3-10-18 Bread N' Butter Days at Boulder Creek (BC) and The T

Hey kids...guess what time it is? It's time for Bread N' Butter. Gonna get me some of the Bread N' Butter. Yay B and B!!!!!!!

So what is Bread and Butter you ask? It's when you spread butter on to a piece of bread, silly goose!! No really though...it's how I make a living 90% of the time when I guide (which is the only way that I'm making a living right now so probably higher, truth be told). Bread N' Butter is guiding on a handful of the same rivers over and over in the local area and just slaughtering trout like it's nobody's business. You know, good times!

Bread N' Butter. It's showing up to the river and knowing that within 15 minutes if a client hasn't caught a trout, we need to work on that presentation. It's knowing BC, Big T, Saint V and everything in between. It's knowing that when that sun goes behind that mountain there, the Caddis are coming out under that bridge and it's knowing that on this stretch of Glacier Creek that if the PMD gets eaten, it's a Rainbow; and if the beetle goes down, it's a brown.

It's Bread N' Butter. It's a lot of time, a lot of commitment, a lot of learning, a lot of guiding, and only a little fishing. It's knowing where to go, when to go, and what to throw. It's success. Bread N' Butter is my guiding success. It's my own hard work. It's getting out what you put in. It's redeeming as hell and it's the best bread you'll ever eat.

Now let's get to that Butter. I had my first two person full day of the year and it will most likely be the first of at least 50-60 trips of that same flavor this season. Usually, we go straight up to Estes on a full day but my B & B senses told me we should start in Boulder Creek. I thought that below Mile Marker 35 would be the ticket as we have been getting some great weather lately and I had fished this stretch in the last month as well.

Below Mile Marker 35-Notice the low Southern Mountain.

My Bread N' Butter also knows that this roughly 150 yard stretch of river gets uncapped (defrosted) in the spring quicker than any other spot due to the low Southern lying mountain and the North-South direction of the stream.

The son told me that he had some experience in the past and that statement proved to be right on. I could tell immediately that he had his cast down. Within minutes he had our first trout on with a Chubby Chernobyl.

I tyed on the Dad with a Chubby as well and it was on. It was fishing fun for the next two hours with at least 6-8 trout landed between the two of em'. We were also catching some trouties with some Mirage Nymphs and Cotton Candy midges. With the clock pushing towards noon and the bite slowing slightly, I decided it was time to jump ship to the Thompson.

Mile Marker 35. AKA-The Ticket. Wide Open

We stopped in Boulder to grab lunches and made our way up. It was a beautiful drive up to Estes; with temps in the 60's, light traffic and a bunch of trout already struck, I was really in guide heaven. Free Fallin' by Tom Petty on the way up mixed with some Chili Peppers didn't hurt either. Bread N' Butter.

Looking upstream at Whispering Pines-hard to see the snow flakes falling but they're there.

We pulled up to the tailwater, and then just kept going as it was packed tight with 14 cars. Been there, done that-just last week as a matter of fact. Plan B...Whispering Pines, again. (I've guided that stretch probably 100 times at least). Real Buttery for sure.

$$$$$$ and more money. It was like the more money we came across, the more trout that we see. (B.I.G.)

Atta boy-Nice Rainbow

Slowed down a bit right at the end with the excess wind but the guys were crushing it otherwise. Caught another handful of trout there as well. Chubby's, Blue Poison Tungs, Mirage Nymphs, Barr's Emergers were all getting it done.

Stopped by the tailwater for the last hour with hardly any success but I did get to enjoy a couple of cold ones at the end of the day by the water and just take it all in for a little bit. Much needed R & R. Thanks Thompson. Thanks BC. Thanks Bread. Thanks Butter.

PARTING SHOTS

On The Water-Big Thompson Whispering Pines

It's a rough job but I have to do it. Good Choice Hull. Another Win-Win? I'd say yes. 

Jealous Much? Sorry. Bread N' Butter.


Tight Lines