COLORADO TROUT ANGLER: 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: