Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The Arkansas River
Well, the river looks better than expected, but fisherman campers in the Hecla Junction campground report poor fishing. Mean while, it's dinner time - spartan camp food is the norm - smoked oysters, a glass of white wine, green salad, cast iron grilled chicken and a ginger snap for dessert. Fishin' is a tough life!
The fellow at the ArkAnglers fly shop was right. Tough fishin, no nibbles all day, none of the guys in the campground have caught a fish in 3 days. It rained all day. The fishin was great, but the catchin was poor...very pretty river though. One fellow has been coming here since the 80's says he's never seen it so high or muddy this time of year.
Well, there's always next year!
The Arkansas in the sun...
The Arkansas in the rain (most of the day)...
Heading home tomorrow. Fun trip.
A word on flies used:
Blue River: BWO, Midges, Panther Martin
Gunnison River: Pink Scuds, Midges, Rio Grand Worm, BWO emerger
Arkansas River: Nothing worked, dark streamers, Rio Grand/Pheasant Tail, lures, nothing.
A word on flies used:
Blue River: BWO, Midges, Panther Martin
Gunnison River: Pink Scuds, Midges, Rio Grand Worm, BWO emerger
Arkansas River: Nothing worked, dark streamers, Rio Grand/Pheasant Tail, lures, nothing.
Monday, April 21, 2014
The Black Gorge of the Gunnison River
Change of plan! Stopping at a fly shop in Glenwood Springs, I learned that there were no open campgrounds closer than 30 miles from the Frying Pan River. While the "Pan" is considered one of America's top trout streams, I didn't fancy driving 60 miles each day, plus a big snow-dumping storm was on its way to the Aspen area.
I decided to fish the "Pan" another day and push on to the Gunnison, where spring had already arrived! 70 degree days (but still fishing in 37 degree water), 40 degree nights (seems so warm after 21 degrees on the Blue), baby lambs and calves lying in the fields with their mamas, willows beginning to leaf out - heaven!
This park is sooo clean! None of the fisherman trash (water bottles, bait containers, etc) I saw along the Blue River. Primarily frequented by fisherman, this beautiful Gunnison River park is a lovely place to catch big fish and enjoy the scenery. Case in point - My next-door-camping-neighbors were hunting & fishing guides (lots of helpful advice and a couple free flies) from Crested Butte who come here often for the spring fishing. They were awesome fisherman and fun to talk with.
I had to work hard. Only 2 fish in 2 days (on the whole, the fishing was not considered very good this weekend), but a couple 18"-ish rainbows made it worthwhile.
In a minute I'll be moving on the the Arkansas River near Salida CO, for a night or two. Spring runoff has started 3 weeks early, the water is running high and muddy and the fishing is spozed to be pretty tough. We'll give it a try tomorrow. Right now I'm finishing my latte in downtown Salida and enjoying my gingersnap and the warmth of the sun.
I decided to fish the "Pan" another day and push on to the Gunnison, where spring had already arrived! 70 degree days (but still fishing in 37 degree water), 40 degree nights (seems so warm after 21 degrees on the Blue), baby lambs and calves lying in the fields with their mamas, willows beginning to leaf out - heaven!
There were a number of fisherman, of the finest sort. Courteous, helpful, and respectful of the fish and the river. Since most practiced "catch-and-release", there were lots of big fish to go around.
I had to work hard. Only 2 fish in 2 days (on the whole, the fishing was not considered very good this weekend), but a couple 18"-ish rainbows made it worthwhile.
Funny thing - near where I was fishing, a goose was eating all the hatching midges that she could gobble up. I really became concerned that if she would eat my fly (also a midge) that she would take off with my fishing line, pole, and reel! Luckily she moved on.
In a minute I'll be moving on the the Arkansas River near Salida CO, for a night or two. Spring runoff has started 3 weeks early, the water is running high and muddy and the fishing is spozed to be pretty tough. We'll give it a try tomorrow. Right now I'm finishing my latte in downtown Salida and enjoying my gingersnap and the warmth of the sun.
Friday, April 18, 2014
The Blue River
The spooks of the early settlers were pretty quiet, so no complaints.
Up early on Thursday, I fly fished to no avail, switching after lunch to spinning gear, BAM! Caught a 14" brown trout on my first cast! I couldn't entice any more fish to bite after that, but it was a beautiful sunny day in the 50's, and great to be outdoors in Colorados high country, despite having to wade through knee-deep snow along the river.
Couldn't keep my fish, as they need to be 16" or better, (I normally release them all anyway) so I thawed a frozen cod fillet and ate that instead....
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Spring Fishing Trip 2014
All set! The camper is loaded, fly rod is packed and the fish are waiting.
My plan had to be changed multiple times due to frozen streams and snowbound campgrounds in Northern Colorado, but Southern Colorado is beckoning. My plan is to fish the Blue River near Kremmling, then the Frying Pan near Basalt, next the Black Canyon of the Gunnison at East portal and finally the Arkansas River near Salida.
According to fly shops in the areas I will fish, Blue Winged Olives (in the afternoon), Midges, leeches (Bead Head Buggers, etc), pheasant tails, streamers, and caddis or stonefly nymphs in the mornings are best flys to use at this time of the year.
My plan had to be changed multiple times due to frozen streams and snowbound campgrounds in Northern Colorado, but Southern Colorado is beckoning. My plan is to fish the Blue River near Kremmling, then the Frying Pan near Basalt, next the Black Canyon of the Gunnison at East portal and finally the Arkansas River near Salida.
According to fly shops in the areas I will fish, Blue Winged Olives (in the afternoon), Midges, leeches (Bead Head Buggers, etc), pheasant tails, streamers, and caddis or stonefly nymphs in the mornings are best flys to use at this time of the year.
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