09/15/12 Clear Creek Golden to Blackhawk

09/15/12
Clear Creek Above Golden
12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

I only had a few hours so I thought I'd run up and see how Clear Creek has been doing!  I hadn't been there in a while, and the last time I was there, I only fished between tunnel 1 and 2.  This time, I decided to head up further and try to fish past tunnel 3.

I'm glad I did, since almost every parking spot and pull out was full of cars!  I didn't really see anybody fishing, but lots of people were hiking or climbing in the canyon.

I decided to give my new Scott A4 4 weight 10 ft rod a try since it would be the perfect rod to get some good drifts since Clear Creek isn't very wide.  I rigged up a 3 fly rig with soft hackle pheasant tail, a hare's ear, and a WD40.

2 casts in, and fish on!

A nice little brownie that took my hare's ear.  I managed to catch fish on all 3 flies and they were all brownies except for 1 rainbow that managed to squirm out of my hand before I could snap a picture.

Nothing super big, but still fun nonetheless.  After making my way upstream, I decided to switch up my flies and try a dry dropper rig.  Fish still continued to take the hare's ear and WD40, but none wanted anything to do with a stimulator, foam hopper, or even an elk hair caddis.  It probably didn't help that I was fishing during the hottest part of the day!

In any case, it was a fun few hours and not a bad drive to catch a good dozen fish.  Lots of hungry fish and flows are low and clear!

Free Fly Rod and Reel...Sort of...

So here's the deal...I have an old broken St. Croix Premier 5 Wt. sitting at home collecting dust. 

I called St. Croix and they said to send it in under the "Gold Star Service Plan" and it will be replaced with a Rio Santo.  Basically, you pay shipping plus $50 and get a new rod.  (Shipping is $10 through Fedex, Return shipping is included)

Details here:  St. Croix Warranty and Service
Since I don't need a new rod, I thought I would pay it forward and offer it up to a new or young fisherman that needs equipment!  Here's the sort of free part...you will need to pay for shipping and the $50 to St. Croix to get the new rod.

To sweeten the deal since you are still incurring some cost, I'm also going to include a used Pfleuger Trion Reel with Cortland 444 Classic 5 WT WF Line and backing as well as a small flybox with some of my go to flies for some local waters and a leader.

Basically, it's everything you will need to get on the water.

To be eligible to win this "package", just post a comment with some details of who's going to use this set up.  Is it your son or daughter in need of some equipment?  Does your wife want to try to fly fish, but the expense of equipment has kept her away?  Do you know someone who has served our country and would like to get into fly fishing?

Please don't comment if you are just wanting this set up as a back up.  I really would like this to go to someone who will use it to learn how to fly fish or someone in need.

I will randomly pick a "winner" at the end of the month.  Don't forget to include an e-mail or some way that I can get in touch with you if you win.

Good Luck!

09/02/12 Arkansas River Below Pueblo

09/02/12
Arkansas Below Pueblo
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Flows 106

After sleeping in a bit, it was time to hit the road and head back to Parker.  But I couldn't leave without fishing in Pueblo!  It would be crazy not to fish before I left town!

So back to Valco for a quick trip.  I a was out of my regular flies for this stretch having lost or mangled them from the last 2 days of fishing.  I thought I'd try a change since the fishing has slowed down a bit over the weekend from all the pressure.

I rigged up standard "winter" midge set up with a juju baetis, zebra midge, and a blue poison tung.

There was already 2 guys fishing below the 3 rocks so I moved up to the faster waters and the tailout.  I was pleasantly surprised to pick up a fish on my second cast!

Another 2 casts later and another rainbow!  The fish were really liking the midges and the 2 guys below me came up to talk to me after I picked up another.  They had been fishing san juan worms.  I suggested a prince and a midge combo.  They thanked me and moved on upstream while I managed to catch another beautiful cutbow.

After 7 fish in an hour's time, I decided it was time to head home!  I guess it was fortuitous that I was out some of my "standard" flies since the midge fishing was hot!  I'll have to remember to try midges when the fishing slows down late in the summer.  Size 18-22 on 6x fluro seemed to be the ticket.  The overcast skies also probably helped.

09/01/12 Arkansas River Salida to Canon City

09/01/12
Akansas River Salida to Canon City
7:00 AM - 7:30 PM

Dave and I got an early start and headed up the road...1st stop was Ark Anglers in Canon City to pick up a few flies and get some info.  Recommended flies were 2 bit hookers, stonefly patterns and Amy's Ants in red/black.  Apparently the Red Quills were coming off so anything with a little red was the ticket.

We made it to our 1st pullout just past pinnacle rock and started fishing.  Dave started with a hopper and Amy's Ant while I started nymphing...a couple of casts in and nothing...this was not looking good!

Dave switched up to a nymph rig too since we didn't see any fish rising and finally managed a nice little brownie on a two bit hooker.

Fish count...Dave 1, Andrew 0.

On to the next spot!

Between Texas Creek and Coaldale was out next stop.  I changed my rig to a two bit hooker followed by a prince nymph and green caddis pupa.

Here we both managed a few fish!  All brownies, and all taken on nymph rigs...again...no fish rising.

These guys were all actively feeding in the fast riffles and tailouts. 

New fish count:  Dave 3, Andrew 2

With the fish count still low, I was giving Dave a hard time since this was his "home" water in the Spring and Fall.  He even makes a few winter trips up here and I've seen his pictures of some beautiful fall browns that he's caught.  With the pressure on to catch more fish, we moved up to his "favorite" winter hole.

Here Dave managed to up his fish count significantly!  Fish here were keyed in on green caddis pupaes and WD-40's and flashback pheasants.

While I managed a couple fish, every time I looked over towards Dave, he was doing this.

Dave was able to add 7 more fish to his count...I was only able to add 3.

So up the canyon we continued!

At Rincon, we saw some beautiful water and made the short steep hike down to the water.  Lots of riffles, tailouts and pockets that held some bigger fish!

After getting the fish count up, it was already starting to get late, but Dave wanted to try one last spot right at Wellsville. 

Dave changed up his rig again and was able to get into 2 big rainbows, but thanks to my poor netting skills, he lost them.  Both took a pink san juan worm.  He was fishing the slower moving water in the canyon while I was fishing the faster riffle water downstream.  Both times, his fish ran for the faster water and were able to spit the hook after a furious fight with one of them taking Dave into his backing.

Final fish count for the day:  Dave 18, Andrew 16.

I was hoping for a bigger fish count and some better fishing, but it was still a decent day.  The guys at Ark Anglers were generous in providing information and flies, but unfortunately we couldn't make it happen with their suggestions.

We hardly saw anybody on the water, and the sun was high for most of the day probably contributing to higher water temps and more weary fish.  We wed waded all day and the water was very comfortable.

Hot flies were mayfly nymph patterns and caddis pupaes.  I wish we saw more top water action, but it just was not to be...

Again, a decent day and it was fun exploring new water!  All my fish were brownies and Dave managed to net 1 out of 3 rainbows that he hooked up with.  These natural fish were all beauties with plenty of fight.  I'm looking forward to trying this stretch again this winter with Dave.  He says he's got it dialed in for the winter...next time, I'm going to beat his fish count!

08/31/12 Arkansas Below Pueblo

08/31/12
Arkansas Below Pueblo
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Flows 106

Holiday weekend traffic put a damper on my spirits during the drive down...I left Parker at 3:00 PM and I didn't make it into Pueblo until 6:30.  Who knew heading south for the holidays was in every body's plans!

I was supposed to meet Dave for some evening fishing, but he didn't get down until about 7:30.  The plan was to be there by 4:30!

I started fishing at Valco and got into a few fish before Dave arrived.  Nothing special, just a few smaller fish that took a prince nymph or a z-wing caddis in brown.  I even managed a sucker!

Overall, fishing started out slow...but once the sun set, we were treated to an amazing caddis hatch!  Fish were splashing everywhere and we were taking them on the surface and subsurface.  We had made our way to above the gauging station and fish were everywhere.  In the riffles, pocket water, and even the slack water taking caddis.  Hot flies were of course the z-wing caddis, caddis pupa, elk hair caddis, puterbaugh's caddis, flashy caddis and even stimulators!

I know...the pictures are terrible, but trying to take pictures with a camera phone in the dark sucks.  I'm not sure if it was because of the full moon or what, but the fish were super active and we continued fishing into the dark.  We each managed a couple more fish but it eventually got too dark to see our flies or indicators.  The clouds had rolled in and what little light the full moon provided, was quickly covered up.

We left happy and content with fish still crashing on caddis but it was just too dark.  We were headed up towards Salida tomorrow anyways and Dave promised a good day so I was willing to leave with hopes of some great dry fly fishing up the road!