5/16
Wednesday dawned reasonably clear with some wind blowing off Cherry Creek Reservoir. The South Platte at Deckers was running 194 up from the 44 of the last couple of weeks. I was to meet my fishing buddy Larry at Jarre Mart in Sedialia by 9am. Larry had a spot already picked out that he wanted to try.
Arriving at the Jarre Mart 10 minutes early, I enjoyed some sunshine and fresh air waiting for Larry. Right at 9 am, he arrived. We waited 10 more minutes for the third member of our party. Then away we went caravaning for the river. I was in the lead since I knew Night Hawk Hill rd would be dusty.
Arriving at "Larry’s spot", we were just a mile or so east of Deckers right where the deep runs and holes are next to the road. Larry was into his waders and boots and headed for the river almost before I could get my stuff laid out to put on. After gearing up, I worked the runs and holes from the road side using a modified short line deep nymph technique. This one uses a short piece of 7 or 6 X tippet off the bend of the tail fly to hold the weight. I was using a heavy weighted czech nymph on top for a weight plus another weight above that.
My leader setup was about 4 feet of old leader down to 3X, 3 feet of 5X fluorocarbon, my point fly then 18 inches of 6x fluorocarbon tippet with my tail fly. Plus the weight hanger off of that.
This setup got the rig down to the bottom pretty fast. But no fish seemed to like my flies or I was not using it correctly. Lob cast upstream with only 2 feet of line out of the top, sink the rig, high stick a drift leading the rig on a tight line. I could feel the bounces of the bottom weight on the bottom. Every once in a while the leader would twitch or hesitate at the water line. Swish a downstream strike set. Mostly moss and a rock once in a while but no fish.
I spent the morning working the runs and holes upstream to the last fast run with no fish. On the last run, working the seam alongside the run, I picked up a nice 12 inch bow. My only fish of the day.
After lunch, I drove up around two bends towards Deckers and parked above another fast deep run that has held fish in the past. This run has 2 foot diameter rocks along the bottom of the run for cover. These rocks make swirling currents on top to complicate the drift pattern. As soon as I got into my casting position at the head of the run, the wind came up with 40 mph blows heading east down the canyon. So bad that I had to turn my back to the wind, wait for the wind borne water spray to stop before trying to get a cast off. River cast lob, wind blows 3 feet of line back down stream, rest puddles up below the rod. About 4 of these and back to the car.
Drove up the old YMCA road west to the last parking spot to see if the wind was less in that part of the canyon. Only just barely so went back east to find Larry. He was fishing the runs and holes from the south side of the river. Larry picked up one fish along that stretch fighting the wind, changing flies 3 times before calling it quits.
Water was still pretty much gin clear at a foot. At 3 to 4 feet, it was not murky because you could see the rocks and moss but fish were tough. I think they were sitting in or on the moss mostly.
Just before we left there was a small caddis hatch that prompted one small bow to hit the surface near where I was standing.
Lots of wind burn, sunburn and more experience.
Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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