Trouts Fly Fishing

Andrew Grillos Special Fly Tying Demonstration

Who:  Andrew Grillos – professional fly fishing guide and signature fly tier for Idylwilde Fly Company

What:  a special presentation where Andrew will be showing us how to tie some of his favorite and most innovative fly patterns

Where:  Trout’s Fly Fishing

When:  Saturday October 16, 2010 from 11am – 1pm

A little more on Mr. Grillos:

Andrew Grillos began his career in the fly fishing world at a young age. He first picked up a fly rod around age 10, started tying at age 14, and by age 16 was a production fly tyer. He then chose his college based on the fishing surrounding Gunnison, Colorado and began working as a …full time guide almost immediately after moving to Gunnison. As his 9th year guiding is coming to a close he draws upon experience gained while guiding in Western Colorado, namely on the Gunnison River in the Black Canyon and on the countless rivers and streams in the Upper Gunnison basin. Over the last 9 years Andrew’s also had the pleasure of guiding for some of the top outfitters in Alaska, Chile, Argentina, and New Zealand. Recognized as a Guide Ambassador for Simms, Andrew’s done a fair amount of product testing and development around the world. As a Signature Fly Tier for Idylwilde Flies, Andrew’s unique fly designs are recognized and widely distributed.

Andrew’s fly designs are typically inspired by a desire to solve specific problems that he’s encountered while guiding around the world. Guiding clients that had a tough time following a large hopper as fish were taking the dropper was one motivation for the Sideshow Bob. Getting tired of dealing with “buoyant” foam caddis patterns sinking after a couple fish was one motivation for the Bob Barker. Take the El Camino, it’s a stonefly adult that remains buoyant and easy to see while riding low in the surface film. Another extremely important part of Andrew’s fly designs is durability. By taking advantage of synthetics like foam, rubber, and synthetic dubbings he’s created a number of flies that can catch fish all day long and not sink or fall apart.

To Andrew fun has always been priority number one with his guiding, fishing, and fly tying. His hope is that his flies maximize angling time and effectiveness, resulting in a good day!

We hope to see many of our customers and friends there!

NEW GEAR | The F2 Fly Rod Series from Scott Fly Rods

Scott Fly Rods

F2 Fiberglass Fly Rod Series

Available Date: October 2010

Price: $595.00

What we have to say about it:  Scott Fly Rods has always been a company that doesn’t follow the traditional norms of fly rod design, which is why their rods are loved and sought after by the industries best and brightest.  So for 2011, how could one of the top fly rod manufacturers stray from the pack and really stand out?  How about debuting an entirely new line of Fiberglass fly rods.  Introducing the F2 Fly Rod Series.  We had the opportunity to cast these rods at the IFTD Show in September, and it was absolute love at first cast.  The first thing that stood out about these rods was the color, a classic yellow that instantly reminds you of your grandfathers classic fiberglass rods.  In addition, these rods have a delicate taper that delivers the fly line with a super smooth and precise presentation.  While not a fly rod for the masses, those anglers that have a love and appreciation for medium action fly rods will absolutely love the new F2.

What Scott Fly Rods has to say about it:

This year we’re introducing a full new line up of glass rods that both improve performance and pay homage to our long history with the material.  Scott has been handcrafting high performance rods made from fiberglass longer than any other company. We’re approaching our 40th year designing and building fly rods with fiberglass.  We feel that glass is uniquely suited to fishing applications that call for close range casts, and offer more fun and enjoyment when targeting small fish.  This series of rods incorporate a new S-glass fabric weave with a highly biased fiber distribution and combine that with a new epoxy resin system. The blanks are joined using Scott hollow internal ferrules.  These design features allowed us to significantly decrease the perceived weight of the rods, and get a smoother deeper bending rod curve that recovers more quickly than previous glass rods.  This means the rods can be very light with out sacrificing accuracy or losing control of the cast.  As a tribute to our innovative designs in glass rods during the early ‘70s, we’ve gone back to our traditional yellow/honey colored glass, light brown wraps and touches like finish cork on the grips and cork insert reel seats.

Models come in the following sizes and are priced at $595.00:

• 6’0” 2 Weight/3 Pieces
• 6’6” 3 Weight/3 Pieces
• 7’0” 3 Weight/3 Pieces
• 7’7” 4 Weight/3 Pieces
• 8’2” 5 Weight/4 Pieces

Notable New Products for 2011

The International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (IFTD) concluded a little over a week ago, and I’ve been meaning to do some posts on some of the more notable new products that were debuted for 2011.  All in all, there are some great new offerings that I am sure all of our customers will be very excited about (I know we were).  Be sure and keep in mind that many of these products are available now, so be sure and take note of the “Available Date” field on each product.

Ross Reels

F1 Fly Reel

Available Date:  November 1, 2010

Price:  starts at $425

What We have to Say:  Ross has raised the bar in fly reel design with the F1 reel series.  It is beautifully machined, has a bomber drag that could stop a freight train (verdict is still out though as to whether this elaborate of a drag is really necessary on a trout reel), and looks about as sexy as a Ferrari.  Although this isn’t a reel for the masses, those who are looking for the most technologically advanced fly reel will certainly be please with this new offering from Ross.  In the end, we say kudos to Ross for coming out with such an exciting new product.

What Ross has to say: After more than two years of design, development and testing, Ross is pleased to introduce the F1TM – a large arbor fly reel series that is destined to revolutionize modern fly reel design. The F1 is a complete departure from conventional thinking and incorporates the most innovative features found in any fly reel today. Inspired by the break system utilized in Formula 1 race cars, the F1 is an integration of carbon fiber and stainless steel; utilizing eight independent contact points to produce the smoothest and most dependable drag system on the market today. Two square inches of carbon fiber drag surface results in unsurpassed stopping power and heat dissipation. The spool fits to a carbon fiber stabilizer which utilizing two fully sealed stainless steel ball bearings to provide precision fit and smooth rotation. The F1 employs a Ross original clutch bearing that is fully sealed and enables retrieve conversion without removing the bearing- an industry first! The extensive use of carbon fiber in the drag system, spool stabilizer, handle and spool release provide system strength and rigidity, while reducing overall weight. Ten separate o-rings completely seal the system, making it totally impervious to the drag-changing effects of water. The entire system is controlled by a constant-torque drag knob with a 56:1 mechanical advantage; resulting in uniform drag knob rotation and infinite drag adjustment.

The F1…a fly reel revolution!

click here to view more information about this fly reel

Kokanee Salmon - what you need to know

When you ask somebody to tell you what comes to mind when you say “Colorado Fly Fishing”, most people would mention 2 things: the Rocky Mountains and Trout.  The reality is that fly fishing in this state is very closely associated with the resident trout (Rainbow, Brown, Brook, Cutbow and Cutthroat), and not the many other species that fill our local ponds, lakes, reservoirs and rivers.  Yet every Fall, the Kokanee Salmon make their annual migration out of a few or our states reservoirs, and essentially goes from being a complete anomaly to fly anglers to being a highly sought after species.  Yet there still remains a large number of fly anglers who are completely unaware of this species, particularly how much fun they can be to catch on a fly rod.

Background

The Kokanee Salmon is essentially a land-locked Pacific Sockeye Salmon.  These fish were first introduced to lakes and reservoirs in the interior US starting in the early 1900’s, and these stocking programs continue today.  Because they don’t venture from saltwater to freshwater, Kokanee Salmon are much smaller than their androgynous brethren, and only get to be about 1lb – 3lb.  It’s also important to point out that except for a few exceptions, Kokanee don’t ever successfully spawn.  As a result, local fish and wildlife agencies have to do annual stockings to maintain adequate population numbers.  Yet although these fish don’t successfully spawn, it is during the spawning period where this species becomes accessible to fly anglers as they will seek out gravelly shore lines in reservoirs, or small tributary streams to swim up and “spawn”.  Just like any other salmon species, once they begin their spawn these fish stop eating and will eventually die.

Read More…

World Renowned Colorado Fly Fishing Takes On Special Hue In Autumn

With the crowds gone, the foliage in full color, and the fish hungry and frisky, expert anglers agree that fall in Colorado offers the finest fly fishing anywhere and they offer the top spots

Colorado is a world-wide destination for fly fishing, as there are thousands of miles of streams in the mountains and plains, and hundreds of ponds, lakes and reservoirs that offer fly fishers unparalleled access to the finest fresh-water fish on earth. Trout of every stripe, kokanee salmon, bass, muskie, crappie, catfish, walleye, splake - there's a challenge nearly everywhere in the clear, cold waters of Colorado.

And autumn is a particular popular season for the veteran fly fisher for a variety of reasons. First, of course, is the solitude: with kids back in school and the majority of summer tourists back home, even the most popular streams, reservoirs and lakes feature little company or competition. Then there's the weather: the fall in Colorado is spectacular, with warm sunny days, cool starry nights, and foliage colors unmatched in the West.

But of course, it's the fish that matter. In the fall, several species, including the venerable brown trout, are spawning in Colorado streams, and once finished with their labors they need to fatten up for the long winter. In this season all types of fish are especially hungry and frisky, which makes the angling possibilities endless and the fight well worth the effort.

Seasoned anglers mark their calendars for September, October and November in Colorado as possible the best fly fishing on earth.

Colorado offers many opportunities for excellent fly fishing, from remote back-country sites and guided tours for Colorado river fishing, to day trips from major cities and resort locales where the famous Colorado trout - rainbows, cutthroat, brownies, brookies and lake trout - are abundant and ferocious.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (http://wildlife.state.co.us/) is an excellent source of information on available species and places to go, and of course the Internet is replete with fishing blogs, fishing guide sites, and a wealth of information that is a gateway to Colorado fly fishing.

Truth be told, in Colorado no one is ever more than a few miles from a great fly fishing spot, but here are five premier locations that expert anglers agree are among the very best locations for successful, memory-laden Colorado fly fishing:

Blue River: The Blue River is a medium-size river in the central part of the state near the Continental Divide, and one of the most scenic fishing spots in the state. Experts believe the best fly fishing on the river is from the Dillon Reservoir dam down to the Colorado River, between the town of Dillon to the Green Mountain Reservoir. While most of the water borders private land, there is 10 miles of public access between the two reservoirs. Look to land brown, rainbow, some brook trout, cutthroats and fall-spawning Kokanee salmon.
Gunnison River: The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in western Colorado is renowned for the brilliant combination of deep canyons and sheer cliffs, beautiful terrain and fishing opportunities unrivaled anywhere. The Gunnison River is subject to many restrictions, but there are 26 miles of the river that are managed as a Gold Medal tailwater fishery, which veteran anglers says is among the most productive in the state. The open portion is equally divided: thee lower 13 miles, known as the Gunnison Gorge, is the most popular and most fished as its access is relatively easy;p the upper 13 miles, within the rugged Black Canyon National Monument, are more difficult to reach, as it requires descending more than 2,000 feet down eroded drainage gullies to the river to reach the prize. Anglers report landing slab-sided rainbows and browns from 13 to 18 inches, with larger trout occasionally taken.

West Elk Wilderness: The West Elk Wilderness, in the Gunnison National Forest in west central Colorado is not far from the popular mountain town Crested Butte. With an area of 176,000 acres about 15 miles in diameter, and with elevations up to 13,000 feet, the area features a couple of lakes teeming with trout, including golden trout.

Weminuche Wilderness: The Weminuche Wilderness, in the Rio Grande and San Juan National Forests in southwestern Colorado near Durango, offers several streams, including the Los Pinos River and Vallecito Creek which drain into the Vallecito Reservoir, and featuring such action as brookies, rainbows and cutthroats. The western portion of the wilderness area include the Needle Mountains with many peaks over 14,000 feet, and spectacular vistas from every vantage point.

South Platte River: The South Platte River, about an hour south of the heart of Denver, flows through Cheesman Canyon and offers broad, stunning views of the Front Range of Colorado within striking distance of the state's major population centers. The area was once subject to a dam proposal which would have wiped out 21 miles of pristine Gold Medal fishing waterways, but opposition from a variety of wildlife and environmental interests were successful is scotching the plans. Today, anglers enjoy catching large rainbows and browns, with fly fishing one of the favored methods.

While Colorado is a special place for fly fishing the year around, the most experienced anglers agree: there's better time and place to get out the flies than Colorado in the fall. For all your Colorado fall fly fishing needs, call on Trout's Fly Fishing, the west's premier fly-shop and outfitter. We can be reached at (303) 733-1434. Or visit us on the web, at http://www.troutsflyfishing.com.