The Browns are Angry!

Fall is almost here and the brown trout are already getting angry!The fish are getting ready for the fall spawn and in the coming months anglers will find brightly colored brown trout sitting in shallow riffles. One of the best ways to take advantage of this glorious situation is to strip streamers or dead drift leeches. One of our favorite ways to catch brown trout in the Yampa Valley is to throw the meat and potatoes set up: an attractor fly such as a brightly colored egg or san juan work trailed by a black or purple leech. Stop by the shop and pick up a few patterns for success this fall. If you tie flies the shop is stocked full of marabou and special dubbing materials for creating leeches. In particular, Shane Stalcup's sparkle leech dubbing makes a leech that is both flashy and produces good movement in the water.

Baby...get in ma belly!

You may have noticed a larger number of very young trout in some of the local creeks and rivers. This is a great thing to see! In turn, you have likely seen more trout on average a bit larger than you regularly see. These are glaring indicators of a healthy fishery and the benefits of a few good water years strung together. So, cross your fingerlings (yuk, yuk) and hope for lots of snow again this Winter!

Summer vacation is over...sorry!

Big frown. Summer is about over...time to go back to school. But don't get all clinical and start drinking the hard stuff just yet. I have always contended that mid August to mid October is the very best time to fish here in Colorado. All the high lakes are open, most of the river flows are low and the fish are gorging themselves on bugs more than ever! Also, now is the time to reap the benefits of the epic snow pack of last winter. Run off was very healthy...and that always means awesome fall fishing.

So, take time to get out and fish! You could have the best day of the year!

Big Dries on Boulder Creek!

One of our top guides, Patrick Knackendoffel has been running guide trips up Boulder Canyon almost every day this summer. He tells me the fishing is off the hook right now...all his clients are coming home happy and smelling a bit like trout. Pat says he is sometimes throwing big grasshoppers along the edges all day long! No need to switch up or try nymphs!

Browns and Bows on the Big Thompson

Fished the Big Thompson just below the dam at Estes Park on Monday. I usually spend most of my time down in the canyon (east on 34) mainly to avoid the crowds and rampant violations of stream etiquette. But I hadn't fished that stretch in awhile...so I pocketed my attitude, put on my best grin and jumped into the fray. And had constant action all day! The fishing was so good I decided to drive back up on Tuesday! The money fly was a #18 BTS Pale Morning Dun fished with one small piece of split shot about six inches above the fly.