The California Experience

Spent a week in California and tried a number of rivers and lakes when I had a little time.  Started the fishing on the Yuba River which was next to our campsite the first nite.  We arrived late in the day so only had an hour to fish before it got dark, but managed to catch a 8" brown and then hand Dax my rod and watch him catch one.  The next spot was the Truckee River where I had a couple of hours to fish in the town of Truckee.  The fly shop said the fishing is tough and they were right.  I managed to hook two fish but both shook free in my time.  Next was some lake fishing, which I had never done before.  We tried two seperate lakes, Meadow and French lakes but only had luck in one.  French Lake gave up two 13" Rainbows to me in only an hours worth of fishing as we walked the shoreline.  To finish the trip I fished the South Fork American River for about an hour and pulled out a 9" Brown to finish off right.

Rod:  Iwana 12'
Line:  Traditional Tenkara 10 1/2'
Flies that worked:  Winged ant, BWO, Elk Hair Caddis

Killing it at Bear Creek

Everyone decided to go to Bear Creek for the day but I started a little early and Paul started late after a bike ride.  Derron and Mark started a couple hours after me and finished a couple hours later than me.  The day was perfect as far as the weather was concerned and although there were a lot of people around, the creek was not that crowded.

I started the day off fishing with a new Unagi Universal Tenkara Rod which is a more heavy duty rod than my other one.  I tied on a Parachute Adams and started casting to a tiny little pool in the first access spot on the creek.  After two casts I think about moving on but tell myself to cast a couple more times, when on the third cast of the day I land a 8" Brown.  Could not have asked for a better start to the day!

Moving on to the next spot up stream I can see a fish feeding next to a tree and start casting to it.  After half an hour with no luck I decide to move on to the next spot, which is where we had good luck last time.  I switch to a Pale Morning Dun and try an area where I can see fish feeding.  After fifteen minutes or so I finally land another 8" Brown just in time for the family walking up to the stream to see.  Mark and Derron show up a few minutes later and start fishing the hole while I move up stream.

Over the next couple of hours I try about eight different spots catching fish in five different spots.  I was still throwing a PMD and when I caught a fish I moved on to the next spot.  All five fish were between 7" and 10" and all were brown trout.  I walked as far as the first bridge and then then walked back to find Mark and Derron still fishing at the same hole I left them at.  In the same time I caught five they caught eleven between them with Derron catching a 13" Brown on a PMD I gave him.

We decide to try down stream where we find Paul who has caught a couple fish already and try out some new areas.  I try about four different spots with no luck before I call it a day and head home with seven for the day.  Derron and Mark walk past the second bridge and find a beaver pond where they can see fish feeding and the trees have cleared out to open up a little space for easy casting.  They finish off their day by catching a few more fish each and call it a day themselves.

One of my best days of fishing so far and one of my favorite!

The bet....

Mark and Derron thought it would be fun to see if they could catch more fish (in inches) than Paul and myself.  We had decided to go to Boulder Creek for the day and started out at Rodgers Park.  Derron and Mark went to a class at Colorado Skies on how to fish Boulder Creek and picked up some flies they recommended earlier in the morning that they gave to Paul and me.  Losers owed beers! 

Mark was the first to land a fish, and they were in the lead.  Of coarse he caught it on a Black Beauty, not one of the flies they gave us!  We fish for a couple of hours with Mark landing two total and no one else having any luck and decide to move into town.

We try a spot behind the stadium and just like before Mark lands a fish, but this time on a Red San Juan Worm.  Yep, you guessed it, not a fly they gave us (cheeky bastards)!  We fish for a few hours with everyone but me catching a fish on a Red San Juan and call it a day and go have some dinner.

Mark and Derron finished with five and two fish apiece with Paul catching one and getting skunked myself on dries.  Had a great day fishing with friends and finding new places to go!

Three days in the Frying Pan

Derron and myself went to Glenwood Springs for a long weekend to hang with friends and do a little fishing in the area. Because of the warm weather, runoff was muddying the Roaring Fork and Crystal Rivers but because of the dam the Frying Pan was still alright. The weekend was hot but very windy for most part and you would think with a name like the Frying Pan the water would not be so f*^#ing cold.

We started Friday by fishing just down from the dam by the bridge. As we walked up we could see fish feeding and took this as a good sign. After fishing for a couple of hours with no luck, Derron finally catches a little Rainbow and the ice is broken. We fish for a couple of more hours with no luck and decided to move downstream. After a couple of different spots we settle on this area by some trees and pools. I start casting to a fish I can see feeding in this little pool. After a couple of near misses I finally hook a 14" Rainbow and go from totally frustrated to super excited in a second. Next I move to an area by some submerged trees and land a 11" Rainbow, to make two for the day, both in the last hour of the day. Both fish were caught on a bwo.

The next day we start in the area we finished the day before to try our luck. After about an hour with no luck and not seeing any fish feeding we decide to move to another area up stream. As we walk up we notice a bunch of fish feeding on the surface and feel pretty good about the spot. I am still throwing a bwo, but at this point it has lost all of it's wings. With a few near misses in the book I finally get my hook set and land a 13" Brown and could not be happier. I take a little break and get back out in the river with the fish still feeding. Twenty or so more casts and I hook another 11" Rainbow to officially make this a great day. Derron plugs away and finally gets a 12" Raindow to keep him from getting skunked. We call it a day at 3:30 and meet some friends for some beers.

Sunday ended up being super windy and with no luck we decided to call it a day after a couple of hours and headed home. Overall a great trip and my biggest fish so far!

My Best Day So Far

Went up to Clear Creek with Derron for a half day of fishing. We decided to go to the spot in Idaho Springs to start things off. As before you could see fish in the water as we walked up and knew once again we had chosen wisely.

I start fishing the good spot and Derron heads a little farther down. I begin fishing with a Light Cahill but end up getting it snagged and losing it. Pale Morning Dun size 16 and a Light Cahill size 20 are my next choices for flies(same setup I had the previous time). Not five casts into it I see the fish come up and grab the Pale Morning Dun. I set the hook and catch my first fish of the day, a little 7" brookie. With the fish released I start casting again and same thing, fish on. That made two fish in about a half hour of fishing.

I go see how Derron is doing downstream, only to find out he has had no luck. I take a little break and watch Derron fish, still no luck. Derron decides to move up to where I was, while I try a few spots down stream. I end up having no luck either and move back up stream to find out Derron has caught 2 fish, so the story goes?

I start fishing in the same area as before and not to long after, catch my third fish of the day. All have been Brook Trout and 8" or smaller, but still as many fish in one day as I have had. The Pale Morning Dun is killing it!

We decide to go to the first tunnel and give it a go for the last hour of the day. As we walk up we see a couple of fisherman who said the fish are active but not taking what they had. We fish the first calm section and work our way up. After about 20 minutes and a few misses I finally get a fish on. Once again its a small 8" Brook Trout, but it has officially made this my best day fishing so far! I move a little farther up stream and catch one more, you guessed it a 8" Brook Trout. Number five for the day and catching fish in three different spots, so pleased with myself.

I Fish for another 10 minutes with no luck and go see how Derron is doing. He has had no luck and we are both ready to call it quits for the day.

Did I mention, I CAUGHT FIVE FISH!!!!!

Bear Creek, April 15 2011

Took a half day today and went up to Bear Creek, Lair of the Bear. First time fishing the creek and had an interesting day. Bear creek is a fairly small creek maybe 10 to 15 feet wide not very deep. Lots of trees and shrubs surrounding the water. Started nymphing, as the winds were up, with a stonefly and made three or four cast before I got hung up. Switched to some dries and hit three or four runs with no luck. Decided to go to some really small flies and as I was switching out noticed one rising downstream. Eventually got the size 22 trico???? on, looked like it had a black head with a little red tail and a small white foam indicator on the top. Landed the fish after maybe 20 casts down to him. Little 7 inch brook trout. After that only got one more in late in the day 5 inch brook. The others had a bit more luck throughout the day. All in all not a bad day as the winds subsided and the fish were hitting dries. Group had a total of 8 fish for the day.

Bear Creek Late Afternoon

Kept rising, Kept Missing.

Some more successful than others.

Thanks Grandpa




4-9-11



Poudre Canyon It’s good to know that the section I grew up fishing as a kid in the 70’s and 80’s was still the hot spot on the river. I guess I should have followed  my Grandfather more often than I did, his spot is proving to be the place to be. Larger Adams (12-14), BWO (20) and streamers were flies of the day. A few were to be had on San Juans. Even the rookie Tenkara Kid doubled his fish count late in the afternoon.





They do exist... 15" Brown

 

Another Day on the Poudre River, April 9, 2011

Spent another great day on the river.  Group had 15 for the day, caught with various flies,  some nymphing done ( San juans, Palamino(super fly)), some big dries thrown (parachute adams)  and even 4 landed with a woolly bugger (thin mint).  Fished a Tenkara rod for the first time and got a 12" rainbow.  Used Kevin's rod, Mark's fly and my skill.  They say I only get a third credit for the catch.   Kevin caught his three all on dries using his Tenkara rod.  Mark got five with a combo of dries and nymphing.  Derron had 7 with 2 on nymphs, one dry, and four on the woolly bugger. 

Derron and Kevin

First fish on a Tenkara for me.

Kevin casting a Tenkara rod, with the opposite hand. 

Another nice one on a my rod.

Me working it.  First time using a Tenkara rod.