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.


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.


Common Sense is Dead


An Obituary printed in the London Times.....Absolutely Brilliant!!

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
 - Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
 - Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- And maybe it was my fault

 Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in charge). His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

 Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun tan lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.
 Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches were treated as businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims.
 Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.
 Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

 Common Sense was preceded in death,
 - by his parents, Truth and Trust,
 - by his wife, Discretion,
 - by his daughter, Responsibility,
and - by his son, Reason.

 He is survived by his 5 stepbrothers:
 - I Know My Rights
- I Want It Now
- Someone Else Is To Blame
- I'm A Victim
- Pay me for Doing Nothing

 Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.


Lower Mud

March has finally arrived and the fish have happiliy waited. I had a great time on the lower Colorado with my good friend Scott Thompson and his Buffalo buddy Joe last Sunday. This stretch of river below Glenwood Springs is a true gem when it's clear (she is nicknamed the Big Mud for good reason) and March/April is one of our favorite times to play. We floated Dino-Newcastle choosing a short 2 miler with frequent stops and left the streamer rod in the 4 Runner which always feels weird. With the Roaring Fork being freakishly low, the Lower stretch of Mother River has been seeing a bunch of traffic and Sunday was no different. We fished around the ramp with the switch rod and managed to trick a few while we waited for the rubber hatch to move downstream. The eddy at Dino continues to be one of my favs and for good reason. Scott and Joe hammered that seam with precision and dragged a couple of nice ones to the net as we slipped up and down that glorious buffet line. In short report......she is ready for winter to be over also, book your trip.


winter skinny but still Colorado strong


Also winter skinny and strong


Clean and fresh with a tint of chrome


Exotic species of the day was a fine fighter. Sorry Joe.

 Every time Mr Thompson  is in my boat I laugh hard and the fish jump on his junk; he is a "fishy" dude. Look for his patterns with Montana Fly Company at your local fly shop, the Forky Baetis is a strong player anywhere you find BWO nymphs (everywhere)