Fly Fishing Colorado

Flyfishing Colorado Stream Conditions

Sunday June 4th was perfect for Fly Fishing Colorado. Weather was in the mid 80's in the mountains, water on Bear Creek was only 12.2CFS and gin clear. Bar Pool was crowded with between 15 and 20 fish. I could see fish from about eight inches to a flash of some fourteen inches as they took insects.

The main purpose of this trip was to test a small stream strike/drift indicator.  I  had taken one of our own Hi-Viz Strike indcators and cut the foam strips down to about 3/4 inch long. 

About 10:30 A.M. -- It became obvious a hatch was getting under way.  The fish were actively working just above the bottom to the middle of the water column.  Occasionally a rainbow would take off the surface.

I rigged up a three nymph rig with a #24 gold bead head gold ribbed hares ear as the tail fly.  I attached a number 4 Dinsmore egg shaped weight about 8 inches above the point fly.  Then added the strike indicator some 2 feet above the point fly.

On the first cast, a small fish struck at the tail fly and I missed the set.  A couple of casts later, a nice little 12 inch brown solidly took the hares ear.  He was cooperative and allowed me to get him close enough to remove the hook.

Every 3 or 4 casts, I would get a strike.  Some I got and some I didn't.  During the first hour at Bar Pool, I would have to pause and let a couple of muskrats come and go to their home under the bar. 

For the first half hour, I used the small stream strike indicator.  The fish did not seem to mind and it did not spook them in the least.  I could watch the fish as the indictor moved over them.  They just avoided it if it was in their way.  The small size floated well and indicated a take just like a bigger indictor would.

Toward the end of the first hour, I switched over to a #6 Dinsmore weight and no indicator.  Several casts with the bare line rig and I felt a solid take.  I saw a large flash as the biggest fish in the pool took my tail fly.  My old pal the 18" Rainbow ran for the tail of the pool, turned, ran to the middle, jumped some 2 feet in the air.  In the middle of the jump, this fish rolled off the hook and was gone.  Darn smart fish.  But I will get him to the net before the summer is over.

South Platte -- No hookups using a #12 egg sucking leech.  Even with 2 BB weights on the line, the 360 CFS flow made it hard to get the fly down quickly.  Fishing will be easier when the flow is down.
 

Location Bear Creek West of Denver, CO. O'Fallon Park at Kittredge, CO and South Platte River So. of Waterton, CO
Date Monday 6/04/2006
CFS 12.2 CFS at Morrison, CO and steady for last week.  Current flow on 6/5/06 is 10.6 CFS and rising slightly. In the middle of the afternoon, the flow dropped to 8.76 CFS.

So. Platte at Waterton flow was 360 CFS and down from 390.  Current flow 6/5/06 is 230 and steady.
Water Temps Did not take temps on either stream.
Water Clarity Bear Creek -- Clear  Visibility to 8 ft plus.  S. Platte -- Medium Clarity visibility to about 4 feet
Weather Air Temps high 70s to mid 80s most of day and hot. Skies were clear and sunny. A great day to be outside fishing.
Hatches Bear Creek -- good Light Hendrickson hatch with adults emerging in reasonable numbers about 11:00 am.  From 9:30 to 11:00 am, the nymphs were active.  The fish at Bar Pool were working just above the bottom to the middle of the water column. 
Patterns Used Bear Creek -- #16 Caddis, #16 Killer Special, #24 Gold BH GR Hares ear.  The Hares Ear worked best but was ignored once the hatch got in full swing.

S. Platte -- #10 Black Egg Sucking Leech
Techniques Bear Creek -- 3 nymph rig all day stepped down to 7X final tippet.  caddis emerger top, #16 killer special middle, and #24 GB, GR hares ear bottom  (Flurocarbon Tippet Material Used)

S. Platte -- single egg sucking leech
Overall Fishing Rating Bear Creek -- Hooked up with some 8 or 10 at Bar Pool including my old pal the 18" rainbow. Fish ranged from 8" to the 18" rainbow. 

S. Platte -- no hookups
Fishing Forecast Bear Creek -- Water Flow was down to 10 CFS 6/05/06.  This low a flow in May with runoff mostly over reminds me of 2004 when flows on Bear Creek hit 2 CFS in July resulting in a 95% fish kill.  Hopefully City of Evergreen will honor the minimum stream flow agreement.  If flows of at least 10+ CFS can be maintained, the fishing may be very good with lots of insect activity in morning and early evening.

S. Platte -- For me fishing South of the bridge at Waterton back toward the Strontia Springs Reservoir has always been difficult and spotty.  Other have much better success.  I personally like going North downstream toward Chatfield Reservoir. 

If flows can be maintained at 80 CFS to 250 CFS during the next month, fishing should be very good downstream toward Chatfield Reservoir.
Comments If I had some light Hendrickson nymphs with me, I could have taken many more fish on Bear Creek.  It has been some 10 to 15 years since I have seen a good light Hendrickson hatch on this stream.
Reported By Marshall, Editor
Fly Fishing Colorado