Colorado Fly Fishing Blog - The Flyfisher

Fly Fishing Colorado's Winter

Winter is here and many of our Colorado streams and still water lakes have frozen over for the season. 
Fortunately, we still have many winter fly fishing opportunities on our winter fly fishing preserves.  On warm and sunny days our fly fishing guides are reporting good insect hatches, primarily midges and
blue winged olives making for some great late season dry fly fishing.  

Even if you are new to the sport, winter is a great time to give fly fishing a try.  Let one of our
professional fly fishing guides help you learn the basics of casting and presentation.  Or, if the weather is too cold for you, winter is a great time to learn new skills like fly tying or rod building through Angling University or take one of our online classes about fly casting or insect
identification. 

One of the many beauties of fly fishing is the ability to stay connected with the sport year round. 
However you decide to spend your angling time this winter season, let us help facilitate your entire fly fishing needs.

Tight Lines,

The Flyfisher Group

www.theflyfishergroup.com

 

Angling University kicks off 2011 at Denver ISE

For the fourth consecutive year Angling University has teamed up with International Sportsmen’s Exposition in adding a local flavor.
Every year more than 30,000 people flock to the Colorado Convention Center in downtown Denver. This year it is no different, except outdoor enthusiasts will be seeing Angling University in a lot more places.

On January 6,7,8 and 9, Angling University Instructors will be staffing the Angling University Fly Fishing Learning Center equipped with stations to teach attendees about fly tying, entomology, knots, rigging and a private pond for casting. While at the booth, check out the new online classes being offered by Angling University. New for 2011, every ISE show attendees will receive a Free voucher for one of Angling University’s cutting edge online classes. Pick up a voucher at the Learning Center or the ISE brochure table.

Special Promotion: While at the Learning Center, sign up for an AU class, lesson, or Flyfisher guide trip and receive a Free AU/Simms T-Shirt!

This year Angling University instructional staff will have an expanded role. Our Instructors will be featured in the following ISE venues.

Venue	Thursday Jan 6th	Friday Jan 7th	Saturday Jan 8th	Sunday Jan 9th
Aquarium Demo Tank	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Eye for the Spin Guy 1:30 PM	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Eye for the Spin Guy 3:30 PM	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Eye for the Spin Guy 6:30 PM	STOP BY THE AU LEARNING CENTER For Great Instruction and Prizes
Fly Fishing Theater	STOP BY THE AU LEARNING CENTER For Great Instruction	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Fishing Myths & Truths 6:30 PM	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Fishing Demystified 1:30 PM	Ethan Emery & Staff Fly Fishing “Reel” Family Fun 12:30 PM
Fly Tying Theater	Matt Nery- Warm Water Patterns 3:30 PM	STOP BY THE AU LEARNING CENTER For Great Instruction and Prizes	STOP BY THE AU LEARNING CENTER For Great Instruction and Prizes	STOP BY THE AU LEARNING CENTER For Great Instruction and Prizes
Angling University Learning Center	FREE Fly casting instruction, Knot tying instruction, Fly Tying instruction and Interactive Entomology Noon to 9PM	FREE Fly casting instruction, Knot tying instruction, Fly Tying instruction and Interactive Entomology Noon to 9PM	FREE Fly casting instruction, Knot tying instruction, Fly Tying instruction and Interactive Entomology 10 AM to 8PM	FREE Fly casting instruction, Knot tying instruction, Fly Tying instruction and Interactive Entomology 10 AM to 5PM

Stop by the Learning Center and register to win one of the many prizes that include:

A complete fly fishing rod/reel combos, new fly lines, fly boxes, Simms t-shirts and much more.

Information will be available for classes and guide trips.
Follow the link to buy your tickets now: https://v2.interactiveticketing.com/tickets/t149_2011_sportsmens_expo_denver_10092058df/form_purchase.php?step=intro

Learn How To Fly Fish Online - get started for FREE

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ANGLING UNIVERSITY IS GIVING YOU A FREE ONLINE FLY FISHING CLASS  To redeem your free module: 1. Just click on the online classes link below. 2. Select the Trout Identification / Quarry module from the “Single Courses” by adding it to your cart and checking out. 3. Complete your reservation info and enter FriendofAU in the promo code field and finish your reservation. 4. Follow the link at the end of the reservation and begin your online learning session. Angling University Online Classes       ONLINE LEARNING - Fishing classes for less than $5! Brows through our fully automated, interactive online learning modules. In a few clicks, you can be learning about fish identification, entomology, fly selection, fishing knots, and more. Check back frequently for new course offerings that include warm water, salt water, steelhead, and our Holiday gift certificates. Click here to see for yourself.

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NEW WEBSITE INCLUDING NEWS & MEDIA PAGE For your convenience and browsing pleasure you can now get all the latest fishing reports, news, blogs, and access to our trophy trout pics right on our homepage. We have also added a News & Media page for more in depth stories and amazing fish pictures.   Click to see the new Angling University site

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Enjoy!

Ethan Emery
Angling University President

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

Prospecting New Water

It's always fun prospecting waters that you haven’t seen before; you never know what's around the next bend.
You imagine the ideal hole with the riffled water fading into a large deep glassy pool with snouts and fins breaking the surface...
So you press on, no matter how tough the terrain...
 

and then you suddenly realize that the sun is getting low... you haven't eaten since 6am........
and it's going to be a long walk back to the truck...
If I can find it?

When I'm going to a place that I'm not familiar with, I like to stick to the basic flies, pheasant tails, copper johns, a prince, at first.  This time of year I'm rigged up with an egg pattern, FB Pheasant tail, and a midge pattern of some form.  As your exploring the river, stop and turn over a stone or two, see what's flying around. That bug that's annoying you, buzzing in your face may be a clue to the type of fly you should put on your line.  Your fly selection should follow the "Three S's", as stated in the Angling University Freshwater Fly Fishing 102 Handbook. Try to find a fly in your box that most resembles the bug in the water by matching the Size, Shape and Shade(color) of the bugs your finding.   

If you want to take a look inside  my  fly box and the boxes of all our guides?  Stay tuned for my report that will show you  the flies that our guides recommend  as the seasons change.  Coming soon................Fish on! <;)))><

Dave Verser    / Instructor and Pro Staff Guide   

Getting Ready for Fly Fishing One Season at a Time

Overview:  Springtime in the Rockies is known as big fish time.
This is the season when many of the largest fish of the season will be hooked and landed. Ice off usurers in the spring spawning season for cutthroats, cutbows and rainbows and with the days lengthen and eggs in the water trout will grow more in the April and May then they will all year. This is perhaps the most productive, most aggressive big fish fishing on the entire season as well as the most productive deep nymphing of the season takes place from now until the end of runoff. Remember after runoff the best fishing may not long be deep nymphing and your techniques should change accordingly.

 

Flies:  Organize your fly box. Most of us have not looked at our boxes since last fall. Now is the time to re-stock and organize to make the most of our time this spring. Take a look back at the fishing reports from 2008 and 2007 and see what bugs where working when. Make sure you have those bugs in stock and be sure you have enough to lose a few to the river. My favorites for spring include eggs, caddis, micro black stoneflies, bwos and midges in that order. As we move toward runoff and the water swells it is time for large stoneflies. Ready yourselves with olive, brown, black and golden stones in sizes 2-10. PMD’s will be hot on their tail as the water starts to recede along with green, brown and gray drakes. 

 Line, Leaders and Tippet: Fly lines should be checked for cracks and cleaned. It is also a good idea to pull the line off the spool and stretch it and let it lay out for a couple days before your first trip. This will help get the coil memory out of the line before it causes you a problem on the river. Make sure you have leaders in 7 ½ feet for water conditions up to about 400 CFS and 9 1/2 foot leaders for deeper swifter moving flows. I prefer to start with a 3X leader and cut it back as necessary to get to the diameter best suited for tying in the tippet I plan to use that day. You should be prepared with tippets ranging from 4X in the low water following ice off to 1X or heaver during runoff. Remember that monofilament leaders and tippets go bad over time for exposure to sun and the elements. It is a good rule of thumb to start the season with new mono if that is you tippet material of choice. Fluorocarbon on the other hand never goes bad so you should be good with late year’s batch. Remember the longevity of fluoro when you are working with it streamside. Whatever you leave behind will be there for your children’s children.

 

Rods and Reels:  Farrell wax is a nice way to prepare your rods for a new season. Simply apply a bit of the wax on the male end of the connecting rod section and you will be sure to have good, non-slip, easy to remove rod sections for the season. Cork grips can be clean with a mild detergent and some elbow grease, cleaning your grips each year can extend the life of your cork. Preparing your reels for the season varies depending on the model and manufacturer, read up on their recommendations before cleaning or oiling a reel.  

 

Nets:  For those of you using rubberized baskets you should take a minute to check and be sure there no cracks in the plastic or hole in the bag. Unlike cloth mesh nets the holes or cracks that turn into hole in rubber baskets stretch under the weight of the water and fish so what looks like a very small hole can be large enough to allow even the best 10 pound fish to escape. I speak from experience on this one!

 

Waders and Boots:  It is always nice to start the season smelling great. Gortex waders can be washed in the machine using powder detergent. Revivex can be used to restore the “bead up” ability of water on the outside of the waders. The new Revivex is much easier to apply and achieves great results. Check the laces in your boots, especially in Simms boots; they are good for one season at the most. New laces and a good rinse off with 409 will ensure you are not transporting aquatic hitchhikers.

 

Fishing License: Remember that all 2009 fishing licenses expire at the end of March 2010; be sure to renew your license before you go fishing the DOW will be out in force between now and run off.

Thanks to our affiliate Catch Magazine for the photos.

Angling University, backed by the best companies in the business

   With the economic impact on the fly fishing industry being so great, it is not surprising that companies are cutting back where they can. This was evident with the recent Fly Fishing Retailer show in Denver, Colorado. Attendance was down, and so were the number of exhibitors. Yet, with all of the hardships that are being felt in the industry, Angling University seems to have found a way to succeed. Not only are we growing, and introducing hundreds of people to the sport of fly fishing every year, but manufacturers from around the globe are buying into what our school has to offer.
   Evidence of this was visible at the recent retailer show, when company after company signed on to officially sponsor Angling University (our Denver based fly fishing school), in their efforts to introduce more people to the sport for the remainder of 2009 and 2010. Several manufacturers decided to re-up their commitment as they had already been sponsoring the school. Companies like Scientific Anglers, Dr. Slick, Costa Del Mar, and Westwater Products have seen big benefits from partnering with Angling University and decided to continue their partnership into the future. At the same time, some new companies approached us and are now in discussions about working together and becoming part of our sponsor partners. These companies include Mustad, Temple Fork Outfitters, Moffitt, and more.
   It is easy to see why we work so closely with these companies; they are leading manufacturers and make outstanding equipment for anglers everywhere, and because of our partnership, we can put top quality goods into the hands of our students.
  All in all, 2009 has been great to Angling University and we are looking forward to 2010 and all that it has to offer. We will continue to set the pace for angler education, both on the water and in the classroom, all the while bringing our sponsors along with us.

Read more about our sponsors and what they do by clicking here.

Ethan Emery
Angling University Director

Teaching Kids To Fish

    There are many things in this life that can test your patience; traffic, downloads, the DMV, but teaching your kids to fish should not be one of them. Here are a few things to keep in mind when trying to educate kids to fish that will benefit all parties involved.

1. Keep it fun! If the kids aren't having fun then it is not worth doing. The whole point of passing along your angling knowledge is to teach appreciation of the outdoors, conservation, and sportsmanship. If the kid is bored out of his or her mind they will instead learn to resent the sport that you love.
2. Keep it simple. You can't cram years of fishing experience all into one day on the water, it is unproductive and violates rule number one. Instead, pick a couple of things that you want to teach them focus only on that. Maybe it is casting or fighting a fish...you can and should do everything else for them.
3. Keep it productive - catch some fish! This is a hard thing to arrange sometimes, but if you can, make sure that you and your kiddo(s) can be successful on the water. Nothing will create a more positive lasting impression than catching a fish or two, no matter the species - many a bluegill have been caught by first time anglers. 
4. Document the experience - take pictures! Even if all you catch is a minnow, play it up. Blow up the picture and put it on the wall. 
5. Lastly, quit while you're ahead. Don't continue to fish if the fishing is slow or slowing down. When the fishing takes a turn, or you start to see a lack of interest in your young pupil don't forget rule number one. Skip some rocks, have a stick race down the stream, chase some butterflies, or have a snack, and keep the whole thing to a few hours tops.

Follow these rules to enjoy a fun and productive fishing experience with your little ones.

Seem too complicated?...check out our kids fishing camps. We'll facilitate a fun, hands on learning experience that will create lasting memories for years to come.

Ethan Emery
Angling University Director

Press Release | The Flyfisher Angling University Fly Fishing School

Ethan Emery and The Flyfisher Angling University Fly Fishing School were written up in the Denver Post. Charlie Meyer highlighted the schools ability to instruct beginner anglers and touted the University's wide array of classes and fully developed curriculum. Beginner anglers and those who need a refresher should not miss Emery and Angling University's presentation on May 26th at the REI Flagship Store, 1416 Platte River Street in Denver. This event is Free. Read the Denver Post article.

Knot-sense; keeping it simple

    Without fail, in all of our classes and most of our guide trips people will ask "what kind of knot do you use for this...or that." For some reason it seems as though we as anglers have once again gone and made things harder and more confusing than they need to be. I am a firm believer in the KISS model which stands for Keep It Simple Stupid! This couldn't be more true when I rig up for fishing.
    Why use an Albright Knot when a Nail Knot will do? Why use a Blood Knot when a Double Surgeons will accomplish the same thing? Why use a Palomar or Uni-Knot when there is nothing wrong with the Clinch? That's right, I said the Clinch, not the Improved Clinch.
    In my opinion, knots are like tools; they all have a specific purpose and function best when they are used properly. After all, we all know what happens when you need a wrench and only have a pair of pliers...knots are exactly the same. When attaching backing and or butt-section to a trout fly line, it's hard to beat a Nail Knot. For attaching tippet to leader, a Double Surgeons Knot is perfect, as long as the  two pieces are similar in diameter and you don't already have flies tied onto your tippet. If you end up with a break or need to cut a casting knot out of your rig a Blood Knot is usually my knot of choice. It is strong and avoids threading flies through the knot itself.
    Lastly, there is the debate of the Clinch vs. Improved Clinch. I still recall a study done by the Fly Fisherman Magazine staff that showed around a 1% strength improvement when using the improved version. In my experience, I have actually seen it work the other way. Improved Clinch Knots are more difficult to tie, and when any knot is tied improperly it is WEAK! It has also been shown that when using Fluorocarbon instead of Mono. the Improved Clinch actually weakens the knot due to extra kinks in the line. I also go back to my KISS moto; keep it simple. The "Improved" trade off is not worth the hassle. 
    Let's not lose sight of the big picture; we are on the water to catch fish. If a knot doesn't improve your ability to catch fish, then don't bother.
    For more about how to tie different knots and cool animations, check out animatedknots.com

Ethan Emery
Director, Angling University

Tying Table Tips - Faster Flies

There are lots of things that tiers do to save a few seconds here or there. Unfortunately, many of them require skipping a step in the fly or substituting an inferior material into the recipe. In tying hundreds of dozens of flies each year, I have come to a few conclusions about how to save a minute here or there.

1. Tie in dozens. This never used to be the way I would do it. After all, how would I store extra flies when I was done tying? Now I save lots of time in setup and digging for materials if I tie at least 12 of each pattern.
2. Set up materials ahead of time. For example; if I tie a batch of Prince Nymphs, I'll set up the biots in pairs ahead of time so all I have to do is grab one and go.
3. Tie with the biggest thread that you can. This reduced thread breaks and gives you a bit more confidence when you need to add a little force here and there.
4. String the beads before you begin to actually tie. This goes back to tip #3 but really saves a lot of  time. If you are going to tie 24 bead heads, then string all the beads onto the hooks at the same time.
5. Use magnets on your tying surface. This allows you to group beads, hooks, and finished flies and stay organized at the same time. Spend less time searching for stuff and more time producing flies. 
6. HERE'S THE BIGGIE - Tie with scissors in hand! It takes a bit of practice but after a few dozen flies it begins to feel normal and is one less time you have to go back to the table in search of a tool. This method is better suited with "finishing scissors" than traditional scissors. Again, they take some getting used to but it's worth the effort. After all, how can you argue with somebody like A. K. Best when it comes to efficient fly tying? I like these from Dr. Slick:

Ethan Emery
Director, Angling University

Ethan Emery Highlighted at the 2009 International Sportsmans Expo

Ethan Emery, Director of our Angling University did a fantastic job with his presentations in the Fly Fishing Theater for Beginner Anglers and with his fly tying presentation highlighting a few of the "guide patterns" we use each year. Make sure to check out our winter class schedule at: Angling University Winter Class Schedule.  In addition to the presentations Ethan did on the show floor, he also hosted the winners from Fox News channel 31 fly fishing essay contest. The ten contest winner and TV personality Dan Daru joined Ethan and his instructors for the first part of a two part crash course in fly fishing. Look for the second part of the class to air on Fox News in April when the group is hosted at the historic Lincoln Hills Fly Fishing Club.

Ropin' Up

In my 8 years as a professional guide and fly fishing instructor, it has become painfully obvious that people in Colorado fish tippet that is far too light. In our fly fishing classes and lessons at The Flyfisher Angling University we make it a point to discuss the importance of selecting the appropriate size leaders and tippets. There are a good number of reasons that we focus so much time on this issue, they are listed below:
1. Too many people have bought into the myth that 6X tippet is standard for Colorado fly fishing (especially on the South Platte).
2. Fluorocarbon tippet allows you to fish at least one, and usually two sizes larger.
3. Most of our rivers and streams are fast:
    a. giving even small fish the ability to break off.
    b. fish have less time to inspect your tippet size.
4. Anglers don't typically fight fish well enough to land them on light tippet resulting in:
    a. more break-offs leaving flies in fish.
    b. fighting a fish to exhaustion because adequate pressure could not be applied.
5. Light tippet tangles much easier.
6. Light tippet breaks off easily if you hook a snag, tree, or bush.

The list goes on and on. The point is; ROPE UP! Use bigger tippet. The result will be healthier fish, more fish in the net, and more flies in your box at the end of the day. Personally, in 2008 I haven't tied on anything smaller than 3 or 4X to date. Because of this, I have been fortunate enough to land dozens of fish over 5lbs thus far and so have my students and clients. Happy fishing!

Another happy client with a huge rainbow

Ethan Emery

Adding power to your cast

There are a lot of analogies when it comes to tightening your casting loop and adding power to your dry fly cast. The one I like the most has to do with the back-cast and how it lays the foundation for the entire casting motion. There are a few common mistakes that anglers make that weakens the effectiveness of their back-cast. They are as follows: 1. A weak back-cast, 2. The back-cast comes too far back, and 3. The back-cast never truly comes to a stop.

Let’s take this one at a time, starting with the weak back-cast. Think of it like this; if you need to cast 30ft to reach a rising fish in front of you, you first need to get all 30ft of that line behind you, and it won’t happen with a weak back-cast. The back-cast should be equal to, or greater in force than that of the forward cast. When in doubt, add power to your back-cast

Bending the wrist is THE most common mistake in all of casting and it leads to the cast coming too far back. To eliminate this, shorten your cast by bringing in line, run your index finger up the SIDE of the rod, not on top. Pretend you are 6yrs old again playing cops and robbers and you are shooting the bad guy with your finger while you cast. This “finger on the side” technique prevents you from bending the wrist because your finger simply doesn’t bend that way.

Lastly, you will notice that casts are just like people, their past shapes their future. Failure to stop the rod at the end of the back-cast never allows the rod to properly load for the forward cast which leads to a very underpowered forward cast. If you don’t know what I am talking about, watch your back-cast some time. For shorter casts, those less than 30 ft or so, stop the rod at the 12 o’clock position. For longer casts up to 60ft, stop the rod closer to the 11 or 10 o’clock position.

These are not hard rules, more like guidelines to help you improve a vital part of your fishing experience. Don’t get too caught up in casting though, after all, the fish are in the water and seldom care how your flies get there.

To learn more about casting or sign up for a private casting lesson log on to: theflyfisher.com/anglinguniversity. Or call 303-733-2672.

 

-Ethan Emery

Sharpen your skills for Spring!

    Spring is right around the corner...Are you ready? It is good to prepare your gear for the spring and a new fishing season, but don't neglect your own skills when it comes to preparing your fishing tools. The more you grow as a fisherman/women, the more you realize that fly fishing is about 75% mental, 20% physical, and 5% luck. Although, there are times when it seems those odds change. Being successful on the water has more to do with your mental game than your physical ability to cast, mend, set the hook, etc. Before any of that takes place, you need to have a plan of attack including what flies to use, how to set up your rig, where to fish, and even what you will do when you hook a fish.

   Need a refresher on the basics? Book a private lesson today and build your own agenda and curriculum to focus on your areas of growth. Starting at only $275, we can get you on your way to that next step in your fly fishing game.

Ethan