Now back to the river report.

Once you start getting into the later part of the afternoon, start switching it up a little bit. Look for some Caddis hatches early on that can be easily replicated with an Elk Hair Caddis, now available for sale, or an X Caddis; also available on the site. I have been having luck with the caddis on the dead drift as well as on the downstream skate. I have even had clients catch some with a nice strolling technique (walking from one hole to another while leaving your flies dangling behind-unintentional in nature). I have found that once the caddis come out, anything with some elk hair or deer hair flaring off the hook will get you some bites, especially with a skate. Think PMX, Stimmy, Amy's Ant, and obviously, any real caddis imitation.

Some days, the temps are getting really high up there and/or we have been having rain storms. This is a good time to hit the road, or even better, chill with Jack and Mary in the truck or stream side for a while and hit up happy hour for some half price trouts and apps.

If you do stay for happy hour in The Park, you will be rewarded greatly. At about 6:30 p.m., the hatch is on and the trout are hungry. Look for the PMD's again, and some more sallies, as well as more caddis. A week or so ago, I fished a 40 yard straight away for about 2 hours, getting a cast on almost every bite with a PMD, followed by a fire belly beetle; also now available for sale. One of the more memorable evenings I have had in a little bit.

If you can, get out there. It is just on fire right now. My client yesterday told me that he thought he could have probably caught over 75 fish if he caught all the bites he got. I thought it was closer to 100, but either way.

Look for some new spots as well. Remember, for the most part, the spot that you never fish is usually the spot that other guys never fish. Go check it out. Chances are you will find some hungry trout and some favorite new holes. Either way, if you get out to Glacier, you will find some fun fly fishing.


Tight Lines-

Big T, Sprague, Glacier Creek 6/21/14 & 6/25/14

It's been a little while since the last report, and that is largely in part due to the fact that I have actually been fishing a decent amount lately. No fishing, no reports. Right? I have to be loyal to the site and it's supporters, so fish (or guide) on.

To start, let me just say that as of the last report, we were waiting for it to 'turn over' sort of speak. Waiting for that prime time of year. Well, as you can tell from the lack of reports, it has begun to turn over. We are not quite there with all the rivers or creeks, but we are getting close.

The Park is starting to fish lights out. On the weekends it has been really busy in the more popular spots, but being the early bird or late starter has had it's advantages. Throw some bigger, leggier bugs throughout the day, and match the hatch later on.

In general, fishing has been well, and will just get better. Don't be afraid to do a little exploring, and be patient. I have found recently that in the light of bad fishing, whether it being from a bad spot or just being too busy, having some patience and determination will be it's own reward. A lot of guys (and girls) are out there fishing right now. Take your knowledge and use it to have the best day possible.

6-21-14 Big Thompson Below Olympus Dam
What a prime example of having the patience to wait the crowds (and today, the weather) out for better fishing. I arrived about mid-day; not the preferred time but it's what I had, and it was busy at the dam. I found a couple of quality holes next to putt-putt that I could fish easily without high holing the guys

Waiting the crowds out Below Olympus Dam

below me. Being mid day, I thought I would just tie on something big and leggy. Within the first half hour I missed at least 5 big trout on a Chubby Chernobyl. My hook set was definitely off but I felt real encouraged by the immediate validation. Before I could even think about what was wrong with my hook set, a decent thunderstorm rolled in.

I decided to wait it out in the truck with Mary and headed down to Rock Canyon Road in the canyon. After the storm cleared out, I started fishing again soon. I figured out that hook set thing and managed to catch a couple nice trout on Stimmy's, Chubby's, and some Callibaetis RS-2. I never did figure out the problem with my hook set earlier; I think I was just putting too much slack on the water.

Around 6:30 or so I returned to Mall Road to find 0 cars. Let me type out that for you. Zero Cars. I have never seen nobody, at all, fishing below the dam. Well that was about to change.

I didn't see a ton of trout rising but I knew they had gotten pounded all day as well. The few bugs that were coming off were small and definitely getting gobbled up though. So I tied on a CDC midge and that was the ticket. I didn't catch a ton, but the serenity, solitude and the sunset made it one of the more memorable evenings below the dam for sure. And I caught one trout through sight fishing, that was about 20" and that didn't hurt my memory either.

After it looked like it wasn't going to pan out due to the crowds and the weather it ended up being an absolutely great day. Patience and determination rewarded.

6-25-14 Sprague Lake and Glacier Creek 
I got the opportunity today to go out with the 3 time world fly fishing champion. He doesn't get out much but it's ever increasing now days. He seems to really have taken an interest in the sport now. If you have followed the blog for some time, you will know that I have posted pics of the world fly fishing champ before, but he always has a spinning rod in his hand when I do.

So today, on our adventure, I told him that I really wanted him to catch a trout. We also wanted to go on a little hike so my first attempt was Glacier Creek below the campground. I am not saying exactly where. Pay attention and you might figure it out. Glacier Creek is by no stretch a secret, but I have yet to see anyone else fishing this stretch so I'm not saying. I will give you these clues. The water is moving fast, very fast. Over the course of about 1 mile, there is only about 8-10 holes that are no larger than a coffee table. But...the fishing is off the chart. I caught around 6 in a half hour on Chubby Chernobyls. This really is the fly of the year for 2014. Go get some.

One of my secret holes at Glacier Creek. Figure it out?

We moved on and because of the tough stream obstacles, the fly fishing champ didn't yet get to reel one in. We headed up to Sprague and set up shop on the east side. I know it's not where everyone goes. It's where I go though. And I have caught some huge fish there (or gotten clients into huge fish) so I returned. Within 5 minutes of rigging the champ up, I could see out of the side of my his top fly getting swallowed up. I reminded him, loudly and quickly, to set the hook. You would think he would know this by now. Either way, the fly didn't even move. I looked over to notice that the champ was not anywhere near his rod. He was sitting by the lake playing sticks and rocks. What?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!

I couldn't believe it. I set him up and he doesn't even watch his rod. Upsetting. Well I got a couple of bites on a leech but no catching. At one point, a guy came over and told us there was a brook trout under the bridge at the outlet, about 15 feet away. Before he could even point it out, it was on the end of our line. Skunk off.

The 3 time Fly Fishing Champ at Sprague Lake

We ended up going back to Glacier and hitting a couple of spots where he could reel in a couple and then called it a day. I stopped at the visitor center to let the 3 time world fly fishing champ shop for stuffed animals and then we left.

What a great day, again.

Here are some more pics from the C-Dogg and I's day out:

More of The Champ-Sweet hat too! That's my favorite fly shop as well. Those guys are so awesome over there.

Over by the Glacier Basin Campground. Hungry.

 "If I had a Chubby Chernobyl, I could probably catch a trout there". 

A Panoramic of Sprague Lake

-Tight Lines-