Fishing Report - FRA Blog

Costa Rica Always Delivers

Post date: Monday July 9th, 2012 - 6:45pm

I got a few pictures this morning from a friend, Bruce Mardick, who was in Costa Rica on a humanitarian mission....he a little time off for some fly fishing.

Getting the boat in the water took a bit of doing!

Saint Vrain North of Lyons Fishing Well

Post date: Thursday July 5th, 2012 - 3:27pm

This morning Ike and I headed up past Lyons to see how the Saint Vrain was fishing. The short answer.....EXCELLENT....a dozen fish in several hours of working pocket water and drop offs. A number of these fish were 12 to 14 inches and the Cutbow pictured above taped out at 17-inches. He was in undercut bank and came out to nail the size 10 Clown Shoe Caddis that I was fishing as a lead fly followed by a size 16 yellow Humpy.

Happy Carp of July

Post date: Wednesday July 4th, 2012 - 2:25pm

14 Pounds on the Boga Grip

I decided to go Carp fishing this morning and the above fish was the largest of 6 taken on one of my Wiggly Buggers (pictured below).

Wiggly Bugger

I tie several versions of the Wiggly Bugger. Sometimes I use Doug Swisher's Generation X dubbing for small versions (size 8) and other times I mix some of Senyo's Shaggy dub (micro sized spandex) with a blended dubbing like Whitlock's Golden Stone. In either case, they are placed in a split thread dubbing loop (UTC 140) and tied to the shank and then picked out with a bodkin. The tail is rust colored rabbit flanked by several shades of spandex (above is olive and brown/black barred Montana Fly material) 1.5 times the length of the rabbit . Depending on the size of the fly I use small or medium black bead chain secured with superglue and Clear Cure Goo.

These flies can imitate a lot of different creatures but primarily crayfish. If the fish prove difficult try a smaller size.

More Fish Fall for the Thin Mint Clouser Edition

Post date: Saturday June 30th, 2012 - 1:42pm

This morning I tagged a 10-pound (pictured above), 8-pound and 6-pound Carp plus two bass that were better than 3 pounds....click here

If you're not carp fishing this summer you are missing a great opportunity to catch big, very selective, fish? Stop by the shop and get the proper flies and rigging for catching these tremendous game fish.

High Water Tempetures = High Trout Mortality

Post date: Friday June 29th, 2012 - 9:10am

Anglers must show restraint as trout in the Fraser and Colorado face a brutal summer of survival

Trout Unlimited is asking Colorado anglers to voluntarily restrict fishing on portions of the Colorado River headwaters stricken by drought and high water temperatures. TU is urging anglers to avoid fishing on the Fraser and Upper Colorado rivers during the hottest part of the day, or to fish in Grand County’s higher-elevation lakes or cooler tailwater areas until conditions improve.

Trout Unlimited’s recommended closure comes on the heels of a similar call by Colorado Parks and Wildlife for anglers to voluntarily limit their fishing on the Yampa River through Steamboat Springs, which recently recorded temperatures of 72 degrees through town. Water temperatures above 70 degrees Fahrenheit can be stressful or fatal to trout. Peak temperatures on the Fraser River near Tabernash have surpassed 70 degrees in recent days. Anecdotal reports indicate that similar high temperatures are found on the Colorado River between Windy Gap and the Williams Fork.

“These problems underscore how important healthy flows are to our rivers,” said Peternell. For years, the Upper Colorado and Fraser rivers have struggled with low flows and stressed habitat due to major water diversions to the Front Range. Two new projects, the proposed Moffat Tunnel and Windy Gap expansions, will add to that stress. “Drought and water diversions have put these rivers in a vulnerable state, and, as anglers, we need to do our part to protect fisheries.”

“We are asking our 10,000 state members and all Colorado anglers to exercise restraint and good sportsmanship in the use of these priceless resources,” said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado TU. “Failure to do so could set back fishing opportunities and the region’s recreation economy for years to come.”

Guide Trip of the Week

Post date: Thursday June 28th, 2012 - 8:19pm

Is Ethan Happy or What!

Reported by Ben McGee, Manager of Guide Services for Front Range Anglers

Tim and his son Ethan booked two consecutive days with FRA while they were in town. They opted for an evening trip on Boulder Creek with FRA Guide Randy Hanner, and a full day on the Big Thompson with FRA Guide Wallace Westfeldt.

Boulder Creek fished great for Tim and Ethan, using 'dry-dropper rig' with a Chubby Chernobyl and Rainbow Warrior:

The next day started on private water using the standard Big T nymph rig (Rubber Leg, Blue Tung, and Sowbug.) Fishing was steady all morning. After lunch, switched to Dry Droppers with PMX on top and various droppers underneath focusing on pocket water and riffles. Results remained the same with numerous fish brought to the net . Later in the day, switched to public water with both standard nymph rig and dry dropper, picking up fish in various sections.

You know, it doesn't get much better than taking a son or daughter on a trip like this ...... memories that last a lifetime.

A Carp Fly That Bass Love

Post date: Thursday June 28th, 2012 - 2:16pm

This 5-pound bass hammered the Clouser version of the Thin Mint this morning at a lake just outside of Boulder.

Hook: TMC 5263 Size 6

Eyes: Black med bead chain

Thread: Black UTC 140

Hackle: Brown Saddle

Body: 6 strands of peacock herl

Tail: 3 Shades of marabou - olive, black, and brown or rust - one feather each

Rib: Med UTC wire in copper or gold

Dubbing: Brown Ice Dub - couple of turns just behind the eyes

Picking Pockets on Boulder Creek

Post date: Wednesday June 27th, 2012 - 5:29pm

One of the most productive ways to fish Boulder Creek is to hit all the small pockets on the far side of the creek with a high floating dry fly that can remain buoyant in fast water. To get a drag free float use a short line mostly leader (I use a 7 1/2 tapered 5X) and a long rod (a Hardy/Greys Streamflex 10-foot 3-weight) which can hold the line above the current. The best approach is either directly across stream or a cast angled downstream. Bank foliage means youy will be roll casting. The 10-foot Streamflex is particularly good at handling these casts. You can add a bead head dropper but I don't bother for two reasons. First, I want to catch the fish on dries. Second, the dropper gets hung up and just complicates the process. In two hours of fishing this morning I caught and released some 30 fish.

The Roaring Fork & Frying Pan Report

Post date: Monday June 25th, 2012 - 10:37am

I returned yesterday after fishing 4 days in the Roaring Fork Valley. The fishing on drys and dry dropper rigs is outstanding. Green Drakes are coming off in the evenings starting at about 8:00 pm. Mark Riley and I fished the hatch two night in a row outside of Basalt and caught 20 or more fish each on both nights. A mix or Rainbow and Browns up to up to 18-inches.

We used a double dry fly rig - a size 10 Royal Wulff trailed by a size 12 Green Drake fly. The large Wulff let you see the fly in the darkness. We got to the point that we were setting the hook on every splash. We lost some very large fish in the swift current even though we were using 3X tippet.

Mark Riley is shown below casting drys (Yellow Humpys - size 14) to several large Rainbows over 18 inches.

Sunday Morning on the Pan we caught some very nice fish on PMD's and midges (olive) - double fly set-ups

The whole area is fishing like mid-July!

Christmas Island..."I'm Going Back!"

Post date: Monday June 18th, 2012 - 7:09am

The GT above was caught by David Jones on a 12 wt Hardy rod and reel secured from FRA using an 80 lb monofilament leader. "This was definitely the biggest adrenalin rush I have experienced with a fly rod."

Fishing Trips with Dad

Post date: Sunday June 17th, 2012 - 9:31pm

Growing up, I lived within a five minute bike ride of the Mississippi river. I would spend my summers along the shore, casting for Bass, Crappies and the seemingly endless supply of Sunfish. While I always had a good time going down to the river by myself or with a couple of buddies, there was nothing that got me more wound up than when dad would agree to take me down to the spillway and spend a few hours fishing together. I have numerous memories involving me grilling dad with a continual stream of questions about why fish do what they do.

"Why do fish like worms?"
"How do fish sleep and swim at the same time?"
"How come fish can breath underwater and we can't?"

This would go on for the majority of the outing, and dad would patiently respond with "Shh, you're scaring the fish" or "I'm not sure, watch your bobber..."

These early years set the foundation for a great father/son relationship and created a subject that we could always relate to and shoot the breeze about.

A smile that only a great fish can produce

Now that three states and a thirteen hour car ride separate us, I just don't get to fish with dad as much as I'd like. So thirty years later I returned the favor and reintroduced dad to fly fishing by taking him on a DIY trip to the Alaskan Kenai peninsula. It was a true joy reminding him of the mechanics of the cast, showing him all the latest techniques, and sharing high fives as trophy Rainbows and Steelhead came to hand. I can only imagine how the smiles I saw on his face during that trip must have mimicked my own when I was a child.

If you didn't get a chance to take your dad fishing today, give him a call, and get something on the calendar. It could be something as simple as meeting for a few hours on your local waters, to something more involved like meeting in a far away destination and exploring new waters. In the end, the memories you create, and the smiles you'll see on his face will be cherished much more than another ugly necktie. If you need a few ideas, stop by the shop and we can point you in the right direction.

Father and son using a non-traditional wrangling technique during a photo-op

2200 Miles Away

Post date: Friday June 15th, 2012 - 4:54pm

Now that I've returned from Florida my "friends" are sending me fish pics on a daily basis as a reminder that I left for Colorado much too early...note the surf in this picture and the one depicted in "Are we Crazy". According to a friend in Orlando "beach fishing doesn't really turn on until the humidity is unbearable and the bugs are feasting relentlessly on all exposed body parts."

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