Colorado Fly Fishing by The Flyfisher Group

Making Fly Fishing an After School Program

    One of the major challenges that keep people out of fly fishing is the price point of big ticket items like rods, reels, waders, etc. This is especially true for youth looking to get into the sport, particularly when they come from low to moderate income families.
     We recently decided to do something about this issue, and with the help of a few industry sponsors like Scientific Anglers, Umpqua Feather Merchants, Dr. Slick, and agencies like the Colorado Division of Wildlife we were able to put together a successful after school fly fishing program for Denver Colorado's Martin Luther King Jr. Early College.
    The Early College has had its struggles throughout the years but has been on the uptrend for the past 5. Recently featured in the Denver Post and local NBC channel 9 News for having great success, the  Early College is classified as a Title 1 school where the vast majority of students who attend there are eligible for a government subsidized free and reduced lunch program. Not surprisingly, these students don't always get the same opportunities to see and do new things, especially when it comes to outdoor sports and activities. So when we decided to start the program we didn't exactly know what the response would be. We were greeted with lots of questions like"you mean you are going to catch flies?" and "so what do you use for bait?" Needless to say, these students didn't know much about fly fishing when they started, but after a few club meetings these same kids were tying flies, casting rods, and catching fish with great proficiency.
    We started off the program with a simple introduction to the sport and the equipment that is used. We then moved on to fly tying, knots, and casting. The program wrapped up for the school year with an outing to a local pond where students tested their newly learned skills.  Although we did battle with nearby trees and bushes everybody experienced success and now knows what it is like to have a fish on the line. The outing was a great way to talk about the different kinds of fish we encountered; Rainbow Trout, Bluegill, and Largemouth Bass and what they need in order to survive.
    Overall the program was a hit. Anytime you can expose youth to new things and take them out of their normal element you are bound to see fun things happen.   More importantly, we were able to introduce the sport of fly fishing to the next generation of anglers.

    Through efforts like this we can assure the longevity of our sport, our fisheries, and hopefully our natural resources.

We are grateful to have partnered with the school system and such strong leaders in the outdoor community. Thanks to all for making this happen!

(MLK Student Martin Soto showing off his catch)

To learn more about Angling University click here.

Ethan Emery, Angling University Director

Fishing Runoff in Colorado

Run-off can be a very intimidating time to fish a river, and the power of the heavy currents should never be underestimated. However, high water is also a great time to fish. A lot of the favorite runs and riffles will turn into raging whitewater rapids, but this translates into pockets and inside bend runs that are typically in non-existence during normal flows. Often these new fishable areas are cloudy and murky due to sediment so seeing fish is often not possible, but don’t be fooled, all of these areas are packed with fish. Typically what happens during run-off is a mass congregation of fish from a certain stretch into one small protected area.

Fly selection for run-off is very simple. Due to poor visibility the flies that you fish should always be larger than you think. My choice during run-off for all of the Rocky Mountain drainages is a Stonefly (#2-#8),pink worm (#10-#14), and usually a chartreuse free-living caddis pattern (#8-#14). Large copper johns, princes, and pheasant tails are also great choices.

When reading the water to determine where to wet your line is a skill that determines how many fish will end up in your net at the end of the day. Of course pools and back eddies are great choice, but they can be difficult to hook fish out of due to their swirling currents. So have your eye out for a feature that I like to refer to as a “flooded riffle”, on the inside of bends. These “flooded riffles” typically support a lot of fish and is where they usually move to feed.  When fishing during runoff it is important to read the current and most importantly the foam/bubble lines. Reading the foam/bubble lines will allow you to see what is happening at fish level. Look for moderate to slow moving lines and align your drift directly on top of them. Also look for foam lines that fan at a certain point like a yard rake. This indicates a small submerged structure that is fanning out the drifting insects to multiple fish stacked side by side.

Remember “foam is home”!

Ranch & Resort TV Features Flyfisher Guide Service on May 18 and May 23

The Flyfisher Guide Service will be featured on national television on Tuesday, May 18 on ICTV at 5:30 p.m. MDST, and throughout Colorado on Comcast on Sunday, May 23 at 10 a.m., all times Mountain. Ranch & Resort TV host Milton Dailey along with special guest Jim Ferguson of Great American Outdoor Trails Radio Network were guests at Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club to tape the show.

 

 

 

 

The personalities were treated to a special day outside of Pinecliffe, Colo., where Ferguson was amazed at the total number of fish caught and the overall strength. Dailey is still trying to find ways to put all of the footage together for a half-day on the river.

 

“I’ve never had such high quality, non-stop fly fishing action before,” said Dailey. “This is the best fly fishing footage I have ever gotten.”

 

The 10-minute feature will focus on the many great trout located in South Boulder Creek. Fans can catch 2009 Guide of the Year Anthony Bartkowski working with Ferguson throughout the day, while Flyfisher Guide Service Owner Matthew Burkett works with a never-ever angler to great success. Additionally, Cody DeGuelle, Lincoln Hills Fisheries Biologist and Guide, will be highlighted about the various streamside improvements that were conducted in making this section of Lincoln Hills one of Colorado’s best private fly fishing clubs.

  

Ferguson hosts a weekly radio show that can be heard on more than 400 radio stations throughout the world. He has hosted Bartkowski several times in the past, and you can listen to the duo talking about Ferguson’s trip to Lincoln Hills.

 

To see Ranch and Resort TV check below:

 

Tuesday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. MDST

DirectTV – ICTV channel 344

Dish Network – ICTV channel 230

 

Sunday, May 23 at 10 a.m. MDST

Colorado Comcast channel 3

 

Titan Rod Vault Review

Manufacturer: Titan Rod Vaults
Product:  Titan Rod Vault
Retail Price:  $395.00
Tester:  Scott McCaslin
Rating:  4 out of 5
Area Tested:  Highways and back roads in Colorado & Wyoming
What they Say: The Titan Rod Vault is made of high quality aluminum. It is a product that will last for years to come. The Titan Rod Vault mounts easily to most vehicle roof racks and has an optional locking clamp system which secures it to most vehicle racks. There is an additional lock which secures the rods and reels in the reel housing unit. The Titan Rod Vault will accommodate rods up to 10 feet long. The tubes are lined with a non-abrasive nylon and the reel housing unit is manufactured with dividers so that the reels will not rub against each other. Standard colors are silver with black accents. Custom painting and wrapping is available through our partners
What we say: This is a serious rod rack that is built to last. It has two locking systems, one to lock the Vault to the roof rack and one to lock the access door to the rods. I love the ability to keep rods rigged and ready to fish. Within a few seconds after pulling up at your local fishing spot you can be fishing.  In the month that I have had the rod Vault installed, I have had over a dozen people stop me in stores, parking lots and gas stations to ask about the Vault. This is clearly one of the hottest new items in the fly fishing industry for 2010.  The feedback I have been getting from total strangers has been totally positive.   I washed my Tahoe at the self serve car wash a few days ago and I am happy to report that the inside of the Vault was dry as well as my fly rods. Water tight so far. I keep three rods in my Vault. I have a 6 weight carp rod, a 5 weight nymph rod and a 4 weight dry fly rod all at the ready.
Pros:
•    Having rods rigged & ready to fish while being protected from the elements.
•    Knowing that the Vault and my fly rods are safely locked lets me sleep at night.
•    Having multiple rods rigged for different fishing conditions is a real time saver.
•     No need to stick your rods out a window or under your windshield wiper when you move fishing spots.
•    The Vault and especially the reel box are extremely well put together. So far no leaks in the rain, snow or car wash.
•    A universal mounting kit allows the Vault to be installed on most vehicle racks. The mounting kit works well with my Thule rack on my Chevy Tahoe.
•    The Vault has plenty of space for stickers.

Cons:
•    The Vault did not come with installation instructions. It took close to an hour to install on my Tahoe.  I have learned that instructions will be included with the Vault in the future. If I were to install a second Vault (which I might) I would imagine that the installation time would be cut in about half.
•    You will NOT be able to run your vehicle through an automatic car wash with the Titan Rod Vault installed. Don’t even think about trying it.
•    I have noticed a fair amount of wind noise since installing my Thule rack and the Vault.  I am going to buy a fairing to see if this takes care of the noise problem.

Where Available:
 In Denver Trout’s Flyfishing /www.troutsflyfishing.com

For more information on the web here is the link  to Titan rod Vaults http://www.bodeoutfitters.com

Warm-Water Fishing Report

As with the weather, warm-water fishing has been inconsistent all spring. As soon as fish go on the feed, a storm comes rolling in causing them to shut down. Spring is my favorite time to target warm-water species, but you have to take the good with the bad. To make your outings more productive plan your trips out in advance. Fish when there has been a few warm days in a row, plan on getting out on the water during the warmest part of the day and avoid fishing right after a cold front. Sometimes the urge to fish is overwhelming or you only have time during the evening to fish. If you are out on the water when conditions are less than ideal be ready to fish deep. Find drop-offs near shallow areas where fish would be if the water were warmer. Fish the channels that lead into these areas. Arm yourself with a fifteen foot sink-tip line and wide variety of crayfish, leech, and minnow patterns. Vary your retrieves and remember to fish tight on the structure.

 

Current Conditions:

Water temperatures are hovering in the mid-50s and with the recent cold front, the water doesn’t look like its going to warm any time soon. Once the temperatures get into the 60’s fishing should pick up for all warm-water species. The pre-spawn bite for largemouth is slow in most of the larger impoundments. Angling University’s Ethan Emery has reported good action for bass in a few of the small local ponds, which general warm quicker. Fishing the drop-offs and channels near the spawning grounds has produced fish. Aurora and Quincy Reservoir have picked up for smallmouth. Fish the areas of broken rock and along the dams. Stripping larger streamers through these areas has elicited takes. Wiper fishing has been slow throughout Colorado, though fish are being caught off boats in deeper water. Little action has been report from the shore. Carp fishing has been fairly good the past few weeks, as most of the local ponds have cleared up. Carp are beginning to move to the shallows and I have spotted schools of 20+ plus fish in several local ponds. High winds have made visibility poor at times. Seek shallow back-bays with good tree lines for a break during windy days.

 

Next weeks forecast looks good and if the weather does warm, look for fishing to improve. Carp are your best bet right now. They are a little more resilient to the dramatic changes in weather. I would focus on smallmouth over largemouth right now, as smallies are more active at cooler temperatures. Wiper action could still be a few weeks away. I’ll be on the water next week fishing for them, weather permitting. I’m hoping we are at the tail end of a cold spring and am enthusiastic that fishing will improve drastically over the next few weeks. Get out and work on your techniques.

Matt Nery

Fly Fishing Out Of My Element

My goal.  Try to catch a fish in Florida on a fly rod.

Looking at the Gulf of Mexico as a possible fly fishing opportunity is quite overwhelming through the eyes of a Colorado trout fisherman. Originally, I concentrated on freshwater opportunities and then realized how close I was to saltwater species.  I was even willing to resort to conventional tackle if necessary.

After visiting a fly shop and two bait-and-tackle shops, I felt a little less overwhelmed by the prospect of fishing in the Gulf.  The people at the fly shop were extremely helpful, turning me onto flies and techniques for both freshwater and saltwater. The freshwater in the area was very limited and with no one to tell or show me where I could go, I decided to tackle the Gulf’s saltwater fishes. Also, I needed a separate fishing license to fish salt and freshwater. The bait-and-tackle shop owners looked at me a little weird when I told them I wanted to fly fish in the Gulf, with only one of them showing optimism towards any possible success.  

Day One.  Wind was down, a bit cloudy, seemed like a good day for fly fishing.  After having smaller bait fish chase my fly for an hour or so, it began to feel overwhelming again.  By this time the sand fleas were out in force and it was time to call it.  No success.

Day Two.  Upon arriving at the beach, the wind was stiff and straight out of the west and not so good for fly fishing.  So I pulled out the conventional gear.  Big weight, big hook and frozen sand fleas were my go-to supplies. The sand fleas were not the kind that were biting me the day before, but a type of bait used in Florida.  Two hours passed to no avail.  My seven-month old son, who had been watching the escapade, was tired, hungry, and unimpressed. We needed to call it a day.

Day Three.  Perfect conditions, glassy water, and  an incoming tide.  Today would be the day, I kept telling myself.  I stepped down to the surf, put a thirty foot cast straight out, and after two trips I had a fish on!  I’m not sure what kind of fish it was (see picture), but I was excited none the less.  Something was right because I caught several more within 20 minutes.  Now I’m feeling pretty good about myself.  Confidence breeds success, or at least provides better opportunities.  That’s when I started seeing bigger fish.   I had a large, what I believe was a ladyfish, crush my clouser minnow, I was severely caught off guard and was not able to set the hook.  It was a missed opportunity but very exciting.  After that it died, something to do with the tide I’m sure, the tides are everything when saltwater fishing from the beach.

There was no Day Four.  My three-day fishing license had timed out; just when I started to figure it out.

I feel successful.  I did my research, I put in my time on the water and I did it all on my own – under the watchful eye of my son, who will be another future Gulf Coast fly fisher.)

I’ll look forward to getting down to the Gulf again with the knowledge I learned.

Dustin Mastro

Pro Staff Guide

Flows Still Low on South Boulder Creek

Graph of Flow at the East Portal of the Moffat Tunnel

The flows on South Boulder Creek have been relatively low this spring due to cold temperatures that continue to linger in the high country. Many of you probably keep a close eye on the gauges measuring flows along the front range. If not, you can check them out at http://www.dwr.state.co.us/SurfaceWater/Default.aspx where you can create a list of all the water you fish through "My Stations" on the left side of the page.

As you can see from the table above the water flow through the tunnel into SBC is below average and will probably remain there until the weather warms up. The gauge above Gross Reservoir has not been activated leaving the current flows a guesstimate with combining the total flowing through Moffat Tunnel. 

Current Fishing Report:
Weather: Cool (Low to Mid 40s), WINDY, and typical precipitation in the PM

Water: Upper 30s and Lower 40s, Clear, and ~35-55 cfs

Bugs: Stoneflies #8-14 (Dark Colors), Eggs #12-16 (Pale Yellow and Orange), Baetis #16-20 (Dark Colors)