8/22
South Platte River
Started fishing the South Platte River between Waterton back toward Chatfield Reservoir. Water was flowing 154 CFS and murky. The flow was down from last weeks high of 680 CFS. Clarity poor with visibility to about 1 foot. Air temp good at high seventies and low eighties. Water temp was estimated 42 to 45 degrees. Did not see any fish nor much insect activity. A small midge hatch was all I say in three hours of fishing. No strikes and no hook ups on any fly I tried.
Bear Creek
Moved to Bear Creek arriving at O’Fallon Park about noon. Ate lunch and napped until 1:15.
Water clarity was good to 2 feet deep. Not gin clear but good. Flow estimated between 22 and 28 CFS. Air temp in low eighties and water estimated at low fifties.
I fished one of the pools straight out from the main parking lot. This pool is deceiving with the center run some 3 feet deep and about 2 feet wide. I know because I had to wade across to rescue a fly from a tree branch that ate it.
Some small midge activity off the pool with a few small fish taking dries off the surface. I caught one small fish on a #20 gray RS2 emerger on a Leisenring Lift technique. Spotted a 14 inch fish in the pool but my fly rescue scared it off.
Fished the runs feeding large rock pool downstream. Had a looker or two at a #18 Tellico nymph as it rose on a Leisenring Lift but no takers.
Moved to one of favorite pools upstream about 3 pm. This pool had some 15 to 20 fished stacked in the main run. I could see them moving about taking nymphs mid-column in the water column. My first fish was a 15 inch length, 4 inch girth beauty of a cut bow on a #20 gray RS2 trailing emerger with a #16 beadhead, gold ribbed, flashback hares ear point fly. Next fish was a healthy 10 inch brown from the tail of pool. Followed by a 13 inch brown from the tail of the pool on the hares ear. The fourth fish took me around the pool once head down and shaking. Then it headed upstream in the fast water. I managed to see a belly flash as it went by. I estimate that it was 17 or 18 inches. Got this fish stopped by a rock in the fast run feeding this pool but could not easily get across to follow him upstream. At this point, this fish performed one last strong head shake and broke off a 5X leader. He disappeared with both flies.
I tried to get pics of me holding the fish I caught. I need a lot more practice to get less of me and my hand and more of the fish.
About 5 p.m. a thunderstorm rolled in with lightening. Back to the car to wait it out. Back at the pool at 6 p.m. Lots of duck activity as they paddled around the pool. Had to watch carefully so they did not eat my dry fly.
Some insect activity. Small tan caddis hatch. I switched to a tan yarn caddis dry fly pattern I had tied. First cast, a fish snapped at it on the end of the drift and I set the hook too soon. Two casts later a nice 12 inch brown jumped six inches into the air to grab the fly as I picked up for a cast. This was fun to watch. Had two more strikes at my tan caddis. Biggest problem was having to put floatant on every other cast to keep the yarn from becoming water soaked. Need to change the body on the pattern.
About 7 p.m. another thunderstorm rolled in with lots of lightening. Headed post haste to car. Had to shoo some deer off the path so I could go through. They were nice and healthy, tan does with sleek coats. Got a few pics. At car, I got out of gear with lightening cracking over the mountain I was parked next to. Reviewing the afternoon, it was an excellent day of fishing.
Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
www.110flyfishingtips.com
www.troutadventures.com
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