Guide season got underway a little bit early this season, and at a new location. Although we have had rights to the Blue River for a couple seasons now, I have yet to take a client up there. The Blue is still relatively new water to me. I have fished it about a half dozen times in the past 4-5 years, with a fair amount of success. So when I received the call that I would be taking a client up there for my first trip of the season, I was pretty excited.
Upon our arrival at 7:00 a.m., the temp was -3 degrees. That was definitely helping the amount of traffic as we were the only ones there. I suggested a quick trip to the local Bucks Coffee shop and then we got to it. I explained to my client that the takes would be light, and sure to turn on soon with the sun coming over the dam and warming things up. After getting into place at the bottom of the Gaging Station, we hunkered down and started throwing line. The gentlemen above me was starting to have luck and I eventually had to net one of his 5 pound fish for him. I asked what he was using (which I hardly ever do but was damn curious as he was having great luck) and it was the exact same as us...mysis. That really motivated my client, seeing that fish.
I decided to start tying on a new rig with the same bugs onto the second rod and right then I heard those words a guide loves so much, especially the first time of year in a new location that can be somewhat daunting sometimes.
"I got one". Jay exerted.
Before I could even start to direct him, he lost it. I stressed again that we are just going to let the fish do what it wants to. We are not pulling it. The goal is to use the butt end of the rod and the reel to help us I explained.
I stopped rigging and prepared for trout on. Sure enough, within minutes we had our second one on. I slowly talked him through it, this time being slightly easier than the prior as he was not as big.
I told him to let him take that one more run and the n we would have him. And we did have him. A beautiful 16" rainbow. My client couldn't have been any happier. I told him to get one of those big guys now. I made the slightest depth adjustment and again, within minutes, my good listening client obliged.
That indicator went down so quick that I knew what had just happened. I told him loudly and firmly, "Get that fish on the reel right now"! We had a monster. Jay did a great job of letting that rod and reel work for him. I told him in the midst of the fight that he had caught one like the guy above us earlier. I could see that look in his eyes. I continued to help him fight the fish, which was now on the other side of the river and upstream about 25 yards. He was heading to the current and I knew if he didn't get him out of there he was in trouble. i calmly told him to "work him downstream with your rod and reel". He started to do just as I told when suddenly, nothing.
I started laughing. But in a good way. "That was awesome!" I shouted. I gave him a huge high five, much to his dismay. I had to explain that "sometimes that happens my man" and that "the tug is the drug". It took him a minute but he got excited then.
"That was pretty cool" he said. "My arm was shaking".
I went onto explain what he did wrong for learning purposes but again stressed that this was far from failure. It was actually very very close to success.
"It ain't easy" I exclaimed. "But it sure is fun failing".
We ended up fishing for another hour or so before we went for a beer break at the truck. I could see that he was just stoked at losing that monster. Truth be told, it was probably the biggest fish I have gotten into up there minus the one that bull dogged me earlier this winter. That fact alone made me so proud as a guide. This is new water to me. I still have to use my brain when I go there. It's not like a Glacier or Boulder Creek to me yet. It's big water, it's a little intimidating and that fish put me on a different level as an angler and a guide. What a feeling.
We spent the last two hours down by 70 and the bugs were starting to come out as the rises were becoming more and more frequent. We ended up getting several bites on some BWO dries, emergers and midges, but we couldn't quite set that hook fast enough. It was a rush though as my client got to sight fish for 20"+ fish with a dry and catch them with nymphs and feel that burn.
Come 2:00, we called it a day. Jay had a great time. What a great first trip. As we de-waded in the lot we had 3 other fisherman pass by. All of them had the same story; no fish. I explained to Jay that I never like to see people not catch fish but went onto say that as I guide, if I can bring my client up into waters and then watch just about every other guy strike out, while my client is hooking up; that is a mission success. I felt like I had done my job well, on new water, with an absolute beginner in technical waters on a day when if you didn't know, you didn't catch.
First trip of the season...Good first trip. First guide trip to the Blue...Good first trip to the Blue.
Gonna be a hell of a season. Stay tuned.
Tight Lines-
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Monday, October 12, 2015
10/2/15-10/11/15 Boulder Creek Hopper Dropper Heaven
I got to get out for a little bit this morning and I headed to where I have taken a couple client trips lately; Black Tiger Fire/Blue Bridge (approximately mile marker 35). I have had several groups in this area lately and thought that I would take my turn. The browns are in bulk up mode for the winter season and it is making for some great fishing. This time of year is a terrestrial flyfishers dream. Throw on a hopper, attractor, beetle, or even an ant and have at it. The bugs, and therefore the food supply, is going to be (starting) to running low soon so if trout can get their lips on a size 12 bug right now instead of all the size 20+ midges they will be forced to depend on in the winter, all the better.
Recently, I have been throwing some smaller size 14 and 16 terrestrial/attractors on top with some beadheads on the bottom. On top, I have been fishing an Amy's Ant in 14 or a new hopper that I have been tying, discussed below. On the bottom, I have been using a blue poison tung or an all new T.U.V. mdige, which is now a neon midge. This has actually been out fishing the tung 4 or 5-1. I am sure that as far as most hopper/attractor patterns go, you will find success with most just keep it smaller and keep it buggy. On the bottom, go attractor nymph or even smaller natural replications, such as pheasant tails, hare's ears, or prince nymphs. Start thinking smaller. Not crazy small, but smaller.
When it comes to hoppers, I find that most are too large or too complicated and therefore not so life-like; especially when you consider the smaller nature of the waters that I usually fish. So when I was recently reading an older magazine lately basically talking about the same problem that offered up a smaller pattern, I ran with it. I like the Charlie Boy Hopper but find that buoyancy can be an issue. Also, as a guide fly, it is harder for a beginner to see. It's buggy, just hard to see. The new pattern that I am tying, The JR X Hopper, sits the foam higher on the hook shank and incorporates some antron dubbing, an all time floating favorite. Having slightly similar body design as a Charlie Boy, it adds a bit of McFlylon to the top for increased visibility on top of the hair wing and makes it much more client friendly. It is the first hopper pattern that I have tied up so I was excited to get out and try it. I tied it in olive but was slightly hesitant as I know that the naturals along the creek tend to run more of a brown color. But I didn't that have color foam.
The neon midge, which has become a staple in my box now, has been 'tightened up' a little and I added a pink thread head. This thing has been DOING IT. Wow. On the Big T it has been productive when others weren't. I think it takes on a scud look there to them. And on Boulder Creek, I threw it on for a client one day when a tung was kind of slow. I hadn't glued them before I fished them (I was in a hurry) and after replacing two torn up flies for my client in a group trip, one gentleman recommended I call it a 'torn thread midge'. I thought that kind of summed it up. Took it back out for myself last week after throwing a tung, and same thing. That day I think I out fished the tung closer to 10-1. I am sold on this bug and may submit it to a commercial fly tyer. I am considering it anyways. Both the neon midge and the JR X hopper are available only through me. The JR X hopper can be found, but I searched it on google and didn't find much. Just a great pattern from Scott Sanchez through a publication of mine.
So, back to fishing, I showed up to one of my guide holes. What is a guide hole? It's a hole where you can almost 100% count on a bite after showing clients a quick lesson. Often, this hole is pre-determined prior to departing the shop. In this case, it was too. This hole is right below the Black Tiger sign and I have used it for a guide hole several times with success most of the time. So when I threw my new hopper and proven midge in there and got zero bites, I definitely raised an eyebrow. I moved onto another usually successful seam opposite that hole. Nothing. Two more holes, nothing. I move up one hole to a larger, slower, deeper run. It has a decent swift current coming into it but flows overs some riffles and then bends into a deeper pool. Toss my fly, and slamma jamma all over that non-natural olive hopper. Well 5-6 trout later, in the same hole, I decided that my new hopper tie does catch trout. Yes. Yes it does. I caught a couple on the midge in that hole as well.
I ended up only fishing for another hour or so because I was just on a new fly scouting trip and truth be told, the fishing was that good. In the hour, I caught probably upwards of 20 trout and missed or lost another 20 or so. I also had at one point a trout come for my fly from under a rock and straight towards me until he got an inch away and noticed me standing there. It would have been a great picture of a trout (almost) eating. At another point, I threw my fly at the tail out of this smaller, unsuspecting riffle and I saw a trout swim over. The first thing I saw was the back side of his gills and then I tracked him into the current to under my bug before he denied it as well. He was pushing probably 16"-18" though. That doesn't surprise me though, after I saw a 20" plus trout last week in a different section. Couldn't believe it, until I foul hooked him and took him on a walk. Pretty funny story.
I did notice that early on, the trout were definitely looking for warmer water. The sunny holes were may more productive. It is starting to get that time of year I suppose. So keep your fly in those warm spots early. I was out from roughly 10-11:15. The trout were really stacking up in warmer areas. I can only imagine what that same fly combo would have done 6 hours later. Unbelievable fishing though, and really gratifying as well, having finally tied up my first hopper pattern and crushing trout with it. Definitely accomplished my need for a smaller, more realistic, buoyant, visible hopper. Needless to say, I stopped by the shop on the way home and bought brown foam. I will tie some up and then post some pics soon so you can buy some if you would like to.
Go fish some hoppers and support a hungry trout.
On another note-Ran into Robby Bear at the shop, he said he was out the night before and that the 45 minutes before the sun went behind the mountains was phenomenal. Again, try a hopper dropper late, as I thought.
And one more note-Really amazed at how well the hopper stood up. Definitely a bunch of bite marks on abdomen and bullet head, but still in great fishing shape. Guide approved.
Tight Lines.
Recently, I have been throwing some smaller size 14 and 16 terrestrial/attractors on top with some beadheads on the bottom. On top, I have been fishing an Amy's Ant in 14 or a new hopper that I have been tying, discussed below. On the bottom, I have been using a blue poison tung or an all new T.U.V. mdige, which is now a neon midge. This has actually been out fishing the tung 4 or 5-1. I am sure that as far as most hopper/attractor patterns go, you will find success with most just keep it smaller and keep it buggy. On the bottom, go attractor nymph or even smaller natural replications, such as pheasant tails, hare's ears, or prince nymphs. Start thinking smaller. Not crazy small, but smaller.
When it comes to hoppers, I find that most are too large or too complicated and therefore not so life-like; especially when you consider the smaller nature of the waters that I usually fish. So when I was recently reading an older magazine lately basically talking about the same problem that offered up a smaller pattern, I ran with it. I like the Charlie Boy Hopper but find that buoyancy can be an issue. Also, as a guide fly, it is harder for a beginner to see. It's buggy, just hard to see. The new pattern that I am tying, The JR X Hopper, sits the foam higher on the hook shank and incorporates some antron dubbing, an all time floating favorite. Having slightly similar body design as a Charlie Boy, it adds a bit of McFlylon to the top for increased visibility on top of the hair wing and makes it much more client friendly. It is the first hopper pattern that I have tied up so I was excited to get out and try it. I tied it in olive but was slightly hesitant as I know that the naturals along the creek tend to run more of a brown color. But I didn't that have color foam.
The neon midge, which has become a staple in my box now, has been 'tightened up' a little and I added a pink thread head. This thing has been DOING IT. Wow. On the Big T it has been productive when others weren't. I think it takes on a scud look there to them. And on Boulder Creek, I threw it on for a client one day when a tung was kind of slow. I hadn't glued them before I fished them (I was in a hurry) and after replacing two torn up flies for my client in a group trip, one gentleman recommended I call it a 'torn thread midge'. I thought that kind of summed it up. Took it back out for myself last week after throwing a tung, and same thing. That day I think I out fished the tung closer to 10-1. I am sold on this bug and may submit it to a commercial fly tyer. I am considering it anyways. Both the neon midge and the JR X hopper are available only through me. The JR X hopper can be found, but I searched it on google and didn't find much. Just a great pattern from Scott Sanchez through a publication of mine.
So, back to fishing, I showed up to one of my guide holes. What is a guide hole? It's a hole where you can almost 100% count on a bite after showing clients a quick lesson. Often, this hole is pre-determined prior to departing the shop. In this case, it was too. This hole is right below the Black Tiger sign and I have used it for a guide hole several times with success most of the time. So when I threw my new hopper and proven midge in there and got zero bites, I definitely raised an eyebrow. I moved onto another usually successful seam opposite that hole. Nothing. Two more holes, nothing. I move up one hole to a larger, slower, deeper run. It has a decent swift current coming into it but flows overs some riffles and then bends into a deeper pool. Toss my fly, and slamma jamma all over that non-natural olive hopper. Well 5-6 trout later, in the same hole, I decided that my new hopper tie does catch trout. Yes. Yes it does. I caught a couple on the midge in that hole as well.
I ended up only fishing for another hour or so because I was just on a new fly scouting trip and truth be told, the fishing was that good. In the hour, I caught probably upwards of 20 trout and missed or lost another 20 or so. I also had at one point a trout come for my fly from under a rock and straight towards me until he got an inch away and noticed me standing there. It would have been a great picture of a trout (almost) eating. At another point, I threw my fly at the tail out of this smaller, unsuspecting riffle and I saw a trout swim over. The first thing I saw was the back side of his gills and then I tracked him into the current to under my bug before he denied it as well. He was pushing probably 16"-18" though. That doesn't surprise me though, after I saw a 20" plus trout last week in a different section. Couldn't believe it, until I foul hooked him and took him on a walk. Pretty funny story.
I did notice that early on, the trout were definitely looking for warmer water. The sunny holes were may more productive. It is starting to get that time of year I suppose. So keep your fly in those warm spots early. I was out from roughly 10-11:15. The trout were really stacking up in warmer areas. I can only imagine what that same fly combo would have done 6 hours later. Unbelievable fishing though, and really gratifying as well, having finally tied up my first hopper pattern and crushing trout with it. Definitely accomplished my need for a smaller, more realistic, buoyant, visible hopper. Needless to say, I stopped by the shop on the way home and bought brown foam. I will tie some up and then post some pics soon so you can buy some if you would like to.
Go fish some hoppers and support a hungry trout.
On another note-Ran into Robby Bear at the shop, he said he was out the night before and that the 45 minutes before the sun went behind the mountains was phenomenal. Again, try a hopper dropper late, as I thought.
And one more note-Really amazed at how well the hopper stood up. Definitely a bunch of bite marks on abdomen and bullet head, but still in great fishing shape. Guide approved.
Tight Lines.
Thursday, June 4, 2015
6-2-15 Chris Goes Fishing...
I finally got to get out. Between no truck and being busy working, days out have been few and far between. So Tuesday night, the stars aligned and I made it out. I stopped by the shop first and grabbed some stuff to tie flies later, and asked Harris if he wanted to go with. Harris has made for one of my most gratifying moments as a guide. After taking him and his old man out one day a few years back, I see him working in the shop a year or two later. Success!! And now we finally got to get out for real for a change.
So anyways, let's get to it because there ain't much to report. The fishing sucks right now. Period. Really needed to get into a trout but didn't so excuse the blatant not so happy tone to the post.
Report:
Boulder Creek below the falls...blown out.
Above the falls...blown out.
Above Nederland...blown out.
So we tried the lake on top of the hill. We won't say the name. I wasn't supposed to be there. Desperate times...right? And it was..Not blown out, but it sucked.
We did try above the falls and above Ned but no go. They are really holed up. So go find a lake. Not the one I didn't mention either. You're not supposed to be there either. Go find another lake. The high lakes look pretty cold still so anyone's guess. Bass fishing anyone? Sure. And I will post a report soon. Tight Lines...or something.
Here is a picture of a trout that didn't get caught on my last outing because the fishing sucks.
So anyways, let's get to it because there ain't much to report. The fishing sucks right now. Period. Really needed to get into a trout but didn't so excuse the blatant not so happy tone to the post.
Report:
Boulder Creek below the falls...blown out.
Above the falls...blown out.
Above Nederland...blown out.
So we tried the lake on top of the hill. We won't say the name. I wasn't supposed to be there. Desperate times...right? And it was..Not blown out, but it sucked.
We did try above the falls and above Ned but no go. They are really holed up. So go find a lake. Not the one I didn't mention either. You're not supposed to be there either. Go find another lake. The high lakes look pretty cold still so anyone's guess. Bass fishing anyone? Sure. And I will post a report soon. Tight Lines...or something.
Here is a picture of a trout that didn't get caught on my last outing because the fishing sucks.
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