Trouts Fly Fishing

High Country Trout

I have always been a firm believer that some of the best trout fishing in the Lower 48 can’t be accessed by plane, boat or car.  These are places that are off the map, and only available to those who are willing to work for it.  Backpacking has always been a popular past time in America, but it has never really taken hold in the angling community.  But those hearty soles that are willing to lug a 50lb backpack into one  or our nations many Wilderness Areas, will undoubtedly be greeted with solitude, beautiful surroundings, and lots of hungry trout.

The hard part is that these places aren’t marked on any map.  They are lakes and streams that must be fished and experienced to know if they are any good.  That’s the intriguing part of backpack fly fishing, you never know what you may find.  I have been on plenty of trips that were a complete bust.  The creek was to low, the lake was to shallow, the fish too small.  But for every lake I find that is junk, there is another I find that is a complete jewel.  These are the places that keep  you coming back for more, and pushing yourself that extra mile to get just a little farther away.  But don’t think that these places are in any way a secret.  Although I will not tell you where my honey hole is, I will tell you how to find your own.

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The Blood Knot

The blood knot is most commonly used for joining monofilament of similar diameters together.  Most people will use this knot instead of the classic double surgeons, as it tends to finish a bit cleaner.  When you first tie this knot you will a bit challenged and uncoordinated, but like any other knot, with practice you’ll quickly get the hang of it.

Step 1

Lay the lines on top of one and other facing in opposite directions.   Cross one end over the other, and wrap this line three or four times around the other.  Then place the end of this line in the crotch or the V formed by the two lines.

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Owner’s Ramble | 7/23/2009

With the end of July rapidly approaching, it’s hard to believe that we are already half way through this summer; where does the time go.  Things have been cranking here in the shop, and if the number of customers through our door is any indication of the quality of the fishing right now, then I’d assume things are ON FIRE right now.

River levels have dropped dramatically over the past couple of weeks, and we’re starting to see some more normal and familiar flows across the state.  The good news here is that the water is starting to warm up, and the insect activity is really starting to pick up.  PMD’s, Caddis, and small Stoneflies are the food de jour for most trout streams, although the Drakes are starting to appear on the Roaring Fork, Frying Pan, and Eagle just to name a few.  Dont’ forget to be properly stocked with a good assortment of terrestrial patters (cricket, grass hopper, beatles, etc.), as August and September are the prime time to throw the big stuff.  Being in the middle of the fishing season also means that anglers need to be aware of the time of day that they are fishing.  We’ve all heard the old adage “the early bird gets the worm”, and that is never more true then right now.  Prime fishing times are from sun-up to around 11am, and then from 3pm to dusk.  You can pretty much count on the fishing being a bit slow during the middle of the day.

Don’t forget about our Weekly Happy Hour (see below), as this is a great time to come by the shop, hang out with the guys (or gals), and enjoy a frosty adult beverage.  Have a great weekend.

Tight Lines,

Tucker

The Non-Slip Loop Knot

The Non-Slip Loop Knot is a must have for any freshwater or saltwater angler.  By creating a loop at the head of the fly, this knot allows for a more natural movement of the fly through the water.  So next time you’re throwing streamers from a drift boat, or crabs to tailing permit, use the Non-Slip Loop Knot to give yourself an added advantage.

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Dry Fly Fishing - fact vs. fiction

I’ve never been able to figure it out, but there is a major disparity in Colorado between the number of dry fly fisherman vs. nymph fisherman.  If you visit a popular stretch of river on any given day, not matter if its winter, spring, summer or fall, I guarantee you will see a majority of fisherman dredging the bottom while staring intently at a strike indicator of various shapes, sizes, and forms.  I’ll be the first to admit that I too have a bit of a nymph fishing addiction.  More times than not I find my self unknowingly reaching for a nymph box instead of my dry flies.  But why is this?  What makes us want to dredge the bottom of a river instead of using the traditional fly fishing techniques that have defined our sport?  In order to fully understand this impulse, we first must look at the many myths, misconceptions and falsehoods that exist regarding fishing dry flies.

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