It's melting because it's starting to catch fire!
It's not quite there but if today was any sign, it is right around the corner. It was really fishing good today. I took out 3 clients and we arrived fairly early, at least enough to beat the traffic and the crowds. I headed right to one of my new favorite (guide) holes and the picking was all for us.
We got started right away, throwing some dry attractors and san juan worms. The one client who had experience started getting right into trout on the attractor, a yellow grand hopper. He pulled in a rainbow, which is a little rare in this section. It was a good sized rainbow too.
The clients continued to fish, concentrating more on the ripples than the pools; for the first time all year in my visits this area seems to be holding more trout; a definite sign that water is heating up (54 degrees) and the flows are dropping. Another sign is the fact that they wanted nothing to do with the san juan worms. I suppose all the little fellas have been turned over and swept down already.
With that said, I tied on some different dry dropper combos. I kept the grand hoppers, added some Chubby Chernobyls, RS-2's and natural pheasant tails and it was pretty effective, as they continued to get bites all morning. They caught two more, 1 being a brown and the other was professionally released early.
With the waters getting a little thin and crowded we decided to move up to other waters; there was another guide in the area trying to get in my pocket-I disallowed it. We headed up to the next stop and kept fishing. The two other clients hadn't yet caught any, even though they were getting bites, so I took them to the skunk hole.
The one client said "I already got a skunk, I don't want to go to the skunk hole".
I explained that this was the skunk hole because it's where we get rid of the skunk. I put the experienced fisherman in a lower hole I call the five dollar hole and challenged him. (I still have my $5). I put the other two right below the beaver pond where it is almost a certain catch.
Sure enough, the youngest client, on the first cast got a bite. Unfortunately, it was going after the RS-2 on the rise and he just missed it. We moved up slightly and the other fish less client, who didn't want to be in the skunk hole, caught 1. Redemption! And then heartbreak...as he lost it real soon. But right after that, we did pull in one brookie on a PMX. With the rain starting to get crazy, and then the lightning making way overhead, we started to make our way back.
All in all, a great day. I would have liked to see the 3rd client get a fish to the net but he got a bunch of bites and lost one none the less; I think he still had a real good time. As did the others. We bid adieu and went our separate ways. Another great trip, and another great day on Glacier Creek. Can't wait to get some for myself.
Tight Lines
Friday, July 19, 2013
6-27-13 Boulder Creek
I got to get out on the river today for the first time in a few weeks, and on Boulder Creek for the first time in at least a month or so. I could tell that the flows were slightly up since the last time I had been out on a guide trip, less than a week ago.
I was due to meet a friend in a while and wanted to get in a little bit of fishing before hand. I managed to hook into a really nice rainbow and bring him to the net; a nice reward to yet more hand tied San Juan worms. I manged to catch one brown, much smaller, later and then called it quits for a while. It was fishing a little slower, but it was 4:00 in the afternoon and hot as heck.
I ended up taking an hour long nap in my truck before my buddy showed up. It was his first time out and I just gave him my rig. Within minutes, he hooked into a brown trout; a nice reward for both. For him, his first fish on the fly; and for me a first for a friend, and an employee of which I am completely grateful for.
We continued to fish around the Roger's Park area for a while. I received a few more bites on a 20 incher, Pheasant Tail, RS-2 combo. He ended getting a few more bites on a purple San Juan worm, tied with a beadhead, and one on a Chubby Chernobyl, with a yellow under body.
Being close to dark now, we called it a day. It was nice to get out for a change and although it was a little slow, I had a good time. I always appreciate teaching a friend to fish. It was nice to get out of the heat too; it was 10 degrees cooler in the canyon than in Boulder. The water was 52 or so and made for some semi-cold wet wading.
Soon, the water temps will rise, the flows will drop and the dry fly bite will go from skittish to crazy. Perfect for wet wading...and dry fly fishing in the afternoons.
Tight Lines
Can't Wait
I was due to meet a friend in a while and wanted to get in a little bit of fishing before hand. I managed to hook into a really nice rainbow and bring him to the net; a nice reward to yet more hand tied San Juan worms. I manged to catch one brown, much smaller, later and then called it quits for a while. It was fishing a little slower, but it was 4:00 in the afternoon and hot as heck.
I ended up taking an hour long nap in my truck before my buddy showed up. It was his first time out and I just gave him my rig. Within minutes, he hooked into a brown trout; a nice reward for both. For him, his first fish on the fly; and for me a first for a friend, and an employee of which I am completely grateful for.
We continued to fish around the Roger's Park area for a while. I received a few more bites on a 20 incher, Pheasant Tail, RS-2 combo. He ended getting a few more bites on a purple San Juan worm, tied with a beadhead, and one on a Chubby Chernobyl, with a yellow under body.
Being close to dark now, we called it a day. It was nice to get out for a change and although it was a little slow, I had a good time. I always appreciate teaching a friend to fish. It was nice to get out of the heat too; it was 10 degrees cooler in the canyon than in Boulder. The water was 52 or so and made for some semi-cold wet wading.
Soon, the water temps will rise, the flows will drop and the dry fly bite will go from skittish to crazy. Perfect for wet wading...and dry fly fishing in the afternoons.
Tight Lines
Can't Wait
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
6-25-13 Late Spring/Early Summer Report
Well we have been super busy with trips and I just haven't had a chance to get to the computer to update the website. So apologies on my end. For what it's worth, I did just get my Internet connection at the house fixed so I will be able to post reports more frequently. And, I just received my new $300 camera so look for some great new pics...soon.
To get all caught up, were just gonna make 1 huge report for the last month ( or so, or longer). So here goes:
Boulder Creek:
The creek has been fishing pretty good for the last month or so. Every now and then we will get a high flow day that brings the productivity down, but for the most part, minus a 2 week run off period, it has been fishing well.
We have definitely had to find the good water. And it's not always the same. Some days it's up on the flat stretch by mile marker 32, others it's on the beaver ponds. You just got find those trout.
And when we did find them, it was pretty good fishing. The purple san juan worm, and the beadhead purple san juan worm have been the best for the last month or so. These things just flat out catch fish. I love them. If anything, I AM really tired of tying them. It's all I've tied for the last month. They are a quick tie, but there is not much creativity in them. It can get a little monotonous. But if it's working...
As of real late, we are seeing the stones turn on the top and some attractors and terrestrials are starting to come into play as well. It gets hot in the middle of the day so get out early or later.
Here are some pics from some client trips, and some of my trips from Boulder Creek for the last month.
Rocky Mountain National Park:
Well in just the last month, The Park has gone through quite the transformation. A month ago, we were just barely at run off for most of the waters in the park and less than a few weeks later, they were all either at max run off or starting to come off run off. Either way, the flows are dropping and the fishing is picking up the further we get into the season. Here are some reports from specific bodies of water in the park.
Big Thompson (Moraine Park)
I love this river. Who doesn't, right? It's just such a beautiful location in a surreal setting. The funny thing about Mr. T is that even though I have seen a bunch of back country spots in The Park, I am still captivated by the Moraine Park area. It's not my favorite, but it sure is right there. I think the perfect meandering style stream running right though the middle doesn't hurt either, right?
As far as fishing, it's been doing good. Most days are great, others are good, and very few are bad. The Thompson is by no means the easiest stream in the world to fish. To begin with, I think all meandering streams are more difficult than most other streams and this one is no exception. It takes a certain skill for sure. And secondly, that river gets a lot of pressure; there is never a shortage of fisherman. So to all who fished there, be proud. It's an accomplishment to catch a trout here, and if you didn't don't be discouraged by any means. It's not easy. And as most will attest, they caught their fish only after a trying for a while.
Recently, we have been going into the upper part of the valley where the fishing is starting to pick up. It seems the more I go, the more the bugs I see each time. Typical, right? As of late there has been some decent stone fly hatches, caddis hatches (later in the day), and the baetis has been sporadic, at best. Do look for the covered water later in the evening and you should start finding those hatches. There has been some nice rusty spinners showing up later in the day as well.
As for the report, it is just like all the other streams in The Park. It is starting to heat up, but we are getting there.
Glacier Creek
Glacier is coming alive. The last time I was up there, they were more or less eating any good presentation. Stones, PMX, Hoppers, Chernobyls, Caddis, Amy's Ants on top and just about anything below, especially with flash.
Roaring River
Roaring River, which I have only visited once so far, was pretty slow fishing. It was still running relatively high and the good water just wasn't there yet.
Here are some pics from the last month or so.
Tight Lines
To get all caught up, were just gonna make 1 huge report for the last month ( or so, or longer). So here goes:
Boulder Creek:
The creek has been fishing pretty good for the last month or so. Every now and then we will get a high flow day that brings the productivity down, but for the most part, minus a 2 week run off period, it has been fishing well.
We have definitely had to find the good water. And it's not always the same. Some days it's up on the flat stretch by mile marker 32, others it's on the beaver ponds. You just got find those trout.
And when we did find them, it was pretty good fishing. The purple san juan worm, and the beadhead purple san juan worm have been the best for the last month or so. These things just flat out catch fish. I love them. If anything, I AM really tired of tying them. It's all I've tied for the last month. They are a quick tie, but there is not much creativity in them. It can get a little monotonous. But if it's working...
As of real late, we are seeing the stones turn on the top and some attractors and terrestrials are starting to come into play as well. It gets hot in the middle of the day so get out early or later.
Here are some pics from some client trips, and some of my trips from Boulder Creek for the last month.
Rocky Mountain National Park:
Well in just the last month, The Park has gone through quite the transformation. A month ago, we were just barely at run off for most of the waters in the park and less than a few weeks later, they were all either at max run off or starting to come off run off. Either way, the flows are dropping and the fishing is picking up the further we get into the season. Here are some reports from specific bodies of water in the park.
Big Thompson (Moraine Park)
I love this river. Who doesn't, right? It's just such a beautiful location in a surreal setting. The funny thing about Mr. T is that even though I have seen a bunch of back country spots in The Park, I am still captivated by the Moraine Park area. It's not my favorite, but it sure is right there. I think the perfect meandering style stream running right though the middle doesn't hurt either, right?
As far as fishing, it's been doing good. Most days are great, others are good, and very few are bad. The Thompson is by no means the easiest stream in the world to fish. To begin with, I think all meandering streams are more difficult than most other streams and this one is no exception. It takes a certain skill for sure. And secondly, that river gets a lot of pressure; there is never a shortage of fisherman. So to all who fished there, be proud. It's an accomplishment to catch a trout here, and if you didn't don't be discouraged by any means. It's not easy. And as most will attest, they caught their fish only after a trying for a while.
Recently, we have been going into the upper part of the valley where the fishing is starting to pick up. It seems the more I go, the more the bugs I see each time. Typical, right? As of late there has been some decent stone fly hatches, caddis hatches (later in the day), and the baetis has been sporadic, at best. Do look for the covered water later in the evening and you should start finding those hatches. There has been some nice rusty spinners showing up later in the day as well.
As for the report, it is just like all the other streams in The Park. It is starting to heat up, but we are getting there.
Glacier Creek
Glacier is coming alive. The last time I was up there, they were more or less eating any good presentation. Stones, PMX, Hoppers, Chernobyls, Caddis, Amy's Ants on top and just about anything below, especially with flash.
Roaring River
Roaring River, which I have only visited once so far, was pretty slow fishing. It was still running relatively high and the good water just wasn't there yet.
Here are some pics from the last month or so.
Tight Lines
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