Friday, August 4, 2006 South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon
Night fishing - evening was nice and clear around 75 degrees. Water was clear - about 275 cfs.
My buddy Nate and I decided to fish Cheesman at night. He had heard about Chad and I fishing there and wanted to try it. We headed out late (6:30 pm) and didn't get to the parking lot until about 8 pm or so. Luckily it stays light out there. We hiked in and dropped straight into the family pool. The water was clear, but pretty high - higher than I had seen it in a while. The fish were taking off the top, but they were small.
We went right to chucking streamers. The night was uneventful, but we managed to catch 4 fish each. The largest was a skinny assed rainbow that was 18 inches, but skinny as hell.
I caught a nice brown on a smaller streamer that Nate's step-dad had tied. The small streamers seem to be the only thing that was working all night. We left around 11pm and were home by 12:30am. Not a bad night - I just wish we had more success.
Friday, August 04, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Blue River, Silverthorne
Wednesday, July 26, 2006 Blue River, Silverthorne
Night fishing - evening started out rainy, but cleared up - overcast around 65 degrees. Water was off color due to heavy drainage up by the outlets - above outlets it was clear and cfs about 75 cfs of so.
Ok, I'll make this short and sweet since this was over two weeks ago. Chad and I hit the Blue - we were going to try the Palmer Gulch area, but the drive was rainy and we were anxious to get on the river - so we hit a section just south of there (by the pull out that loops behind the hills).
The area looked great, but the water was slightly off color (from all the rain we had just got) - we could see fish taking off the top along the shorelines. We started out fishing a deep pool and then working our ways up and back. I couldn't find anything. I tried everything too - from dries to nymphs. The water looked great with lots of fishable areas. I managed to hook one 4 inch fish before heading down river to see what Chad was doing.
He had just hooked into a huge fish that had run him down some rapids - he hooked him on a huge dry fly that he was flipping under a waterfall. Chad said he caught only 4 fish through this section.
It started getting dark, so we headed up towards the dam - hoping the water would be clearer. It wasn't, it was even more chocolate. I worked from under the bridge to just about half way through the outlets when I realized the cause of the dark water. The small stream that flows between the outlets was dumping about 100 cfs of dirt into the water - I jumped above this mess and found the water was crystal clear. The problem with water this clear is that all the fish can see you. I had no luck the rest of the night. Chad said he hooked 3 pigs down closer to the dam.
We were home by 10:30!
Night fishing - evening started out rainy, but cleared up - overcast around 65 degrees. Water was off color due to heavy drainage up by the outlets - above outlets it was clear and cfs about 75 cfs of so.
Ok, I'll make this short and sweet since this was over two weeks ago. Chad and I hit the Blue - we were going to try the Palmer Gulch area, but the drive was rainy and we were anxious to get on the river - so we hit a section just south of there (by the pull out that loops behind the hills).
The area looked great, but the water was slightly off color (from all the rain we had just got) - we could see fish taking off the top along the shorelines. We started out fishing a deep pool and then working our ways up and back. I couldn't find anything. I tried everything too - from dries to nymphs. The water looked great with lots of fishable areas. I managed to hook one 4 inch fish before heading down river to see what Chad was doing.
He had just hooked into a huge fish that had run him down some rapids - he hooked him on a huge dry fly that he was flipping under a waterfall. Chad said he caught only 4 fish through this section.
It started getting dark, so we headed up towards the dam - hoping the water would be clearer. It wasn't, it was even more chocolate. I worked from under the bridge to just about half way through the outlets when I realized the cause of the dark water. The small stream that flows between the outlets was dumping about 100 cfs of dirt into the water - I jumped above this mess and found the water was crystal clear. The problem with water this clear is that all the fish can see you. I had no luck the rest of the night. Chad said he hooked 3 pigs down closer to the dam.
We were home by 10:30!
Friday, July 07, 2006
Striper Fishing - Narragansett, Rhode Island
Wednesday & Thursday, July 5-6, 2006 - Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island
Beautiful weather - clear, about 80 degrees
Wednesday
Wednesday was interesting - we started out by fishing the docks (as the bait shop had suggested) in the morning, but the tide was rolling out and it was the "wrong" tide. I started by chumming the water with huge clam bellies (as the bait shop had suggested). Of course there isn't a whole lot to see - the clams basically drift to the bottom (which you can't see), but I was hoping it was working by drawing the attention of some fish. Soon, the stripers were actually coming within site and taking the clams in fast smacks. I had tried earlier in the week to fly fish for stripers, but there is no "good" places to fish for them unless you have a boat. So, I stuck to bait fishing as it was my best option for catching fish.
We proceeded to tie on some clam necks and drift them down like they were chum. We had several hits and landed a few - none were bigger than 16 inches or so. They were a lot of fun fighting on a big 7 wt fly rod. We decided to head back to the cottage and wait for a higher tide. Later in the day we (my two uncles) returned and we proceeded to catch a few more fish. The largest was about 18 inches - but most were about 14 but very fat.
Thursday
The guys were ready to fish on Thursday and we went to the pier at the perfect time - with an incoming tide. We started chumming again and the fish were present. They seemed to love the structure of the piers that ran right beside the main channel (between a sand bar in the middle and the piers). We had seen a guy anchored on the sand bar fishing the incoming tide and he hooked into and landed a 29.5 inch striper - it was a keeper (28 inches is the limit). To me it looked like a 24 incher, but of course the guy wasn't going to toss that big of a fish back. We went right to work - hooking fish after fish until the tide peeked and started to turn over to slack tide. The fish were fun, all about 16 inches +/- - some smaller like 12 inches but all were fun to land. In all we managed about 2 dozen stripers between 3 people. Not bad for fishing from a pier!
The two weeks were a lot of fun, besides fishing, we went clamming several times, and crabbing a couple of times. We also bought lobsters straight off the dock and cooked them up, had linguine and clam sauce and had an amazing clam/seafood chowder that was the tastiest I have ever had. It was nice to relax for a couple weeks.
Beautiful weather - clear, about 80 degrees
Wednesday
Wednesday was interesting - we started out by fishing the docks (as the bait shop had suggested) in the morning, but the tide was rolling out and it was the "wrong" tide. I started by chumming the water with huge clam bellies (as the bait shop had suggested). Of course there isn't a whole lot to see - the clams basically drift to the bottom (which you can't see), but I was hoping it was working by drawing the attention of some fish. Soon, the stripers were actually coming within site and taking the clams in fast smacks. I had tried earlier in the week to fly fish for stripers, but there is no "good" places to fish for them unless you have a boat. So, I stuck to bait fishing as it was my best option for catching fish.
We proceeded to tie on some clam necks and drift them down like they were chum. We had several hits and landed a few - none were bigger than 16 inches or so. They were a lot of fun fighting on a big 7 wt fly rod. We decided to head back to the cottage and wait for a higher tide. Later in the day we (my two uncles) returned and we proceeded to catch a few more fish. The largest was about 18 inches - but most were about 14 but very fat.
Thursday
The guys were ready to fish on Thursday and we went to the pier at the perfect time - with an incoming tide. We started chumming again and the fish were present. They seemed to love the structure of the piers that ran right beside the main channel (between a sand bar in the middle and the piers). We had seen a guy anchored on the sand bar fishing the incoming tide and he hooked into and landed a 29.5 inch striper - it was a keeper (28 inches is the limit). To me it looked like a 24 incher, but of course the guy wasn't going to toss that big of a fish back. We went right to work - hooking fish after fish until the tide peeked and started to turn over to slack tide. The fish were fun, all about 16 inches +/- - some smaller like 12 inches but all were fun to land. In all we managed about 2 dozen stripers between 3 people. Not bad for fishing from a pier!
The two weeks were a lot of fun, besides fishing, we went clamming several times, and crabbing a couple of times. We also bought lobsters straight off the dock and cooked them up, had linguine and clam sauce and had an amazing clam/seafood chowder that was the tastiest I have ever had. It was nice to relax for a couple weeks.
Friday, June 23, 2006
Friday - June 23, 2006 - Cheesman Canyon
Friday, June 23, 2006 - South Platte River, Cheesman
Beautiful weather - clear, water clear, flows 235 cfs
If you are looking for a good fish story you will be disappointed. But, this was still the best fishing day of my life. Obviously not because of the fish - but because of something else.
Chad and I were out in the Gill Trail parking lot around 5:15 pm - ready to do some night fishing. After a hot hike in, we dropped down to the Family Pool and decided to work our way up the canyon about 1/4 mile and then meet back at the Family Pool at about 8 - 8:30 pm for some streamer fishing. I headed straight to my favorite strecth - with this much flows, the rainbows would be all over the large rock and that stretch. I tried the normal small thread midges, jujubees, black beauties, a pt, a chartuese midge, nothign was working. Chad of course whizzed by catching some nice pigs on a streamer dropper rig.
About 6 pm or so I heard some little peeping noises coming from the bank. I was trying to hook a fish that was right next to the bank and these two little duckings were coming down river hugging the bank and swam right over my fish. They noticed me and made a beeline back up river. I pointed them out to Chad. As I moved out to the middle of the river, the ducklings (not more than a week or two old I would guess) got a little braver and headed back down river past me, peeping all the way. I knew that was odd, since ducklings aren't usually left alone by their mothers. As always, I felt a bit sad to see them float by, thinking they wouldn't last long - especially since night fall was only a couple hours away.
The fishing continued to suck - and Chad kept catching fish ahead of me. I tried everything, even switching to a dry caddis because I saw one fish hit one as it floated by. It was getting closer to 8 pm and almost time to head down to the Family Pool, I started to cross over and decided to hit the long riffle one last time. There is a huge rock at the end of the riffle run that the water was high enough to flow around - well barely. I was starting to head back to the Family Pool and was walking behind the rock when I saw the two ducklings again, this time headed up river against the flow. We surprised each other behind the rock and they jetted around the front of it through the tougher current. I thought it was odd they were still searching for their mother, and now I felt even more like sh!t. I fished the back end of the pool for about 5 minutes and then guilt came over me. Somehow I had to help those ducklings, but how? They were probably 50 yards up by now.
I decided to give chase, I put my rod down and started stepping out into the current to see if I could see them. I couldn't, but I started sloshing ahead as I knew they'd be 3 inches from the bank. I moved up about 40 feet and there they were - tucked into the side of the bank swimming, they hopped up on a rock and went up and over. I jumped out of the water and headed on land after them. Not realizing how fast they could swim, I hopped back in the water and they were still up ahead of me. I started thiking to myself - I haven't seen a bird all day, where the hell would a mother duck be? Just then I looked at the island directly across some of the swiftest parts of the river and there was the mother duck, no kidding, with 4 other ducklings. She had heard the ducklings cries, and was standing alert, but wasn't making a sound. I think she was afraid that I would hear her and then come after her.
The ducklings didn't see or hear their mother and kept swimming ahead. I decided I'd try and scare them across - maybe when they got to the other side they'd see mom. So I jumped out of the water again and ran ahead, this time I was ahead of them and crashed down into the water - they saw me and made a break for the middle, got about 3 feet out and turned back to the bank and started down river. I jumped out of the water again, and ran down river to get behind them. I got behind them and tried again, again they made a break for the middle, but again, the current was too swift and they came back to the edge - this time heading back up stream again. This time I was close to them - maybe 20 feet, so I started charging them. The edge of the river was tough, as it narrowed the water got faster close to the edges and there were a few waterfalls of a few inches that made their swimming tricky. I got right behind them, they made a break to get up a 6 inch slick waterfall but fell back into the pool 5 or 6 times, I grabbed my net (which is the new measurenet that has smaller holes) and scooped one of them up. The other dove into the grassy edge to get away - he played dead as he hung low in the grass. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose one to catch the other, so I hell the net slightly off the ground, but it didn't matter - the duckling in the net was exhausted and was just as happy to sit there still.
I pinned the little guy into the grass, but had to get him out and into the net. I dropped the net down to the grass and tilted it in his direction. I started trying to move and I think he saw his little brother/sister and I nudged him in - not touching him for fear he'd have my scent on him. I had them both in the net, but now I had to get across the fast water. I was thinking the whole time, great you saved the ducks only to drownd trying to get across the river - nice! The second duckling kept trying to get out - he was stepping on his brother's head and trying to climb up the net. I held my hand over the net and shook him back down - he was exhausted too - and wasn't trying too hard. They were all poofy and their feathers were all puffed out - they were a black and light yellow color, mixed with brown and they had feet about one third the size of their bodies (which is huge).
I got into the faster water and it was deep - right up to my waist waders - and I was sure it was going to get deeper - but it didn't. I crossed over to the island and headed down to the lower part to where I had seen the mother. I sloshed down to the end and just as I came around there was the mother about 20 ft away and she was pissed!! I started getting a bit nervous and got about 10 ft closer to a rock that blocked me from her, leaned over it and dropped the two ducklings gently into the water in front of her. They booked it right for her, but made a slight detour to the right and went up on the island and jumped in with the other ducklings ahead of her. The whole time mom was yacking at them - I'm sure she was giving them an ear full for straying too far out into the current.
I crossed back over, hit the shoreline and got up on the hill side and looked for them. Mother and 6 ducklings were swimming together in the slow water and headed for the far shore (which was shallow and very slow). I found my rod and headed back to the Family Pool. Man, did I feel good. I hadn't caught a fish, but it didn't seem to matter.
I sat at the Family Pool for about 10 minutes, Chad came up from lower down the river and met me - I told him the story. We tied on streamers and started chucking. I managed two fish, a large rainbow and a good sized brown. We left at 10:15 or so and I was home by 11:45. I know this story seems a little sappy, but honestly it was one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Beautiful weather - clear, water clear, flows 235 cfs
If you are looking for a good fish story you will be disappointed. But, this was still the best fishing day of my life. Obviously not because of the fish - but because of something else.
Chad and I were out in the Gill Trail parking lot around 5:15 pm - ready to do some night fishing. After a hot hike in, we dropped down to the Family Pool and decided to work our way up the canyon about 1/4 mile and then meet back at the Family Pool at about 8 - 8:30 pm for some streamer fishing. I headed straight to my favorite strecth - with this much flows, the rainbows would be all over the large rock and that stretch. I tried the normal small thread midges, jujubees, black beauties, a pt, a chartuese midge, nothign was working. Chad of course whizzed by catching some nice pigs on a streamer dropper rig.
About 6 pm or so I heard some little peeping noises coming from the bank. I was trying to hook a fish that was right next to the bank and these two little duckings were coming down river hugging the bank and swam right over my fish. They noticed me and made a beeline back up river. I pointed them out to Chad. As I moved out to the middle of the river, the ducklings (not more than a week or two old I would guess) got a little braver and headed back down river past me, peeping all the way. I knew that was odd, since ducklings aren't usually left alone by their mothers. As always, I felt a bit sad to see them float by, thinking they wouldn't last long - especially since night fall was only a couple hours away.
The fishing continued to suck - and Chad kept catching fish ahead of me. I tried everything, even switching to a dry caddis because I saw one fish hit one as it floated by. It was getting closer to 8 pm and almost time to head down to the Family Pool, I started to cross over and decided to hit the long riffle one last time. There is a huge rock at the end of the riffle run that the water was high enough to flow around - well barely. I was starting to head back to the Family Pool and was walking behind the rock when I saw the two ducklings again, this time headed up river against the flow. We surprised each other behind the rock and they jetted around the front of it through the tougher current. I thought it was odd they were still searching for their mother, and now I felt even more like sh!t. I fished the back end of the pool for about 5 minutes and then guilt came over me. Somehow I had to help those ducklings, but how? They were probably 50 yards up by now.
I decided to give chase, I put my rod down and started stepping out into the current to see if I could see them. I couldn't, but I started sloshing ahead as I knew they'd be 3 inches from the bank. I moved up about 40 feet and there they were - tucked into the side of the bank swimming, they hopped up on a rock and went up and over. I jumped out of the water and headed on land after them. Not realizing how fast they could swim, I hopped back in the water and they were still up ahead of me. I started thiking to myself - I haven't seen a bird all day, where the hell would a mother duck be? Just then I looked at the island directly across some of the swiftest parts of the river and there was the mother duck, no kidding, with 4 other ducklings. She had heard the ducklings cries, and was standing alert, but wasn't making a sound. I think she was afraid that I would hear her and then come after her.
The ducklings didn't see or hear their mother and kept swimming ahead. I decided I'd try and scare them across - maybe when they got to the other side they'd see mom. So I jumped out of the water again and ran ahead, this time I was ahead of them and crashed down into the water - they saw me and made a break for the middle, got about 3 feet out and turned back to the bank and started down river. I jumped out of the water again, and ran down river to get behind them. I got behind them and tried again, again they made a break for the middle, but again, the current was too swift and they came back to the edge - this time heading back up stream again. This time I was close to them - maybe 20 feet, so I started charging them. The edge of the river was tough, as it narrowed the water got faster close to the edges and there were a few waterfalls of a few inches that made their swimming tricky. I got right behind them, they made a break to get up a 6 inch slick waterfall but fell back into the pool 5 or 6 times, I grabbed my net (which is the new measurenet that has smaller holes) and scooped one of them up. The other dove into the grassy edge to get away - he played dead as he hung low in the grass. I wanted to make sure I didn't lose one to catch the other, so I hell the net slightly off the ground, but it didn't matter - the duckling in the net was exhausted and was just as happy to sit there still.
I pinned the little guy into the grass, but had to get him out and into the net. I dropped the net down to the grass and tilted it in his direction. I started trying to move and I think he saw his little brother/sister and I nudged him in - not touching him for fear he'd have my scent on him. I had them both in the net, but now I had to get across the fast water. I was thinking the whole time, great you saved the ducks only to drownd trying to get across the river - nice! The second duckling kept trying to get out - he was stepping on his brother's head and trying to climb up the net. I held my hand over the net and shook him back down - he was exhausted too - and wasn't trying too hard. They were all poofy and their feathers were all puffed out - they were a black and light yellow color, mixed with brown and they had feet about one third the size of their bodies (which is huge).
I got into the faster water and it was deep - right up to my waist waders - and I was sure it was going to get deeper - but it didn't. I crossed over to the island and headed down to the lower part to where I had seen the mother. I sloshed down to the end and just as I came around there was the mother about 20 ft away and she was pissed!! I started getting a bit nervous and got about 10 ft closer to a rock that blocked me from her, leaned over it and dropped the two ducklings gently into the water in front of her. They booked it right for her, but made a slight detour to the right and went up on the island and jumped in with the other ducklings ahead of her. The whole time mom was yacking at them - I'm sure she was giving them an ear full for straying too far out into the current.
I crossed back over, hit the shoreline and got up on the hill side and looked for them. Mother and 6 ducklings were swimming together in the slow water and headed for the far shore (which was shallow and very slow). I found my rod and headed back to the Family Pool. Man, did I feel good. I hadn't caught a fish, but it didn't seem to matter.
I sat at the Family Pool for about 10 minutes, Chad came up from lower down the river and met me - I told him the story. We tied on streamers and started chucking. I managed two fish, a large rainbow and a good sized brown. We left at 10:15 or so and I was home by 11:45. I know this story seems a little sappy, but honestly it was one of the greatest feelings in the world.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
brandon722 Fryingpan River - Basalt, CO June 9-11
Friday - Sunday, June 9-11, 2006 - Fryingpan River, Basalt
Beautiful weather all days - partly cloudy, water clear, flows 189 cfs
First off, let me say that the Fryingpan experience is only what you make of it. There are three different sections of river that have loads of fish in it, and it is up to you to choose your best experience. If you are chasing fat rainbows and browns and only want to catch a few fish and be amongst 25 other anglers with the same attitude, the first mile or so below the dam is your stretch. If you enjoy faster water with lots of plunge pools and rapids, with fewer people but still anglers within site, the stretch between mile markers 12 and 6 are your best bet. Finally if you like faster water, with fewer long stretchs, harder wading, slightly smaller fish, but easier fish to catch, and no other anglers within site you want miles 6 through 1 of the canyon.
The canyon is a 13+ mile stretch of road with sparse public and private land throughout. Of course some of the prettiest stretches are private, but there is plenty of public acces including the last 2.5 miles or so to the dam. The canyon is beautifully lined with red rocks and shear cliffs with green tree lined deep mountain sides. The only thing prettier than the scenery are the fish. The browns are magically beautiful this time of year, and the rainbows are equally vibrant. The browns are by far more colorful. Of the many that were caught, each wore their personality on their outsides. The browns were all different, but their vibrant red spots, deep golden bellies and red tail fins made them unique. They fought the hardest and offered the greatest rewards.
Chad and I arrived around 9 am on Friday, after driving by the Roraring Fork we made a subconscoius decision to stay away from that water way. We hit the canyon and immediately started fishing about 1 mile into the canyon. The water was fast and the walking was treacherously slippery, but the rewards were awesome. The canyon comes right down to the water, which makes wading along the edges impossible around trees, bushes and huge boulders covered in moss and red dirt/muck. But the deep holes and edge slicks makes for the perfect hiding places for larger than average fish. Chad of course caught his share, hooking some impressive fish with a streamer rig. He quickly found that a size 10 caddis pupa nymph trailing a bugger picked up huge strikes. I managed to land a few also, much smaller than Chad's. I did hook and land a nice rainbow that took me by surprise. We only fish the stretch for about a two hours or so and decided to go set up camp at the campground just on the other side of the dam.
We set up the camper and then decided to hit the river again. We jumped back on the water around noon at just above the 11 mile marker. There is a really deep stretch that rolls into two long straight aways with huge trees laying across the entire river - then it runs into private water. Chad and I split up relatively quickly. I was having problems getting into the fish - I knew they were in there from last year, but the little browns were a lot trickier than expected. I managed to hook and land a few. We only stayed for about an hour and then moved again up to mile marker 12 area. We fished the area quite well and saw tons of fish. I managed to hook and land 4 fish in one particular hole on dry flies - including a nice 19 inch rainbow, a 16 inch rainbow, a small brown and a silvery small rainbow. We found some huge fish that we toyed with for a while with streamers, but with no luck. At around 4:45 we decided to head back to town and get cell service and call Jason who was meeting us there that day. We ate dinner, made contact with Jason and made plans to meet up with him at the dam area around 8 or 8:30. We were back on the water by 7 pm.
We fished the usual areas - the hog pen, the straight away just before the water fall and slightly below there. The fishing was slow and I found myself fishing the hog pen. A sudden down pour came on as I was throwing a mysis at a bunch of feeding fish and one huge hog which had no interest in feeding. The down pour lasted only a few minutes, but right in the middle of it I hooked and landed the hog - he was a huge brown trout - with deep coloration - he was about 25 inches and weighed about 10 or 11 lbs - he was huge. Unfortunately the fish only made a few head thrashs but didn't make any runs - thank God. I had help landing him and getting my picture taking. By the time it was all over, the rain had stopped and the fish stopped feeding. It was an amazing fish - I had the adrenaline pumping for quite a while afterwards. I headed down to show Chad the picture and hang out down there.
I saw some smaller fish taking dries off the top just below the waterfall at the gauging station. I hooked a few, but only landed one - a nice 13 inch brown - I was surprised as I thought they were all dinks. Chad was hooking larger fish on streamers just above the waterfall. Jason showed up at 8:30 and we decided to try some night fishing. Not much to tell here, we were ready to leave.
Next morning we were up at 8 am and on the river soon after. We started out below the dam on the stretches just above the bridge. There weren't as many people as I thought there. The area had tons of fish feeding on the surface and subsurface on emergers (I guess). I only hooked one, and we decided to move on - down to before the 12 mile marker where we worked our way up stream almost a mile. What a great stretch. We spent 7 hours fishing this stretch - the stretch was hopping - all the fish were hitting green nymphs (size 16 ish). I hooked at least 75 fish and landed about 50 of them - only a few of larger than 13 inches. One in particular was a beautiful brown that was in some fatser water that shook its head furiously. I was so nice to just be out on the water relaxing. The water felt cool and even refreshing the one time I did fall in!
We headed back into Basalt for dinner - this time finding a nice bar to sit on the porch next to the river and have dinner and a couple of beers. We headed back to the river around 7:30 - stopping at the 4 mile mark to try our hand. There were tons of fish, but even more mosquitos. Chad and I got eaten alive, Jason managed to not get eaten. We moved back up to the dam section and started fishing again. It got dark quick and we were off the river by 9:30 or so.
The next morning we were on the river at 8 am or so, fishing the 12 mile marker and down on the stretch we had some good luck on the previous day. The fish were still hungry - we all hooked several fish - Chad hooked some pigs for that stretch. At about 11 am we made our way home. The ride home was uneventful. The Eagle and Colorado were blown out beyond fishable. The Blue seemed crazy high (900+ cfs after looking it up), so basically everything was blown out for the entire week. I think we made a good decision by heading out of town to the Pan. Another great trip.
Beautiful weather all days - partly cloudy, water clear, flows 189 cfs
First off, let me say that the Fryingpan experience is only what you make of it. There are three different sections of river that have loads of fish in it, and it is up to you to choose your best experience. If you are chasing fat rainbows and browns and only want to catch a few fish and be amongst 25 other anglers with the same attitude, the first mile or so below the dam is your stretch. If you enjoy faster water with lots of plunge pools and rapids, with fewer people but still anglers within site, the stretch between mile markers 12 and 6 are your best bet. Finally if you like faster water, with fewer long stretchs, harder wading, slightly smaller fish, but easier fish to catch, and no other anglers within site you want miles 6 through 1 of the canyon.
The canyon is a 13+ mile stretch of road with sparse public and private land throughout. Of course some of the prettiest stretches are private, but there is plenty of public acces including the last 2.5 miles or so to the dam. The canyon is beautifully lined with red rocks and shear cliffs with green tree lined deep mountain sides. The only thing prettier than the scenery are the fish. The browns are magically beautiful this time of year, and the rainbows are equally vibrant. The browns are by far more colorful. Of the many that were caught, each wore their personality on their outsides. The browns were all different, but their vibrant red spots, deep golden bellies and red tail fins made them unique. They fought the hardest and offered the greatest rewards.
Chad and I arrived around 9 am on Friday, after driving by the Roraring Fork we made a subconscoius decision to stay away from that water way. We hit the canyon and immediately started fishing about 1 mile into the canyon. The water was fast and the walking was treacherously slippery, but the rewards were awesome. The canyon comes right down to the water, which makes wading along the edges impossible around trees, bushes and huge boulders covered in moss and red dirt/muck. But the deep holes and edge slicks makes for the perfect hiding places for larger than average fish. Chad of course caught his share, hooking some impressive fish with a streamer rig. He quickly found that a size 10 caddis pupa nymph trailing a bugger picked up huge strikes. I managed to land a few also, much smaller than Chad's. I did hook and land a nice rainbow that took me by surprise. We only fish the stretch for about a two hours or so and decided to go set up camp at the campground just on the other side of the dam.
We set up the camper and then decided to hit the river again. We jumped back on the water around noon at just above the 11 mile marker. There is a really deep stretch that rolls into two long straight aways with huge trees laying across the entire river - then it runs into private water. Chad and I split up relatively quickly. I was having problems getting into the fish - I knew they were in there from last year, but the little browns were a lot trickier than expected. I managed to hook and land a few. We only stayed for about an hour and then moved again up to mile marker 12 area. We fished the area quite well and saw tons of fish. I managed to hook and land 4 fish in one particular hole on dry flies - including a nice 19 inch rainbow, a 16 inch rainbow, a small brown and a silvery small rainbow. We found some huge fish that we toyed with for a while with streamers, but with no luck. At around 4:45 we decided to head back to town and get cell service and call Jason who was meeting us there that day. We ate dinner, made contact with Jason and made plans to meet up with him at the dam area around 8 or 8:30. We were back on the water by 7 pm.
We fished the usual areas - the hog pen, the straight away just before the water fall and slightly below there. The fishing was slow and I found myself fishing the hog pen. A sudden down pour came on as I was throwing a mysis at a bunch of feeding fish and one huge hog which had no interest in feeding. The down pour lasted only a few minutes, but right in the middle of it I hooked and landed the hog - he was a huge brown trout - with deep coloration - he was about 25 inches and weighed about 10 or 11 lbs - he was huge. Unfortunately the fish only made a few head thrashs but didn't make any runs - thank God. I had help landing him and getting my picture taking. By the time it was all over, the rain had stopped and the fish stopped feeding. It was an amazing fish - I had the adrenaline pumping for quite a while afterwards. I headed down to show Chad the picture and hang out down there.
I saw some smaller fish taking dries off the top just below the waterfall at the gauging station. I hooked a few, but only landed one - a nice 13 inch brown - I was surprised as I thought they were all dinks. Chad was hooking larger fish on streamers just above the waterfall. Jason showed up at 8:30 and we decided to try some night fishing. Not much to tell here, we were ready to leave.
Next morning we were up at 8 am and on the river soon after. We started out below the dam on the stretches just above the bridge. There weren't as many people as I thought there. The area had tons of fish feeding on the surface and subsurface on emergers (I guess). I only hooked one, and we decided to move on - down to before the 12 mile marker where we worked our way up stream almost a mile. What a great stretch. We spent 7 hours fishing this stretch - the stretch was hopping - all the fish were hitting green nymphs (size 16 ish). I hooked at least 75 fish and landed about 50 of them - only a few of larger than 13 inches. One in particular was a beautiful brown that was in some fatser water that shook its head furiously. I was so nice to just be out on the water relaxing. The water felt cool and even refreshing the one time I did fall in!
We headed back into Basalt for dinner - this time finding a nice bar to sit on the porch next to the river and have dinner and a couple of beers. We headed back to the river around 7:30 - stopping at the 4 mile mark to try our hand. There were tons of fish, but even more mosquitos. Chad and I got eaten alive, Jason managed to not get eaten. We moved back up to the dam section and started fishing again. It got dark quick and we were off the river by 9:30 or so.
The next morning we were on the river at 8 am or so, fishing the 12 mile marker and down on the stretch we had some good luck on the previous day. The fish were still hungry - we all hooked several fish - Chad hooked some pigs for that stretch. At about 11 am we made our way home. The ride home was uneventful. The Eagle and Colorado were blown out beyond fishable. The Blue seemed crazy high (900+ cfs after looking it up), so basically everything was blown out for the entire week. I think we made a good decision by heading out of town to the Pan. Another great trip.
Friday, May 19, 2006
Friday, May 19, 2006 - Blue River, Silverthorne
Friday, May 19, 2006 - Blue River, Silverthorne
Night fishing - 7 pm to 10 pm, 252 cfs
Fished with Chad at the Blue for some night fishing. basically the water was high (higher than the 101 flows that were reported the previous day) and the water off color. This meant that the fish were harder to find. Chad managed two fish (12 & 16 inches) on streamers and I got none. We were home and in bed by 11pm. Not much to report, so I kept it short.
Night fishing - 7 pm to 10 pm, 252 cfs
Fished with Chad at the Blue for some night fishing. basically the water was high (higher than the 101 flows that were reported the previous day) and the water off color. This meant that the fish were harder to find. Chad managed two fish (12 & 16 inches) on streamers and I got none. We were home and in bed by 11pm. Not much to report, so I kept it short.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
Saturday May 13, 2006 - Cheesman Canyon
Saturday May 13, 2006 - Cheesman Canyon
Flows about 53 cfs, water was gin clear.
I fished with Chad and Jason (his neighbor) tonight. We decided to do a late evening trip to Cheesman and try our luck. The flows were really low so we knew we'd be headed for a tough night of fishing. We hiked into the canyon around 5:30pm on a very warm day around 70 degrees. We jumped down into our normal holes (the riffles). I hooked a big brown twice, but he popped off very quickly. I had on another smaller trout, but he got off too. I moved down a bit to the log hole and hooked a nice rainbow and he popped off too. Finally I hooked and landed a 16 inch rainbow - very colorful, pink the whole length of his body. I was hooking fish on the size 20 mercury baettis that Paul gave me and a size 22 killer midge with a gold bead head.
I crossed the river and tried the slow pool right next to the big rocks (the river flows between them). I could see multiple fish - most about 20 inches feeding on nymphs, but they weren't taking anything I was throwing. It started getting pretty dark. I finally went to the end of the pool and started throwing up between the rocks a midge combo - I hooked a fish and when he got right up next to me I had a knot failure at my indicator and EVERYTHING popped off and he was gone. I moved down from there to the hufge rock, but by now it was pitch black and a head lamp in the middle of the river does you no good.
I broke down my fly rod - chatted with Jason as he jumped in another hole and headed down to find Chad. I found Chad standing in the straights area (the very beginning of the Canyon where the water is deep but dead slow) - chucking streamers. I sat down next to him and of course he went on to tell me that he had just landed 5 in a row and they were all hogs. To say the least, he wasn't going to get me to rig back up and try. Then, of course, he lands a fish that was breaching the surface no more than 6 feet in front of me. He showed me the fish - easily 20 inches and as thick as a horse - and I started rigging back up. Jason came down to meet us - he was ready to go home too - then I slammed a fat hog and he was hooked! I caught about a 20 inch rainbow (all the fish we caught on streamers were all fat hogs and 20 inches it seemed).
I have never caught a big fish on a streamer - the slam and the fight are addicting. i think I need to do more night time fishing!! We proceded to fish for the next two hours with only streamers - Chad caught about another 5 or 6 fish, I landed 3 total and Jason had on a nice fish but somehow it got off. I had on another two fish on consecutive casts, but they managed to get off. This new strategy was amazing - basically you chucked an olive streamer (olive was the killer color) out and did foot long strips back and let it sink for 2 seconds in between strips. Of course the night time makes it for a totally different experience because you ahve no idea where your streamer is landing in front or behind you. Also, I had a lot of problems because I'd strip so that my leader was up in side my guides, then I'd cast and basically the line would cast but from my second guide - the leader would be trapped in the first guide. To say the least this was trouble - my flies snagged the top guide and broke off, they snagged the rock behind me and broke off - and I assume all this whipping made the leader weaker so when a fish did hit it - it would break off. Jason was having the exact same problem - I lost at least 10 streamers and he probably lost 5.
The hike out sucked and the drive home did too - I got home at around midnight. But man, that was some of the best fishing I've ever had. Chad told me that the Blue, Pan and Taylor all where good fished at night for hogs. I believe him and can't wait to get the chance.
Flows about 53 cfs, water was gin clear.
I fished with Chad and Jason (his neighbor) tonight. We decided to do a late evening trip to Cheesman and try our luck. The flows were really low so we knew we'd be headed for a tough night of fishing. We hiked into the canyon around 5:30pm on a very warm day around 70 degrees. We jumped down into our normal holes (the riffles). I hooked a big brown twice, but he popped off very quickly. I had on another smaller trout, but he got off too. I moved down a bit to the log hole and hooked a nice rainbow and he popped off too. Finally I hooked and landed a 16 inch rainbow - very colorful, pink the whole length of his body. I was hooking fish on the size 20 mercury baettis that Paul gave me and a size 22 killer midge with a gold bead head.
I crossed the river and tried the slow pool right next to the big rocks (the river flows between them). I could see multiple fish - most about 20 inches feeding on nymphs, but they weren't taking anything I was throwing. It started getting pretty dark. I finally went to the end of the pool and started throwing up between the rocks a midge combo - I hooked a fish and when he got right up next to me I had a knot failure at my indicator and EVERYTHING popped off and he was gone. I moved down from there to the hufge rock, but by now it was pitch black and a head lamp in the middle of the river does you no good.
I broke down my fly rod - chatted with Jason as he jumped in another hole and headed down to find Chad. I found Chad standing in the straights area (the very beginning of the Canyon where the water is deep but dead slow) - chucking streamers. I sat down next to him and of course he went on to tell me that he had just landed 5 in a row and they were all hogs. To say the least, he wasn't going to get me to rig back up and try. Then, of course, he lands a fish that was breaching the surface no more than 6 feet in front of me. He showed me the fish - easily 20 inches and as thick as a horse - and I started rigging back up. Jason came down to meet us - he was ready to go home too - then I slammed a fat hog and he was hooked! I caught about a 20 inch rainbow (all the fish we caught on streamers were all fat hogs and 20 inches it seemed).
I have never caught a big fish on a streamer - the slam and the fight are addicting. i think I need to do more night time fishing!! We proceded to fish for the next two hours with only streamers - Chad caught about another 5 or 6 fish, I landed 3 total and Jason had on a nice fish but somehow it got off. I had on another two fish on consecutive casts, but they managed to get off. This new strategy was amazing - basically you chucked an olive streamer (olive was the killer color) out and did foot long strips back and let it sink for 2 seconds in between strips. Of course the night time makes it for a totally different experience because you ahve no idea where your streamer is landing in front or behind you. Also, I had a lot of problems because I'd strip so that my leader was up in side my guides, then I'd cast and basically the line would cast but from my second guide - the leader would be trapped in the first guide. To say the least this was trouble - my flies snagged the top guide and broke off, they snagged the rock behind me and broke off - and I assume all this whipping made the leader weaker so when a fish did hit it - it would break off. Jason was having the exact same problem - I lost at least 10 streamers and he probably lost 5.
The hike out sucked and the drive home did too - I got home at around midnight. But man, that was some of the best fishing I've ever had. Chad told me that the Blue, Pan and Taylor all where good fished at night for hogs. I believe him and can't wait to get the chance.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Friday & Saturday, May 5th & 6th, 2006 - Arkansas
Friday & Saturday, May 5th & 6th, 2006 - Arkansas River – Salida to Howard
600+ cfs, water was off color. Friday was cool and windy in the afternoon/evening. Saturday was sunny in the upper 60’s.
I was lucky enough to get invited down to float the Ark on Saturday by Brian (Hyde Drifter). I got down there early on Friday night and fished my secret spot (just south of Big Bend) from 4pm to 8pm. The water was high and off color so I stuck to the big pool. On my third cast I caught a 13-inch brown on a chartreuse midge with a red bead head. I continued working the pool and hooked a big brown on a streamer, but he broke me completely off. Most of the other areas were too off color to see or catch anything. I did manage to hook one more a little lower down – he was a nice 14-inch brown.
I headed over to eat dinner in Salida and then headed to meet Brian at his camper and introduced myself. We decided to meet at 6:30 am the next day to get breakfast and then jump on the river. I just assumed that we'd both get in some rowing and fishing, but Brian's raft was only a two-seater and he just wanted to row and watch - which I'm not sure I could do with fish showing everywhere.
We dropped in just below Salida and planned to float all the way to Howard. Brian is a hell of a guy - the guy can row that raft "in a phone booth" (inside joke) - basically I didn't spill my tea the entire trip! Even Brian enjoyed the satisfaction of rowing one of his best days - with flows around 600 cfs.
Although I felt a little awkward taking advantage of Brian's rowing skills it turned out that he just loves being on the river - he loves talking fish, talking flies, teaching casting, trying new patterns, and showing new techniques. He's also amazing at spotting fish areas - but then again when all the GUIDES on the river know you by first name, that usually means you have floated the river a few hundred times. He hooked me up with some killer PMX's and some soft hackle nymphs and chartreuse pheasant tails - and the caddis patterns where spot on and caught lots of fish.
The river was high (600 cfs) and slightly off color - the banks are where the fish were at. The morning was slow, but as the water warmed the caddis started popping and the fishing picked up. I caught fish on one of his newest patterns, had some killer dry fly action in the early afternoon, and had a bunch I couldn't land on a dry fly during the last 2 miles or so. It was a beautiful day, great weather, hardly a breeze, smooth water and good company. I saw the Ark from a new angle and I respect it more for some of the amazing private water it has stashed away. The entire Arkansas Valley is just amazing. And the fish are healthy and large (for that river) - they feed fiestily too on size 16 nymphs - which is a change for us South Platte size 24 midge guys.
I'd like to thank Brian and Mary for their hospitality and kindness and I owe them big time! Although Brian doesn't want the publicity, he's a hell of a fly tyer - he donated over 40 dozen flies to TU this year for their auctions - and for that (and everything else he does) he should be commended. This is just another story of how this board brings us all closer together.
Brian was nice enough to donated almost 2 dozen flies to me, of which I donated directly to the fish Gods. Did I mention he's a hell of a fisherman too? He grabbed my rod in a great hole and made some beautiful casts to some nice fish - he only "landed" one - but it was one memorable fish!
600+ cfs, water was off color. Friday was cool and windy in the afternoon/evening. Saturday was sunny in the upper 60’s.
I was lucky enough to get invited down to float the Ark on Saturday by Brian (Hyde Drifter). I got down there early on Friday night and fished my secret spot (just south of Big Bend) from 4pm to 8pm. The water was high and off color so I stuck to the big pool. On my third cast I caught a 13-inch brown on a chartreuse midge with a red bead head. I continued working the pool and hooked a big brown on a streamer, but he broke me completely off. Most of the other areas were too off color to see or catch anything. I did manage to hook one more a little lower down – he was a nice 14-inch brown.
I headed over to eat dinner in Salida and then headed to meet Brian at his camper and introduced myself. We decided to meet at 6:30 am the next day to get breakfast and then jump on the river. I just assumed that we'd both get in some rowing and fishing, but Brian's raft was only a two-seater and he just wanted to row and watch - which I'm not sure I could do with fish showing everywhere.
We dropped in just below Salida and planned to float all the way to Howard. Brian is a hell of a guy - the guy can row that raft "in a phone booth" (inside joke) - basically I didn't spill my tea the entire trip! Even Brian enjoyed the satisfaction of rowing one of his best days - with flows around 600 cfs.
Although I felt a little awkward taking advantage of Brian's rowing skills it turned out that he just loves being on the river - he loves talking fish, talking flies, teaching casting, trying new patterns, and showing new techniques. He's also amazing at spotting fish areas - but then again when all the GUIDES on the river know you by first name, that usually means you have floated the river a few hundred times. He hooked me up with some killer PMX's and some soft hackle nymphs and chartreuse pheasant tails - and the caddis patterns where spot on and caught lots of fish.
The river was high (600 cfs) and slightly off color - the banks are where the fish were at. The morning was slow, but as the water warmed the caddis started popping and the fishing picked up. I caught fish on one of his newest patterns, had some killer dry fly action in the early afternoon, and had a bunch I couldn't land on a dry fly during the last 2 miles or so. It was a beautiful day, great weather, hardly a breeze, smooth water and good company. I saw the Ark from a new angle and I respect it more for some of the amazing private water it has stashed away. The entire Arkansas Valley is just amazing. And the fish are healthy and large (for that river) - they feed fiestily too on size 16 nymphs - which is a change for us South Platte size 24 midge guys.
I'd like to thank Brian and Mary for their hospitality and kindness and I owe them big time! Although Brian doesn't want the publicity, he's a hell of a fly tyer - he donated over 40 dozen flies to TU this year for their auctions - and for that (and everything else he does) he should be commended. This is just another story of how this board brings us all closer together.
Brian was nice enough to donated almost 2 dozen flies to me, of which I donated directly to the fish Gods. Did I mention he's a hell of a fisherman too? He grabbed my rod in a great hole and made some beautiful casts to some nice fish - he only "landed" one - but it was one memorable fish!
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Saturday, April 22, 2006 - South Platte River – Dr
Saturday, April 22, 2006 - South Platte River – Dream Stream
56 cfs, water was clear. Sunny in the 60’s – a little wind late.
Fished with Chad and his dad – we started right at the bridge between Spinney and 11-Mile. Got off to a good start, hooked and landed a huge 22” rainbow that was as big as a 2”X6” board. Unfortunately I realized after landing him that he was spawning and I should have left him alone.
Chad’s dad hooked a large rainbow that I tried to land for him, but he’s not used to landing big fish, so he couldn’t guide the fish to me and eventually he got off. He did hook and land a huge fish a few minutes later – the same exact fish I caught. I netted it for him and he was excited. He’d end up hooking and landing two more large fish.
We moved up to the dam section - after a 300-yard walk we finally got to the river. The water looked man-made – with boulders and tree stumps in the middle to break up the current. Problem was, there was no current today. 56 cfs is stupid. I hooked and landed a nice fighting 14-inch cuttbow with a nice orange gash under his chin. I moved up to the hog pen and we could see enormous fish, but neither Chad nor I could land one – even after trying everything including eggs.
We left and headed back, but stopped at the Tomahawk access on the way back. It was a nice little river, but typical low water on one of the forks of the South Platte. I caught a 6-inch brown – but that was it. We left soon after.
56 cfs, water was clear. Sunny in the 60’s – a little wind late.
Fished with Chad and his dad – we started right at the bridge between Spinney and 11-Mile. Got off to a good start, hooked and landed a huge 22” rainbow that was as big as a 2”X6” board. Unfortunately I realized after landing him that he was spawning and I should have left him alone.
Chad’s dad hooked a large rainbow that I tried to land for him, but he’s not used to landing big fish, so he couldn’t guide the fish to me and eventually he got off. He did hook and land a huge fish a few minutes later – the same exact fish I caught. I netted it for him and he was excited. He’d end up hooking and landing two more large fish.
We moved up to the dam section - after a 300-yard walk we finally got to the river. The water looked man-made – with boulders and tree stumps in the middle to break up the current. Problem was, there was no current today. 56 cfs is stupid. I hooked and landed a nice fighting 14-inch cuttbow with a nice orange gash under his chin. I moved up to the hog pen and we could see enormous fish, but neither Chad nor I could land one – even after trying everything including eggs.
We left and headed back, but stopped at the Tomahawk access on the way back. It was a nice little river, but typical low water on one of the forks of the South Platte. I caught a 6-inch brown – but that was it. We left soon after.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Bighorn River, Montana - April 6-9, 2006
Thursday through Saturday, April 6-8, 2006 – Bighorn River, Montana
Thursday
Cold afternoon about 40 degrees, cloudy and later with driving rains. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 2pm to 7:30pm.
I left the house around 3:30 am to be at Chad’s around 4 am. I was right on time and Chad was waiting. We piled the stuff in and off we went – hitting the gas station right before jumping on rt 70. It was still pitch black and we made conversation for about 30 minutes and I told Chad to take a nap while it was still dark. I was doing ok driving – but around Cheyenne I started getting tired. I struggled a bit, but kept going until about Casper (3 hours+ in) and we swapped out. The day was dry, but we could see the storm clouds rolling in from the NW. As we got closer and closer to the MT border it was obvious that there was some rain/snow close by, but we had juts missed it. We arrived in Ft. Smith at around 11am – we checked into the Cottonwood Camp, got our cabin, got our licenses, a parking pass for the day, bought a few white streamers and decided to dress and hit the 3 Mile access. The cabin was really nice – not huge, but well set up. Two bunk beds, a small bathroom with shower, a small kitchen and a nice sitting area with rap around seating around a small table – perfect for 3 guys.
We hit 3 Mile access right away – with about 2 hours to spare before Paul arrived. I shot up the left side of the island and made my way to the upper reaches – the water swings around the edge and runs shallow. A slight drop off closer to shore on the left is where I hooked my first two fish. A pair of nice 18 inch browns that were very colorful.
I dropped down to around the boat ramp – right where the water swiftens. Chad was already working this stretch and I waded over next to him to fish a shallow shelf that dropped into a huge pool next to some dead trees that were hung up in the middle. I immediately hooked a huge fish. I called Chad over to help me land the pig. The fish measured out at about 26 inches and about 10.5 lbs – what a fish. Chad didn’t have his camera – he left the batteries in the cabin to charge. I hooked another huge fish in the same spot – a 21 inch rainbow – not quite as impressive.
Paul showed up moments later and we were pulled off the water and ready to be escorted to the Afterbay section to launch our first day of floating.
We dropped the boat in the water around 1 pm and off we went. Paul rowed (as he did the remainder of the weekend) and kept us near the banks to try our hand at fishing the shore. We didn’t have much luck – although we could see quite a few fleeing under the boat. The weather was starting to turn – you could feel the moisture in the air and then it started raining. We hit Meat Hole right off – all the other boats had already hit it and we had the river somewhat to ourselves. Meat Hole was good to us – just as we remembered. I think we all caught 3 fish in the hole. Chad caught the largest on streamers and black mercury midges.
We moved down once again, hitting various holes as the wind blew rain sideways and into our faces. Although I had my new wading jacket on and was protected from the wetness, I was severely underdressed underneath and started getting cold about half way through. I stopped fishing with about a mile to go on the 3 mile leg – content to shiver instead of cast.
Chad caught quite a few, and Paul and I caught a few that day – it was a good day and time to call it a day. We pulled the drift out around 7pm, packed her up and headed back to the cabin. We decided to hit Paulie’s restaurant and have a nice dinner – chicken fried steak hit the spot. The conversation was great and we got a lot of the business stuff out of the way – the rest of the weekend was free to verbally abuse each other. Of course I got the worst beating. We got back to the cabin, tied up some flies that had worked that day and hit the hay.
Friday
Cold in the morning 40 degrees, cloudy all day, afternoon warmed up to about 52 degrees. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 9am to 5:30pm.
Seven AM came and the guys were stirring. I wasn’t thinking that Paul and Chad were ready, but I guess they were. I was still tired, but was ready to go. There wasn’t much sense of urgency so I hung out in bed. After getting some abuse I realized the guys were waiting on me. Hell, last year we didn’t hit the river until 8:30 or so – and these guys wanted to be half way down to Meat Hole by 8 AM! I dressed quick, threw on extra clothes and we were off. We dropped into the river amongst a slightly larger crowd than the previous day. We might have been the 4th boat out or so. The weather was cloudy, but it was obvious there wouldn’t be any rain in the next few hours. We were thinking about hitting the 3 Mile stretch twice today. We had met up with another board member that morning named George. He had his own pontoon boat and was rearing to go. We were going to leap frog each other down the river and give him a ride back to Afterbay at the half way point of the day. This ended up being our best day of fishing – although Paul nor I would even come close to the day Chad was about to have.
Chad covers a lot of water on foot, making an average of 6 casts a minute – rarely two in the same spot. He hooks and lands fish very quickly, and moves on. The first stretch of river produced a couple of fish – nothing huge. We stopped on the right side of the river to fish a popular stretch, but nothing came out of it. I hooked and landed a small 11 inch whitefish which won me the prestigious whitefish award for the weekend. Meat Hole was booked so we kept on rowing. We jumped down to Suck Hole and fished it. I fished the lower section while Paul and Chad fished the upper sections. My favorite spot that produced 100 fish the year before was hitting, but not nearly as well. I landed 4 nice fish – 2 bows and 2 browns. The browns were feisty while the rainbows were logs without much fight. The rainbows were big and fat – measuring probably 18 or 19 inches. This was easily 2 or 3 inches larger than the previous year. The browns were good sized too – 18 inches each – that too was about 3 or 4 inches larger than last years average. Chad and Paul also had some luck in the upper Suck Hole.
We moved down a bunch of times, we all hooked fish. Chad especially, hooking huge fish after huge fish. One stretch that looked very whitefishie we jumped out in. We fished this for a while and did very well. I hooked two enormous browns in the 20 inch range. Chad worked his way down river and every time I looked over he had rod bent or a net full of fish. He too was catching very large browns. Every hole that day produced fish. One hole that was new for Paul and us was a stretch where a long island ran on the left hand side and there was a great fast run that cut the island in half. This run had a shelf that ran to the left and it dropped off to about 3 feet of water. Paul was hooking fish at the bottom of the island left and right and couldn’t be stopped. Chad fished the whole 300 yard stretch – with a cast here and a cast there. I worked the fast riffle. On my second cast I hooked a pig – he was definitely longer than 26 inches. Unfortunately he got off. I lost a lot of fish on this trip – maybe about 50% - they seemed to fight harder this year but with a lot less run in them than last year.
The day seemed to be flying by – what we thought would be a two trip day was looking like a one trip day. We stretched the day out at the end – staying in some holes a little longer and shooting the crap with each other. I took some video and some photos, but not nearly enough. The weather held up nicely, overcast yet warm with minimal wind. We pulled in around 6 pm again and saw George – he basically blew down the river and fished that stretch by the boat ramp for 5 hours (sorry George). We moved cars and I met Chad back at 3 Mile Access to continue fishing. No such luck though as the extra traffic and lowering sun seemed to put down the fish. Chad as usual caught a bunch.
That night I threw a bunch of food on the grill for everyone and we just chatted for the night. We tried to tie some flies, but no one seemed overly interested. George stayed at the cabin that night.
Saturday
Cool morning about 40 degrees, sunny inn the morning, some clouds later in the afternoon, warmed up to about 65 degrees. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 9am to 3:30pm.
Our last day on the Horn was going to be beautiful weather, which meant bad things for the fish! We had decided to do the 3 Mile stretch again and maybe head out around 2 or 3 pm for home. Being home all of Sunday would definitely score bonus points with the wives. We were on the river before 8 am again. This time it was pretty heavy traffic though. Boats were all pulled over between Afterbay and Meat Hole, so we kept going. We moved down to Suck Hole and were the first ones to pull over. I was working my way down to my favorite section when a boat swung in maybe 25 yards from me and anchored on shore – 4 guys jumped out and proceeded to fish very close to me. This pissed me off – especially since they didn’t even look like they cared. A guide and his compadres were hooking large fish across the way with regularity. I hooked a fish on my first cast, but didn’t land it. It was a slow start for all of us.
We moved down again and started getting into some fish – well, at least Paul and I were. We hit the island stretch again and Paul went right back to catching his browns. He hooked and landed 10 fish or so. I worked my way back to the drop off next to the riffle and worked down further into the deeper water. I hooked a huge snaky looking rainbow that was so skinny it was scary. Next I hooked a huge rainbow, he was 24 inches long, but as I got him closer I could see that his lower mouth was all deformed and a mess. I played him and tried to get the hook out of his mouth without touching him – luckily it popped out. I worked the deeper sections and hooked and landed 5 or so nice fish – Paul also continued his magic. Chad however was still being shut out. We moved directly across the river to the other bank in an area that looked nice, but we were never able to reach before – this time we made it – a beautiful bank that held about a foot of water – it had some redds and a huge tree that had fallen over and touched the water. Chad was working a streamer in the shallows and hooked an enormous rainbow – big red bellied and about 26 inches easy. The fish was a pig and we had to land this “skunk-off” fish for Chad. I grabbed the net and just as I was ready to get into position the fish popped off. To say the least Chad was disappointed.
We moved down to a stretch not far that ran off a shelf and around a corner, as we floated over we could see some huge fish. I worked the stretch and hooked and landed two nice huge browns in the 18 inch range. Chad finally hooked and landed a nice 19 inch brown – he was finally skunk off.
The next stretch we moved to was the whitefish looking area, and again we all did well – I hooked and landed another two huge browns and lost a couple. Chad worked his way down and around. We decided it was time to head out and we worked the rest of the river from the boat. We were off the water by 2:30 pm. We grabbed our gear, unloaded, packed, stopped to get gas and we were on our way home. Chad was back by 10:30pm and I was home by 11pm. It was a very good trip. It was great meeting Paul and fishing with him.
The entire trip fish were consistently hitting on small black midges and pink midges. Most were black beauties or mercury midges. Scuds would produce fish, but not nearly as many. We didn't see any dry fly action, and only Chad had luck with streamers - although I think he caught about half on the streamer and half on the midge on his two fly setup.
Thursday
Cold afternoon about 40 degrees, cloudy and later with driving rains. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 2pm to 7:30pm.
I left the house around 3:30 am to be at Chad’s around 4 am. I was right on time and Chad was waiting. We piled the stuff in and off we went – hitting the gas station right before jumping on rt 70. It was still pitch black and we made conversation for about 30 minutes and I told Chad to take a nap while it was still dark. I was doing ok driving – but around Cheyenne I started getting tired. I struggled a bit, but kept going until about Casper (3 hours+ in) and we swapped out. The day was dry, but we could see the storm clouds rolling in from the NW. As we got closer and closer to the MT border it was obvious that there was some rain/snow close by, but we had juts missed it. We arrived in Ft. Smith at around 11am – we checked into the Cottonwood Camp, got our cabin, got our licenses, a parking pass for the day, bought a few white streamers and decided to dress and hit the 3 Mile access. The cabin was really nice – not huge, but well set up. Two bunk beds, a small bathroom with shower, a small kitchen and a nice sitting area with rap around seating around a small table – perfect for 3 guys.
We hit 3 Mile access right away – with about 2 hours to spare before Paul arrived. I shot up the left side of the island and made my way to the upper reaches – the water swings around the edge and runs shallow. A slight drop off closer to shore on the left is where I hooked my first two fish. A pair of nice 18 inch browns that were very colorful.
I dropped down to around the boat ramp – right where the water swiftens. Chad was already working this stretch and I waded over next to him to fish a shallow shelf that dropped into a huge pool next to some dead trees that were hung up in the middle. I immediately hooked a huge fish. I called Chad over to help me land the pig. The fish measured out at about 26 inches and about 10.5 lbs – what a fish. Chad didn’t have his camera – he left the batteries in the cabin to charge. I hooked another huge fish in the same spot – a 21 inch rainbow – not quite as impressive.
Paul showed up moments later and we were pulled off the water and ready to be escorted to the Afterbay section to launch our first day of floating.
We dropped the boat in the water around 1 pm and off we went. Paul rowed (as he did the remainder of the weekend) and kept us near the banks to try our hand at fishing the shore. We didn’t have much luck – although we could see quite a few fleeing under the boat. The weather was starting to turn – you could feel the moisture in the air and then it started raining. We hit Meat Hole right off – all the other boats had already hit it and we had the river somewhat to ourselves. Meat Hole was good to us – just as we remembered. I think we all caught 3 fish in the hole. Chad caught the largest on streamers and black mercury midges.
We moved down once again, hitting various holes as the wind blew rain sideways and into our faces. Although I had my new wading jacket on and was protected from the wetness, I was severely underdressed underneath and started getting cold about half way through. I stopped fishing with about a mile to go on the 3 mile leg – content to shiver instead of cast.
Chad caught quite a few, and Paul and I caught a few that day – it was a good day and time to call it a day. We pulled the drift out around 7pm, packed her up and headed back to the cabin. We decided to hit Paulie’s restaurant and have a nice dinner – chicken fried steak hit the spot. The conversation was great and we got a lot of the business stuff out of the way – the rest of the weekend was free to verbally abuse each other. Of course I got the worst beating. We got back to the cabin, tied up some flies that had worked that day and hit the hay.
Friday
Cold in the morning 40 degrees, cloudy all day, afternoon warmed up to about 52 degrees. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 9am to 5:30pm.
Seven AM came and the guys were stirring. I wasn’t thinking that Paul and Chad were ready, but I guess they were. I was still tired, but was ready to go. There wasn’t much sense of urgency so I hung out in bed. After getting some abuse I realized the guys were waiting on me. Hell, last year we didn’t hit the river until 8:30 or so – and these guys wanted to be half way down to Meat Hole by 8 AM! I dressed quick, threw on extra clothes and we were off. We dropped into the river amongst a slightly larger crowd than the previous day. We might have been the 4th boat out or so. The weather was cloudy, but it was obvious there wouldn’t be any rain in the next few hours. We were thinking about hitting the 3 Mile stretch twice today. We had met up with another board member that morning named George. He had his own pontoon boat and was rearing to go. We were going to leap frog each other down the river and give him a ride back to Afterbay at the half way point of the day. This ended up being our best day of fishing – although Paul nor I would even come close to the day Chad was about to have.
Chad covers a lot of water on foot, making an average of 6 casts a minute – rarely two in the same spot. He hooks and lands fish very quickly, and moves on. The first stretch of river produced a couple of fish – nothing huge. We stopped on the right side of the river to fish a popular stretch, but nothing came out of it. I hooked and landed a small 11 inch whitefish which won me the prestigious whitefish award for the weekend. Meat Hole was booked so we kept on rowing. We jumped down to Suck Hole and fished it. I fished the lower section while Paul and Chad fished the upper sections. My favorite spot that produced 100 fish the year before was hitting, but not nearly as well. I landed 4 nice fish – 2 bows and 2 browns. The browns were feisty while the rainbows were logs without much fight. The rainbows were big and fat – measuring probably 18 or 19 inches. This was easily 2 or 3 inches larger than the previous year. The browns were good sized too – 18 inches each – that too was about 3 or 4 inches larger than last years average. Chad and Paul also had some luck in the upper Suck Hole.
We moved down a bunch of times, we all hooked fish. Chad especially, hooking huge fish after huge fish. One stretch that looked very whitefishie we jumped out in. We fished this for a while and did very well. I hooked two enormous browns in the 20 inch range. Chad worked his way down river and every time I looked over he had rod bent or a net full of fish. He too was catching very large browns. Every hole that day produced fish. One hole that was new for Paul and us was a stretch where a long island ran on the left hand side and there was a great fast run that cut the island in half. This run had a shelf that ran to the left and it dropped off to about 3 feet of water. Paul was hooking fish at the bottom of the island left and right and couldn’t be stopped. Chad fished the whole 300 yard stretch – with a cast here and a cast there. I worked the fast riffle. On my second cast I hooked a pig – he was definitely longer than 26 inches. Unfortunately he got off. I lost a lot of fish on this trip – maybe about 50% - they seemed to fight harder this year but with a lot less run in them than last year.
The day seemed to be flying by – what we thought would be a two trip day was looking like a one trip day. We stretched the day out at the end – staying in some holes a little longer and shooting the crap with each other. I took some video and some photos, but not nearly enough. The weather held up nicely, overcast yet warm with minimal wind. We pulled in around 6 pm again and saw George – he basically blew down the river and fished that stretch by the boat ramp for 5 hours (sorry George). We moved cars and I met Chad back at 3 Mile Access to continue fishing. No such luck though as the extra traffic and lowering sun seemed to put down the fish. Chad as usual caught a bunch.
That night I threw a bunch of food on the grill for everyone and we just chatted for the night. We tried to tie some flies, but no one seemed overly interested. George stayed at the cabin that night.
Saturday
Cool morning about 40 degrees, sunny inn the morning, some clouds later in the afternoon, warmed up to about 65 degrees. Water was clear, flows about 2,500 cfs. Floated Afterbay to 3-Mile Access from 9am to 3:30pm.
Our last day on the Horn was going to be beautiful weather, which meant bad things for the fish! We had decided to do the 3 Mile stretch again and maybe head out around 2 or 3 pm for home. Being home all of Sunday would definitely score bonus points with the wives. We were on the river before 8 am again. This time it was pretty heavy traffic though. Boats were all pulled over between Afterbay and Meat Hole, so we kept going. We moved down to Suck Hole and were the first ones to pull over. I was working my way down to my favorite section when a boat swung in maybe 25 yards from me and anchored on shore – 4 guys jumped out and proceeded to fish very close to me. This pissed me off – especially since they didn’t even look like they cared. A guide and his compadres were hooking large fish across the way with regularity. I hooked a fish on my first cast, but didn’t land it. It was a slow start for all of us.
We moved down again and started getting into some fish – well, at least Paul and I were. We hit the island stretch again and Paul went right back to catching his browns. He hooked and landed 10 fish or so. I worked my way back to the drop off next to the riffle and worked down further into the deeper water. I hooked a huge snaky looking rainbow that was so skinny it was scary. Next I hooked a huge rainbow, he was 24 inches long, but as I got him closer I could see that his lower mouth was all deformed and a mess. I played him and tried to get the hook out of his mouth without touching him – luckily it popped out. I worked the deeper sections and hooked and landed 5 or so nice fish – Paul also continued his magic. Chad however was still being shut out. We moved directly across the river to the other bank in an area that looked nice, but we were never able to reach before – this time we made it – a beautiful bank that held about a foot of water – it had some redds and a huge tree that had fallen over and touched the water. Chad was working a streamer in the shallows and hooked an enormous rainbow – big red bellied and about 26 inches easy. The fish was a pig and we had to land this “skunk-off” fish for Chad. I grabbed the net and just as I was ready to get into position the fish popped off. To say the least Chad was disappointed.
We moved down to a stretch not far that ran off a shelf and around a corner, as we floated over we could see some huge fish. I worked the stretch and hooked and landed two nice huge browns in the 18 inch range. Chad finally hooked and landed a nice 19 inch brown – he was finally skunk off.
The next stretch we moved to was the whitefish looking area, and again we all did well – I hooked and landed another two huge browns and lost a couple. Chad worked his way down and around. We decided it was time to head out and we worked the rest of the river from the boat. We were off the water by 2:30 pm. We grabbed our gear, unloaded, packed, stopped to get gas and we were on our way home. Chad was back by 10:30pm and I was home by 11pm. It was a very good trip. It was great meeting Paul and fishing with him.
The entire trip fish were consistently hitting on small black midges and pink midges. Most were black beauties or mercury midges. Scuds would produce fish, but not nearly as many. We didn't see any dry fly action, and only Chad had luck with streamers - although I think he caught about half on the streamer and half on the midge on his two fly setup.
Sunday, April 02, 2006
Sunday, April 2, 2006 - South Platte River – Decke
Sunday, April 2, 2006 - South Platte River – Deckers
156 cfs, water was clear. Sunny in the lower 60’s.
Fished with Cabo today – not much to tell. The water was higher than normal. Harder to find the fish – especially with nymphs and midges. I lost a bunch of flies – including 2 streamers. Spooked the fish at the bend log, I got a few bites on some of those black beauties, but they all got off. I fished all the usual spots with no luck. Managed to get one small rainbow just on the other side of the 2nd bridge – his fin was messed up – it actually looked like he had bones sticking out and the cartilage was hanging limp. Cabo had a good time afterwards as I through the ball for her for about 15 minutes in the deep water.
156 cfs, water was clear. Sunny in the lower 60’s.
Fished with Cabo today – not much to tell. The water was higher than normal. Harder to find the fish – especially with nymphs and midges. I lost a bunch of flies – including 2 streamers. Spooked the fish at the bend log, I got a few bites on some of those black beauties, but they all got off. I fished all the usual spots with no luck. Managed to get one small rainbow just on the other side of the 2nd bridge – his fin was messed up – it actually looked like he had bones sticking out and the cartilage was hanging limp. Cabo had a good time afterwards as I through the ball for her for about 15 minutes in the deep water.
Monday, March 20, 2006
T minus 22 days and counting until the Bighorn
Wow, I'm jacked up for the Bighorn trip this year. I can hardly work without the excitement making my mind wander every minute or so.
I can't believe some of these guys live with an hour of the river and get to fish it every weekend. I'm jealous. Basically the Bighorn is the same distance and time from Billings as Deckers/Cheesman is from my house. If I lived in the Montana/Billings area, I'd never get any work done. I'd definitely own a boat or pontoon, and I'd try and log as many hours as I could on the great river.
Last year the Bighorn trip was a blast. Chad and I basically crammed 16 hours of driving, 5 hours wade fishing, 24 hours of float fishing, 24 hours of sleeping, 6 hours of eating and 4 hours of tying into an 80 hour period - pretty hectic pace for a 4 day "trip".
This year we are going to spread it out some more - drive all night - get up early, get three days of fishing in and then head home. I can't wait.
The Horn is an amazing fishery - although I only have a couple days experience on it and it was my first float trip, I have to say that it is the perfect river. The river is never really that wide - it is crossable in sections, even with 2500 cfs flows. The river is long and there are large fish throughout. The river is a standard depth - I'm generalizing here - but when we were floating I didn't have to move my indicator all the much - most depths stayed in the 4 to 6 foot range. There were some deep pools and great shelves, and the bug population was amazing. Scuds are the key here - ever rock over turned showed thousands of them.
Flies ranged in the 18 to 20 range. And although the pink and orange scuds were highly recommended, I can't imagine a fish would eat something so bright. The Ray Charles is also another fly that didn't look like any bug I had ever seen - but it worked. It amazes me that the flies that work here on the SPlatte are the same flies that work up in MT and in the same sizes. Zebras, Killers, Mercury's, Black Beauties all work - but they have to be small.
Last year I was expecting a little more MT atmosphere out of the Ft Smith area. But Ft Smith is more Wyoming than MT. You can see mountains way off in the distance, but otherwise it is rolling prairie and fields. The river banks were actually mostly bare of scrub brush - with huge cottonwoods standing on the sandy or rock banks - with hardly any low lying scrub brush between the trees. Cows have the right away in Ft Smith and they can be heard all over the river mooing in the breeze. I also expected expensive lodges or private homes located right next to the river. There really wasn't any sign of luxury in Ft Smith. Yes, there was the occassional house close to the river - but nothing gaudy or extravigant. The town of Ft Smith is also quite simple - 3 float boats per permanent capita. You can see boats lining the streets, sitting out in front of houses, fly shops, grocery store, campgrounds. It's actually kind of amusing.
The town closes up at 8 pm. The 10 fly shops are all small, clean and well kept - of course they all sell basically the same thing. There is one restaurant, one convenience store, and that's it. Of course the restaurant and store have their own hours, so sometimes they are open - most of the time they aren't. I'm sure they have more steady hours in the summer months.
The Horn is an easy float - only one real section of tough water that is easier the second time you float it. It gets shallow in some spots and sometimes you need to make a judgement call on which side of the island you are going to float - but other than that it is smooth sailing.
I saw lot sof guides on the Horn - pointing their clients to the perfect drifts or holes. We floated past lots of guys with fish on - some holes with 4 guys with fish on, everyone seemed very happy. It seemed like the Horn was a place where fishing dreams come true. I'm having fishy dreams lately - so many that I can't sleep at night - and I'm still 22 days away!!!
This trip will be a chance to finally row a float boat, meet up with some great new friends, video and document the trip for a story I hope to write, test out the new camper for more than one overnight trip, and hang with some good friends. I have tied more in the last few weeks than I ever have. I have tied a couple dozen of my killers in silver, blue and red - a couple dozen Chad streamers, a couple dozen zebras in green and tan, and a dozen or so scuds. Problem is that as a fisherman I almost NEVER change flies unless I lose them - and on the Horn I never seemed to lose them.
Well - this should be a good trip - I can't wait.
I can't believe some of these guys live with an hour of the river and get to fish it every weekend. I'm jealous. Basically the Bighorn is the same distance and time from Billings as Deckers/Cheesman is from my house. If I lived in the Montana/Billings area, I'd never get any work done. I'd definitely own a boat or pontoon, and I'd try and log as many hours as I could on the great river.
Last year the Bighorn trip was a blast. Chad and I basically crammed 16 hours of driving, 5 hours wade fishing, 24 hours of float fishing, 24 hours of sleeping, 6 hours of eating and 4 hours of tying into an 80 hour period - pretty hectic pace for a 4 day "trip".
This year we are going to spread it out some more - drive all night - get up early, get three days of fishing in and then head home. I can't wait.
The Horn is an amazing fishery - although I only have a couple days experience on it and it was my first float trip, I have to say that it is the perfect river. The river is never really that wide - it is crossable in sections, even with 2500 cfs flows. The river is long and there are large fish throughout. The river is a standard depth - I'm generalizing here - but when we were floating I didn't have to move my indicator all the much - most depths stayed in the 4 to 6 foot range. There were some deep pools and great shelves, and the bug population was amazing. Scuds are the key here - ever rock over turned showed thousands of them.
Flies ranged in the 18 to 20 range. And although the pink and orange scuds were highly recommended, I can't imagine a fish would eat something so bright. The Ray Charles is also another fly that didn't look like any bug I had ever seen - but it worked. It amazes me that the flies that work here on the SPlatte are the same flies that work up in MT and in the same sizes. Zebras, Killers, Mercury's, Black Beauties all work - but they have to be small.
Last year I was expecting a little more MT atmosphere out of the Ft Smith area. But Ft Smith is more Wyoming than MT. You can see mountains way off in the distance, but otherwise it is rolling prairie and fields. The river banks were actually mostly bare of scrub brush - with huge cottonwoods standing on the sandy or rock banks - with hardly any low lying scrub brush between the trees. Cows have the right away in Ft Smith and they can be heard all over the river mooing in the breeze. I also expected expensive lodges or private homes located right next to the river. There really wasn't any sign of luxury in Ft Smith. Yes, there was the occassional house close to the river - but nothing gaudy or extravigant. The town of Ft Smith is also quite simple - 3 float boats per permanent capita. You can see boats lining the streets, sitting out in front of houses, fly shops, grocery store, campgrounds. It's actually kind of amusing.
The town closes up at 8 pm. The 10 fly shops are all small, clean and well kept - of course they all sell basically the same thing. There is one restaurant, one convenience store, and that's it. Of course the restaurant and store have their own hours, so sometimes they are open - most of the time they aren't. I'm sure they have more steady hours in the summer months.
The Horn is an easy float - only one real section of tough water that is easier the second time you float it. It gets shallow in some spots and sometimes you need to make a judgement call on which side of the island you are going to float - but other than that it is smooth sailing.
I saw lot sof guides on the Horn - pointing their clients to the perfect drifts or holes. We floated past lots of guys with fish on - some holes with 4 guys with fish on, everyone seemed very happy. It seemed like the Horn was a place where fishing dreams come true. I'm having fishy dreams lately - so many that I can't sleep at night - and I'm still 22 days away!!!
This trip will be a chance to finally row a float boat, meet up with some great new friends, video and document the trip for a story I hope to write, test out the new camper for more than one overnight trip, and hang with some good friends. I have tied more in the last few weeks than I ever have. I have tied a couple dozen of my killers in silver, blue and red - a couple dozen Chad streamers, a couple dozen zebras in green and tan, and a dozen or so scuds. Problem is that as a fisherman I almost NEVER change flies unless I lose them - and on the Horn I never seemed to lose them.
Well - this should be a good trip - I can't wait.
Saturday, March 18, 2006
Saturday, March 18, 2006 - South Platte River, Dec
Saturday, March 18, 2006 - South Platte River, Deckers
Beautiful morning, 45 degrees, windy and cooler as the afternoon went on, 146 cfs, clear water.
Fished with Tom today - nice day to get out. I haven’t been out with Tommy in over a year (Dream Stream I think last January). I think we were on the front end of a low pressure storm – the fishing seemed ok. The water was running at a decent clip – there are a lot more places that the fish hold when the water is flowing at over 125 cfs. Basically we just hit the Deckers areas between the bridges.
I jumped right in at the bend where the log is down and worked my way upstream. I didn’t have a whole lot of luck at first chucking a streamer with a nymph trailer. I worked my way up to the lightning burned stump and hit that run on the far side of the island. I could see a few fish, but couldn’t stir anything in the first run. I moved up to hole that sits under the tree. I fished it for a while and finally saw a fish sitting on the far bank in a deep hole. I moved up and tried to trail the streamer right in front of him. I hooked a 14 inch rainbow that slammed the streamer – my first fish of the day, it got me excited. I kept trying at the other deeper fish, with no luck.
I moved up the run to the bridge and fished the dump pool right under the highway/fly shop bridge. I’m still not sure how to fish the streamer in some of the normal pools and runs. Off color water seem to make the fish hit the streamer a lot more – of course today was gin clear. I moved down and fished the highway side of the island. I switched to an 18 and 20 midge and hooked a couple of very small fish. They were just sitting in the run (that normally wouldn’t be there with low water). I moved down again, to a spot I don’t really want to divulge. The spot is the same spot I hooked a 24 inch rainbow three weeks prior. The fish slammed my flies and thrashed it’s head and ripped the whole rig apart. Well, I started fishing the run, not for anything in particular until I saw a dark figure behind a rock move out to a sandy spot and then moved back to its holding position. I 1through a size 18 and 20 killer midge at this fish for about 20 mins, over a 100 casts – nothing. I switched the 20 killer midge to a 20 black beauty and with in 10 casts I had him on. It was a big fish and he thrashed his head again. I moved him carefully to a smoother run and beached him in 6 inches, scooped him with my net. Tommy saw me scoop him and gave me a thumbs up. The fish didn’t even fit in the net! His head was hanging out a good 8 inches! The fish was long and not as thick as usual – but still a beautiful fish. He was nicely colored and strong. The mouth was huge! I saw a small fly hanging out of his mouth – a size 20 rainbow snack – the exact fly I was fishing with 3 weeks prior! As I went to remove the fly the fish got heavy and popped out of the net. I thought I still had him on my flies so I didn’t panic. I tried to grab the net and the fish, but I didn’t want to rough him up so as he floated towards the current, I just let him go. What a beautiful fish.
What a great feeling! I went down and sat next to Tom as he changed flies. I was satisfied, but wanted to keep fishing. The weather started turning a bit – it got very cool and windy. Tom decided he was going to hit the lower bridge and on the other side – I said I’d fish my way towards him. I fished the bend again, right at the log. On my first cast on the far side of the log I hooked and landed a feisty 12 inch rainbow. I caught 3 or 4 more fish from the same spot – most a little smaller. I moved down towards the bridge hitting all the normal holes. Not much luck. With such fast water it is harder to fish such small nymphs. I moved to the other side of the bridge and met Tom. We headed back to the bridge and I climbed up on to the bridge and scouted about – Tom pointed out a fish ahead of him, actually just under the bridge in the shade. I thought it was a stick, but it was a huge fish – probably a brown, maybe about 22 inches. Tom fished to it, but he said he scared it off.
On the other side of the bridge was a huge rainbow that was sitting on a sandbar between two fast runs. I moved down and tried to throw at him, but lost sight of him. Tom appeared on the bridge and we decided to head out. It was a good day.
Beautiful morning, 45 degrees, windy and cooler as the afternoon went on, 146 cfs, clear water.
Fished with Tom today - nice day to get out. I haven’t been out with Tommy in over a year (Dream Stream I think last January). I think we were on the front end of a low pressure storm – the fishing seemed ok. The water was running at a decent clip – there are a lot more places that the fish hold when the water is flowing at over 125 cfs. Basically we just hit the Deckers areas between the bridges.
I jumped right in at the bend where the log is down and worked my way upstream. I didn’t have a whole lot of luck at first chucking a streamer with a nymph trailer. I worked my way up to the lightning burned stump and hit that run on the far side of the island. I could see a few fish, but couldn’t stir anything in the first run. I moved up to hole that sits under the tree. I fished it for a while and finally saw a fish sitting on the far bank in a deep hole. I moved up and tried to trail the streamer right in front of him. I hooked a 14 inch rainbow that slammed the streamer – my first fish of the day, it got me excited. I kept trying at the other deeper fish, with no luck.
I moved up the run to the bridge and fished the dump pool right under the highway/fly shop bridge. I’m still not sure how to fish the streamer in some of the normal pools and runs. Off color water seem to make the fish hit the streamer a lot more – of course today was gin clear. I moved down and fished the highway side of the island. I switched to an 18 and 20 midge and hooked a couple of very small fish. They were just sitting in the run (that normally wouldn’t be there with low water). I moved down again, to a spot I don’t really want to divulge. The spot is the same spot I hooked a 24 inch rainbow three weeks prior. The fish slammed my flies and thrashed it’s head and ripped the whole rig apart. Well, I started fishing the run, not for anything in particular until I saw a dark figure behind a rock move out to a sandy spot and then moved back to its holding position. I 1through a size 18 and 20 killer midge at this fish for about 20 mins, over a 100 casts – nothing. I switched the 20 killer midge to a 20 black beauty and with in 10 casts I had him on. It was a big fish and he thrashed his head again. I moved him carefully to a smoother run and beached him in 6 inches, scooped him with my net. Tommy saw me scoop him and gave me a thumbs up. The fish didn’t even fit in the net! His head was hanging out a good 8 inches! The fish was long and not as thick as usual – but still a beautiful fish. He was nicely colored and strong. The mouth was huge! I saw a small fly hanging out of his mouth – a size 20 rainbow snack – the exact fly I was fishing with 3 weeks prior! As I went to remove the fly the fish got heavy and popped out of the net. I thought I still had him on my flies so I didn’t panic. I tried to grab the net and the fish, but I didn’t want to rough him up so as he floated towards the current, I just let him go. What a beautiful fish.
What a great feeling! I went down and sat next to Tom as he changed flies. I was satisfied, but wanted to keep fishing. The weather started turning a bit – it got very cool and windy. Tom decided he was going to hit the lower bridge and on the other side – I said I’d fish my way towards him. I fished the bend again, right at the log. On my first cast on the far side of the log I hooked and landed a feisty 12 inch rainbow. I caught 3 or 4 more fish from the same spot – most a little smaller. I moved down towards the bridge hitting all the normal holes. Not much luck. With such fast water it is harder to fish such small nymphs. I moved to the other side of the bridge and met Tom. We headed back to the bridge and I climbed up on to the bridge and scouted about – Tom pointed out a fish ahead of him, actually just under the bridge in the shade. I thought it was a stick, but it was a huge fish – probably a brown, maybe about 22 inches. Tom fished to it, but he said he scared it off.
On the other side of the bridge was a huge rainbow that was sitting on a sandbar between two fast runs. I moved down and tried to throw at him, but lost sight of him. Tom appeared on the bridge and we decided to head out. It was a good day.
Tuesday, February 28, 2006
What's been new....
Well, I have some time to blow off here at work and wanted to write down some thoughts.
The last year and a half have been absolutely amazing to me - so good that I've been playing the lottery thinking I have a good shot at it!
October 2004 - the Red Sox beat the Yankees and Cardinals to win their first World Series in 86 years. They did this is amazing fashion - coming back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the Yankees and then sweeping teh Cards - that has never been done before - ever.
December 2004 - we finally get pregnant - I won't get into the details, but it took 11 months of trying.
December 2004 - we sell our condo and buy a house. Its an amazing house - and the condo was a pain in the ass to sell - finally.
December 2004 - I catch my first bonefish in Cozumel - an amazing experience.
April 2005 - first trip to the Bighorn River in MT - an amazing experience. Some of the best fishing of my life.
June 2005 - I finish my basement - my Red Sox (and now Steelers) shrine adds a bedroom, full bath and huge TV room to my house.
August 2005 - Avelyn Jade Edwards is born - in perfect health, and mom is perfect too.
January 2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos - I go to the game, and watch the Steelers roll over the Broncos. Best part about it is that I will never have to listen to Bronco fans again.
February 2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers win the SB (honestly it hasn't sunk in yet) - and they do it in amazing fashion - winning 4 games on the road as a 6th wildcard seed.
I've been pretty blessed in the last 1.5 years or so. I'm hoping to continue this string of luck in the coming years.
In about a month the Red Sox start spring training - of which I am excited. The 6 weeks between Super Bowl and Opening Day Baseball are the most boring times of year. Of course we still have March Madness in between.
I have compiled a list of several places I want to fish this season - this will be a hard list to achieve with a new baby and my best fishing buddy about to have his 2nd - having the camper and a wife that likes to camp I may get lucky with some of these):
Bighorn River (in April)
RMNP (in summer)
Fryingpan/Roaring Fork
Williams Fork
Gunnison (in June)
Grey Reef (I'm dreamin')
Colorado float (Pump House to Radium)
Eleven Mile Canyon (probably during run-off)
I'm hoping to do a Yellowstone trip in the next 2 or 3 years. That is quite a hike for the family, but I know it will be a good one. I'd like to get up to the Cody, WY area and fish those parts too - I hear that there are some amazing water up there.
That's all from me. I'm going to try and post a little more often in this thing as time progresses - of course some of it might be Red Sox related - but oh well.
The last year and a half have been absolutely amazing to me - so good that I've been playing the lottery thinking I have a good shot at it!
October 2004 - the Red Sox beat the Yankees and Cardinals to win their first World Series in 86 years. They did this is amazing fashion - coming back from an 0-3 deficit to beat the Yankees and then sweeping teh Cards - that has never been done before - ever.
December 2004 - we finally get pregnant - I won't get into the details, but it took 11 months of trying.
December 2004 - we sell our condo and buy a house. Its an amazing house - and the condo was a pain in the ass to sell - finally.
December 2004 - I catch my first bonefish in Cozumel - an amazing experience.
April 2005 - first trip to the Bighorn River in MT - an amazing experience. Some of the best fishing of my life.
June 2005 - I finish my basement - my Red Sox (and now Steelers) shrine adds a bedroom, full bath and huge TV room to my house.
August 2005 - Avelyn Jade Edwards is born - in perfect health, and mom is perfect too.
January 2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers vs Denver Broncos - I go to the game, and watch the Steelers roll over the Broncos. Best part about it is that I will never have to listen to Bronco fans again.
February 2006 - Pittsburgh Steelers win the SB (honestly it hasn't sunk in yet) - and they do it in amazing fashion - winning 4 games on the road as a 6th wildcard seed.
I've been pretty blessed in the last 1.5 years or so. I'm hoping to continue this string of luck in the coming years.
In about a month the Red Sox start spring training - of which I am excited. The 6 weeks between Super Bowl and Opening Day Baseball are the most boring times of year. Of course we still have March Madness in between.
I have compiled a list of several places I want to fish this season - this will be a hard list to achieve with a new baby and my best fishing buddy about to have his 2nd - having the camper and a wife that likes to camp I may get lucky with some of these):
Bighorn River (in April)
RMNP (in summer)
Fryingpan/Roaring Fork
Williams Fork
Gunnison (in June)
Grey Reef (I'm dreamin')
Colorado float (Pump House to Radium)
Eleven Mile Canyon (probably during run-off)
I'm hoping to do a Yellowstone trip in the next 2 or 3 years. That is quite a hike for the family, but I know it will be a good one. I'd like to get up to the Cody, WY area and fish those parts too - I hear that there are some amazing water up there.
That's all from me. I'm going to try and post a little more often in this thing as time progresses - of course some of it might be Red Sox related - but oh well.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Sunday, February 26, 2006 - South Platte River, De
Sunday, February 26, 2006 - South Platte River, Deckers.
Flows about 160 cfs, clear water in the morning, soon after the water started rising and it became off color as thick as mud – capped out at 209 cfs (even higher below Muddy Creek). Weather was beautiful – bright blue sky, temps about 60 degrees.
Fished with Nate today – his first day out. Got down there a little after 11am. Fished down the dirt road first. Nate hooked a couple of small fish on a streamer/nymph rig. I went empty handed. We moved down to between the bridges. The water started to run a little off color and I thought it was because of Muddy Creek flowing in. I fished the far side of the island between the bridges. Right up above the lightning strike stump I was fishing a brown wooly bugger and wasn’t really paying attention when I got a slight strike and then a major pull. The fish slid down the river corridor a bit shaking its head furiously. I only had him on for maybe 15 seconds – the fish must have been over 22 inches long. I could see him as he shook his head. He broke me clear off – everything.
Some guy with a spin rod had hooked a nice rainbow on the other side of the island as I was standing there. A 10-inch rainbow that dragged him about 60 feet down the river. He said that there were two of them right up next to the bank – most likely spawning.
I fished up the island and back after that, then tried to go down to the bent log. The problem was that the water was getting darker and darker and it seemed to be getting slightly higher and harder. In one of the normal spots the water felt like it was going to sweep me away – which was pretty unusual. We decided to pack it in and leave. When I got home I looked up the cfs – 209 cfs and a bunch more for the run off from Muddy Creek.
Flows about 160 cfs, clear water in the morning, soon after the water started rising and it became off color as thick as mud – capped out at 209 cfs (even higher below Muddy Creek). Weather was beautiful – bright blue sky, temps about 60 degrees.
Fished with Nate today – his first day out. Got down there a little after 11am. Fished down the dirt road first. Nate hooked a couple of small fish on a streamer/nymph rig. I went empty handed. We moved down to between the bridges. The water started to run a little off color and I thought it was because of Muddy Creek flowing in. I fished the far side of the island between the bridges. Right up above the lightning strike stump I was fishing a brown wooly bugger and wasn’t really paying attention when I got a slight strike and then a major pull. The fish slid down the river corridor a bit shaking its head furiously. I only had him on for maybe 15 seconds – the fish must have been over 22 inches long. I could see him as he shook his head. He broke me clear off – everything.
Some guy with a spin rod had hooked a nice rainbow on the other side of the island as I was standing there. A 10-inch rainbow that dragged him about 60 feet down the river. He said that there were two of them right up next to the bank – most likely spawning.
I fished up the island and back after that, then tried to go down to the bent log. The problem was that the water was getting darker and darker and it seemed to be getting slightly higher and harder. In one of the normal spots the water felt like it was going to sweep me away – which was pretty unusual. We decided to pack it in and leave. When I got home I looked up the cfs – 209 cfs and a bunch more for the run off from Muddy Creek.
Sunday, February 12, 2006
Sunday, February 12, 2006 - South Platte River, De
Sunday, February 12, 2006 - South Platte River, Deckers.
Flows about 117 cfs, clear water in the morning, slightly off color by midday. Weather was beautiful – bright blue sky, temps about 45 degrees – very cold in the shade.
Fished with Chad again down in Deckers. After the previous weeks good luck I was ready to go. We met down at the first dirt road parking lot at around 11am. Chad had Quinn, so it was going to be a quick trip – which was fine because I wanted to get home too. I jumped in at the riffle right next to the head of the parking lot. Since the water was higher, this run looked pretty nice. As I was rigging up a streamer and nymph rig I could see the fish moving in the riffle. The water was gin clear and you could see sandy run areas between strips of rocks and green weeds – the fish would dash in and out.
I hooked an 11-inch rainbow right off that crashed the streamer, soon after I hooked a 12-inch rainbow that took the size 18 zebra midge. After that I was done. I proceeded to lose two green secret weapon streamers – not sure how, I think it was because of the tippet (the Wal Mart brand). After re-rigging twice I fished a nice little run on a bend. Chad had said he caught a huge fish there on Monday – but both of us worked the bend and the run and got nothing. Soon after I moved down to between the bridges – where again, I couldn’t scare up anything. I fished the streamer hard, but got nothing. I did see one small fish (maybe 7 inches) hit the streamer twice. We actually went back down the dirt road, but still could catch anything in Chad’s favorite spot – the Rock Garden. We decided to head home around 2:30.
Flows about 117 cfs, clear water in the morning, slightly off color by midday. Weather was beautiful – bright blue sky, temps about 45 degrees – very cold in the shade.
Fished with Chad again down in Deckers. After the previous weeks good luck I was ready to go. We met down at the first dirt road parking lot at around 11am. Chad had Quinn, so it was going to be a quick trip – which was fine because I wanted to get home too. I jumped in at the riffle right next to the head of the parking lot. Since the water was higher, this run looked pretty nice. As I was rigging up a streamer and nymph rig I could see the fish moving in the riffle. The water was gin clear and you could see sandy run areas between strips of rocks and green weeds – the fish would dash in and out.
I hooked an 11-inch rainbow right off that crashed the streamer, soon after I hooked a 12-inch rainbow that took the size 18 zebra midge. After that I was done. I proceeded to lose two green secret weapon streamers – not sure how, I think it was because of the tippet (the Wal Mart brand). After re-rigging twice I fished a nice little run on a bend. Chad had said he caught a huge fish there on Monday – but both of us worked the bend and the run and got nothing. Soon after I moved down to between the bridges – where again, I couldn’t scare up anything. I fished the streamer hard, but got nothing. I did see one small fish (maybe 7 inches) hit the streamer twice. We actually went back down the dirt road, but still could catch anything in Chad’s favorite spot – the Rock Garden. We decided to head home around 2:30.
Saturday, February 04, 2006
Saturday, February 4, 2006 – South Platte River, D
Saturday, February 4, 2006 – South Platte River, Deckers
Cold morning about 30 degrees, warmer in the late morning about 52 degrees. Water was clear above Muddy Creek, slightly off color below it, flows about 54 cfs
Fished with Chad again – pretty good day of fishing. We fished the stretch of river by Wigwam first and then made our way back to the bridges. I hooked into a bunch of small rainbows right at the lot before Wigwam – most on size 20 gunmetal black midges. We fish down into the mini canyon down there and I hooked a couple more – nothing bigger than 10 inches. Chad had a slow morning, but started hooking up inside the canyon – including a nice 18-inch fat rainbow that we got a picture of. I was nymphing all morning and had limited results. On the other side of the canyon is a nice deep hole next to a rock that Chad let me jump in – on my second cast I hooked and landed a nice 16-inch rainbow – again, he was nice and fat.
I drove down to between the bridges while Chad walked the stretch – he had some amazing luck, hooking about 12 more on the trip to the bridges. I didn’t have much luck at all – so I decided to switch to a streamer and fish the section right after the first bridge. Well, I hooked 3 fish on that stream, a small 11-inch rainbow in cloudy water, a nice 15-inch fat rainbow in the same hole, and a small 11-inch brown trout a little further down. Chad fished the stretch just after the downed log and said he caught 4 fish in 20 minutes or so and all were larger than 20 inches – all on a streamer/mercury midge pattern. All told I caught about a dozen or so fish and Chad caught upwards of 35. A very nice day.
Cold morning about 30 degrees, warmer in the late morning about 52 degrees. Water was clear above Muddy Creek, slightly off color below it, flows about 54 cfs
Fished with Chad again – pretty good day of fishing. We fished the stretch of river by Wigwam first and then made our way back to the bridges. I hooked into a bunch of small rainbows right at the lot before Wigwam – most on size 20 gunmetal black midges. We fish down into the mini canyon down there and I hooked a couple more – nothing bigger than 10 inches. Chad had a slow morning, but started hooking up inside the canyon – including a nice 18-inch fat rainbow that we got a picture of. I was nymphing all morning and had limited results. On the other side of the canyon is a nice deep hole next to a rock that Chad let me jump in – on my second cast I hooked and landed a nice 16-inch rainbow – again, he was nice and fat.
I drove down to between the bridges while Chad walked the stretch – he had some amazing luck, hooking about 12 more on the trip to the bridges. I didn’t have much luck at all – so I decided to switch to a streamer and fish the section right after the first bridge. Well, I hooked 3 fish on that stream, a small 11-inch rainbow in cloudy water, a nice 15-inch fat rainbow in the same hole, and a small 11-inch brown trout a little further down. Chad fished the stretch just after the downed log and said he caught 4 fish in 20 minutes or so and all were larger than 20 inches – all on a streamer/mercury midge pattern. All told I caught about a dozen or so fish and Chad caught upwards of 35. A very nice day.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Sunday, January 8, 2006 – South Platte River, Deck
Sunday, January 8, 2006 – South Platte River, Deckers
Cold morning about 40 degrees, warmer in the late morning about 52 degrees, but very windy. Water was slightly off color, flows about 146 cfs
I fished with Chad this morning down in Deckers down the dirt road across from the fly shop and up near the Wigwam club. We fished this stretch for about 2.5 hours. I didn’t have any luck – Chad hook about 10 fish on a streamer pattern – all were pretty small, I think one was a 14-incher. The water was higher than normal so there were a lot more spots to fish and there were a lot of tempting holes. An especially nice hole is the bend stretch right before it breaks into the mini canyon down there.
We next went to between the bridges down in Deckers. Typical spots. The water being higher and faster made it harder to locate the fish and get a good drift. I managed to ass-hook one large brown on the other side of the downed log. The brown had nice blue spots and was about 13 or so inches. Chad only hooked a couple of fish. But the site of the day was a dead sucker up on the bank. We had no idea there were even suckers in there! I fished the last hour or so with a streamer – I got a ton of tips from Chad. I feel more comfortable with a streamer, but I still didn’t catch any fish.
Cold morning about 40 degrees, warmer in the late morning about 52 degrees, but very windy. Water was slightly off color, flows about 146 cfs
I fished with Chad this morning down in Deckers down the dirt road across from the fly shop and up near the Wigwam club. We fished this stretch for about 2.5 hours. I didn’t have any luck – Chad hook about 10 fish on a streamer pattern – all were pretty small, I think one was a 14-incher. The water was higher than normal so there were a lot more spots to fish and there were a lot of tempting holes. An especially nice hole is the bend stretch right before it breaks into the mini canyon down there.
We next went to between the bridges down in Deckers. Typical spots. The water being higher and faster made it harder to locate the fish and get a good drift. I managed to ass-hook one large brown on the other side of the downed log. The brown had nice blue spots and was about 13 or so inches. Chad only hooked a couple of fish. But the site of the day was a dead sucker up on the bank. We had no idea there were even suckers in there! I fished the last hour or so with a streamer – I got a ton of tips from Chad. I feel more comfortable with a streamer, but I still didn’t catch any fish.
Saturday, December 31, 2005
2005 Fishing Journal
2005 Fishing Journal
Sunday, January 9, 2005 – South Platte River on the Dream Stream & 11 Mile Canyon
Dream Stream cfs 50 & Eleven Mile Canyon cfs (not sure)
30 degrees in the morning – almost 45 by mid-day – 40 mph winds. Nice in the Canyon, but the sun was coming down so it felt colder.
Fished today with Tom Shyrock and Kevin (Braidwood from the fly fishing board) – and what a good day it was. We left HR at 6:30 and drove down 25 to Colorado Springs and the west on 24 for Lake George. The trip took over 2 hours (but not much more). We got there about 8:45 and when we stepped out of the car it was 40 and beautiful with little wind and amazingly the only car in the parking lot of the Dream Stream (at the bridge). By the time we got our waders on the wind had kicked up and it was noticeably colder. We split up covering the first half-mile or so of the river, leap frogging each other to hit the next hole. We weren’t doing well for the first hour, with only sighting about 1 fish between the three of us. It was nearly impossible to cast into the wind and if you put the wind to your back your shadow was directly on the river. The wind also blew the line on the water at an unnatural pace – so that also didn’t help. Tom and Kevin came back and said they were heading back to the bridge area, and after breaking off my flies again I decided to join them. As I was heading back Kevin was walking up and wanted to show me the pics of the fish he just caught – a beautiful 20-inch cutthroat trout. The fish was amazingly beautiful and was the largest cutt I had ever seen. He showed me where he caught it and I tied on and tried the hole to no avail. I started walking in the river (which made my feet pretty numb) and fishing various holes around the bend. There was a nice spot where the river broke from a riffle into a 2-foot deep pool and they slowly swirled around a bend. I hooked up with a 6-inch rainbow within a few minutes – not what I was expecting. I stuck with it though and finally had something on – a whole lot of something too! The fish was solid and wouldn’t come off the bottom. He would come to the surface to show me his size and then log back down to the bottom. He made a 10-foot run, but that was it, he was impossible to turn, so I let him shake his head a few times. Finally I got a chance to drag him towards me and I netted him – the fish took up my entire net. He was a 21 or 22-inch rainbow that was as fat as any fish I’ve seen, but he wasn’t solid – just fat. I plopped him on the ice next to me and snapped a photo – he was frantic so I just broke off the fly and put him back in the water – and then had to give him a little shove back into the middle. My hands were numb as hell, but I was pumped up. I started heading back to the bridge. I met up with Tom and showed him the pics – he wasn’t too happy since he was getting shut out. He was fishing the huge dump pool right after the bridge on the 11-Mile side. I could see huge fish just hanging in this pool – Kevin tried for them with a bugger to no avail.
We decided to head over to the Canyon around 2 pm, on the way we had to go 5 miles on a road that was pretty scary with 2 or 3 feet of snow that was half plowed, half untouched. Scary. But, we made it. Eleven Mile Canyon is very pretty though and the pocket water was excellent. There were so many ice shelves that I was nervous to stand on one and fish to a great hole – but I did anyways. I ended up catching 2 12-inch rainbows that were just hanging in the pools. We only fished for about 45 minutes and then started heading home. The drive was long, but it was a very rewarding day.
Saturday, January 22, 2005 – South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 74 cfs - 40 degrees in the morning – almost 60 by mid-day – water was gin clear
Fished with Nate. Wanted to get into the canyon after having a great day at Eleven Mile Canyon. This was the exact opposite. Hardly any fish in the normal spots. The big rock and spawning area was completely empty. Nate caught one fish – 18-inch rainbow on an unweighted nymph. I didn’t hook a fish, only saw a few and was very disappointed. We were home by 3pm.
Saturday, March 19, 2005 – South Platte River Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 104 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 60 by mid-day – blue sky.
Fished with Nate, Dave, Tom and Chad. We decided to go deep into Cheesman this time – which was cool because I have never been that deep. We pulled into the parking lot and were car number 5 at 7:30 in the morning. The hike in was quite a ways and killed me to skip by all the holes I normally fish. I do have to admit that the water further up the canyon looks sweet and there are lots of plunge pools and riffles that look killer. The flows were higher than normal winter flows at about 104 cfs. I actually jumped in the first hole and fished about 25 yards below a strong riffle. It looked like an amazing spot. The others either jumped in ahead of me or kept walking towards the dam. I hooked a nice fish after about a half hour, he shot down stream and then had about 30 yards of my line out and popped off. I kept moving. I came to a nice spot where the water ran around a square boulder. The near side of the river looked great, but I knew the fish would be on the far side away from the traffic and out of direct sunlight – I made my way around to the other side and was soon hooked into a big rainbow – which popped out of my net as I went to scoop him. It was about a 17-inch rainbow that I hooked on a black midge.
I moved up the canyon slowly throwing to fishy spots. I didn’t see a whole lot of fish, just really fishy water. I met up with the rest of the guys further up and we shot the shit for a while. Nate was the only one who wasn’t there – he hiked all the way to the dam. I started working my wake back to the entrance to the canyon – fishing my normal spots. There was now over 30 people in the first ¼ mile of river and almost every spot was taken. Nate and Dave headed out, as they had to head home early. I saw some rainbows spawning in the usual flat areas by the big rock. I fish to the far side of the big rock and hooked an 18-inch rainbow on a midge. Pretty fish, but it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Soon after that we hiked out and went home.
Thursday - Sunday, April 14-17, 2005 – Big Horn River, Ft. Smith, Montana
Flows at 1500 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 70 by mid-day – blue sky for both days
Chad and I got up to Ft. Smith at about 2 pm and decided to try three-mile access. The wind was killer and we could catch anything. A bunch of small fish were hitting dries in the inlet, but nothing else. We decided to meet Dave back at the cabin around 4:30. The three of us decided to fish the dam and we did until about 8:30. Dave hooked a beautiful rainbow about 18 inches, Chad hooked a nice brown about 16 inches and I hook a couple of dinks.
Friday
Our first float day began at 8:30 – we shoved off from the dam headed for the 11-mile access. It was a cool day, but it was sunny and a lot less windy. The first stretch of the river is a long canal area that ranged from 12 feet to 3 feet deep – we hooked a couple of fish, but they were mostly small. We saw numerous schools of much larger fish swim under the boat. We had very good action in the first huge gravel bar after the long canal stretch after. We jumped out and fished it for about an hour or so. The gravel bar was about 8 inches deep and then dumped into a huge pool. The fish would sit sideways and watch for food to drop over the shelf. Chad hooked a beautiful 20-incher on a streamer on his second cast. I caught about 7 out smaller fish out of the hole – the largest being a 16-inch rainbow.
We decided to move on. The river was great for floating. Further down we floated through “Suck” hole, which is a toilet bowl with a fall chunk of concrete – it caused the river to spin and was tough for Dave to paddle out of. We fished the remaining mile or two to 3 Mile access with a little luck – catching fish here and there – nothing too large.
But suddenly, the fish just turned off in the afternoon, we caught nothing after that for the remaining 8 miles. We basically just whizzed through the remaining 8 miles trying to get to the pull out. Other anglers were having little luck as well – there were some nice holes, but not nearly as many as the upper 3 miles of the river. We pulled out around 8:30 exhausted.
Saturday
Saturday was another nice day – a little warmer and just as sunny. We hit the dam at 8:30 and we were probably the 12th boat in the water (after being the first the previous day). Today was a totally different story than yesterday. We decided to just do the 3-mile float and maybe do it twice if needed. The canal stretch after the dam produced well - we hook a ton of smaller fish - including some white fish. We docked the boat just before the gravel bar (there was 8 fishermen on the bar) and worked the fast area to the right side of the river. The river funneled to the right with a nice 15-yard wide and 35 yard long run that led to a slower pool where the water collected and met faster deeper water. I hooked a huge 20-inch rainbow in the fast water, but no way I was landing him. As I was fixing my rig a huge 28-inch rainbow took my fly just as I was about to cast – again he was in the fast water and there was no way to pull him in. After fighting him for about 6 seconds, the fly popped out but the fish continued to give a thrashing exaggerated struggle (like big often do) until he realized he wasn’t on any longer. We jumped back in the boat and headed for Suck Hole. Just on the other side I hooked a nice brown and we
pulled in and did some fishing - and damn did we fish!
Over the next 6 hours I stood in that hole and hooked around 60 fish landing 40 of them. 90% were browns - majority about 16-18 inches, a few big rainbows about 18 or 19 inches and two enormous white fish - about 20 inches each (may have been the same fish). Dave had decent action and Chad moved up to the Suck Hole and had on a 30-inch rainbow that he was within inches of landing after a 20-minute fight. Numerous boats were running through my stretch, they’d get to the end and paddle back up and do it again. The fishing was great. I was hooking about 10-12 fish per hour and landing most of them. They were taking a size 20 midge that I tied – a black beadhead with a wire body and peacock herl below the bead. I went through about 6 of them and had to settle on tiny zebra midges – but they worked too. Every fish fought unbelievably – the brown were especially feisty and they jump – every one of them! White fish are pigs and they were tough to land. I think I caught the same fish twice – he was huge – at least 19 or 20 inches. When I told the woman we rented the cabin from she told me the record is just over 21 inches! We basically flew through the rest of the 1.5 miles to 3-Mile pull out around 8:30 again.
Those fish are so smart; I had a lot of them find ways to get off. They would dive bomb the bottom and rub their faces on rocks or weeds to try and get the hook out. They’d race 100 yards to the middle of the river to try and snag something or loosen the line. Many of the fish got off.
This part of Montana was not as pretty as I have imagined – actually it was quite ugly. The river is on an Indian reservation and the Indians can fish without licenses, keep anything they catch and use bait. The surroundings were sometimes eerie – not bushes, just low grass and lots of big cottonwoods lined the stamped down banks. Cattle roamed freely. What surprised me the most is the lack of huge fishing homes on the banks. None. Well actually only about 3 – but they weren’t very glamorous. The ride home took forever – but it was a great trip.
Friday, May 6, 2005 – Arkansas River
Flows at 150-200 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 70 by mid-day
This was to be my first caddis experience – and it was quite an experience. Chad and I got to Brown’s Canyon around 8:15 and we fished the access right next to the parking lot to get warmed up. We both hooked 4 nice browns, about 12-14 inches. Heading into Brown’s – which is a stretch of canyon with railroad tracks running through it that is fast and deep. Not a good recipe for me at all – since I nymph a lot. I hooked a nice 18-inch fish right off and it almost went over a waterfall. We moved up the river more and I crossed and found a nice deep hole – I landed 4 fish in the hole – all about 14 inches – one was a nice rainbow. Chad fished even further down and hooked about 20 fish on a size 12 stimulator. The sky darkened and the wind kicked up and it started to rain, then hail, then lightning and thunder. Crazy weather – all in about 15 minutes and then it was over. We moved to my favorite spot on the west side of Salida on some private access. I hooked 4 17-inch browns in this stretch and they were fun fish. We had heard that the hatch was hitting east of Salida so we headed over to a spot Chad knew. We were into a huge caddis hatch soon enough – so many that they were hitting my hood (I had it on to keep them off my neck and hair) harder than rain or sleet. It was sheets and sheets of them, so many that the fish weren’t even hitting them off the top of the water with any regularity. I scooped up a few in this section on nymphs and then switched to a caddis dry – amazingly I hooked one – my smallest of the day – an 11-inch brown. We moved to another spot, but it was 5 o’clock already and I was fished out. I didn’t hook anything, but the fish were up on the water taking the caddis finally. We left for home around 6 pm. It was a good day – cool hatch and fun hanging with Chad.
Saturday, May28, 2005 – Blue River, Dillon
Flows at 54 cfs below dam, about 225 cfs above reservoir - 55 degrees in the morning – almost 65 by mid-day – water was slightly off color in both locations
Cabo and I decided to get away on Memorial Day weekend and so we fished the Blue. Started out in the parking lot below the dam. The water was slightly off color. Started with mysis but had no luck. There were about 3 other guys in the hole for about 30 minutes (at around 8:30 am) and then they all left – I had the place to myself – I fished the whole stretch with no luck at all. I saw a couple of fish, but I think my flies were too small. I decided to head up to above the reservoir at around 10 am.
Above the reservoir was high, but relatively clear. Dillon has gotten slightly more filled up, but the reservoir is still a long away from the mouth of the river. I didn’t fish the river much because it was too fast. I fished the section at the end and then down to the reservoir. I found a nice deep slower hole to fish. I hooked into a couple of happy bows and that were about 12-13 inches long. My 4th fish was much larger – he took a san juan worm and barely fought until I tried to yank him out of the current. “He” was a 21-inch rainbow that was big and fat and was beautiful. I pulled him into the shallows and landed him as quick as possible. He was huge. I kept fishing the hole – caught a few more fish – smaller ones - and then moved on. I made my way to the mouth stretch and hooked a feisty brown that kept hitting my strike indicator. By now, Cabo and I were perched on a stump that had rolled down stream and was sitting in the middle of the mouth stretch. Cabo was shaking so I decided to call it a day. It was only about 12:30, but I didn’t mind leaving – we were home by 2!
Friday & Saturday, June 10 & 11, 2005 – Fryingpan River - Basalt, CO
About 150 cfs very clear, Friday was rainy and miserable – probably about 45 degrees – Saturday was sunny and warm about 65 degrees until 5 pm – then rain (we left).
Chad and I decided to do a camping trip and fish the Pan. Cabo accompanied us. Friday we left around 7 and were on the river around 11 am. The weather was drizzly and wet. That didn’t stop us and we hit the first spot, which was only 2 miles down the canyon. Chad hooked into some nice fish and I hooked into one 14-inch rainbow. Nothing I seemed to do was right, although the river looked plenty fishy. We moved up to about the 11 mile stretch (not far from the 2 mile to the dam stretch) and Chad was still hooking them left and right – mostly on wooly buggers and a mysis trailer. He even put me in the perfect hole where the fish were hitting dries off the top with consistency. Unfortunately I couldn’t hook a thing. I saw plenty of fish, but hooked nothing. Chad continued to hook smaller fish on the bugger. We decided to set up camp at around 6 pm. We camped at the tent sites just above the dam – next to Mollie B campground. It was the non-reservable sites in a bunch of aspens – nice sight really.
Chad decided he wanted to do some night fishing, so I dropped him off at 7 pm at the two-mile stretch just below the dam. I headed back into El Jebel for Wendy’s and a call to Jennifer. Cabo and I were fished out for the day and cold and still wet. I met Chad back at the 2-mile stretch at about 9 pm and we called it a night.
The next morning we were packed up and at the river at about 7:30 am. The sun was out and there weren’t any clouds – which was a relief. Chad jumped in quickly and I slowly had to talk myself into it. I felt bad because I would have to leave Cabo in the truck as the water was freezing and the sun hadn’t been that warm. I decided to start fishing, but leave her in the truck until 10 am. I fished a stretch next to the truck just above the Caddis Bridge. I hooked a couple of small browns and I ass-hooked a nice 15-inch rainbow. I could see tons of fish, but I had no clue what they were eating – I think I got lucky on the 6 or so I had caught. I moved up about 25 yards to where Chad said he saw a bunch of fish. He was right – there were a bunch of rainbows rubbing on each other next to a fallen log right off the far bank. There was a nice rock to hide behind and try and chuck at them. I tried for about 30 minutes or so when I hooked one – and I really hooked one. I think I foul hooked him, but it was a 30-inch rainbow that was the biggest fish I have ever seen in my life. The fish got pissed and swam around a rocky island formation, up to a waterfall and then up and over the 15-inch high waterfall and popped off. I was shaking this fish was so big. I had called out to Chad to come help – and just couldn’t believe it. Later fishing the same stretch I hooked a 25-inch rainbow and he wouldn’t budge – he finally popped off. I hooked him again about 20 minutes later, and this time I wrestled him. Amazing! He was so colorful and strong – after dragging him back to the rock to show Cabo (she was perched on the rock now as it was after 10 am). I had a tight squeeze on the fish and he still managed to get off – as he fell the fly got lodged in the knee of my waders and the fish got off – but I got a good view of him and I think Cabo was actually a bit scared! We moved up and down the stretch – seeing tons of fish – some were huge, some were normal.
Chad and I decided to start heading out of the canyon and try fishing another couple of stretches. We fished the stretch and had decent luck – I hooked a few smaller fish and had a good time. The weather was nice now and the dog was warm. We moved down again and I was having the same luck – caught about 5 or 6 and then the wind kicked up to over 50 mph and the rain started heading in – that is when we called it quits at 5 pm. We were home by 8 pm!
Sunday, June 19, 2005 – South Platte River - Deckers, CO
About 240 cfs very clear, 75 degrees with huge horseflies.
I fished with Cabo today – just a short day while Jennifer was out of town. We fished my favorite stretch that is just up river from the Trumbull fire station. We tried the normal spots first with very little luck. I move up to where the old 8 foot deep hole was and hooked a dink. I through just behind a rock and hooked a nice 14-inch brown that was pretty feisty. We continued working our way towards Deckers, hooking into lots of 10-inch dinks. The horseflies starting getting pretty bad, so we decided to call it quits and head home. First we went over to Flies N Lies for a bottle of water. The guy there said they just stocked 25,000 dinks. Not good for this year, but hopefully good for years to come.
Saturday, July 2, 2005 – Roaring River – Rocky Mountain National Park
About 80 cfs very clear, 55 in the morning and sunny, stormy and overcast about 55 degrees at around 3pm.
Chad and I fished RMNP today – the river is located about 2 miles inside the Estes Park entrance at the fork left a right and turn into the Lawn Lake area. The hike is about a mile in and 800 feet of elevation gain. The hike wasn’t too bad. When we reach a good point, Chad said to jump in. Problem was that the river still had some pretty good tilt to it and it was moving. Chad started with an emerger and I started with big ugly caddis. The problem was that I couldn’t see the fly on the water so I soon switched to a two-nymph rig. The water was still fast as we moved up river, but the pocket water became better and I could see the fish in all the obvious spots – they were very active and weren’t very spooky. I hook a nice size greenback cutthroat of about 11 inches. I fished my way up river hooking about 50 fish and landing about 40 of them. Each fish seemed easier to catch than the first, some were larger and some were smaller (the smallest was about 7 inches), and each fish was prettier than the last. This was the first time I had caught cutthroats and it was a real treat. Some of the fish were and awesome red and orange color and were so feisty. They all fought pretty well for small wild fish.
As the morning turned into afternoon the storm clouds came in and thunder was around us. It moved off and then another storm came in and dumped some heavy downpours on us. There was a lot of thunder and a little bit of lightning. We had to stop once as the wind picked up and it started to rain. We packed up our stuff and headed out around 3 pm. It was a great day and a great experience.
Sunday, July 10, 2005 – Clear Creek – by Kermmits
About 250 cfs very clear, 75 in the morning and sunny, 85 by noontime
I wanted to get out and do some quick fishing – so I hit Clear Creek because Chad said he had fished it and it was fishing well. The water was pretty dang high and fast. There was still rafters coming down it and that should have been a sign. I didn’t see any fish the whole day. I started under the bridge at Kermmits and worked my way upstream – there is that nice stretch I had always wanted to fish that is flat. It was a very nice stretch, but it was moving pretty good today. I fished my way back down to the I-70 bridge – I hooked a nice 11-inch brown – but that was it.
I moved up to the Budweiser plant and found a sweet section just up river – that you can get to now because the Bud plant is out of business and there are no “No Trespassing” signs. The river was nice – so perfect packet water and undercut banks (which will probably disappear once the river drops), but it is a stretch to explore with Chad at a later date.
Sunday, July 24, 2005 – South Platte River – Cheesman Canyon and Deckers
Flows: 174 cfs. Cloudy in the morning and the then hot and 90 degrees in the late morning/afternoon
Decided to hit the Canyon in the morning, hiked in and it started off well. Within 20 minutes of fishing Nate’s favorite hole three guys come down and fish within 20 feet of me in the hole – unreal! I was pissed. I moved up slightly and crossed the river, then worked my way back down river. I found a decent hole just up river from the “rock” as someone was moving out of the hole. Of course I was going to work my way down to the rock – but the guy comes back to the hole and gets right up near me – UNREAL!!! I was pretty pissed so I just up and left. I got on the river by 7:30 and was out by 9:45.
I decided to fish Deckers by the last turn out right by the fly shop and work my way to the bridge. I hooked a couple of dinks in that stretch, nothing fun. I did take a mean spill when I turned my ankle. The water actually felt good, as it was hot as hell. I fished my way back to the Deckers bridge (as I had never fished that stretch, but knew there was some huge fish in there). The water was faster and not very deep, so I moved quickly. Nothing I was throwing was working. I ended up on the concrete pillar next to the road fishing at a few fish I could see – I hooked a small one, and then a larger bow – with no coloration at all. The larger bow was about 15 inches but he had nowhere to fight me. I was trying for a brightly colored rainbow that ran about 18 inches – but he wouldn’t take at all. I left and was home by 2 pm.
Sunday, July 31, 2005 Blue River – Frisco
Flows ~ 100 cfs. Sunny and hot 80 degrees
Fished the delta where the Blue dumps into Dillon Reservoir, but there wasn’t much river to fish at the delta. The water from the reservoir was all the way up to the river!! It looked awesome!! Not many spots to fish and it was crowded.
I also tried the inlet of East Creek to Dillon next to the hospital – not much area to fish here either. I then fished the East Creek right by the massage place right on the road. Nice fishy water – only caught one small brown about 5 inches long. Not good – but nice to get out with Cabo while the ladies had their massages.
Sunday, August 7, 2005 Blue River – Silverthorne and then north towards Green Mountain Res.
Flows ~ 113 cfs. Sunny and hot 85 degrees
I fished with the dog – last trip before the baby. We started under the bridges and I hooked a 17-incher or so, but didn’t land him. I moved up towards Green Mountain Reservoir to a few places. One spot in particular that I like was called Columbine Landing – nice deep holes, looked like it was used by rafters to get in and out of. The river held no fish though and I was very disappointed. I was gone by noontime – and stuck in traffic. I stopped at Clear Creek on the way home, but got skunked there too. Just not a good day for fishing – too hot and too much sun.
Sunday, August 28, 2005 - Colorado River – Gore Canyon
About 1,000 cfs, slightly off color. Nice sunny day, clouds late, 50 in the morning, 80 by the afternoon.
Chad and I fished the Colorado through Gore Canyon. The Canyon is amazing – about 1500 feet high with a railroad set about 800 feet up from the river – the railroad is heavily used by Amtrak and Union Pacific. It is about a 2.25-hour drive from house to canyon and another 15-minute walk in. Just on the outskirts of the canyon the water is nice and fishy, a little wide with some slow and fast spots. The water today was a bit high and off colored. We hiked in about a mile and started fishing. The river was at places about 100 feet across and often times very fast – so we stuck to fishing the slower sections close to the edges.
We started out leapfrogging each other – Chad fishing a South Platte Spider and my trying the largest nymphs I had. I hooked a couple of small browns (about 11” long). Then, Chad hooked a huge brown that I helped him land and took pictures of – a 19 inch brown that was very healthy. We continued up the canyon, we saw a couple of rafters, a ton of kayakers but not a single fisherman all day. Chad had a lot of luck – fishing streamers he got some larger fish – in the 14 or 15-inch range. I stuck to the smaller fish – although not many. In one run I managed to hook 3 fish – the first was a nice 13 inch brown, the second was a huge white fish that I had at my net, and the third was a 17 or 18 inch white fish that took me about 20 yards down stream, around a rock in the middle of the river and Chad finally helped me land. The fish was ugly – with scars on its underside.
We fished some more and had a little luck. We were out of the canyon by 3 pm and on the way home.
Saturday and Sunday, September 3 – 4, 2005 - Colorado River – Byers Canyon
70 CFS – clear, sunny day about 70 then some clouds and thunder = but no rain at all – storm missed us
Jennifer, Avelyn, Cabo and I camped in our new popup tent trailer at the end of Byers Canyon in our usual spot. It was a nice (although short) camping trip. I got to fish late afternoon in the normal spots – but the only spot that was really productive was the run before the fallen bridge just after the sideways tree. I caught probably 5 fish out of that hole, 2 of which were around 13 inches. Moving down to the dry fly cliff I hooked a good-sized fish just before the brush, but he broke me off as he made a run under a deep rock. Lots of hatches going off.
I fished the next Morning as well. No real luck – just two 6-inch fish in the same spot as the day before. The water was extremely low – lowest I have ever seen. Although clear, it has a tinge to it that made it slightly off color. Because of the low water the fish weren’t in the normal runs, most runs were less than 6 inches deep – which never hold fish anyways.
Cabo and I did see a deer with two babies cross the water in front of us on Sunday morning. Pretty cool sight.
Saturday and Sunday, September 24 – 25, 2005 – Taylor River – Taylor Park and the South Platte – North Fork in South Park
Clear days, but cold weather – 60 during the day 30 at night. Clear water – normal flows below dam, low flows above (about 100 cfs). South Platte North Fork was a trickle but clear.
Good trip but cold – went with Chad and froze our asses off at night. Good trip over Cottonwood Pass – we made it in a little over 3 hours. Nice day – warm, we headed to above the reservoir to camp. The river dumps straight into the reservoir at the north end. The reservoir was low, and there didn’t seem to be any browns running at all. We camped about 4 miles up the road behind a cliff rock structure, pretty neat place. We fished that section for a while with not a single bite, then we moved down to where it dumped into the reservoir with similar results. We decided to hit the below dam section before it got dark – it was about 5:30 and we wanted to hit it before sunset. We fished until dark – I hooked and landed two nice fat rainbows – one was about an 18 incher on a size 22 killer nymph (silver rib body, bead head and peacock herl), and the other was a 19 incher I caught on a size 18 mysis pattern tat I tied myself.
Chad hooked two small browns, but that was it. We head back to the camper, tied flies for a little while, then went to bed – the heater wouldn’t stay lit due to oxygen depletion. That was not good news.
In the morning we packed up and headed back to below the dam. Not much happening so we were soon off to about 3 miles below – just below the private section. A really nice area, but super rocky and somewhat fast. I couldn’t catch a thing – Chad caught about 6 or 7 – one being a nice 25 inch fat rainbow and other that went unidentified – about 18 inches long and grayish brown with no real spots. Later it would be identified as a mackinaw – or a lake trout.
On the way home we hit the North Fork of the South Platte River – basically a piss-dribble going through South Park. It held some nice little fish though. This wasn’t the kind of water I’m any good at, so I got skunked, but Chad hooked a few nice ones, including a 13-inch rainbow with a hook jaw. That is a nice fish for the section. I got home in time to catch the 4th quarter of the Steelers/Patriots game.
Sunday, October 16, 2005 – South Platte River – Dream Stream
Clear day, light wind – 70 during the day. Clear water – normal flows (about 96 cfs).
Fished with Nate and Chad – hit the Dream Stream hoping the kokanees and browns would be running – and they were. Got there around 8:30 am and jumped in just above the bridge – hooked two small browns (about 8 inches). Moved up to the double bend pool and hooked a nice 18-inch fish with my first cast – it was silver, and shook free – couldn’t tell if it was a brown or a rainbow. I hooked another great fish in that hole, but no way could I land him – he was a fat brown and as I tried to pull him out of the pool he popped off. I saw another huge fish in that hole – come to find out, Tom hooked him the next day – a 24-inch brown. He was sitting at the head of the pool, but when I cast to him the first time I spooked him.
I decided to head on the other side of the bridge towards Eleven Mile Reservoir. Chad and Nate were already working this area. Nate was holed up in a deep pool that was holding about 50 or so kokanees. I fished it for a while and landed 5 or so fish – all were about 16 to 18 inches. Nate hooked a bunch as he stayed and hogged the hole. I tried fishing up and down the river – but with no luck. The water seemed very low and the fish just weren’t budging. I did see two huge 6-inch long crayfish. I assumed they had come up out of the reservoir to feed on the deep kokanee bodies.
Chad caught a nice rainbow and cuttbow, but was shut out from the large browns. Nate just caught kokanees all day. Decent day, but I need to go some place were I can catch a bunch of small fish all day.
Sunday, November 6, 2005 – South Platte River – Deckers
Clear day, light wind – 70 during the day. Gin clear water – about 46 cfs.
Chad and I fished Deckers today and the weather was amazing and the water gin clear. Chad brought his son Quinn and I brought the mutt, Cabo. What a great day. We had about 4 hours to hit it up before the Steelers/Packers game. We fished the bridge section up and down, hitting the usual runs - sticking to the middle since the flows were so low (about 45 cfs).
The majority of the fish weren't even 12 inches, but there was a bunch of them - mostly hitting size 18 zebra midges. All were rainbows, without a brown in sight. The bows weren't overly colorful, but they did fight pretty well. I remember back in May/June when I was down there that Dick Jr. told me they dumped about 2,500 fingerlings into the river. I had caught a ton then, and they were all about 6 or 7 inches. Well, those fingerlings are doing well; all are in the 10 to 11 inch range. Hopefully they continue to thrive and are 13 to 15 inches next year.
Saturday, November 18, 2005 Blue River – Palmer Gulch before Green Mountain Res.
Flows ~ 113 cfs - clear water. Sunny and freezing - about 40 degrees max
Fished with Chad and Nate today at Palmer Gulch on the Blue River. I had never been to this spot, but Chad had pointed it out last time we were down that way. The river is beautiful there, nice and wide with tons of rocks and riffles and good water. The problem today was it was too damn cold. The weather was sunny, but cold and the water was freezing, which was mixed with snow on the ground. We fished from about 10 am to 2 pm. After nymphing for most of the morning I decided I had enough and was headed back up to Chad and Nate further up river. I found Nate nymphing a nice stretch, but he said he had no luck. I move up ahead of him and found a nice little calm pool to the side of where the water broke back around an island. The pool was 5 foot deep and I could finally see fish in it. I was skeptical but decided to fish it while I waited for Chad to return. I hooked an 18-inch rainbow out of the pool – nice fight, good fish. I proceeded to hook a 14-inch rainbow right after that. I then foul hooked a big 17-inch rainbow that had fungus all over its head – scary looking thing. I continued to fish the hole waiting for Chad. I hooked two small kokanee salmon after that – both were very small at maybe 12 inches long. Those 5 fish were hooked in an hour worth of time while I waited for Chad. We decided to head out and beat the traffic, which was horrible earlier that morning. Chad said he caught 7 fish – a huge brown and a couple of nice rainbows – all on red copper johns. Nate unfortunately didn’t catch anything.
Saturday, December 3, 2005 – South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 40 cfs - 15 degrees in the morning – almost 34 by mid-day – constant snow
Chad, myself and Alex (LTG) fished the canyon on this cold and snowy day. We left later – actually getting to the canyon around 11 am. I hit Nate’s run right off and had two good sized fish on, but both popped off. I fished back towards the canyon mouth, hitting the normal spots with limited luck. I tried my hand at dry flying, as there were some small fish hitting the size 18 BWO sailboats that were sporadically coming off. I did manage to hook one, but he got off quickly.
I did hook and land a 10-inch brown trout that was filling a nice seam and riffle. Hardly a decent catch. Chad got skunked, while 2 weeks before he had come into the canyon and landed about 25 fish – some were huge. Not on this day. I moved to the big rock and saw a huge 24-inch fish with tons of fungus on his head – that was pretty disappointing. We left around 4pm.
Sunday, January 9, 2005 – South Platte River on the Dream Stream & 11 Mile Canyon
Dream Stream cfs 50 & Eleven Mile Canyon cfs (not sure)
30 degrees in the morning – almost 45 by mid-day – 40 mph winds. Nice in the Canyon, but the sun was coming down so it felt colder.
Fished today with Tom Shyrock and Kevin (Braidwood from the fly fishing board) – and what a good day it was. We left HR at 6:30 and drove down 25 to Colorado Springs and the west on 24 for Lake George. The trip took over 2 hours (but not much more). We got there about 8:45 and when we stepped out of the car it was 40 and beautiful with little wind and amazingly the only car in the parking lot of the Dream Stream (at the bridge). By the time we got our waders on the wind had kicked up and it was noticeably colder. We split up covering the first half-mile or so of the river, leap frogging each other to hit the next hole. We weren’t doing well for the first hour, with only sighting about 1 fish between the three of us. It was nearly impossible to cast into the wind and if you put the wind to your back your shadow was directly on the river. The wind also blew the line on the water at an unnatural pace – so that also didn’t help. Tom and Kevin came back and said they were heading back to the bridge area, and after breaking off my flies again I decided to join them. As I was heading back Kevin was walking up and wanted to show me the pics of the fish he just caught – a beautiful 20-inch cutthroat trout. The fish was amazingly beautiful and was the largest cutt I had ever seen. He showed me where he caught it and I tied on and tried the hole to no avail. I started walking in the river (which made my feet pretty numb) and fishing various holes around the bend. There was a nice spot where the river broke from a riffle into a 2-foot deep pool and they slowly swirled around a bend. I hooked up with a 6-inch rainbow within a few minutes – not what I was expecting. I stuck with it though and finally had something on – a whole lot of something too! The fish was solid and wouldn’t come off the bottom. He would come to the surface to show me his size and then log back down to the bottom. He made a 10-foot run, but that was it, he was impossible to turn, so I let him shake his head a few times. Finally I got a chance to drag him towards me and I netted him – the fish took up my entire net. He was a 21 or 22-inch rainbow that was as fat as any fish I’ve seen, but he wasn’t solid – just fat. I plopped him on the ice next to me and snapped a photo – he was frantic so I just broke off the fly and put him back in the water – and then had to give him a little shove back into the middle. My hands were numb as hell, but I was pumped up. I started heading back to the bridge. I met up with Tom and showed him the pics – he wasn’t too happy since he was getting shut out. He was fishing the huge dump pool right after the bridge on the 11-Mile side. I could see huge fish just hanging in this pool – Kevin tried for them with a bugger to no avail.
We decided to head over to the Canyon around 2 pm, on the way we had to go 5 miles on a road that was pretty scary with 2 or 3 feet of snow that was half plowed, half untouched. Scary. But, we made it. Eleven Mile Canyon is very pretty though and the pocket water was excellent. There were so many ice shelves that I was nervous to stand on one and fish to a great hole – but I did anyways. I ended up catching 2 12-inch rainbows that were just hanging in the pools. We only fished for about 45 minutes and then started heading home. The drive was long, but it was a very rewarding day.
Saturday, January 22, 2005 – South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 74 cfs - 40 degrees in the morning – almost 60 by mid-day – water was gin clear
Fished with Nate. Wanted to get into the canyon after having a great day at Eleven Mile Canyon. This was the exact opposite. Hardly any fish in the normal spots. The big rock and spawning area was completely empty. Nate caught one fish – 18-inch rainbow on an unweighted nymph. I didn’t hook a fish, only saw a few and was very disappointed. We were home by 3pm.
Saturday, March 19, 2005 – South Platte River Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 104 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 60 by mid-day – blue sky.
Fished with Nate, Dave, Tom and Chad. We decided to go deep into Cheesman this time – which was cool because I have never been that deep. We pulled into the parking lot and were car number 5 at 7:30 in the morning. The hike in was quite a ways and killed me to skip by all the holes I normally fish. I do have to admit that the water further up the canyon looks sweet and there are lots of plunge pools and riffles that look killer. The flows were higher than normal winter flows at about 104 cfs. I actually jumped in the first hole and fished about 25 yards below a strong riffle. It looked like an amazing spot. The others either jumped in ahead of me or kept walking towards the dam. I hooked a nice fish after about a half hour, he shot down stream and then had about 30 yards of my line out and popped off. I kept moving. I came to a nice spot where the water ran around a square boulder. The near side of the river looked great, but I knew the fish would be on the far side away from the traffic and out of direct sunlight – I made my way around to the other side and was soon hooked into a big rainbow – which popped out of my net as I went to scoop him. It was about a 17-inch rainbow that I hooked on a black midge.
I moved up the canyon slowly throwing to fishy spots. I didn’t see a whole lot of fish, just really fishy water. I met up with the rest of the guys further up and we shot the shit for a while. Nate was the only one who wasn’t there – he hiked all the way to the dam. I started working my wake back to the entrance to the canyon – fishing my normal spots. There was now over 30 people in the first ¼ mile of river and almost every spot was taken. Nate and Dave headed out, as they had to head home early. I saw some rainbows spawning in the usual flat areas by the big rock. I fish to the far side of the big rock and hooked an 18-inch rainbow on a midge. Pretty fish, but it was like shooting fish in a barrel. Soon after that we hiked out and went home.
Thursday - Sunday, April 14-17, 2005 – Big Horn River, Ft. Smith, Montana
Flows at 1500 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 70 by mid-day – blue sky for both days
Chad and I got up to Ft. Smith at about 2 pm and decided to try three-mile access. The wind was killer and we could catch anything. A bunch of small fish were hitting dries in the inlet, but nothing else. We decided to meet Dave back at the cabin around 4:30. The three of us decided to fish the dam and we did until about 8:30. Dave hooked a beautiful rainbow about 18 inches, Chad hooked a nice brown about 16 inches and I hook a couple of dinks.
Friday
Our first float day began at 8:30 – we shoved off from the dam headed for the 11-mile access. It was a cool day, but it was sunny and a lot less windy. The first stretch of the river is a long canal area that ranged from 12 feet to 3 feet deep – we hooked a couple of fish, but they were mostly small. We saw numerous schools of much larger fish swim under the boat. We had very good action in the first huge gravel bar after the long canal stretch after. We jumped out and fished it for about an hour or so. The gravel bar was about 8 inches deep and then dumped into a huge pool. The fish would sit sideways and watch for food to drop over the shelf. Chad hooked a beautiful 20-incher on a streamer on his second cast. I caught about 7 out smaller fish out of the hole – the largest being a 16-inch rainbow.
We decided to move on. The river was great for floating. Further down we floated through “Suck” hole, which is a toilet bowl with a fall chunk of concrete – it caused the river to spin and was tough for Dave to paddle out of. We fished the remaining mile or two to 3 Mile access with a little luck – catching fish here and there – nothing too large.
But suddenly, the fish just turned off in the afternoon, we caught nothing after that for the remaining 8 miles. We basically just whizzed through the remaining 8 miles trying to get to the pull out. Other anglers were having little luck as well – there were some nice holes, but not nearly as many as the upper 3 miles of the river. We pulled out around 8:30 exhausted.
Saturday
Saturday was another nice day – a little warmer and just as sunny. We hit the dam at 8:30 and we were probably the 12th boat in the water (after being the first the previous day). Today was a totally different story than yesterday. We decided to just do the 3-mile float and maybe do it twice if needed. The canal stretch after the dam produced well - we hook a ton of smaller fish - including some white fish. We docked the boat just before the gravel bar (there was 8 fishermen on the bar) and worked the fast area to the right side of the river. The river funneled to the right with a nice 15-yard wide and 35 yard long run that led to a slower pool where the water collected and met faster deeper water. I hooked a huge 20-inch rainbow in the fast water, but no way I was landing him. As I was fixing my rig a huge 28-inch rainbow took my fly just as I was about to cast – again he was in the fast water and there was no way to pull him in. After fighting him for about 6 seconds, the fly popped out but the fish continued to give a thrashing exaggerated struggle (like big often do) until he realized he wasn’t on any longer. We jumped back in the boat and headed for Suck Hole. Just on the other side I hooked a nice brown and we
pulled in and did some fishing - and damn did we fish!
Over the next 6 hours I stood in that hole and hooked around 60 fish landing 40 of them. 90% were browns - majority about 16-18 inches, a few big rainbows about 18 or 19 inches and two enormous white fish - about 20 inches each (may have been the same fish). Dave had decent action and Chad moved up to the Suck Hole and had on a 30-inch rainbow that he was within inches of landing after a 20-minute fight. Numerous boats were running through my stretch, they’d get to the end and paddle back up and do it again. The fishing was great. I was hooking about 10-12 fish per hour and landing most of them. They were taking a size 20 midge that I tied – a black beadhead with a wire body and peacock herl below the bead. I went through about 6 of them and had to settle on tiny zebra midges – but they worked too. Every fish fought unbelievably – the brown were especially feisty and they jump – every one of them! White fish are pigs and they were tough to land. I think I caught the same fish twice – he was huge – at least 19 or 20 inches. When I told the woman we rented the cabin from she told me the record is just over 21 inches! We basically flew through the rest of the 1.5 miles to 3-Mile pull out around 8:30 again.
Those fish are so smart; I had a lot of them find ways to get off. They would dive bomb the bottom and rub their faces on rocks or weeds to try and get the hook out. They’d race 100 yards to the middle of the river to try and snag something or loosen the line. Many of the fish got off.
This part of Montana was not as pretty as I have imagined – actually it was quite ugly. The river is on an Indian reservation and the Indians can fish without licenses, keep anything they catch and use bait. The surroundings were sometimes eerie – not bushes, just low grass and lots of big cottonwoods lined the stamped down banks. Cattle roamed freely. What surprised me the most is the lack of huge fishing homes on the banks. None. Well actually only about 3 – but they weren’t very glamorous. The ride home took forever – but it was a great trip.
Friday, May 6, 2005 – Arkansas River
Flows at 150-200 cfs – clear as a bell
45 degrees in the morning – almost 70 by mid-day
This was to be my first caddis experience – and it was quite an experience. Chad and I got to Brown’s Canyon around 8:15 and we fished the access right next to the parking lot to get warmed up. We both hooked 4 nice browns, about 12-14 inches. Heading into Brown’s – which is a stretch of canyon with railroad tracks running through it that is fast and deep. Not a good recipe for me at all – since I nymph a lot. I hooked a nice 18-inch fish right off and it almost went over a waterfall. We moved up the river more and I crossed and found a nice deep hole – I landed 4 fish in the hole – all about 14 inches – one was a nice rainbow. Chad fished even further down and hooked about 20 fish on a size 12 stimulator. The sky darkened and the wind kicked up and it started to rain, then hail, then lightning and thunder. Crazy weather – all in about 15 minutes and then it was over. We moved to my favorite spot on the west side of Salida on some private access. I hooked 4 17-inch browns in this stretch and they were fun fish. We had heard that the hatch was hitting east of Salida so we headed over to a spot Chad knew. We were into a huge caddis hatch soon enough – so many that they were hitting my hood (I had it on to keep them off my neck and hair) harder than rain or sleet. It was sheets and sheets of them, so many that the fish weren’t even hitting them off the top of the water with any regularity. I scooped up a few in this section on nymphs and then switched to a caddis dry – amazingly I hooked one – my smallest of the day – an 11-inch brown. We moved to another spot, but it was 5 o’clock already and I was fished out. I didn’t hook anything, but the fish were up on the water taking the caddis finally. We left for home around 6 pm. It was a good day – cool hatch and fun hanging with Chad.
Saturday, May28, 2005 – Blue River, Dillon
Flows at 54 cfs below dam, about 225 cfs above reservoir - 55 degrees in the morning – almost 65 by mid-day – water was slightly off color in both locations
Cabo and I decided to get away on Memorial Day weekend and so we fished the Blue. Started out in the parking lot below the dam. The water was slightly off color. Started with mysis but had no luck. There were about 3 other guys in the hole for about 30 minutes (at around 8:30 am) and then they all left – I had the place to myself – I fished the whole stretch with no luck at all. I saw a couple of fish, but I think my flies were too small. I decided to head up to above the reservoir at around 10 am.
Above the reservoir was high, but relatively clear. Dillon has gotten slightly more filled up, but the reservoir is still a long away from the mouth of the river. I didn’t fish the river much because it was too fast. I fished the section at the end and then down to the reservoir. I found a nice deep slower hole to fish. I hooked into a couple of happy bows and that were about 12-13 inches long. My 4th fish was much larger – he took a san juan worm and barely fought until I tried to yank him out of the current. “He” was a 21-inch rainbow that was big and fat and was beautiful. I pulled him into the shallows and landed him as quick as possible. He was huge. I kept fishing the hole – caught a few more fish – smaller ones - and then moved on. I made my way to the mouth stretch and hooked a feisty brown that kept hitting my strike indicator. By now, Cabo and I were perched on a stump that had rolled down stream and was sitting in the middle of the mouth stretch. Cabo was shaking so I decided to call it a day. It was only about 12:30, but I didn’t mind leaving – we were home by 2!
Friday & Saturday, June 10 & 11, 2005 – Fryingpan River - Basalt, CO
About 150 cfs very clear, Friday was rainy and miserable – probably about 45 degrees – Saturday was sunny and warm about 65 degrees until 5 pm – then rain (we left).
Chad and I decided to do a camping trip and fish the Pan. Cabo accompanied us. Friday we left around 7 and were on the river around 11 am. The weather was drizzly and wet. That didn’t stop us and we hit the first spot, which was only 2 miles down the canyon. Chad hooked into some nice fish and I hooked into one 14-inch rainbow. Nothing I seemed to do was right, although the river looked plenty fishy. We moved up to about the 11 mile stretch (not far from the 2 mile to the dam stretch) and Chad was still hooking them left and right – mostly on wooly buggers and a mysis trailer. He even put me in the perfect hole where the fish were hitting dries off the top with consistency. Unfortunately I couldn’t hook a thing. I saw plenty of fish, but hooked nothing. Chad continued to hook smaller fish on the bugger. We decided to set up camp at around 6 pm. We camped at the tent sites just above the dam – next to Mollie B campground. It was the non-reservable sites in a bunch of aspens – nice sight really.
Chad decided he wanted to do some night fishing, so I dropped him off at 7 pm at the two-mile stretch just below the dam. I headed back into El Jebel for Wendy’s and a call to Jennifer. Cabo and I were fished out for the day and cold and still wet. I met Chad back at the 2-mile stretch at about 9 pm and we called it a night.
The next morning we were packed up and at the river at about 7:30 am. The sun was out and there weren’t any clouds – which was a relief. Chad jumped in quickly and I slowly had to talk myself into it. I felt bad because I would have to leave Cabo in the truck as the water was freezing and the sun hadn’t been that warm. I decided to start fishing, but leave her in the truck until 10 am. I fished a stretch next to the truck just above the Caddis Bridge. I hooked a couple of small browns and I ass-hooked a nice 15-inch rainbow. I could see tons of fish, but I had no clue what they were eating – I think I got lucky on the 6 or so I had caught. I moved up about 25 yards to where Chad said he saw a bunch of fish. He was right – there were a bunch of rainbows rubbing on each other next to a fallen log right off the far bank. There was a nice rock to hide behind and try and chuck at them. I tried for about 30 minutes or so when I hooked one – and I really hooked one. I think I foul hooked him, but it was a 30-inch rainbow that was the biggest fish I have ever seen in my life. The fish got pissed and swam around a rocky island formation, up to a waterfall and then up and over the 15-inch high waterfall and popped off. I was shaking this fish was so big. I had called out to Chad to come help – and just couldn’t believe it. Later fishing the same stretch I hooked a 25-inch rainbow and he wouldn’t budge – he finally popped off. I hooked him again about 20 minutes later, and this time I wrestled him. Amazing! He was so colorful and strong – after dragging him back to the rock to show Cabo (she was perched on the rock now as it was after 10 am). I had a tight squeeze on the fish and he still managed to get off – as he fell the fly got lodged in the knee of my waders and the fish got off – but I got a good view of him and I think Cabo was actually a bit scared! We moved up and down the stretch – seeing tons of fish – some were huge, some were normal.
Chad and I decided to start heading out of the canyon and try fishing another couple of stretches. We fished the stretch and had decent luck – I hooked a few smaller fish and had a good time. The weather was nice now and the dog was warm. We moved down again and I was having the same luck – caught about 5 or 6 and then the wind kicked up to over 50 mph and the rain started heading in – that is when we called it quits at 5 pm. We were home by 8 pm!
Sunday, June 19, 2005 – South Platte River - Deckers, CO
About 240 cfs very clear, 75 degrees with huge horseflies.
I fished with Cabo today – just a short day while Jennifer was out of town. We fished my favorite stretch that is just up river from the Trumbull fire station. We tried the normal spots first with very little luck. I move up to where the old 8 foot deep hole was and hooked a dink. I through just behind a rock and hooked a nice 14-inch brown that was pretty feisty. We continued working our way towards Deckers, hooking into lots of 10-inch dinks. The horseflies starting getting pretty bad, so we decided to call it quits and head home. First we went over to Flies N Lies for a bottle of water. The guy there said they just stocked 25,000 dinks. Not good for this year, but hopefully good for years to come.
Saturday, July 2, 2005 – Roaring River – Rocky Mountain National Park
About 80 cfs very clear, 55 in the morning and sunny, stormy and overcast about 55 degrees at around 3pm.
Chad and I fished RMNP today – the river is located about 2 miles inside the Estes Park entrance at the fork left a right and turn into the Lawn Lake area. The hike is about a mile in and 800 feet of elevation gain. The hike wasn’t too bad. When we reach a good point, Chad said to jump in. Problem was that the river still had some pretty good tilt to it and it was moving. Chad started with an emerger and I started with big ugly caddis. The problem was that I couldn’t see the fly on the water so I soon switched to a two-nymph rig. The water was still fast as we moved up river, but the pocket water became better and I could see the fish in all the obvious spots – they were very active and weren’t very spooky. I hook a nice size greenback cutthroat of about 11 inches. I fished my way up river hooking about 50 fish and landing about 40 of them. Each fish seemed easier to catch than the first, some were larger and some were smaller (the smallest was about 7 inches), and each fish was prettier than the last. This was the first time I had caught cutthroats and it was a real treat. Some of the fish were and awesome red and orange color and were so feisty. They all fought pretty well for small wild fish.
As the morning turned into afternoon the storm clouds came in and thunder was around us. It moved off and then another storm came in and dumped some heavy downpours on us. There was a lot of thunder and a little bit of lightning. We had to stop once as the wind picked up and it started to rain. We packed up our stuff and headed out around 3 pm. It was a great day and a great experience.
Sunday, July 10, 2005 – Clear Creek – by Kermmits
About 250 cfs very clear, 75 in the morning and sunny, 85 by noontime
I wanted to get out and do some quick fishing – so I hit Clear Creek because Chad said he had fished it and it was fishing well. The water was pretty dang high and fast. There was still rafters coming down it and that should have been a sign. I didn’t see any fish the whole day. I started under the bridge at Kermmits and worked my way upstream – there is that nice stretch I had always wanted to fish that is flat. It was a very nice stretch, but it was moving pretty good today. I fished my way back down to the I-70 bridge – I hooked a nice 11-inch brown – but that was it.
I moved up to the Budweiser plant and found a sweet section just up river – that you can get to now because the Bud plant is out of business and there are no “No Trespassing” signs. The river was nice – so perfect packet water and undercut banks (which will probably disappear once the river drops), but it is a stretch to explore with Chad at a later date.
Sunday, July 24, 2005 – South Platte River – Cheesman Canyon and Deckers
Flows: 174 cfs. Cloudy in the morning and the then hot and 90 degrees in the late morning/afternoon
Decided to hit the Canyon in the morning, hiked in and it started off well. Within 20 minutes of fishing Nate’s favorite hole three guys come down and fish within 20 feet of me in the hole – unreal! I was pissed. I moved up slightly and crossed the river, then worked my way back down river. I found a decent hole just up river from the “rock” as someone was moving out of the hole. Of course I was going to work my way down to the rock – but the guy comes back to the hole and gets right up near me – UNREAL!!! I was pretty pissed so I just up and left. I got on the river by 7:30 and was out by 9:45.
I decided to fish Deckers by the last turn out right by the fly shop and work my way to the bridge. I hooked a couple of dinks in that stretch, nothing fun. I did take a mean spill when I turned my ankle. The water actually felt good, as it was hot as hell. I fished my way back to the Deckers bridge (as I had never fished that stretch, but knew there was some huge fish in there). The water was faster and not very deep, so I moved quickly. Nothing I was throwing was working. I ended up on the concrete pillar next to the road fishing at a few fish I could see – I hooked a small one, and then a larger bow – with no coloration at all. The larger bow was about 15 inches but he had nowhere to fight me. I was trying for a brightly colored rainbow that ran about 18 inches – but he wouldn’t take at all. I left and was home by 2 pm.
Sunday, July 31, 2005 Blue River – Frisco
Flows ~ 100 cfs. Sunny and hot 80 degrees
Fished the delta where the Blue dumps into Dillon Reservoir, but there wasn’t much river to fish at the delta. The water from the reservoir was all the way up to the river!! It looked awesome!! Not many spots to fish and it was crowded.
I also tried the inlet of East Creek to Dillon next to the hospital – not much area to fish here either. I then fished the East Creek right by the massage place right on the road. Nice fishy water – only caught one small brown about 5 inches long. Not good – but nice to get out with Cabo while the ladies had their massages.
Sunday, August 7, 2005 Blue River – Silverthorne and then north towards Green Mountain Res.
Flows ~ 113 cfs. Sunny and hot 85 degrees
I fished with the dog – last trip before the baby. We started under the bridges and I hooked a 17-incher or so, but didn’t land him. I moved up towards Green Mountain Reservoir to a few places. One spot in particular that I like was called Columbine Landing – nice deep holes, looked like it was used by rafters to get in and out of. The river held no fish though and I was very disappointed. I was gone by noontime – and stuck in traffic. I stopped at Clear Creek on the way home, but got skunked there too. Just not a good day for fishing – too hot and too much sun.
Sunday, August 28, 2005 - Colorado River – Gore Canyon
About 1,000 cfs, slightly off color. Nice sunny day, clouds late, 50 in the morning, 80 by the afternoon.
Chad and I fished the Colorado through Gore Canyon. The Canyon is amazing – about 1500 feet high with a railroad set about 800 feet up from the river – the railroad is heavily used by Amtrak and Union Pacific. It is about a 2.25-hour drive from house to canyon and another 15-minute walk in. Just on the outskirts of the canyon the water is nice and fishy, a little wide with some slow and fast spots. The water today was a bit high and off colored. We hiked in about a mile and started fishing. The river was at places about 100 feet across and often times very fast – so we stuck to fishing the slower sections close to the edges.
We started out leapfrogging each other – Chad fishing a South Platte Spider and my trying the largest nymphs I had. I hooked a couple of small browns (about 11” long). Then, Chad hooked a huge brown that I helped him land and took pictures of – a 19 inch brown that was very healthy. We continued up the canyon, we saw a couple of rafters, a ton of kayakers but not a single fisherman all day. Chad had a lot of luck – fishing streamers he got some larger fish – in the 14 or 15-inch range. I stuck to the smaller fish – although not many. In one run I managed to hook 3 fish – the first was a nice 13 inch brown, the second was a huge white fish that I had at my net, and the third was a 17 or 18 inch white fish that took me about 20 yards down stream, around a rock in the middle of the river and Chad finally helped me land. The fish was ugly – with scars on its underside.
We fished some more and had a little luck. We were out of the canyon by 3 pm and on the way home.
Saturday and Sunday, September 3 – 4, 2005 - Colorado River – Byers Canyon
70 CFS – clear, sunny day about 70 then some clouds and thunder = but no rain at all – storm missed us
Jennifer, Avelyn, Cabo and I camped in our new popup tent trailer at the end of Byers Canyon in our usual spot. It was a nice (although short) camping trip. I got to fish late afternoon in the normal spots – but the only spot that was really productive was the run before the fallen bridge just after the sideways tree. I caught probably 5 fish out of that hole, 2 of which were around 13 inches. Moving down to the dry fly cliff I hooked a good-sized fish just before the brush, but he broke me off as he made a run under a deep rock. Lots of hatches going off.
I fished the next Morning as well. No real luck – just two 6-inch fish in the same spot as the day before. The water was extremely low – lowest I have ever seen. Although clear, it has a tinge to it that made it slightly off color. Because of the low water the fish weren’t in the normal runs, most runs were less than 6 inches deep – which never hold fish anyways.
Cabo and I did see a deer with two babies cross the water in front of us on Sunday morning. Pretty cool sight.
Saturday and Sunday, September 24 – 25, 2005 – Taylor River – Taylor Park and the South Platte – North Fork in South Park
Clear days, but cold weather – 60 during the day 30 at night. Clear water – normal flows below dam, low flows above (about 100 cfs). South Platte North Fork was a trickle but clear.
Good trip but cold – went with Chad and froze our asses off at night. Good trip over Cottonwood Pass – we made it in a little over 3 hours. Nice day – warm, we headed to above the reservoir to camp. The river dumps straight into the reservoir at the north end. The reservoir was low, and there didn’t seem to be any browns running at all. We camped about 4 miles up the road behind a cliff rock structure, pretty neat place. We fished that section for a while with not a single bite, then we moved down to where it dumped into the reservoir with similar results. We decided to hit the below dam section before it got dark – it was about 5:30 and we wanted to hit it before sunset. We fished until dark – I hooked and landed two nice fat rainbows – one was about an 18 incher on a size 22 killer nymph (silver rib body, bead head and peacock herl), and the other was a 19 incher I caught on a size 18 mysis pattern tat I tied myself.
Chad hooked two small browns, but that was it. We head back to the camper, tied flies for a little while, then went to bed – the heater wouldn’t stay lit due to oxygen depletion. That was not good news.
In the morning we packed up and headed back to below the dam. Not much happening so we were soon off to about 3 miles below – just below the private section. A really nice area, but super rocky and somewhat fast. I couldn’t catch a thing – Chad caught about 6 or 7 – one being a nice 25 inch fat rainbow and other that went unidentified – about 18 inches long and grayish brown with no real spots. Later it would be identified as a mackinaw – or a lake trout.
On the way home we hit the North Fork of the South Platte River – basically a piss-dribble going through South Park. It held some nice little fish though. This wasn’t the kind of water I’m any good at, so I got skunked, but Chad hooked a few nice ones, including a 13-inch rainbow with a hook jaw. That is a nice fish for the section. I got home in time to catch the 4th quarter of the Steelers/Patriots game.
Sunday, October 16, 2005 – South Platte River – Dream Stream
Clear day, light wind – 70 during the day. Clear water – normal flows (about 96 cfs).
Fished with Nate and Chad – hit the Dream Stream hoping the kokanees and browns would be running – and they were. Got there around 8:30 am and jumped in just above the bridge – hooked two small browns (about 8 inches). Moved up to the double bend pool and hooked a nice 18-inch fish with my first cast – it was silver, and shook free – couldn’t tell if it was a brown or a rainbow. I hooked another great fish in that hole, but no way could I land him – he was a fat brown and as I tried to pull him out of the pool he popped off. I saw another huge fish in that hole – come to find out, Tom hooked him the next day – a 24-inch brown. He was sitting at the head of the pool, but when I cast to him the first time I spooked him.
I decided to head on the other side of the bridge towards Eleven Mile Reservoir. Chad and Nate were already working this area. Nate was holed up in a deep pool that was holding about 50 or so kokanees. I fished it for a while and landed 5 or so fish – all were about 16 to 18 inches. Nate hooked a bunch as he stayed and hogged the hole. I tried fishing up and down the river – but with no luck. The water seemed very low and the fish just weren’t budging. I did see two huge 6-inch long crayfish. I assumed they had come up out of the reservoir to feed on the deep kokanee bodies.
Chad caught a nice rainbow and cuttbow, but was shut out from the large browns. Nate just caught kokanees all day. Decent day, but I need to go some place were I can catch a bunch of small fish all day.
Sunday, November 6, 2005 – South Platte River – Deckers
Clear day, light wind – 70 during the day. Gin clear water – about 46 cfs.
Chad and I fished Deckers today and the weather was amazing and the water gin clear. Chad brought his son Quinn and I brought the mutt, Cabo. What a great day. We had about 4 hours to hit it up before the Steelers/Packers game. We fished the bridge section up and down, hitting the usual runs - sticking to the middle since the flows were so low (about 45 cfs).
The majority of the fish weren't even 12 inches, but there was a bunch of them - mostly hitting size 18 zebra midges. All were rainbows, without a brown in sight. The bows weren't overly colorful, but they did fight pretty well. I remember back in May/June when I was down there that Dick Jr. told me they dumped about 2,500 fingerlings into the river. I had caught a ton then, and they were all about 6 or 7 inches. Well, those fingerlings are doing well; all are in the 10 to 11 inch range. Hopefully they continue to thrive and are 13 to 15 inches next year.
Saturday, November 18, 2005 Blue River – Palmer Gulch before Green Mountain Res.
Flows ~ 113 cfs - clear water. Sunny and freezing - about 40 degrees max
Fished with Chad and Nate today at Palmer Gulch on the Blue River. I had never been to this spot, but Chad had pointed it out last time we were down that way. The river is beautiful there, nice and wide with tons of rocks and riffles and good water. The problem today was it was too damn cold. The weather was sunny, but cold and the water was freezing, which was mixed with snow on the ground. We fished from about 10 am to 2 pm. After nymphing for most of the morning I decided I had enough and was headed back up to Chad and Nate further up river. I found Nate nymphing a nice stretch, but he said he had no luck. I move up ahead of him and found a nice little calm pool to the side of where the water broke back around an island. The pool was 5 foot deep and I could finally see fish in it. I was skeptical but decided to fish it while I waited for Chad to return. I hooked an 18-inch rainbow out of the pool – nice fight, good fish. I proceeded to hook a 14-inch rainbow right after that. I then foul hooked a big 17-inch rainbow that had fungus all over its head – scary looking thing. I continued to fish the hole waiting for Chad. I hooked two small kokanee salmon after that – both were very small at maybe 12 inches long. Those 5 fish were hooked in an hour worth of time while I waited for Chad. We decided to head out and beat the traffic, which was horrible earlier that morning. Chad said he caught 7 fish – a huge brown and a couple of nice rainbows – all on red copper johns. Nate unfortunately didn’t catch anything.
Saturday, December 3, 2005 – South Platte River, Cheesman Canyon
Flows at 40 cfs - 15 degrees in the morning – almost 34 by mid-day – constant snow
Chad, myself and Alex (LTG) fished the canyon on this cold and snowy day. We left later – actually getting to the canyon around 11 am. I hit Nate’s run right off and had two good sized fish on, but both popped off. I fished back towards the canyon mouth, hitting the normal spots with limited luck. I tried my hand at dry flying, as there were some small fish hitting the size 18 BWO sailboats that were sporadically coming off. I did manage to hook one, but he got off quickly.
I did hook and land a 10-inch brown trout that was filling a nice seam and riffle. Hardly a decent catch. Chad got skunked, while 2 weeks before he had come into the canyon and landed about 25 fish – some were huge. Not on this day. I moved to the big rock and saw a huge 24-inch fish with tons of fungus on his head – that was pretty disappointing. We left around 4pm.
Wednesday, November 09, 2005
First day in daycare
Well, we survived! Yesterday was Avelyn's first day of daycare - I know, I know, kind of corny, but I was a mess the night before. I mean, someone else would be raising my kid 3 days a week - that's tough on a new dad.
Well, she made it fine through the day (with the exception of a blowout), and I'm happy to report Dad did too! Of course I did have to visit her at lunch.
On Sunday Chad and I fished the SPlatte at Deckers. You can read about it here: Deckers Trip 11/6.
What a day we had, I think I might try and do some research and try and write my first article - nah, I probably don't have time for that.
Well, that was my week.
Well, she made it fine through the day (with the exception of a blowout), and I'm happy to report Dad did too! Of course I did have to visit her at lunch.
On Sunday Chad and I fished the SPlatte at Deckers. You can read about it here: Deckers Trip 11/6.
What a day we had, I think I might try and do some research and try and write my first article - nah, I probably don't have time for that.
Well, that was my week.
Friday, October 28, 2005
Daddy home alone with the baby - well almost!
Well, I made it through my first work from home/watch Avelyn for the day - day. Actually, it was a dry run, Jennifer was here all day with me, but it was good for me to get into the routine and see what Avi does during the day. Not too bad, I worked in the morning, went to the mall in the ealry afternoon, worked a little in the late afternoon. Bought a video camera on eBay - should be pretty nice - too bad we will miss Halloween with Avi.
I figured out the whole photo gallery on this site - added a ton of pictures - so check them out.
Looking forward to fishing next weekend with Chad - I need to get the vise down on the bar downstairs and start thinking about tying for the Winter swap.
Monday night is not only Halloween, it's also the Steelers vs Ravens on Monday Night Football. Good thing the Steelers aren't playing the Bengals, otherwise Avi wouldn't be allowed to wear her Tigger costume for Halloween - we didn't even think about that before buying it!
Happy Halloween and GO STEELERS!
I figured out the whole photo gallery on this site - added a ton of pictures - so check them out.
Looking forward to fishing next weekend with Chad - I need to get the vise down on the bar downstairs and start thinking about tying for the Winter swap.
Monday night is not only Halloween, it's also the Steelers vs Ravens on Monday Night Football. Good thing the Steelers aren't playing the Bengals, otherwise Avi wouldn't be allowed to wear her Tigger costume for Halloween - we didn't even think about that before buying it!
Happy Halloween and GO STEELERS!
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