4-18-2013 An Old Friend Revisited

I headed up to Mary Jane for the annual end of year party with my department from Eldora. I had already planned on leaving early (around 1:00) well in advance of the party. I prefer to sneak out and go fishing. I did this last year, and it worked out like a charm (see 'My Blue Heaven' post).

This year, the weather was horrible. It was 6 degrees all day in the parking lot at the Jane, and by 11:00 a.m., I already had a great beer buzz going. Knowing that there was trout in store, I quit drinking. By 1:00 p.m., on the dot might I say, I was sober enough to leave. Don't freak out; I had 4 beers over the course of 5 hours. I was fine!!

I drove towards the original destination: the mighty Colorado. I feared it would be too cold all day and by the time I got to Granby, my senses got the best of me and I turned around. Coming down Berthoud, I wished that there was less snow as there is some good fishing around Empire. But not the case today. So I turned off US 40 and onto the big 7-0 East. With the time moving along faster than I like. I shot straight for the obvious "save my day, I just want to catch a fish spot". Clear Creek.

Good ole' Clear Creek. You all remember. The one that leads to the really gross beer plant...the one that we keep spilling fuel and oil into...the one that alot of us (myself included) have abandoned. Yep. That Clear Creek. Well it had been probably 3 years since I (personally) fished Clear Creek (I recall) and that is a shame. I have always liked this river. Not once has it ever been too busy for my personal preference, never a long drive, there is always a great chance at a Grand Slam, and the fishing is always (usually) pretty good.

But yes, I too, have abandoned it. There was a truck fuel spill a few years (2 years?) back and it was right at my spot, so I was bummed and didn't go back. Still haven't gone to that spot but might now. I fished way low in the canyon. Take 1 more turn and your on Hwy. 93 to Golden.  Just trying to be consciouse of water temp plus I figure these trout will take better (to harsh environment) so I thought it would be a good indicator of the quality of the fishery.

Well, I must say, I was impressed. I only fished for an hour or so and managed to fool a handful even though I lost a few before I landed em'. The ones I did catch...great fish. Real typical of what I have seen in here in the past. Clean, healthy, proportionate.

Good News. Happy Angler... Sometimes, it pays to see old friends.
Fished with an olive tail for the entire time. It worked. Try it.
Here's some pics:



Note-The sun came out by the time I got over the divide and into the canyon. Beautiful day.

Tight Lines-

4-12-13 Lessons Learned and Re-Learned, but I feel great!

Sometimes you just never know.

You never know when you are going to get the opportunity to go fly fishing that is. Such was the case yesterday when I got off work early, around 2:30 or so.

Problem was, I knew that I did not have (most) of my gear. Most notably, flies and waders. But I knew that I had a rod and reel that was still tied up with a beadhead prince nymph and a really beat up olive colored pheasant tail from my last outing. And quite frankly, if you have a rod and a reel, and two flies, what else do you need to be successful?

Well, to begin with it really does help if you have waders. If not, you can't really fish everywhere you need to, or in the manner you need to, either. And just because you have flies, it doesn't mean you have the right ones. I felt pretty good about my selection that was tied on but I knew the pheasant was awfully beat up and actually coming apart.

So as I pondered all this during my drive down the canyon, to my hole, I realized that I may have a few flies stuck to my spare tire cover that sits behind the rear seat. Every time I get done with a trip, guided or not, I cut my flies off and stick them there. I knew there wouldn't be much as I usually clear it in the fall/winter and let it repopulate the next summer. However, come mid July or early August, it looks like a small fly shop back there.

I arrive at my hole and start looking at my spare tire. Not much for sure. A purple poison tung, two black beauties, a san juan worm, and one more bead head prince. But then it happened. At first I can only see the bright reflection of the sun gleaming off the tiny, simulated, emerging wing loop.  And then suddenly it appeared as if it were sent from the heavens...a Callibaetis colored sparkle wing RS-2. I knew that was the ticket with the BWO's that had been coming off lately so I tied it on below the prince.

I try to locate some nippers...check. Locate some forceps...no check. Need some forceps. I dig through the gear bag that I do have and realize that I don't have any forceps either. Great! I make do with a pair of Gerber multi-tools. Check.

I set out, without waders, to one of my favorite first beats. As I cast I realize that I have no indicator. So wanting to learn more about indicator free fishing I cast-on. I gave it about 5 more casts and said "not today". Maybe if I had flies and waders. But I wasn't in the learning mood today. I was more in the catching mood.

I head back to the truck and look for an indicator. I find one tiny orange thingamabobber in my gear bag. I prefer the palsa, which I why I switched in the first place; but I learned with a thingamabobber so I didn't care, and felt confident. I tied it on and went back.

First cast...nothing. Second cast...same story. Third cast...fish on! Nice little brown. (No picture, remember I don't have all my gear). It was the RS-2 of course.  I continued for another 15 minutes, catching one more fish, until I snagged my fly trying to squeeze it into a run. I tried to forward cast it out, but couldn't. I ended up snapping off (I think perhaps it would have helped if I had waders, think?). Satisfied at my MacGyverness, I called it a day.

Lesson 1: Rs-2 flies catch a ton of trout. If you don't have any, you are weird.

Lesson 2: I felt real good about my success with limited gear. I was a real MacGruber out there. However I did want to fish longer. Don't we all? So it did rub me a little that I did not have my gear. I usually keep it out this time of year, for freezing and theft purposes especially, but I should have my gear. I thought about bringing it that morning (because you just never know), but didn't because my waders were still hanging up, my fly box was on my tying desk, my chest pack wasn't in my wader bag like usual, and so on. So I didn't. And while it did cost me time on the water, it didn't cost me success because,

Lesson 3: You should always have ALL YOUR GEAR, because you just never know; but in case you don't you better have a rod and reel,  forceps or a leatherman, nippers and a couple killer ass flies in your truck. I did, and it saved my life today.

So I'm feeling alright...

Tight Lines!

MacGyver

4-10-13 Lost pics from last October's Sylvan Dale trip

Not much to say. Never been? Need to go!

The ranch!

A pic of a section I hadn't fished yet. Loved it.

I love this pic.

Tight Lines!