Trouts Fly Fishing

Waterton Canyon is OPEN

At long last, Denver Water has re-opened the Waterton Canyon section of the South Platte River.  Having been closed for nearly a year, this will undoubtedly be a highly sought after fishing location for the coming month(s).  There will be another 3-4 week closure in the spring to allow the contract to remove the 75 ton dredger from the reservoir, but this is on hold until the ice on Strontia Springs Reservoir has fully melted.  In the mean time, head on out and enjoy some great fishing in the famed Waterton Canyon.

Please not that there will be signs stating that the canyon is closed, as these will be left up until after the spring time closure.  Please feel free to contact the shop if you have any questions.

For more information, you can visit the Denver Water website.

Where Should the Water Go?

Mark Twain once wrote, "Whiskey is for drinking, water is for fighting."  Anybody living in the West knows all too well the contensious issue(s) that surround the use and conservation of one of our most precious resources.  And as communities continue to expand across the country, there is little doubt that the Water Wars of the West will continue to grow.  Colorado is currently at the forefront of this debate, with Northern Colorado Water Officials looking to divert up to 67% of the water from the Upper Colorado River Basin to the Colorado Front Range.  So as the debate over Front Range thirst versus long term health of our States namesake river system wages, Scott Willoughby of The Denver Post urges Gov. John Hinckelooper to take a firm and final stand on this issue.

"As reported last week by Bruce Finley of The Denver Post, state officials stand behind Hickenlooper's contention that Northern Water's current plan to pull an extra 21,296 acre-feet of water a year from the Colorado River near Granby "comprehensively addresses impacts to Colorado's fish and wildlife."

Ironically, the EPA review cited a 2011 state study that documented the disappearance of all native sculpin fish and 38 percent of aquatic insect species over 20 years as a result of existing water diversions.  Should Hickenlooper answer the door this morning, someone is sure to ask: Why would state leaders ignore conclusions of their own study?"  read the rest of this article

Where this debate goes from here is anybody's guess, but we do feel that Mr. Willoughby is correct that it's time for our elected State Officials to take a final stand on this issue once and for all.

ROAR Attempts to Block the Controversial “Over The River” Project

from The Denver Post

DENVER—Opponents of the artist Christo's plan to suspend giant fabric panels over parts of the scenic Arkansas River filed a lawsuit Wednesday arguing that federal officials violated environmental laws in deciding last year to approve his Over the River project.

A group of University of Denver law students filed suit in federal court on behalf of Rags Over the Arkansas River, or ROAR, just as Christo and his team were making their case before Fremont County officials considering one of the local permits required for it. The county was holding public hearings Wednesday and Thursday on Christo's permit request.

Christo's team hopes to start construction this year and display Over the River for two weeks, possibly as early as August 2014, before dismantling it.

"We intend to stop this project," said ROAR spokeswoman Joan Anzelmo.

ROAR's lawsuit was filed against the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, BLM officials and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar.

Christo's team hadn't seen the lawsuit yet but said the BLM conducted an extensive, thorough, 2.5-year review in a process that considered hundreds of public comments before issuing its decision, which includes more than 100 measures to mitigate impacts on traffic, safety and wildlife. "We think it's a thorough study that will withstand legal scrutiny," said Over the River spokesman Steve Coffin.

ROAR members had sent in comments of their own to the BLM. "We've been ignored," Anzelmo said.

A BLM spokeswoman didn't immediately return a phone message seeking comment Wednesday.

read the rest of this article at denverpost.com

“Over the River” is Over the Limit | by Kirk Deeter

Kirk Deeter, Editor at Angling Trade Magazine, offers his perspective on the proposed "Over the River" project by famed artist Christo.  While we at Trout's Fly Fishing are proponents of the arts, we have to agree with Mr. Deeter that this project is flawed no matter how you look at it.  Nature is a beautiful and wonderus thing, and it is hard to imagine why somebody would want to try, or think they could make it any better.

"I appreciate fine art.  I encourage creative expression.  I write about things that promote tourism, almost every day.  And I think the Arkansas River in the Colorado high country is worth visiting.

Yet, for the life of me, I cannot understand how the artist Christo’s proposed “Over the River” project makes any sense at all.

In a very brief nutshell, Christo plans to hang several miles of fabric material over the Arkansas River.  Christo has accomplished many interesting nature-meets-landscape art projects, from drapes in New York’s Central Park, to encasing the German Parliament building in fabric, to a curtain across Rifle Gap in Colorado (which lasted less than two days before the wind blew it away, though those of us who fish that area still see the 40-year remnants of the project).

My gut reaction to his latest proposed plan is, “How vain?”  How dare anyone attempt to “beautify” what’s already there?  It seems to me that God/Nature or whatever you feel inclined to understand has already created a magnificent landscape that is more visually spectacular, more honest and real, than anything any artist might improve, augment, or comment on, even for a short span.  Why would we trade the “what is,” for a concept, or a statement?"

read the rest of this article at anglingtrade.com

Our sincerest thanks to Mr. Deeter for taking the time to share is opinions on this project.

Top 9 Reasons to Come to the 2012 International Sportsmen’s Expo

The Denver Angling Community is cursed blessed every January when The Fly Fishing Show and The International Sportmen's Expo (ISE) converge on Denver, all in the same weekend.  We're not going to waste time pretending that this is an ideal situation, nor are we going to delve into our personal feelings about two competing consumer fly fishing shows.  Instead, we're going to offer a simple list of why you, as a consumer, should plan on spending a day (or two) at this year's 2012 International Sportsmen's Expo.

FOR THE ANGLER:

1.  Trou'ts Fly Fishing will be there, Booth R747.  We'll be offering amazing daily show specials on a variety of fly fishing goods, but you have to be in attendance.  In addition, we're going to refund the $15 entry fee for anybody who purchases $100 or more at our booth!

2.  The ISE show offers better savings to those who attend.  You can also click here to receive a $2 OFF coupon for all Denver show dates.

The International Sportsmen's Expo:  $15/adult, FREE/children under 15, FREE/active military

* Total number of Exhibitors:  398

The Fly Fishing Show:  $15/adult, FREE/children under 5, $2/children under 12, FREE/active military, FREE/scouts in uniform

* Total number of Exhibitors:  88

Read More…