September 12th, 2011 · Comments Off
While the day was outstanding, the fishing was only fair at Tomahawk Wildlife Area today.
CFS = 59 – 62
Air = 75 degrees around 2 pm
Sky = Clear – few clouds and sunny
H2O = Clear to 2 to 3 feet — Water Temp estimated around 55 to 60 degrees.
My friend Michael and I fished from the last bridge parking lot south for about a mile. While fishing took work, we did catch fish. Mostly small 6 to 10 inch browns. Almost every riffle held several of these little guys. Tailouts on fast runs same thing. The strange thing was the undercut banks did not yield any fish of size. This does not mean they were not there but enticing them to strike was another subject.
While fishing this lower section, we talked to two guides from The Hatch fly shop in Pine Junction, CO. Both of their groups were catching fish but having to work for them. The first group, the fly of choice was a large size 8 or 10 Amys Ant with a red sparkle body.
After lunch I fished just below the bridge for awhile without any luck. Fishing under the bridge yielded a nice 12 inch brown. Michael had hooked and lost a nice 12 or 13 inch rainbow just south of the bridge.
We then moved upstream from the bridge. In the edge of a pool formed by a bank collapse, I hooked up with a nice 13 inch rainbow holding just over the edge of a sandbar. Upstream more small browns in the riffles.
Flies that worked for me. A two nymph rig with a small black mayfly emerger as the tail fly about 18 inches behind the point fly.
As we were putting our gear away, I talked to another fisherman that had taken 3 nice browns 19 to 22 inches in the morning. So the big guys are still there.
Tight Lines,
Marshall, Editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
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Post Category: Fishing Conditions
May 22nd, 2011 · Comments Off
High Plains Drifters Fly Fishing Club announces it annual Kids Day at Kassler Education Center and Lake Lehow on June 18, 2011. Cost is $15 for the day and all kids must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Kids learn about fish identification, stream entomology, fly fishing gear, how to roll cast and catch fish. After lunch they go to Lake Lehow for fishing.
Download an Enrollment Form Right Click and Save Target As to your Desktop. The file is in PDF format which is on most PCs. Print out the form and send it back to Robin Knox with a check payable to High Plains Drifters by 6/4/2011,
See you at Kids Day
Tight Lines,
Marshall, Author
Successful Fly Fishing for Trout
www.successfulflyfishing.com
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May 18th, 2011 · Comments Off
GET A GRIP
You may have heard the saying before. Most of us probably don’t think much about the cork grip when fishing. Cork grips come in a variety of grades. Fluor grade Portuguese cork is the accepted top grade. After that it depends on whose brand of handle you use. Super, Grade A , B and C are some of the grades I have seen. The main things to look for are:
1. Is the handle smooth with few pits and filled spots.
2. Do filled spots appear to be securely glued so you won’t develop uncomfortable pits from use.
3. Does the handle fit your hand comfortably? This is very important to your ability to cast and control the rod. A handle that is too small or too large will tire your hand over a day’s fishing.
4. If purchasing from the web, what are the return and warranty policies of the website.
What is the big deal about the handle other than it should be smooth and comfortable to hold? Comfortable to hold is the operative phrase. When casting, most of us use the thumb on top, the V grip or the forefinger on top grip to hold and control the rod. The grip must fit the hand comfortably for the rod to become an extension of your arm. The better the grip fits your hand, the better you can apply power properly to the rod during your cast, the better you can control the vertical casting plane of the rod and the better you can hit the back and forward stops to form tight loops.
A grip that is too skinny or too fat for your hand will tire you out and lessen your control over the rod. The shape of the grip is also important. Today grips come in four shapes
1. Cigar for weights 1 thru 3. These are similar to the half wells grips without so much flair at the back of the grip.
2. Half Wells with a cutout for the top reel seat. These grips have a smaller front end a larger middle and flair at the back end. These grips are often found on rod weights 1 thru 6.
3. Full Wells grip have a full front end to allow the thumb to apply power during the cast, a middle to fit the palm and a flared back end to rest the heel of the palm against. Generally found on rod weights 6 and up. And most often these will have a one or two inch fighting butt.
4. The new Snub-Nosed Wells grip found on St. Croix Bank Robber rods in 6 and 7 weight and on Sage TXL-F small stream rods. (I have cast the Bank Robber 6 wt with the snub nosed grip and found it tiring. The seven wt with the full Wells was quite comfortable. I have not tried the seven wt with the snub-nosed Wells grip.
1 and 2 are half Wells Grips. 3 and 4 are full Wells grips with fighting butts.
Snub-nosed Wells grip on the Bank Robber Rod.
In 2009 I purchased a big brand 9ft 6wt rod. This rod has taken me over a year to learn to control properly. Mostly because the grip is 2/64ths to 3/64ths too large for my hand and tires my thumb out quickly on long casts necessary for the FFF certification test. While learning to use this rod, it would sometimes turn 30+ degrees during a cast because I could not hold the grip comfortably with the thumb on tip hold. The V grip was only slightly better. I know the size of the grip was the main issue because I have tried 2 other exact same brand and model rods with handles slightly smaller and experienced no loop or control problems.
So when you purchase your next rod, take some time to hold the rod. Feel the grip. Is it comfortable? Is it too small or too large or just right? Is the grip the right design for you? Look at the construction. Ask about the grade of cork used. Remember the cork grip is where the hand meets the rod. The average fly fisher makes some 200 casts in a day on stream. You want your day to be fun and not a struggle to control your fly rod.
Tight Lines,
Marshall, Editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
Everything you need for fly fishing
www.successfulflyfishing.com
A Try Before You Buy Book
Tags: fly rod grips
Post Category: Fly Fishing
March 31st, 2011 · Comments Off
This is from Greg Felt at Arkanglers in Salida Colorado.
March 31, 2011
Tuesday (March 29, 2011), I floated from Cotopaxi to Texas Creek. Yes, the flows were low but we managed to get through just fine. Yes, we had some wind, varying in direction and intensity, but not enough to become the defining aspect of the day. Yes, we had a strong blue wing olive hatch, a regatta of mayflies skating down the surface and yes, the fish were up and on them.
It’s true that before that hatch began we caught a lot of fish subsurface on a red two bit hooker and a small chocolate midge and that after the hatch subsided we found plenty of browns still hanging along the edges, willing to take a dark streamer or a royal stimulator.
I’d be exaggerating if I said we saw more than one wade angler over that entire nine miles or that there were any other boats on the water. Truth be told, it was a day that spoke to many of the great attributes of this river and that reinforced for my guests and me why we love the Arkansas and keep returning to her currents.
Back in the office and looking at the forecast, I’d be remiss if I didn’t send word of more fine days ahead. We had a 67 degree afternoon today, with tomorrow projected to be 64 and Saturday 71. Sunday looks cloudy with a chance for rain but still a high of 64. Monday sounds wet and cold, a high in the 40s, and then we return to 60 degree weather again.
We tend to look for cool, wet days as the drivers for our better blue wing olive hatches but this week has seen strong hatches in full sun, with fish taking adults and emergers at or just beneath the surface. The low flows are allowing fish to spread out, as there is more slower water in which a brown trout can effectively hold, and this decreases the competition while making more of the river productive for anglers. Wading is easy now and one can cross and recross the river as the terrain dictates. It all begs the question: What exactly are people waiting for? Caddis? Probably, but one needn’t forego good fishing until then.
There’s a lot of good public water that is accessible to the wade angler. The low flows have kept boat traffic light. We have good availability for wade or float trips and our two miles of private water, now available for rod fee fishing, have been sitting vacant most days. Our shops are fully stocked, the staff fresh and ready to assist. Everything seems to be in place, ready to roll.
I don’t have any special deals to offer. No “operators are standing by” sort of call to action. All I can tell you is that there are great days ahead down here, great days that have already gone by, and that my fervent wish is for as many of you as possible to experience soon a day like the one I had on Tuesday. It will be with me for quite awhile, I’m sure of that, and I didn’t even take a cast.
Greg Felt
ArkAnglers
719-539-4223
If you want a great guided trip stop in at Arkanglers. Greg, Carol Neville or any of the other guides will give you a quality experience.
Tight Lines,
Marshall, Editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
Everything You Need for Fly Fishing
Information and Affordable Fly Fishing Tackle
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January 6th, 2011 · Comments Off
Thursday 1/6/11
The International Sportman’s Expo ISE starts today 1/6 and runs through Sunday 1/9/11. The ISE showcases fly fishing, fishing, boats, hunting, camping and sports travel primarily. Many fly fishing notables from Colorado will be there such as Landon Mayer and Pat Dorsey. The ISE is a good place to see an over view of the outdoor recreation industry offerings.
The ISE Hours:
Thursday Noon to 9:00 pm
Friday, Noon to 9:00 pm
Saturday, 10:00 am to 8:00 pm
Sunday, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm
TICKETS
$15.00 Adult
FREE – Youth and Children 15 years and under
FREE – Active Military with military ID card
Parking: FREE Parking & Shuttles at Coors Field. Ride light rail to the Convention Center station.
Complete information on the ISE or to buy Tickets Online. ISE Denver
Tight Lines,
Be sure to stop by the Denise Lake Lodge booth at 421c and say hi to the Lodge Owners Elaine and Jim. The Denise Lake Lodge and B&B is located on the Kenai Peninsula near the town of Soldatna, AK. The Lodge offers fine food, great lodging and superior fishing experiences. Tell them Fly Fishing Colorado Referred you.
Marshall, Publisher
www.bestflyrods.com
Find your best fly rod here
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Post Category: Fly Fishing Vacations
