There are more options now (in June) than there will be later in the summer as these creeks get low and warm. I can assure you that St Louis Creek was not warm - as my legs were frozen immediately as I started wet wading - and it was flowing pretty darn good too.
No rush to head up there - as the mountain didn't open until 10am - he got on the lift right at 10am, and I waited for him to come down one time to make sure he was good. It took about 20 minutes, but he was down and I reloaded him with Honey Stingers and he was on his way back up. I headed out to fish.
I had been to St Louis Creek probably 16 years ago (I remember we had Cabo when we camped there - but no kids!). It is such a cool area. Lots of hikers, mountain bikers and campers using the public lands - I really liked the treed areas that make it easy to hike in. I parked just before the campground - there was 25 cars in the parking area. I could see the blue line on the map just parallel to the road - so knew it was a hundred yard hike in. I wet waded - put on my boots, rigged the rod and hiked in. After a short hike and some short bush whacking, I was on the creek.
Beautiful (cold) water, bushes on each side, about 15 feet across. The creek was flowing pretty good - some great fast runs, slamming into cut banks and lots of bushes reaching down into the water with stick jams on the bend pools. This makes for tough fishing - especially nymphing. Dry dropper is the way to go. Except when you can't see your damn fly! I tied on a medium sized hopper - but couldn't see it in the fast water - so switched to an indicator. The fish were in the slower water - which was around every bend - but you had to work for it. All the snags and any weight on the flies had them dragging in the shallows.
The most fishy spot I saw gave up 4 or 5 quick fish - this is the first fish below. A nice 8 inch brookie who was all prettied up. I hooked a bunch of tiny fish in this hole - but they have a way of freeing themselves with all the wiggling they do - especially on barbless hooks. They all crushed the size 16 chartreuse zebra midge.
Mountains on all sides - such a nice view.
Another great fish - this one was about the same 8" - but he had brilliant red fins - I have never seen one with such bright red. I tried for another picture - but as you can see, the net holes couldn't hold him.
I did get blown off by lighting - there was thunder in the background, but I wasn't moving unless it rained or if there was lightning. There was both - so I headed back to the truck. The rain came down hard (as it always does in the mountains) and I changed and headed out. Stopped for gas, then headed to the mountain.
I met Z at the bottom - he was having a blast, but hot - so started peeling off layers. Z was waiting out a lightning shut down of the lift - but after 15 minutes more they re-opened and he was up the hill again.
I went back to the truck and broke down the rod. Then went and got a beer and sat on the swings waiting on Z. He did 3 more trips before the 5pm closure.
We stopped at the brewery in WP - Hideaway Park and got some cans to go. The ride home was sketchy at the top of Berthoud with huge drops and winds - but it was good on the other side and we didn't hit any traffic - home by 6:45. Not too shabby!
Good day for both Z and I.
