Chef with one of many, on a run that was to short.
Even I found a few this week
Don't blame the guide, blame the quality of friend he has been choosing to allow in the boat while you are not around.
Choose your friends wisely
Already looking ahead to those hot summer days when it all starts to look and feel the same, realizing I will be drifting off to days like these. Three straight on the Eagle, pre-run off, three great sticks and a consistent streamer bite....damn enjoyable. Year after year these are the few trips that begin a long season of rowing, and they are always the best of the year, sort of the way Nascar starts their season out with Daytona.
Problem with fishing around incredible fishermen is you see proof that it can be done, and that justify s the time plopped in the rowers seat trying to believe a cast 3' further for someone who doesn't quite get it. But it doesn't work that way with this sport, you have to put in the time and participate and at the end of the day some dudes are just better. Having an appetizer this good can leave a guy feeling hungry later on while wishing JK or Chef were back in his ride.
So maybe it's that hungry feeling that creates low pressure in the boat some days. Guide has seen it done. He has seen casts go into prefect spots time and again; he has seen cast's land where he was thinking, no words necessary. He has been there when the struggling bird caused fish to breech like great whites for a seal; he has seen the game played perfect,with the only reward being a 20' chase. For the best anglers, missing fish becomes a novelty if they are hitting every bucket on the course, the other 90% of us will be left with some questions. That's probably why a guide might press you for a little more, they know there are only so many A+ spots and he wants you to hit them all, just like his buddy did in the beginning of the season.
Don't blame the guide, blame the quality of friend he has been choosing to allow in the boat while you are not around.
Don't blame the guide, blame the quality of friend he has been choosing to allow in the boat while you are not around.
World Invasion
Super, super excited to hear Vail Colorado and my friend JKnight have been awarded the 2015 Youth World Fly Fishing Championships AND the 2016 Adult World Fly Fishing Championships.
I have enjoyed living on the fringe of competitive Fly Fishing but it has just been around blokes from the states.It has been great fun starting to understand the process, the rules and the players here so I can only imagine things when the world gets in my boat. For the guys that have put time in traveling to Colorado the past few years I hope you guys have some home field advantage and I am looking forward to being part of the process. I know for sure tournaments like America Cup just became very valuable on every teams calender for the next few years.
Checkout Troutlegend for great updates on Comp Fishing
I have enjoyed living on the fringe of competitive Fly Fishing but it has just been around blokes from the states.It has been great fun starting to understand the process, the rules and the players here so I can only imagine things when the world gets in my boat. For the guys that have put time in traveling to Colorado the past few years I hope you guys have some home field advantage and I am looking forward to being part of the process. I know for sure tournaments like America Cup just became very valuable on every teams calender for the next few years.
Checkout Troutlegend for great updates on Comp Fishing
How to Wake Up a Lake
I admit when I saw the Ice finally come off the Little Hole I figured a streamer would be the ticket.
When I fed the fish I of course figured they would eat something say of similar size and shape (brown). Ends up these guys are bug eaters, little bug eaters, size 22 in exotic color bug eaters.I have some stuff to learn about my new toys and I'm excited about being here for the Big Lakes fresh start this spring.
There are 2 Lakes up here, the Big Girl was dredged and expanded last Fall and the ice is still shading it's new depths. The smaller lake (Little Hole) where a good number of the fish were moved has recently loosened up and given us a good 7 days of inventory. This is gonna be fun. Whats left to be discovered on the Big Lake is a future blog, I've got a couple of weeks before she is iced off. I will say I am looking forward to meeting the current legend of the Lake, Ol' Ironsides.
The Big Lakes new additions wont be here for a while; yes I am going to need to refine my game for stockers, but I have convinced myself I deserve it and I will make every effort to break the new community in gently. The Lakes are fed by Watson Creek and there is room for lots more water and flow this spring.Ice off project #1 will be to figure out what food is in her and I am planning on setting a giant seine near the head gate to sample some bugs. In the mean time a good old garden rake and a 5 gallon bucket will serve me well on Little Hole. Snorkeling can wait until summer.
I've been up here a few times in the past, I know I have the usual Damsels, Dragons, Chironomids and Callibaetis, hoping I have Scuds. I have the Stillwater bug already but I can't say I have the bugs. Early morning coffee has involved research on patterns I think I need. Articulated Purple Callibaetis anyone? I'll get Sam started on my Dragonfly Larva, he loves to tie his bugs fat.
When I fed the fish I of course figured they would eat something say of similar size and shape (brown). Ends up these guys are bug eaters, little bug eaters, size 22 in exotic color bug eaters.I have some stuff to learn about my new toys and I'm excited about being here for the Big Lakes fresh start this spring.
Barbless fish inventory process, snowshoes required.
There are 2 Lakes up here, the Big Girl was dredged and expanded last Fall and the ice is still shading it's new depths. The smaller lake (Little Hole) where a good number of the fish were moved has recently loosened up and given us a good 7 days of inventory. This is gonna be fun. Whats left to be discovered on the Big Lake is a future blog, I've got a couple of weeks before she is iced off. I will say I am looking forward to meeting the current legend of the Lake, Ol' Ironsides.
The Big Puddle looks more like an ice rink at the moment.
The Big Lakes new additions wont be here for a while; yes I am going to need to refine my game for stockers, but I have convinced myself I deserve it and I will make every effort to break the new community in gently. The Lakes are fed by Watson Creek and there is room for lots more water and flow this spring.Ice off project #1 will be to figure out what food is in her and I am planning on setting a giant seine near the head gate to sample some bugs. In the mean time a good old garden rake and a 5 gallon bucket will serve me well on Little Hole. Snorkeling can wait until summer.
I've been up here a few times in the past, I know I have the usual Damsels, Dragons, Chironomids and Callibaetis, hoping I have Scuds. I have the Stillwater bug already but I can't say I have the bugs. Early morning coffee has involved research on patterns I think I need. Articulated Purple Callibaetis anyone? I'll get Sam started on my Dragonfly Larva, he loves to tie his bugs fat.
Al Gores hunting Buddies
Going into another tough water year here in the Central Rockies....do you believe in climate change?
Champagne Super Nova
Super happy to announce that I will be the Fishing Manager/Guide at Nova Guides starting in April 2013.
Nova has been offering an incredible lineup of fun stuff to do around the scene since damn near the beginning. Snow Mobiles, Snow Coaches, Jeeps, ATV's, Rafting, Paintball and Team Building just got added to my playbook people. Not to mention a Lodge/Restaurant, Cabins, an incredible staff and oh yeah a newly remodeled private Lake on property. Things just got a whole lot easier to keep the family entertained while you knuckle heads go fish with me.
check out Nova Guides Web Site
Nova has been offering an incredible lineup of fun stuff to do around the scene since damn near the beginning. Snow Mobiles, Snow Coaches, Jeeps, ATV's, Rafting, Paintball and Team Building just got added to my playbook people. Not to mention a Lodge/Restaurant, Cabins, an incredible staff and oh yeah a newly remodeled private Lake on property. Things just got a whole lot easier to keep the family entertained while you knuckle heads go fish with me.
check out Nova Guides Web Site
So while I guide as usual, in my usual spots, I have a ton of stuff to get my head wrapped around here. I'll fill you in on fun like the US Youth National Championship,Project Healing Water and how big the fish are in this Lake as I figure things out. In the mean time if you dont have my cell number please email me or call Nova Guides if you are looking for me
Switching 2 Double Dries
Spent the last 3 Days with time on my hands so i wrapped them both around Ms. 4wt Switch.
Addicted.
There are still some minor issues but so far this thing has done everything I've asked including some dry fly action with my boy Spacc. Switch line might not be for delicate situations but by making the leader 12' long we could manage to present flies to sipping fish in slow water. Double Dry/ Dropper, a hybrid double spey, Midgezilla and Raisin Run all to ourselves on a 45 degree March day= Heaven. It's still all about the Midge.
The fishing this week has been pretty consistent. There were definite lulls in the action at times which is predictable with the late winter/early spring conditions.With daylight savings and some warmer weather, the system is going to be a tad confused which results in little periods of down time. Clarity on the lower river is starting to look like spring and most of this early color can be cold water. We fished from edge ice most of the time Tuesday and I couldn't get the sound of rain drops out of my head. I realized the cantilever of solid ice was about 6 inches above the water and it was raining down there. All that ice melt equals cold water. Mother nature can try and trick us during the early, very fish- able period of pre- run off. She warms us up enough to take the heavy jacket off and fools us into thinking that's what the trouts are doing too.
A few of you have been asking the when question. We are sitting around 70% of our snow pack for the Colorado Basin at the moment and the fingers and toes are crossed in hope for a snowy March/April. Simply put we are still way behind in our numbers and its looking like another tricky year. We are looking at 3-5 more days of very warm weather and some rain/snow mix after that here in the Eagle River Valley. The next few weeks will give us a better clue, but it's feeling like things are going to be early again.
Addicted.
There are still some minor issues but so far this thing has done everything I've asked including some dry fly action with my boy Spacc. Switch line might not be for delicate situations but by making the leader 12' long we could manage to present flies to sipping fish in slow water. Double Dry/ Dropper, a hybrid double spey, Midgezilla and Raisin Run all to ourselves on a 45 degree March day= Heaven. It's still all about the Midge.
The fishing this week has been pretty consistent. There were definite lulls in the action at times which is predictable with the late winter/early spring conditions.With daylight savings and some warmer weather, the system is going to be a tad confused which results in little periods of down time. Clarity on the lower river is starting to look like spring and most of this early color can be cold water. We fished from edge ice most of the time Tuesday and I couldn't get the sound of rain drops out of my head. I realized the cantilever of solid ice was about 6 inches above the water and it was raining down there. All that ice melt equals cold water. Mother nature can try and trick us during the early, very fish- able period of pre- run off. She warms us up enough to take the heavy jacket off and fools us into thinking that's what the trouts are doing too.
Didn't take Spacc very long to get back in a groove
A few of you have been asking the when question. We are sitting around 70% of our snow pack for the Colorado Basin at the moment and the fingers and toes are crossed in hope for a snowy March/April. Simply put we are still way behind in our numbers and its looking like another tricky year. We are looking at 3-5 more days of very warm weather and some rain/snow mix after that here in the Eagle River Valley. The next few weeks will give us a better clue, but it's feeling like things are going to be early again.
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