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!

10/01/11 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! 

09/18/11 Clear Creek

Clear Creek inlet at Georgetown
Flow: 48
11:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The fall spawning season is just starting. The browns have started to stack up at the inlet at Georgetown Lake and are starting to make redds in Clear Creek.

*Please don't fish or walk on the redds. Let these fish do their thing so we can have more fish to catch in the future!*

With the browns stacking up, the bows are following. Georgetown Lake is stocked regularly with 8-12 in bows. Being a put and take fishery you don't see a lot of larger fish around the creek but you can definitely find bigger fish in the lake. But for this trip, I wasn't looking to dunk bait or bring home dinner, I just wanted to catch some fish!

I brought two rods with me, my 3 wt strung up with a parachute adams and a matt's midge. My 5 wt was set up for nymphing with an egg up top and a hare's ear below.

I started fishing at the foot bridge at the inlet. Lots of fish were stacked up, but anytime someone tried to watch them from the bridge, they would spook and it would take a while for them to get back in the current. There were only 4 browns that I could see, and they weren't hungry. But thankfully the bows were! I caught quite a few cookie cutters with the nymphing rig. They were taking both the egg and the hare's ear equally well. The patterns worked so well, I didn't need to change it all day. I moved upstream from there on the south side of the creek passing up two good holes since a father and son team were fishing it. They didn't seem to be having as much luck as I was, but after a quick chit chat, I convinced them to ditch the caddis and san juans and try some eggs. The son hooked up right away which convinced the dad to give them a shot too. I think they caught 2 each while I was watching them. I made my way to the pipe hole and ended up getting a few nice fish through there as well, with the biggest being a decent brownie close to 16 in.

At around 3, I noticed fish were rising, but I couldn't really see anything coming off the water. I also didn't really see any thing floating around but if the fish were rising, I was switching to dries. Besides, I needed the practice. The majority of the year I'm nymphing. But I love the summer when I can get out some big foam hoppers and try to catch some rising fish. There's nothing more fun that watching a fish rise to your fly, give it a look and swipe at it or sip it in slowly...

Even though my technique is brutish with my flies crashing on the water, I still managed to get plenty of takes but only 3 to the net. I think I get too excited and I tend to set the hook too early. Once I slowed down and gave the fish a second to take the fly, my hook ups increased.

All in all, a great day to get out to clear creek and Georgetown Lake. The drive isn't too bad from Denver and even though I went on a weekend, the crowds were mostly concentrated around the lake. For a quick trip to get your fill of some fish this fall, this is a great option that is close to Denver.