10/15/11 - 10/16/11 Weekend on Clear Creek

I had a hall pass for the weekend to get out a fish! I wasn't going to waste the chance so I decided to hit up Clear Creek again. The browns are running strong now and stacked up in every pool from the inlet, all the way upstream. They are especially stacked along the sandbar at the inlet as well, looking for their opportunity to make it upstream to spawn.

I know I've been fishing Clear Creek in Georgetown a lot recently, but with how good the fishing is, why not? I do like exploring new waters and fishing in different places, but considering the relatively short drive, I'd rather be catching than fishing. So, I think I'll continue to fish here until the spawning run ends and I start visiting my winter haunts. (Arkansas below Pueblo, Blue River) Also, since we have a newborn in the house, it's hard to find time to schedule trips to places further away so I think sticking to what's working makes my fishing trips worthwhile!



The browns were again, very eager to eat. You can see in the picture below the fly that this one took. A hare's ear, size 16. This was the favorite of the brownie's, I ended up going through 3 of them on Saturday since they were getting so beat up.



Copper john's were also a consistent producer. I think size is more important than color. They seem to like the copper colors a lot, but I even caught quite a few on green and reds as well. Another gentleman that was fishing there was also using a blue body prince nymph that was also producing for him, but again, I think it's more the size rather than color or variety. Just about any nymph will work, but stick to a size 16 or 18.



The bows were also hitting, but not as much as the brownies were. The lake was stocked 2 weeks ago, and there are still plenty of stocker bows around munching on eggs and the occasional nymph. But they really haven't made their way upstream. If you are looking for stocker bows, fish the sandbar and bridge hole.





Brookies are also in there, I lost a huge one trying to land it, but I managed another a few casts later...no where near the size of the other, but it was cool getting a Clear Creek Grand Slam again.



Egg patterns are still the to go to and it's the lead fly in my rig. To be honest, all different colors are working, pink, orange, cerise, and yellow. One of the female brownies decided to let loose with some eggs on me and when I saw their color, I switched to a yellow egg that also produced.



Although I like using a an egg pattern like otter eggs, regular egg patterns are also producing. Vary the size and color a bit until you find what they are keying in on. It does change quite a bit, and there are periods where they will ignore eggs completely, but change it up and you will start catching fish again.

This weekend was the busiest that I've seen it. People are everywhere so please use a bit if etiquette when fishing; I had a lady cross my line 3 times as she saw that I was catching fish in my hole when she could have cast upstream to fish a great hole just in front if her! I was polite as I untangled or lines, and I think she was new to fishing so a little compassion was warranted, but if you see someone fishing a hole or run, give them some space; or ask if you can fish above or below them. There isn't much room to fish, but there are plenty of runs and holes that the fish are stacked up in. Just be polite, say hello and talk to your fellow fishermen, and don't just fish the same hole that someone else is fishing. Not only is it rude, but it's a hassle untangling lines. There's lots of fish in there! Just find your spot!

10/07/11 Clear Creek

Another day fishing the Georgetown area.

Yes...I know, I've been fishing there a lot, but why not! The fish are biting and it's a relatively quick drive.

I started up at the inlet since the browns have been stacking really heavily.  The spawn is on, but there are plenty of fish ready to eat and plenty of bows around there too.



I started the day with a standard rig for the area, an egg pattern with hare's ear dropped behind it. Thingamabobber about 4 ft. up. I immediately got hits on both the egg and the hare's ear, with some really nice browns and an occasional bow.



Right around 11:00, the water started getting cloudy, looks like they were doing stream improvements upstream around Silver Plume. The bite turned off quickly so I decided to hoof it down stream and fish below the dam. Turns out it was a great way to get back on the fish and explore the water downstream a little more. If you've never fished down here, give it shot when the inlet is busy or if you are looking for a change of scenery.









Although fish are smaller than the big spawning browns, it's pretty consistent with plenty of pools to fish and if you're agile, rock hopping and dropping your nymphs inbetween the rock pools will produce plenty of fish. Just be careful down there, the rocks are slick and everytime I fish down there, I haven't seen another person.

I finished the day at around 3:00, after moving back upstream to check if the water had cleared up. Luckily it had so I nymphed a little more with a hare's ear and lightning bug. Again, both produced, but it seemed like the browns like the hare's ear and the bows like the lightning bug.



After a while, I saw lots of fish rising, so I threw on a small elk hare caddis picking up some small bows and a bonus that completed my day!



Even though it was small, this brookie made it a Clear Creek grand slam for me.

I finally left at around 4:00 when the river was getting muddy again. I'm not sure when the work that is muddying up the creek is gonna end, but the fishing is good between the muddy runs and you can always head down stream until it clears up. Although it looks like winter has set in with all this snow over the weekend, there's still plenty of fishing and willing fish at Georgetown. Get out there before it all starts icing up and the ice fisherman and ice racers take over the lake!

Where am I headed next?

Winter is coming so tailwater fisheries will be my go to for the next couple months once the snow starts flying. I'll be posting trip reports and some winter fishing tips in the next couple months so stick around and feel free to ask questions about the places I'll be fishing and the equipment and rigs I use.

Tailwaters:
Arkansas Below Pueblo Dam
Frying Pan Below Reudi Res
Blue River Below Lake Dillon

Winter Fishing Opportunities before and after ice off:
Eagle River
S. Platte, Deckers and Below Wigman
Dream Stream
Arkansas River

10/01/11 Clear Creek/Lake Georgetown

10/01/11
Clear Creek and Georgetown Inlet
Flows: 49
Time: 9:00 AM - 11:30

Falll is great fishing and great scenery! Get out of town and check out the leaves in the high country and get on some browns! Although Lake Georgetown isn't that far out of town, it's still a decent drive with some cool scenery that is close to Denver.

The key to fishing here is to try something different. When I arrived at 9:00 AM, I saw 5 cars already parked near the foot bridge and 5 more closer to the inlet. By the time I left, a few more people had showed up making it the busiest I've seen for the past few weekends.

So how do you fish differently than everybody there? Egg patterns are the go to during the fall spawning runs, but don't limit yourself to eggs. Throwing an omelet rig (2 or 3 egg patterns) can produce, but not in the numbers that you would think. Use bigger, or smaller patterns, and different colors. Try some pink, red or cerise eggs instead of the fl. orange or idaho cheese. Move up to a larger egg size, or milking egg patterns. An egg pattern that produced very well for me was a smaller sized otter's egg. These fish have had size 12 egg patterns thrown in their face all day long, so trying something different will entice a bite.

Don't forget that these fish are also still eating their regular diets. Nymphs and midges are the mainstay of their diets so don't forget your prince nymphs, copper johns, etc...My biggest brown came on a size 20 wire midge.

The most important thing to keep an eye on is your indicator.  These fish are smart and have seen it all so when they take, it can be very subtle and they quickly spit out flies.  The minute your indicator pauses, wiggles, or dips, set that hook.  There aren't that many snags here so 9 times out of 10, it's a fish.  Also, try a large hopper as an indicator.  You'd be surprised how often a fish will come out of the blue and just slam your hopper! 

Fishing heavily pressured water is a challenge, but can be a lot of fun when you figure out what the fish are taking...just because everybody is using it, doesn't mean it's catching fish. Also remember that fisherman lie! When someone says he's caught a few, it usually means he's caught 1. Stay away from the busy areas and move around! The bait dunkers will stick around the inlet and the foot bridge where these fish have seen it all. Move upstream or the left side of the inlet.

The fishing is great right now, fish are stacked and sight fishing is great. Just remember that these browns are naturally reproducing in this fishery, so try to avoid taking them. There are plenty of stocker bows to take home for dinner if you feel so inclined. Also, stay off the redds. With the flows low and clear, there is plenty of area to walk and fish without the need to get in or stay in the water.

I think we are just at the peak here with lots of fish making the move to spawn, and of course, with it comes lots of fisherman.  Respect others, there's trash cans there for used up leaders and tippet and smile as you pull fish after fish out of the very same hole another fisherman just vacated because he couldn't catch anything!