tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76656603933903608382024-03-21T09:10:24.503-04:00Bass SlayerLies and confessions of a bass and trout junkieUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger118125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-49633176695936472552011-12-11T10:15:00.006-05:002011-12-11T10:28:25.552-05:00Winter Trout<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGcxMYdjvJS4ja1sqac5oP88w6FyCrCgNzdwg_lglIuPHJT3zKtst9VCTztyo24PpyJLHDzTrPCZXr-_UxZuDwVuHCc-IUKis8naUz9raG1howSZiW4jpt4A0n2JgyJPhtlcEhd7i68-E/s1600/6488884469_67602d407d%255B1%255D.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5684892626435470530" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGcxMYdjvJS4ja1sqac5oP88w6FyCrCgNzdwg_lglIuPHJT3zKtst9VCTztyo24PpyJLHDzTrPCZXr-_UxZuDwVuHCc-IUKis8naUz9raG1howSZiW4jpt4A0n2JgyJPhtlcEhd7i68-E/s400/6488884469_67602d407d%255B1%255D.jpg" /></a> I am convinced the best winter trout fishing in the Pikes Peak region is the Arkansas River tailwater below Pueblo Reservoir. I hit a couple of holes early yesterday morning and was very pleased. With temps in the teens, It was tough, but I battled through it and managed to get a bite going with a deep nymph rig. My winning combo was a Hare's Ear dropped off a worm pattern with the indicator pegged at about eight feet off the point fly. This seamed to work best drifted just off the bottom on deep holes.<br /><br />I read somewhere that a nymph rig works best when you add just enough weight to get all the way off the bottom without hanging up every cast. When it comes to river fishing I am definitely all about nymph tactics. When it's 15 degrees, you have no choice.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-77263286425449660062011-10-13T08:03:00.002-04:002011-10-13T08:05:31.988-04:00NC Bassin' With My Dad<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6234622263/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6220/6234622263_624671e480.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6234622263/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Just got home after visiting my Dad in NC. My trips to see my Dad come with the challenge of cracking the code on Lake James - a very challenging highland lake. We started off targeting smallmouth with each of us getting on the board with smaller fish. I got mine on a fly rod which is really fun. I also found a mid day pattern to pound bream with a fly rod - also very fun.<br /><br />At some point we found our largemouth pattern: green Zoom Dead Ringers tossed between timber. This is a seasonal thing as Lake James has lots of deep water structure. At 71 degrees the water was perfect for pounding the bank eastern NC style. You have to work for your bass bites on Lake James, but Dad and I both broke through in a big way. I got a solid three pound fish and Dad got a five pounder.<br /><br />I learned some important points this week: largemouth fishing on Lake James is very doable; Dead Ringers are still the best plastic worms; and my Dad is one of the best fishermen I know.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-65521038792688718772011-10-11T21:43:00.001-04:002011-10-11T21:43:21.323-04:00Will The Real Bass Slayer Please Stand Up<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6235873011/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6235873011_b67cdb2d3b.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6235873011/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>My Dad is an awesome bass fisherman. We fished Lake James last night at sunet. He landed a five pound bass as the sun sank over the horizon. Just when I think I know how to catch bass my Dad schools me on how to haul in a trophy with a simple texas rigged worm. Way to go Dad!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-76100967205811639892011-09-11T12:02:00.002-04:002011-09-11T12:06:07.915-04:00Float Tube Heaven<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6136268071/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6205/6136268071_c58908c552.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6136268071/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>I spent some time on a previous post discussing my preferred popper strategies. My approach is simple but it definitely works at Brush Hollow - the local mecca for bass fishing from a float tube.<br /><br />I broke in a new fly rod today - a Redington Red.Fly2 , 7wt, 9' 6". I lined my new rod with SA's Floating Cell for Bass. This outfit served me well casting poppers from my tube and winching this 16" pig out of the weeds - awesome!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-66629562966881285712011-08-11T10:24:00.001-04:002011-08-11T10:24:18.422-04:00Zach's First Bass<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6021620425/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6143/6021620425_2707906723.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br/><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/6021620425/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Catching your first bass in this family is a critical milestone. Zach has arrived! A trout magnet under a bubble gave Zach the critical edge to land this little largemouth - plenty exciting when you are four and fishing with an ultra-lite.<br /><br />Way to go Zach!</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-72925716669876711072011-08-05T12:11:00.003-04:002011-08-05T12:19:36.613-04:00Poppers<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5990685269/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6013/5990685269_b0da3f4ff1.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5990685269/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>It's worth elaborating on popper tactics that have been really good for me over the last few years. My basic premise is that poppers are good during certain windows: sunrise, the secondary morning bite window, the mid-evening bite, and sunset. There are other times when conditions point to poppers such as off color water, and in some cases , windy conditions.<br /><br />My color selection is dictated by light conditions. I go dark on dark and bright on bright. If it's cloudy or the light is low I go for a dark, usually a solid black popper. If the sun is high and bright I start with neon yellow (aka chartreuse) and may shift to white or softer light colors. Water clarity should also be accounted for. Clear water requires a natural presentation such as an olive green frog pattern. If the water is dingy an obnoxious bright color or solid black works. Calm conditions may require more subtle approaches employing smaller poppers or sliders. Good popper targets are weeds, brush piles, and rocks.<br /><br />Poppers do not yield bites all of the time. They are often called a 10% solution and applied at the wrong time they are inferior to streamers and other sub-surface flies. I have found that sound popper tactics applied at the right time,place, and conditions are hard to beat.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-18596025019691060132011-08-03T09:44:00.002-04:002011-08-05T08:39:21.577-04:00South Park Lakes<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5995354357/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/5995354357_c4777e9aa3.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5995354357/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>In my view, the best trout fishing in the area is found in South Park's lakes. Spinney, and Antero Reservoirs are awesome fisheries where every hook-up could be a trophy. The size limit at Spinney is over 20"! <br /><br />I had the opportunity to hit both reservoirs on Sunday morning. I started at Spinney fishing a streamer trailed by a damsel nymph from my float tube. This was worth a solid 17" rainbow that fought unbelievably hard. Needing a break from the tube, I loaded up and hit Antero for a couple of hours. I had two lost hook-ups -- one was a genuine monster.<br /><br />In all, I got what I came for. I just want to land one trout when I hit these lakes --anything you can net will likely be huge. Trout in the 3-5 pound range are consistently caught at Spinney. Antero produces a disproportionate number of 5-10 pound trout. Your chances are always better if you stop in at Angler's Covey or Ghillies and get word on the flies the guides are using. I take a couple hot flies and focus on changing depth until I find the right range. I found that a dropper four feet off the point fly gets the fly down in the zone. I talked to anglers who were going with 20' leaders with an indicator over using a sink tip. Next time I will try a sink tip, but adding droppers and shot to extend the leader seems to work.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-70884165341635690752011-07-30T14:07:00.003-04:002011-08-02T07:31:33.390-04:00Bassin' at Brush Hollow<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5990689929/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6150/5990689929_1a9f7b5f2a.jpg" alt="iphone_pic by ...olson family..." /></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5990689929/">iphone_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a> on Flickr.</span></div><p>Brush Hollow is my top pick for bass in the Pikes Peak Region. This is not a part of the country known for great bass fishing, but Brush Hollow is a good refuge for a bass junkie like me. This morning was great. I got four really descent bass putting around in my float tube.<br /></p><p>Largemouth bass on a fly rod - what a blast!</p><p><br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-37005478606293774252011-05-27T22:54:00.005-04:002011-05-31T21:31:14.846-04:00Monument Lake - First Day Out<div style="margin: 0 0 10px 0; padding: 0; font-size: 0.8em; line-height: 1.6em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5765064484/" title="iphone_pic"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5143/5765064484_50bf6757d9.jpg" alt="<span class=" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" />iphone_pic by ...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">olson</span> family..."></a><br /><span style="margin: 0;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/5765064484/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">iphone</span>_pic</a>, a photo by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/">...<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">olson</span> family...</a> on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Flickr</span>.</span></div><p>Today was my first day on the water this year. I have good excuses for my tardiness: Iraq, surgery, and a nagging sense of responsibility. I hit Monument Lake at dawn. I got off to a fast start with several bites before hooking this bow.<br /><br />I then set my sights on structure near a beaver dam. This is when the tide turned. I snagged a sunken branch and yanked hard enough to trigger a full intruder alert from the beavers. The first beaver swimming toward me in a confrontational manner didn't phase me. Three of them at once was a different story. At some point I decided that I needed to break off my line. That is when my rod snapped. It was my 5 weight - the one I catch trout with. Six months into 2011 and I have one trout and a broken rod under my belt. I am sure the next thirty minutes on the water will be better.<br /></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-20805913272121039942010-09-07T23:13:00.002-04:002010-09-08T22:57:49.381-04:00Brownie on the Wooly Bugger<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4963940032/"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4084/4963940032_73a00e8fbe_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4963940032/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I was very happy to hook this brown trout this weekend in Estes Park. This was not a fishing weekend and I had less than an hour to fish early sunday morning. I chose to change flies over moving and covering water. I was down to my final few casts and I tied the old standby: the BH Wooly Bugger (black, size #6).<br /><br />Landing this nice fish reminded me of a few things: I love brown trout, I love streamers, and I love catching a fish on my last cast.<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-76787454624548066392010-07-29T15:49:00.001-04:002010-07-29T15:49:35.034-04:00Georgia<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4823006587/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4823006587_8cd4f27a61_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4823006587/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>My family and I were in Georgia this past week visiting friends. I took this opportunity to get back to my roots fishing for bass and bream. Dad came down from North Carolina and we made a trip to Callaway Gardens. The bream fishing was outstanding. I dialed in some quality action with my fly rod using poppers and dropper flies. Dad was fishing a spinning rod and went through his entire tackle box before finding the right beetle spin to take bream. Once Dad made the adjustments he was matching my action and life was good.<br /><br />Unfortunately, the bass fishing at Callaway was a bit disappointing. The boat house is only open from 7:00 am to 6:30PM – this eliminates the sunrise and sunset bite so critical to mid-summer bass fishing. Once we went solely for bream we were able to truly enjoy the experience and pick up some quality lessons. Dad’s beetle spin was a great adjustment, and one of the guides at the fly shop turned me onto a fly known as a Rubber Legged Dragon which helped me catch the larger bream more consistently. Overall, our experience at Callaway was made well worth it with some great action and great accommodations. <br /><br />Bass action came as we moved up to Tyrone, GA and fished the sunset with my son at a small public lake in town. The popper bite was great. In two casts I got quality largemouth that devoured my fly before burrowing in the weeds. My 1X leader was put to good use winching these bass out of the salad. On our last day in Georgia I returned to try the morning bite at the same spot. A dark popper was the ticket to yet another bass fix. <br /><br />This trip was a great opportunity to continue my pursuit for quality warm water fly fishing. As always, I was very happy to share the experience with my Dad.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-28236387310795165972010-07-19T08:38:00.001-04:002010-07-19T08:38:48.595-04:00Brush Hollow<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4808525172/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4081/4808525172_de919163ea_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4808525172/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I have been hitting Brush Hollow for my bass and bream fix this summer. This Reservoir near Penrose, CO is the perfect place for warmwater fly fishing from a float tube. It's relatively small and accessible -- the entire lake is a "no wake zone." There is lots of vegetation on the northeast side that holds some real nice largemouth. The view of the surrounding mountains is spectacular. Most importantly, there are none of the water critters that often dissuade me from launching a float tube in typical "warmwater" fisheries in other parts of the country. <br /><br />My best of three morning outings this year got me a 16" bass, a 16" rainbow (it's Colorado), and assorted smaller fish. Each morning has given descent action between smaller bass (11-13") and bream. Big or small, I find warmwater fish a blast on a fly rod and totally underrated by the fly fishing community.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-51354919111682508962010-06-09T17:58:00.001-04:002010-06-09T17:58:15.512-04:00Quail Lake<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4564472364/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3061/4564472364_d30e9f1e5c_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4564472364/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I have had a good time this spring hitting Quail Lake on my float tube in the early morning. The local lakes have been the beneficiaries of brood stocks this year. These larger hatchery trout offer a nice change of pace from the standard “catchable” trout that are predominant in this area. On several occasions this spring I have landed a limit of smaller trout then opted for a streamer that takes one of these 16”-18” rainbows. Olive and Brown wooly buggers seem to be the ticket for the larger brood stock. A size #18 Adams often yields a quick limit of smaller fish when fish are active on the surface. <br /><br />I hope to get up into the mountains to tackle some legitimate wild trout soon -- but as the run-off rages I am content with the action in the local lakes on my float tube.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-7903472426978616952010-04-21T01:11:00.001-04:002010-04-21T01:11:13.566-04:00Fishing With Dad<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4540011226/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4540011226_4221d107c5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4540011226/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I visited my Dad in North Carolina the week leading up to Easter. We had hoped to get a jump on some good pre-spawn smallie action. However, my expectations for fishing Lake James are tempered by the lake’s technical nature and past experiences working all day for one or two quality fish. <br /><br />Within the first hour and a half on the water we found a school of smallies. My Dad hooked three quality smallmouth landing two that both exceeded 15 inches. We were sure our pre-spawn smallie-fest was on. Unfortunately, the bite abruptly stopped and the electronics on Dad's boat completely fried -- a real killer on a cold, deep mountain lake. We ultimately settled for about twenty minutes of smallie glory. We later went to Cherokee and each caught trout on the Oconaluftee. This river is so beautiful you can honestly view the hook ups as a bonus. Even though we never really dialed in the trout bite, it was a needed break from fishing for lock-jaw smallies on Lake James. <br /><br />Looking back on the trip I am most happy to have spent some real quality time with my Dad and I am proud to have been there to net two of his prized Lake James smallmouths. Fishing always seems to teach valuable life lessons. In this case I was left with the thought that all things are fleeting, so enjoy the moment. But as I reflect on the trip I can’t wait to start planning the next one.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-39435536251171748452010-02-28T12:40:00.001-05:002010-02-28T12:40:04.405-05:00Ice Fishing<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4394807209/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4394807209_59e614a075_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/4394807209/">Cell Phone Pics Dec 09 024</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I had a great time yesterday ice fishing for the first time at Eleven-mile Reservoir. This remains a great location even when you are reliant on a hole drilled trough 36” of ice. My new fishing buddy Anthony showed me the ropes. I had success applying the drop shot technique to a trout magnet. Anthony had success with a jigging spoon. Together we totaled nine trout comprised mainly of rainbows with a few cutbows mixed in. The highlight was a football sized rainbow I was lucky to manage. <br /><br />Many thanks to Anthony for showing me a new part of the sport, and for plunging his hands into ice cold water to salvage the chunkster rainbow I nearly broke off with my sloppy landing technique<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-33964612979502809042009-12-20T10:04:00.005-05:002010-02-08T22:15:13.695-05:00The Lower Ark<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SOeNhRENkGSWP2DBjR8vwY9eXoX9BUNV6BiuIu1PKUih92MSfJ99MxsUZ-xq486o0PccaI-YPErlfsnSMRfl_1pcHGVE5W_2UUaUJfRP1HUiIDUiccfWEJ4E5do26hR16EH2I1P8QyEc/s1600-h/IMG_0424.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 186px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 241px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436073508314742722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4SOeNhRENkGSWP2DBjR8vwY9eXoX9BUNV6BiuIu1PKUih92MSfJ99MxsUZ-xq486o0PccaI-YPErlfsnSMRfl_1pcHGVE5W_2UUaUJfRP1HUiIDUiccfWEJ4E5do26hR16EH2I1P8QyEc/s320/IMG_0424.JPG" /></a><br />I hit the tail water of the Arkansas River below Pueblo Reservoir yesterday morning. This section of “The Ark” is some of the best winter fly fishing in the area as water temps remain in the forties when other spots begin to ice over. I went with a worm pattern with an egg and nymph dropper. This approach yielded six rainbows in the first hour.<br /><br />This was lots of fun, and surprisingly scenic given the proximity to Pueblo. I will go back tomorrow morning to repeat my success with the feisty little rainbows that smash just about anything, and to take a swing at the trophy brown trout that allegedly lurk in this tail water.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-48802153943498852562009-09-04T09:49:00.002-04:002009-09-04T09:54:00.075-04:00The Blue<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3884887522/"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3501/3884887522_977e881cb6_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3884887522/">IMG_0019_edited</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>Now that I have dampened expectations in my prior post on the finicky nature of brown trout, I can report that my Dad and I got some real quality time on The Blue River. The highlight of the trip was Dad’s cutthroat that was easily over 15 inches. We had marginal success at the more traditional public access points to the stream to include the inlet where The Blue dumps into Dillon Reservoir, a very scenic spot about five miles below Silverthorne, and the infamous tail water section lined with fly fishermen just outside the Silverthorne outlet malls. In the end we found the most fish in the town of Breckenridge. My first descent hook up was right by the pool at the resort where Dad was staying. It was less than ideal but I was willing to take it. We were really digging deep when we defaulted to the large hole surrounding the fake river boat restaurant.<br /><br />I always hear fly fishermen talk of seeking total isolation deep in the wilderness to feel at one with nature. In my mind this is the euphoria that precedes the mountain lion attack. So we were happy to take the nine brown and one cutthroat trout we landed...even if the fake river boat lent somewhat of a Disneyland effect.<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-30547877046710753112009-09-03T14:53:00.003-04:002009-09-04T09:57:25.594-04:00The Truth About Brown Trout<div style="MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FLOAT: right; MARGIN-LEFT: 10px"><a title="photo sharing" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3883865685/"><img style="BORDER-BOTTOM: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-TOP: #000000 2px solid; BORDER-RIGHT: #000000 2px solid" alt="" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3883865685_3fec5cfc23_m.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="MARGIN-TOP: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3883865685/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>My dad and I fished The Blue River in Breckenridge over the last few days. We had a good time in spite of the temperamental nature of the brown trout that are predominant in the upper stretches of The Blue. Browns are very much akin to the high school cheerleader who flirts with boys only to enjoy the act of rejecting them. Brown trout are beautiful creatures that are never quite sure what they want. The perfect drift can entice them into action only to then turn away as if to sneer ‘I don’t think so.’ The fly that drew a five pound rainbow a month ago wasn’t quite good enough for our little Blue River browns.<br /><br />I will post the details of our marginally successful expedition, but I felt the need to vent about my experiences with brown trout over the last few years. These little guys have ruined more family trips than a drunk uncle.<br clear="all">Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-43900969491000936282009-08-24T09:56:00.006-04:002009-08-24T14:39:40.209-04:00God Bless Texas!<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3838070699/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2550/3838070699_65651b918a_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3838070699/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>Landing a 5LB+ largemouth bass on a fly rod makes me want to move back to Texas. This was the highlight of my short trip to the Lone Star State. The amazing thing about this catch is that it happened after about ten minutes on the bank of Stillhouse Hollow Lake applying the tactics I describe below in my entry on bass poppers. My stand by yellow popper was indeed the right selection. In fact, I fished this popper almost exclusively for the hour or so I put in each day of my visit. This was worth five bass to include a 20, 17 and 15” bass, although I should note the 17” fish was on a dropper fly. <br /><br />Sometimes these things just happen. I was not particularly prepared to fish; I brought one of my cheaper bass rods and a couple boxes of flies. By the time I was wheels up I had landed about twelve pounds of fish. <br /><br /> It’s hard to beat Texas when it comes to warm water fly fishing!<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-3419424223432300422009-08-23T14:34:00.001-04:002009-08-23T14:34:11.669-04:00Wooly Worm Bass<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3848979200/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3461/3848979200_0a5e238774_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3848979200/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>While I was in Texas I hit the bank of Stillhouse Hollow Lake with my fly rod. I found the purple wooly worm turned out to be the perfect fly to drop off my popper when the top water bite slowed. I usually go for a dropper fly to target other species. I have experimented with using streamers as droppers before with limited success, but I usually revert to a wet fly to entice bluegill, sunfish, and crappie. In this case I started with a wet fly and switched to a purple wooly worm. I thought this fly was the perfect compromise between a wet fly and a streamer. Purple seemed to be a good fit for the slightly discolored, choppy water. The approach was worth a 17” bass which was toward the limit of what I could handle on the 4X tippet I used for my dropper.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-43635556174023269462009-08-22T16:18:00.003-04:002009-08-23T14:39:11.857-04:00Bass Poppin'<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3838068909/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2599/3838068909_b85c8cccac_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3838068909/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>Before I spill the beans on the rest of my success during my short trip to Texas, I thought I would reflect on a few lessons I have learned fly fishing with bass poppers. First, neon yellow is by far the most effective color on a blue bird day. Cloudy weather calls for a dark popper, preferably black. Second, windy conditions favor a traditional popper over a slider. The calmer the water, the more subtle the presentation unless there is evidence of aggressive top water feeding. Third, a double haul with an open loop is the best way to cast a popper. This works best with a 7/8 weight system, and a 1X leader. Last, when casting a popper in breazy conditions, cast with the wind to get good distance along the shoreline. The heavy current turns on the bite and adds to the action of the popper. This fly works best close to the bank where amphibians and mice often draw the attention of hungry bass. Overall, this is a great technique for catching big largemouth.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-46785488031282115092009-08-21T08:11:00.010-04:002010-02-08T22:10:18.189-05:00Damon's Honey Hole<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht58Q97Od2mddqMFouEulOgKavcYocpneGqbYLYeRqtwq3pCplpXnVwWeBcQlTLAVTX1veETCfWiR6juiTlAdhzKXUhpANfEUkZpwrgLuTd2J1VBvBviUc-LGpvexzWi9sSOj2HLiJHOgM/s1600-h/IMG_0874.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 177px; FLOAT: right; HEIGHT: 143px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436074800715328194" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht58Q97Od2mddqMFouEulOgKavcYocpneGqbYLYeRqtwq3pCplpXnVwWeBcQlTLAVTX1veETCfWiR6juiTlAdhzKXUhpANfEUkZpwrgLuTd2J1VBvBviUc-LGpvexzWi9sSOj2HLiJHOgM/s320/IMG_0874.JPG" /></a> I spent the last couple of days at a conference in Texas. After I got off the plane I linked up with my friend Damon. As is often the case in Texas, he has a pond across from his house loaded with big bass. We went over just before sunset. He had a baitcaster with a spinner bait tied on. I had a fly rod and a box full of poppers and streamers. Within a few minutes Damon caught a monster green sunfish that was easily over a pound. I later got on the board with a small bass. As the sun set the popper bite turned on. Suddenly a 15” bass engulfed my popper and put up a heroic fight before I winched him out of the weeds. Holding this pig and high fiving Damon made the trip well worth it for me. Many thanks to Damon for showing me a good time and helping me land this fish.<br /><br />I thought this was the highlight of my Texas bass excursion, but there was more to come.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-56854972563614423192009-07-25T21:37:00.001-04:002009-07-25T21:37:51.185-04:00Gold Medal Trout Fishing<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3755834693/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2573/3755834693_841e10a9e6_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3755834693/">iphone_pic</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>Today marked my first day of fishing in the mountains since I ran into a couple of true fly fishing experts from North Georgia. I was heading back from a conference earlier this week when met a guide and an outdoor photographer at the airport in Atlanta. We exchanged pictures and thoughts on fly fishing. When I got home I tried to recall how much I learned from these gentlemen, but I was mainly amazed by the fact that they consistently net trophy trout…in Georgia! As I journeyed this morning to Eleven Mile, and Spinney Mountain Reservoirs armed with a fly rod and a float tube, I reminded myself that I live in Colorado now and I should catch at least an occasional trout over 20”.<br /><br />Today was my day. After one good hook up at Eleven Mile, I switched to Spinney Mountain Reservoir and made a commitment to my bead head leach streamer pattern. Spinney is designated as a “Gold Medal” trout fishery, which basically means the fish are huge. I fished it like fish for bass. I was just looking for one big bite on my streamer. This strategy paid off: I got what I estimate to be a 20” Rainbow, declared victory, and decided to head back to my home in Colorado Springs. As I pulled my float tube from the water I paused for a moment and soaked up the snow packed peaks on the horizon and thought: this is Colorado!<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-30900917131929495982009-07-13T09:59:00.002-04:002009-07-13T10:00:30.495-04:00Willow Springs Ponds<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3716159195/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3519/3716159195_48e2a7893f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3716159195/">IMG_0774</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I was hesitant to try Willow Springs Fishing Ponds yesterday morning because of the history of contamination. Word is that these ponds in Fountain were the local hotspot until the discovery of percloroethylene (PCE) shut the ponds down from 1997 to 2007. The ponds have been sufficiently rehabilitated to be reopened with a fish consumption advisory. Unless I later develop some type of PCE induced disease or ailment, I would rate the morning as a success. I got a 14” rainbow trout in addition to a half dozen bluegill. I hooked and lost one small bass. My use of a wet fly dropper under a bass popper has now proved effective for trout as well as bass and bluegill.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7665660393390360838.post-12330692536618349572009-06-16T10:27:00.001-04:002009-06-16T10:27:42.830-04:00Skaguay<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3631850423/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3631850423_2d4268ff84_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/80632096@N00/3631850423/">Skaguay Rainbow</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/80632096@N00/">...olson family...</a></span></div>I hit the jackpot on Saturday at Skaguay Reservoir near Cripple Creak. Fresh from the wounds inflicted by the monster trout at Antero, I headed to Skaguay in search of a lake more manageable from a float tube. This lake is perfect. It doesn’t have the wind associated with South Park, and there are large numbers of smaller fish that are easier to land in a float tube. My selection paid off; within a few hours on the water I had landed six rainbow trout, and four small pike. <br /><br />I fished the creek below the spillway on the way out. I put in about fifteen minutes before the weather turned bad and I got three brown trout. Overall, this was my best afternoon ever! I have had good runs in the morning and evening, but this time a landed thirteen fish in the middle of the afternoon through early evening. <br /><br />I have made a few adjustments to my fly fishing. I am back on wooly bugger and leach patterns, and I have switched from homemade leaders to a knotless tapered 2X. If my streamer patterns don’t work I can always add lighter tippet on the end to go to a nymph or dry fly. I feel that my day on Skagway proves that my dedication to streamer fishing doesn’t just deliver occasional big bites; it can deliver good quantities of trout as well.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4