South Platte River – 11/15/2024

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Time: 12:00PM – 4:00PM

Location: Cheesman Canyon

South Platte River 11/15/2024 Photo Album

The 2024 fishing season had all but ended for me. Or so I thought. My last outing on South Boulder Creek on October 28 felt like the finale. But when my friend Nate texted about plans for November 15-17, my curiosity got the better of me. A quick check of the weather showed temperatures in the low fifties—mild enough for one more adventure. Nate’s suggestion of Cheesman Canyon sealed the deal, as he’d found decent success there just two weeks prior.

The Road to Cheesman

We met early Friday morning at a park-and-ride and carpooled to the South Platte River. Nate recounted his recent hike into Cheesman Canyon via the upper trail. I had tried a route to the upper canyon years ago and remembered it as steep and challenging. Still, I decided to give it another shot.

The drive itself turned out to be an adventure. As we wound our way up the steep dirt road to Cheesman Reservoir, a large tow truck with a flatbed trailer loomed ahead. Passing it was nerve-wracking; I had to back down 200 yards of narrow road with a rock wall on one side and a steep drop on the other. We finally squeezed into a wide spot, holding our breath as the truck inched past. Crisis averted!

When we reached the trailhead, it became clear that the roads and access points had changed since my last visit. A locked gate barred the road I remembered, forcing us to use the trail Nate had recently hiked. A chance encounter with another angler, Dale, and his companions confirmed that confusion about the logistics was widespread.

The Hike In

At the trailhead, the air temperature hovered in the upper forties. I layered up with my North Face light down jacket, stuffed a fleece hoodie into my backpack, and set up my Sage One five-weight rod. Nate and I began the steep 2.1-mile hike, tackling switchbacks, loose gravel, and even patches of snow and ice. The final descent into the canyon was precarious, requiring careful navigation around large boulders.

Cheesman Reservoir

Once we reached the river, we scrambled along its edge for another 0.3 miles to a sunny spot. Here, we paused for lunch and prepared for our first casts of the day.

This View of the Dam Provides a Sense of the Steepness of the Canyon

A Tough Start

I started with a three-fly setup: a peacock hippie stomper, a beadhead pheasant tail nymph, and an orange scud. Despite my best efforts, the fish weren’t interested. After losing all three flies to a snag, I re-rigged with a mini Chubby Chernobyl and trailed an emerald caddis pupa and a sparkle wing RS2. The emerald caddis pupa was in response to a caddis adult that landed on Nate’s sleeve. Still no luck.

Conditions in the Canyon

The early afternoon proved frustrating, with only a few half-hearted refusals to my flies. Nate fared no better. Around 2:30 PM, we noticed a few sporadic rises near exposed rocks. Hoping to capitalize on the activity, I switched to a double-dry setup: a tan mini Chubby Chernobyl paired with a size 16 deer hair caddis.

The Reward

By 3:00 PM, we reached a promising run that spilled into a deep pool. Nate fished the tail, while I focused on the faster water at the top. On my fifth cast, a swirl beneath my trailing caddis signaled a take. I set the hook, and a flash of crimson confirmed I had a solid rainbow trout on the line.

Site of the Only Catch of the Day

The fight was thrilling but brief, and Nate assisted with the net. This fish was a stunner—a vibrant rainbow with a broad red stripe, measuring an estimated 17 inches. As I struggled to remove the fly, the trout made a final leap, escaping the net, before we could snap a photo. Thankfully, Nate witnessed its size and beauty.

Wrapping Up

The rest of the afternoon yielded no additional action. Nate experimented with a streamer, but the fish remained elusive. By 4:00 PM, shadows covered the river, and the dropping temperature signaled it was time to leave.

Looking Back After Early Ascent

The hike out was grueling, requiring a steep climb over icy, loose terrain. By the time we reached the trailhead, we were exhausted but grateful for the experience.

Reflections

While the fishing itself was slow, the day felt like an adventure—a test of endurance and a celebration of the wild beauty of Cheesman Canyon. Nate’s luck didn’t hold, but I was thankful to avoid a skunking with one memorable rainbow trout. At my age, completing such a challenging hike without injury or equipment failure felt like a victory.

Whether this was my final outing of 2024 remains to be seen. The weather will decide, but for now, I’m content to reflect on this unforgettable day.

Fish Landed: 1

 

 

Mini Chubby Chernobyl – 11/08/2024

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Mini Chubby Chernobyl 11/08/2021 Photo Album

Several fly tiers that I follow posted images of mini chubbys, and I was intrigued by the idea of a smaller-sized foam fly for instances, where the fish were refusing my larger hopper patterns. I remembered this thought, and toward the end of my 2024 fly tying season, I churned out five mini chubbys with a beige body and light tan foam.

These flies remained forgotten in my fly box until the afternoon of 08/19/2024 on Cascade Creek. I was experiencing a fairly slow day on a creek that was new to me, and for some reason I knotted one of the mini chubbys to my line. Imagine my surprise, when the size twelve chubby with a single wing began to induce aggressive takes from gorgeous stream bred rainbow trout. It was not a fluke, as trout emerged from nearly every prime location to attack the fly.

Model Fly

I visited the same stream a second time toward the end of September, and although the success rate was not as great as the August afternoon, the action was decent and convinced me to tie some mini chubbys during my fall and winter fly tying sessions.

Left Side

The past several days fulfilled my commitment, and I churned out twenty size 12 mini chubby’s for the upcoming season. Nearly all my success occurred on Cascade Creek, so I am quite anxious to determine whether the fly can produce on other western rivers and streams.

If the results replicate 2024 on Cascade Creek, the mini chubby will be a nice addition to my arsenal. It should support a pair of size 14 nymphs, as it contains slightly more surface mass than a hippie stomper. Another favorable factor is tying time. I can crank these flies out faster than I can produce a hippie stomper. I do not view these as a replacement to the hippie stomper, but rather a productive complement.

Twenty Complete

When I researched tying instructions, I noticed that some patterns utilized two sets of legs, and some limited leg attachment to the front next to the wing. I opted for the single set of legs. Fifteen of the mini chubbys were made with light tan dubbing, and I applied light gray dubbing to the other five.

I am very excited to continue the mini chubby experiment in 2025.

Hippie Stomper – 11/02/2024

Hippie Stomper 11/02/2024 Photo Album

The hippie stomper has secured a spot as one of my top producing flies if not number one. The beauty of this fly is its versatility. I tie only size 14’s on a 2XL hook, and this creates a relatively small foam body fly. Perhaps I should experiment with more sizes and colors, but my success rate with my narrow offering makes me question how much improvement I could gain.

My versatility comment stems from the fly’s buoyancy and size. The foam structure allows the fly to float quite well, and this translates to supporting two size 14 beadhead nymphs. Unlike larger hopper patterns, however, the hippie stomper is lighter and thus yields a softer landing in low and clear conditions. When fish refuse my size eight hoppers and chubby Chernobyls, I resort to the hippie stomper, and quite often the downsizing pays dividends.

The Beginning of My Tying List and Inventory Count

If I wish to go with a dry fly presentation, the hippie stomper is very productive solo or as the lead fly on a double dry arrangement. During the past season I experienced many fine days using the hippie stomper as the first fly along with a more imitative fly behind it such as a deer hair caddis or comparadun. The hippie stomper is very visible, and this makes tracking the typically drab trailer much easier.

As a solo fly, it is also no slouch. I believe that it imitates terrestrials and green drakes as well as other fish food morsels. It just looks buggy. If I haven’t convinced you of the versatility of this fly, I am not sure what else I have to say. This fly probably spent more time on my line than any other in my box including the dependable hares ear nymph and salvation nymph.

The Hippie Stomper Look

I settled on peacock and dark olive ice dub, as my preferred body colors on the hippie stompers that I tie. The body is only visible under the overlying foam at the back of the abdomen, so I am not convinced that color makes a huge difference. The creator, Andrew Grillos, favors various colors of flashabou, a tinsel like product. I have some reds, a silver, a blue, purples and bright green tied with the flash, but I rarely resort to them.

During September I was losing hippie stompers at an alarming rate, so I inspected my damaged fly canister and discovered, that I had five in need of repair. I fixed them by replacing legs and reinforcing unraveling thread, and I ended the season with plenty in reserve.

Twenty Completed and the Necessary Materials

Because of my inventory scare, I decided to make the hippie stomper my first tie of the 2024 tying season. I counted my supply and discovered that I had 25, so I suppose my concern was over done. I checked my tying checklist from the previous year, and I began the season with forty. Since five of the 25 counted were refurbished, simple math revealed that I lost twenty flies or half my beginning inventory. I collected all the necessary materials and tied an additional twenty to bring my 2025 beginning inventory to 45. Hopefully this will suffice, although I am certain that hippie stomper usage will once again increase in the new year.

South Boulder Creek – 10/28/2024

Time: 11:30AM – 3:00PM

Location: Downstream from Gross Reservoir

South Boulder Creek 10/28/2024 Photo Album

As October’s mild weather streak lingered for one final day, I knew colder temperatures were just around the corner. With a dip in the forecast beginning Tuesday, October 29, I decided to make the most of the lingering warmth and venture out for what might be the season’s last balmy outing. After a slow Friday on the Big Thompson, I was ready for a change and shifted my focus to tailwaters, checking the flows on South Boulder Creek. With the outflows from Gross Reservoir holding steady at a promising 65 CFS, I packed up and headed out.

Pocket Water in the Shade

After a quick morning dentist appointment, I arrived at the Walker Ranch Loop Trailhead around 11:00 AM. It was a beautiful 64 degrees—perfect for late October—and I geared up with my Loomis two-piece five-weight rod. Prepared for a possible cool down, I wore my quick-dry short sleeve undershirt layered under my fishing shirt, with a Brooks long-sleeve undershirt and raincoat packed away just in case I needed additional warmth. I made my way down to the creek, excited to start the day.

I reached the creek by 11:30 AM and kicked things off with a double dry setup: a peacock hippie stomper trailed by a size 14 light gray deer hair caddis. This combination paid off, and by the time I broke for lunch at 12:15 PM, I landed four small browns and one rainbow. Both the stomper and the caddis were successful, and though the trout were modest in size, the steady action was encouraging.

Decent Early Catch

While enjoying my lunch, a light chill crept in from the morning’s hike-induced perspiration, so I swapped my shirt for the Brooks long-sleeve layer. That added warmth made a noticeable difference, as I prepared to resume fishing.

After lunch, I stuck with the double dry setup, which continued to yield results, bringing my fish count up to nine. Most were still in the six to nine-inch range, with the smaller size dominating, but a rise is a rise in late October.

Bank Pocket

As I continued, I noticed small stoneflies flitting about, one even landing on my shirt long enough for a close inspection. I attempted a photo, but naturally, it took off, before I could snap the shot. Inspired, I decided to swap out the caddis for a size 18 black stonefly pattern I’d tied a few years back for an October hatch just like this one. I trailed it behind the hippie stomper, and was rewarded with a small brown trout for my effort, boosting the count to ten.

The stonefly pattern, however, wasn’t a consistent producer, so I switched tactics again, tying on Jake’s Gulp Beetle. It wasn’t a game-changer, but it did result in two subtle downstream takes that bumped my count to twelve. At this point, though, the bite was slowing down, so I made another shift to a dry/dropper setup.

Jake’s Gulp Beetle

For this new setup, I kept the hippie stomper on top, extending the leader to three feet and adding a salvation nymph followed by a soft hackle emerger. Dark clouds were gathering, and I noticed a few sporadic rises on the water, suggesting some blue-wing olive activity. The emerger was the perfect choice for these conditions, and for the rest of the afternoon, I managed to land four more trout.

Curled Brown Trout

Halfway through, both the salvation nymph and soft hackle emerger snapped off. I re-rigged, this time swapping the soft hackle for a size 20 sparkle wing RS2, which turned out to be a good call. The salvation nymph and RS2 each enticed a couple of trout to bring my total to sixteen by the end of the day.

By 3 PM, the clouds had overtaken the sun, and while the air temperature held up, the bite had slowed considerably. Sixteen trout on October 28 marked a solid day, even if the fish were small. This warm fall day was a welcome reprieve, filled with the peaceful solitude of the canyon and the beauty of late October on the creek. If this does turn out to be my last trip of the season, I’ll head into winter feeling satisfied and grateful for one last balmy fall day

Fish Landed: 16

 

Big Thompson River – 10/25/2024

Time: 11:30AM – 3:30PM

Location: In the canyon below Estes Park

Big Thompson River 10/25/2024 Photo Album

I somehow strained my knee playing pickleball last Friday, and I then aggravated it on Monday, so I decided to steer clear of that fun activity for a while to hopefully encourage healing of my aging body. I discovered, however, that hiking in a straight ahead direction did not create discomfort during my hike into South Boulder Creek, and then I tested it again on a 4.8 mile hike in Rocky Mountain National Park. Since I was refraining from pickleball, and the weather forecast for Friday was reasonably favorable, I decided to undertake another day of fly fishing.

Originally I planned to make the journey to Eleven Mile Canyon, but in the final analysis, I was averse to making the long drive. South Boulder Creek on Tuesday was enjoyable, but again I was reluctant to endure the one mile hike up a steep hill at the end of the day. On October 15 I visited the Big Thompson River and experienced reasonable success, and the flows remained at 23 CFS, and the projected high temperature in Estes Park was 61 degrees. The Big Thompson became my destination.

I arrived at a wide pullout in the catch and release section by 11:00AM, and the dashboard thermometer registered 48 degrees. I countered the unaccustomed chill by wearing my Under Armour long-sleeved thermal undershirt and my light down coat. For headgear I chose my billed hat with earflaps, and I tugged the flaps down for the start of my day of fly fishing. I chose my Loomis two piece five weight as my casting tool, and I was perched along the edge of the stream by 11:30AM.

Black Ghost

Cheech Leech

I read many articles extolling hot streamer fishing in the fall, so I decided to commit to that fly fishing methodology. I crimped a split shot to my line eighteen inches above the terminal offering, which was a size eight black ghost to start my day. I persisted with streamers from 11:30AM until 12:15PM, when I paused for lunch. I cycled through the black ghost, a Mickey Finn, and a cheech leech; but I observed nary a follow. I executed upstream, up and across, across and down, and swings and dangles at the end of the drifts, but nothing proved effective. I also varied the speed of the retrieve and experimented with twitches and pauses. Nothing.

Prime Spot Did Not Produce

After lunch I abandoned the streamer concept, and tested a double dry approach. I knotted a peacock hippie stomper to my line and then added a size 14 stimulator with a rust body. I also read many articles about the October caddis, and the stimulator was my attempt to imitate that popular autumn food morsel. Nothing.

During this entire time I was fishing in the shadows, and I was very thankful for my layers and earflaps. The chill would have been much more acceptable, had I been able to land a fish. I did manage to temporarily hook a trout on the hippie stomper during this time period, but it escaped after an acrobatic leap above the surface. No luck with streamers and minimal action with double dries suggested another change, and I went to a dry/dropper. The hippie stomper remained in place, and I added a beadhead hares ear nymph and salvation nymph on a relatively long dropper.

This gambit was also a failure. I temporarily hooked a minnow sized brown trout on one of the nymphs, but otherwise the subsurface offerings were essentially a nuisance. At one point the nymphs drifted beneath a large exposed boulder with a ledge, and I was unable to dislodge them, so I waded next the rock. I tried to use my boot and my wading stick to free the nymphs, but eventually I defaulted to reaching my left arm down to unsnag the flies. I should have broken them off, because I now had saturated layers up to my elbow, and this condition simply added to my discomfort while fly fishing in the shadows. The only positive was the near absence of wind.

Site of First Fish

Rainbow Kicked Things Off

I looked upstream, and I noticed that the Big T made a 90 degree bend, and the area beyond the bend seemed to be bathed in sunshine. I skipped the remaining shaded stretch and advanced to sunlight. The nymphs were not producing, so I returned to the double dry method. In this case I stayed with the hippie stomper, but I swapped the stimulator for a size 14 light gray deer hair caddis. The stomper/caddis combo has historically proven to be a winner.

Number Two Was This Nice Brown Trout

Shallow Run Along the Rocks Produced

Alas, the two flies worked their magic once again. Between 2:00PM and 3:30 I notched five landed trout. The first one was a nine inch rainbow, and the last four were brown trout. The brown trout were all relatively respectable fish for the Big T, with a couple stretching the tape to a foot long. Two of the landed trout nabbed the caddis, and the others were attracted to the hippie stomper. I was actually a bit too warm while working my way upstream in the bright sunshine. Along the way I noticed a gravel depression, and a trout that was wiggling in an effort to eject eggs, so spawning was evident. Before I recognized the redd for what it was, I made a cast of the dry flies, and a fish elevated and nipped at one of the flies. It actually looked like it was fending off something invasive and not making an effort to eat.

Another Fine Brown Trout

Foam Was Home

All my landed fish came from slower moving areas such as eddies and slow pools that bordered the bank or were adjacent to faster current seams or large sheltering rocks. I regard Friday as a success. I experimented with different approaches and eventually found a double dry combination that was reasonably effective. Catching trout on dry flies in late October is a positive in my book. The fish count lagged, but once I solved the riddle, the fish were fine quality trout. Future outings in 2024, however, will probably take place on tailwaters. It was amazing how much the action slowed between my last outing on October 15 and today.

Fish Landed: 5

South Boulder Creek – 10/22/2024

Time: 11:00AM – 3:45PM

Location: Below Gross Reservoir

South Boulder Creek 10/22/2024 Photo Album

After a tough weekend battling a cold relapse, I found some solace in the fact that the weather wasn’t all that inviting for fishing either—cold and wet. But by the time Monday rolled around, unseasonably warm weather made its way into Colorado, presenting an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. With the sun shining again, I set out for a much-needed day on the water.

Typical Pocket in the Morning

Another Great Spot in the Morning

The first stream that I reviewed was South Boulder Creek below Gross Reservoir, and I was relieved to see flows at 82 CFS—a much-needed improvement after weeks of meager trickles around 6.7 CFS. However, a scare came early Tuesday morning, when I noticed a spike to 97 CFS. Thankfully, by the time I checked again, flows had returned to 82 CFS, holding steady as I prepared to head out. Oddly enough, when I returned home later that day, I found the flows had dropped to 65 CFS, while I was on the creek, which is nearly perfect for me. It turned out to be an ideal day to hit the water.

Right Area Next to the Bank Was Typical of Very Productive Water

Stunning Colors

I arrived at the trailhead around 10:00 AM, greeted by a brisk 56-degree temperature and a stiff breeze. For the hike in, I wore my usual fishing shirt layered over a short-sleeve undershirt, but packed an extra long-sleeve Under Armour layer just in case. The air was cool, but comfortable enough that I never felt the need for a clothing change. By 11:00 AM, I reached my starting point along the creek and rigged up with my favorite fall setup: a peacock Hippie Stomper trailing an ultra zug bug and salvation nymph.

Wide Productive Section

Feisty Rainbow

The morning session proved to be steady, although the wind and the shade made things feel colder than expected. The combination of light sweat and the breeze led me to put on my raincoat for some added warmth. Despite the chilly start, I landed four fish by the time I broke for lunch at noon—three small browns and one small rainbow trout. Although none of the fish were large, they were a good start to what would become a fruitful day.

After lunch, the fishing picked up. I continued upstream, sticking with the dry/dropper setup that had brought success earlier. By mid-afternoon, the fish count rose to sixteen. The catch was evenly distributed: eight fish smashed the Hippie Stomper, while the ultra zug bug and salvation nymph each accounted for four fish. Interestingly, the ultra zug bug started strong but seemed to lose effectiveness as the day wore on, with the salvation nymph picking up the slack.

Long by Tuesday Standards

Center Slick Looks Prime

Upon reaching sixteen, I decided to change tactics and switched to a double dry fly setup. I kept the Hippie Stomper as the lead, but added a size 14 light gray deer hair caddis on a twelve-inch dropper. The move paid off. The afternoon saw another seven fish come to hand, with half falling for the Stomper and the others grabbing the caddis. Toward the end of the day, I swapped out the size 14 caddis for a size 18, which proved just as effective.

Another Nice Spot Along the Bank

Throughout the day, I noticed an abundance of refusals on the Hippie Stomper—enough to prompt the shift to a double dry setup. Despite the occasional refusals, the overall catch rate using double dries remained steady, and I was pleased with the action.

Near the End of the Day Jewel

Most of the trout landed were on the smaller side, with the largest coming in around eleven inches. Brown trout outnumbered rainbow trout by a two-to-one margin, and the most productive water tended to be the tails of long pockets, riffles, and slower-moving pools near the bank. I was surprised several times by fish emerging from shallow lies, where I wouldn’t have expected to find them.

Probed Both Sides of the Pyramid Rock on Right

All told, I landed twenty-three trout—admittedly small, but each a vibrant testament to the beauty of fall fishing in the foothills of the Rockies. More than half of the trout came to the surface on dry flies, and dry fly action in late October is always a welcome treat. The relatively smaller size of the browns might be a result of their spawning activity, although I didn’t observe any active spawners. With cooler weather on the horizon, future outings will depend on Mother Nature, but I’ll be keeping my gear ready for the next window of opportunity.

Stay tuned for more fishing adventures as 2024 unfolds!

Fish Landed: 23

 

Big Thompson River – 10/15/2024

Time: 11:30AM : 4:00PM

Location: Canyon below Estes Lake

Big Thompson River 10/15/2024 Photo Album

After canceling my trip to Carbondale due to an oncoming cold, I was determined to make the most of my week. By Tuesday, fortified with some cold medicine, I felt ready to hit the water for a day of fly fishing. The Big Thompson River called to me—its shorter drive and reputation for a higher ratio of rainbow trout made it an ideal choice. Unlike brown trout, rainbows aren’t fall spawners, which improved my chances to find feeding targets.

Near the Start

This Pool Produced

I arrived at the river around 11:30 AM, greeted by a pleasant 64-degree air temperature. With flows at 25 CFS and crystal-clear waters, conditions were looking promising. Dressed in my trusty raincoat for added warmth, I was ready to dive in.

An Early Brown Trout

Best Brown of the Day Came from This Nondescript Spot

I started my day with a peacock hippie stomper paired with a salvation nymph. Within the first 15 minutes, I experienced one temporary hook-up and two refusals—always a good sign that the fish were active!

Another Respectable Brown Trout

Promising Pool

Makes Up for Lack of Size with Color

After a quick lunch, I resumed fishing with the same flies, and to my delight, I managed to land three trout. One of the rainbows took the salvation nymph, while the other two favored the hippie stomper. By 12:30 PM, however, I started to notice refusals to the stomper. Time for a change!

Lovely Pattern on This One

I switched to a size 18 tan deer hair caddis, which quickly accounted for another trout. Yet, after that initial excitement, I hit another lull. Not deterred, I upsized to a size 14 light gray deer hair caddis, and that’s when things really took off!

Typically Productive Water Type

This new combination clicked perfectly, and I was thrilled to build my fish count from three to an impressive twenty-two before calling it a day. At one point, a decent fish broke off my light gray caddis, prompting me to switch to an olive-brown version. Throughout this productive stretch, both the hippie stomper and the caddis generated nearly half of the landed trout each.

Light Olive Body Background Color

The day’s catch was a healthy mix, with rainbows outnumbering browns at roughly a 60% to 40% ratio. The sizes were comparable, with my largest catch reaching a solid thirteen inches—quite the impressive fish by Big Thompson standards!

Emphasis on Pink

My day on the Big Thompson far exceeded my expectations. The dry fly action during this time of year was a delightful surprise and a reminder of why I love this sport. With the five-day forecast predicting continuing mild weather, I’m already contemplating another fishing trip.

Deep Spot Between the Rocks

As I reflect on this outing, it’s clear that even when plans change, sometimes the unexpected adventures turn out to be the best ones. Here’s to more days on the river!

Fish Landed: 22

South Platte River – 10/09/2024

Time: 11:30AM – 3:30PM

Location: Eleven Mile Canyon

South Platte River 10/09/2024 Photo Album

The continuation of summer-like weather deep into October had me yearning for another day of fishing. My recent visit to Eleven Mile Canyon was a success, and the flows remained at 107 CFS, and the weather forecast a high of 70 degrees at Lake George, CO, so I made the drive.

Quite a few cars occupied pullouts along the lower open section of the canyon, but I passed them by and arrived at my preferred wide pullout by 11:00AM.  Another car was present, but that angler was positioned downstream from the pullout in a very long and smooth pool. This did not interfere with my plans whatsoever, so I geared up and pulled my Sage One five weight from its case. I ambled up the dirt road along the river and found a reasonably safe path down the steep bank, after which I rigged my five weight with a peacock hippie stomper, salvation nymph and sparkle wing RS2.

Pockets Around Exposed Boulders

Using my last trip as a proxy for Wednesday, I decided to focus on the faster water and pockets around exposed boulders and only spend time in the large pools, if rising fish were present. I essentially adhered to this strategy up until 2:00PM. In the half hour before lunch I landed four small rainbow trout in the eight to nine inch size range, and these spunky fighters attacked the salvation nymph.

After lunch I swapped the sparkle wing for a prince nymph and positioned it above the salvation. This combination delivered two small brown trout, and then I finally landed an eleven inch rainbow. At the tail of a nice small pool, a trout grabbed the salvation nymph, as it began to lift and swing, and this rainbow proved to be a twelve inch specimen that boosted my fish count to eight. I was pleased with the catch rate, but the size of the trout was severely lacking.

Wide Riffle Area Delivered

Best of the Day

As I approached the large bend pool, another angler slid down the steep bank, and he was positioned across from me. I made a few half hearted casts to the run nearest to my side of the river, but then I stripped in my line and advanced to the bend. The upper portion of the gorgeous bend pool was occupied by another angler with pure white hair, so I once again skirted the area and moved around the bend to an area with a wide set of riffles that spanned the entire western braid. I typically give this stretch a decent amount of attention, but the results were historically lacking. On Wednesday I devoted quite a few casts, and toward the upper third of the moderate depth water, the stomper dove, as a magnificent fifteen inch rainbow snatched the salvation nymph. The nymph had barely hit the water, when it was greedily consumed. Number nine made my day, and I moved on.

Second Nice Rainbow Came from This Area

Headed Home

In a very non-descript slow moving spot that could not have been more than three feet deep, a fish suddenly darted to the surface and crushed the hippie stomper. I set the hook, and it immediately streaked downstream, but I arrested the run and coaxed it into my net. Another rainbow in the fat thirteen inch range looked up at me, and it was not pleased that I interrupted its feeding time.

I was now at the upper tip of the narrow island, so I decided to inspect the long, smooth pool next to the very steep bank that borders the access road. The sun was bright, and I considered removing my raincoat, but a large ominous gray cloud moved into the southwestern sky. I decided to wait. The decision proved prescient, as the temperature dropped, and a brief rain shower developed. As the weather turned, a sparse blue wing olive hatch commenced, and the long, smooth pool displayed some random dimpling

Top of Long, Smooth Pool

I decided to make the conversion to dries, and initially I tied on a size 22 soft hackle emerger and applied floatant and fished it like a dry fly. I executed across and downstream casts and drifts, but it was extremely difficult to track the low floating emerger in the glare. After some futile casting, I swapped the soft hackle emerger for a Klinkhammer BWO emerger, and although the white wing was more visible, the fish were uninterested. I paused to reevaluate, and I decided to revert to a smaller soft hackle emerger.

Dry Fly Reward

For some reason I cast upstream and to the left along a current seam, even though I never saw a rise there, and a nice fourteen inch rainbow trout sipped the low riding fly. My confidence rose, but additional casting in the pool proved fruitless, so I moved on up the river. I planned to hit the attractive pocket water above the massive pool around the bend, but when I moved to the top of the pool, I spotted some rises along the entering currents. I tried my soft hackle emerger and then exchanged it for a CDC olive, and after an abundant quantity of casts, I landed a small brown trout to elevate the count to thirteen.

The sun peeked out again and this ended the blue wing olive activity, so I converted back to a dry/dropper with the peacock hippie stomper, an ultra zug bug and a hare nation nymph. I worked these flies aggressively around exposed boulders and deep runs for another thirty minutes, but it seemed that the fish developed late afternoon lockjaw, so I shut it down and climbed the steep bank in preparation for a .6 mile hike back to the car.

Wednesday was an enjoyable day on the South Platte River. Thirteen was a decent quantity of fish, but the size was somewhat lacking, although three very respectable rainbow trout made my efforts worthwhile. I experienced a bit of dry fly action, and that is always welcome late in the season. If the weather holds, I hope to log a few more fun days on Colorado streams.

Fish Landed: 13

North Fork of the White River – 10/06/2024

Time: 3:30PM – 5:30PM

Location: Between Buford and Trappers Lake

North Fork of the White River 10/06/2024 Photo Album

Jane, Amy, Chara and I booked three nights at the Ute Lodge from October 5 through October 8. This has become an annual event, and we celebrate Amy’s birthday early during this couple of days. Unlike my earlier trip in September, this visit to the Flattops was devoted mainly to hiking. On Sunday morning we completed a 6.0 mile hike along Marvine Creek and then followed a spur to Muskrat Lake and back. The scenery was stunning, and the weather was perfect, but I felt a strong urge to cast some flies on Marvine Creek. My fly rod remained in the car that was parked at the trailhead, and this restrained my addiction. When we arrived at Muskrat Lake, Chara, Amy’s St. Bernard,  found a mud hole and rolled in it, until she was coated with black mud. Dogs do what dogs do.

Chara Coated in Mud

By the time we returned to our cabin, it was 3:00PM, and the temperature hovered around seventy degrees. I decided to pay a visit to the North Fork of the White River. Upon my arrival I grabbed my Sage One five weight, and I followed a worn path to the river. I fished a size 8 amber ice dub chubby Chernobyl trailing a 20 incher and a salvation nymph.

First and Best

Source of First and Best

Over the next two hours I fly fished the North Fork, and I landed three very nice rainbow trout along with a massive whitefish. The first rainbow was the best, and it grabbed the 20 incher. I was surprised to see a fat fifteen inch trout putting a severe sag in my net. Rainbow number two rose and slurped the chubby in a narrow band of slow moving water between the bank and the fast current. The third rainbow snatched the salvation in a nice run with moderate depth and current.

A Second Nice Rainbow

The whitefish nabbed the 20 incher in a deep trough next to a deadfall tree. At first I thought I hooked a massive rainbow, but it moved downstream and then resisted with short bursts, as I dragged it back against the current. The salvation snapped off in the heat of the battle, and I replaced it with a pale morning dun supernova.

Heavy Whitefish

After landing the whitefish, I continued up the river for a short distance, but I then glanced at my watch and decided to call it a day. This section of the North Fork featured a significant amount of wide, shallow riffles and braids lacking fish holding locations. I waded quite a distance, as I concentrated on spots that displayed the proper depth and current velocity for trout. Three fish in two hours represented a below average catch rate, however, the results surpassed my expectations for a bonus window of fishing in the Flattops. When I returned to the cabin, Chara was relaxing in a vastly improved state of cleanliness.

Fish Landed: 3

 

Arkansas River – 10/01/2024

Time: 11:00AM – 3:30PM

Location: Bighorn Sheep Canyon

Arkansas River 10/01/2024 Photo Album

After a successful outing on the South Platte River in Eleven Mile Canyon last Monday, I decided to switch things up and try my luck on the Arkansas River at Bighorn Sheep Canyon. With previous trips around this time of year yielding modest results—five fish one year, eleven another—I kept my expectations in check, as I headed out on Tuesday, October 1st.

The drive was smooth, until I was about a mile from my chosen pullout, where I hit a snag: one-lane traffic due to road construction. After sitting for eight minutes, stewing in anticipation, I was relieved, when my fishing spot appeared just beyond the last construction cone.

The weather couldn’t have been better. My dashboard showed 60 degrees, with a brilliant sun against a cloudless sky. Flows were in the 380 CFS range, which led me to stick to the bank along the highway rather than attempt a potentially risky river crossing. I rigged up my Sage R8 four weight, feeling confident, as I strung it with a dry-dropper setup—tan pool toy hopper, 20 incher nymph, and salvation nymph, on a four-foot dropper.

Low and Clear

The first hour produced some mixed results: one twelve-inch brown trout made it to the net, but I also experienced several momentary hook-ups and fouled hooked a few fish likely resulting from the excessive length and weighted 20 incher. After dealing with too many snags and missed opportunities, I decided a change was necessary. Out went the hopper, in came a trusty peacock hippie stomper, and I downsized the 20 incher to a size 22 sparkle wing RS2, while also shortening the dropper to three feet.

Hippie Stomper Fan

The adjustments paid off. I netted a beautiful fifteen-inch brown that couldn’t resist the hippie stomper in a shallow spot near the left bank. Still, the action was slower than I liked, so I switched to a double dry fly rig—hippie stomper and a tan mini chubby—a combo that worked wonders on Cascade Creek recently. The mini chubby duped a fish, but a wave of refusals followed, so I added a size 16 light gray deer hair caddis as the second fly. This fly attracted another nice brown trout, and I found myself sitting at four fish, when I paused for lunch.

Wild Fish and Bubbles

As I sat by the river, I noticed some surface activity—three or four small fish leaping after insects. The riffles in front of me looked perfect for another round of dry-dropper fishing, especially with blue winged olives and red quills potentially in the mix. I swapped flies again, opting for the mini chubby paired with a salvation nymph and sparkle wing RS2. Despite my efforts, the riffles remained quiet, so I moved on to a spot, where the main current angled against a rocky bank on the far side of the river.

Site of Rainbow Feeders

Here, I spotted two nice fish periodically rising, which convinced me to break one of my rules: don’t linger on fish too long. After running through a few different fly combinations to no avail, I finally tied on a size 22 soft hackle emerger and greased it to ride in the surface film. This choice was spot-on. I hooked and landed two gorgeous rainbows, both sporting brilliant red stripes and measuring fourteen to fifteen inches. These moments were the highlight of my day.

Pink and Scarlet

Afterward, I continued with the mini chubby and soft hackle emerger, as I worked my way through a stretch of pocket water. Thanks to the lower flows, I was able to wade out and reach some excellent pockets, which produced two more brown trout, bringing my total to eight. Both fish grabbed the soft hackle emerger, just as I began to lift at the tail of a pocket, and though I missed three more fish in this stretch, it was satisfying action nonetheless.

Wide Stripe on Second Rainbow Soft Hackle Emerger

By 2:30PM, I decided to try one last spot before heading home. I jumped in the car, drove .2 miles downstream, and rigged up again. I experimented with a few different caddis patterns, hoping to match the hatch of autumn caddis I’d read about, but the fish were unimpressed. After a couple more half-hearted strikes, I called it a day at 3:30PM.

Tuesday followed a similar pattern to my previous October trips on the Arkansas. While eight fish may seem average for four hours of fishing, the quality more than made up for it. Three of the trout were solid fifteen-inchers, and the rest were all chunky specimens between twelve and fourteen inches. The fall foliage was at its peak, with golden leaves lining the banks, and the weather was simply gorgeous. But the highlight of the day was the brief window of dry fly action with those stunning rainbows. I can only hope October offers a few more fishing days like this one!

Fish Landed: 8