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South Platte River - Spinney Mountain Ranch - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
The lush meandering, meadow portion of the South Platte between Spinney and Elevenmile Reservoirs is known as the “Dream Stream”, and rightly so: This beautiful 3-mile section of the Platte offers anglers the opportunity of a lifetime to catch large trout. This fabulous tailwater fishery is located in the heart of South Park, tucked between 14,000 foot snow capped peaks on the west, rich ranchland to the north and south, and Pikes Peak on the east. Spinney is a well-balanced fishery where anglers can catch trout on nymphs, dry flies and streamers. The river is comprised of prime trout habitat, which includes, riffles, runs, gravel bars, shelves, and undercut banks. Fly-fishers can expect to catch a mixed bag of rainbows, browns, and cutthroats in 16-20 inch range. In addition spring (rainbows, and cutthroats) and fall (browns and kokanee salmon) spawning runs from Elevenmile Reservoir are quite impressive with fish up to 12 pounds landed during a key three-four week period. Ideal flow conditions for “Dream Stream” are between 100 CFS and 250 CFS. The regulations are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Current Conditions
Flow: 139 cfs
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: High 30’s to low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Concentrate your efforts in the slow, deep pools. You’ll need a good assortment of tiny midges—both larvae and pupae—if you want to be successful. Anglers can expect some sporadic dry fly fishing with adult midges in the slow, deep tailouts.
Tips and Other Information: The South Platte River above Elevenmile Reservoir is fishing moderately well with tiny midge-nymphs dropped off an egg pattern. Keep in mind a good day in the winter is a hand full of fish! The best rig has been a Nuclear Egg, or Hot Tail Flash Egg dropped with a #22 Flashback Mercury P.T., #22-24 Top Secret Midge, or a #20-22 Mercury Black Beauty. Fish the slow, deep runs and pools, as the trout are concentrated in their classic, wintering holes. Anglers can expect a few risers in the slow water to midge adults mid-afternoon. Effective patterns include: #26 Parachute Adams, #22 Cannon’s Suspender Midge, and #22-24 Griffith Gnats. Dress in layers, the weather is brutal in this area! Plan for intense wind.
Effective Patterns: #20 Mercury Blood Midge, #20-22 Mercury Black Beauty, #20-24 Top Secret Midge, #18-22 Red Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #18-20 Buckskin, #22-24 Mercury Baetis, #20-22Barr’s Emerger, #20-22 Churchill’s Sparkle Wing RS II, #18-22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-26 Parachute Adams, #20-24 Griffith Gnat, and a #20-24 Hi-Vis Baetis.
South Platte River - Cheesman Canyon - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Fair
The picturesque boulder-filled Cheesman Canyon portion of the South Platte River is considered by many one of the most pristine fisheries in the world. This area, often times simply referred to, as “The Canyon” is an experience you’ll never forget. It’s the perfect scenario, magnificent beauty in combination with great fly-fishing. The South Platte River carves its way through a granite canyon lined with ponderosa pines, willows, fallen tree trunks, and various other assorted ground foliages. Boulders as big as Volkswagens Beetles create structure for the super-selective trout residing in the river. Mule Deer, Black Bear, Raccoons, Mountain Lyons, and Bald Eagles all add to the experience. Anglers can expect to catch mostly large rainbows supplemented with a few nice brown trout. The aforementioned “Canyon” is as technical as they get, and if you can catch trout here, you can catch them anywhere in the world. This three-mile section is primarily a nymphing fishery requiring tiny midge and mayfly imitations with fine 6 & 7X tippets. Ideal flows for Cheesman are between 250 CFS and 400 CFS. The regulations are flies and lures only. All fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Current Conditions
Flow: 110 cfs
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: High 30’s to Low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Fish the slower runs and deeper pools as the trout are concentrated in their traditional winter lies. Midges will be the bulk of the trout’s diet for the next three months. Think simple, sparse, and most importantly small.
Tips and Other Information: Despite the cold weather, and heavy snowfall along the Front Range, fishing remains semi productive in the fabled Cheesman Canyon. Flows remain above average with all the low-level water from the recent storms. With nearly 40 inches of snow, getting into the “canyon” is your greatest challenge. Good luck on finding a parking spot! Effective patterns include: #20-22 Rainbow Warrior, #18-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #22 Mercury Midge, #22-24 Top Secret Midge, #22 Mercury Pheasant Tail, #22 Jujubee Midge, #24 Mercury Baetis, and #22 Sparkle Wing RS II’s. Concentrate your efforts in the slower stretches, sight nymphing, to suspended fish. Don’t waste any time fishing to non-feeders. Anglers can expect some sporadic risers to adult midges in the Emerald Pool, Meat Hole, Meat Hole Junior, Ice Box and Family Run. A #26 Parachute Adams is a great choice to fool these risers.
South Platte River - Deckers - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
The mileage below Cheesman Canyon is the renowned Deckers area, a world-class fishery with easy access and lots of opportunity. The best fishing is from Bridge Crossing to the lower boundary of the Tee Pee Club. Like Cheesman Canyon, the fish are challenging to catch, and there is no substitution for a good dead drift. Deckers can offer good dry fly fishing at times but like upstream in the “The Canyon” a good nympher will catch the majority of fish. Anglers can expect to catch assortment of browns and rainbows with some exceeding 20 inches. The river is made up of riffles, runs, shelves and gravel bars, and nice pocket water. The ideal flow for Deckers is between 150-400 cfs. The regulations are two trout over 16 inches in length and flies and lures only.
Current Conditions
Flow: 140 cfs
Clarity: Excellent above Horse Creek, fair-to-good below
Water Temperature: Low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Anglers can expect good fishing in and around the Deckers area. Look for reliable hatches of midges and some rising trout in the slow, deep and pools.
Tips and Other Information: Fishing in and around the Deckers area has been fair to good. There is a lot of snow along CO 67 and finding a parking spot is your greatest challenge. Many of the lots have not been plowed. I was there a couple of days ago, and crammed my 4X4 into a small slot, and found fishing to be pretty darn good. An egg pattern dropped with a #24 Top Secret Midge has been productive as of late. We continue to see some nice fish between 16 and 20 inches in the general Deckers area. The majority of the catch, however, is rainbows between 10-13 inches, with the occasional brown. This is a great winter fishery, especially if flows stay above 70cfs. Snowmelt is still causing some problems with clarity below Horse Creek after 10:30 a.m. Fishing has been productive between Scraggy View and Deckers with red San Juan Worms, and Chartreuse eggs dropped with a Sparkle Wing RS II. Don’t let the off-colored water fool you; there are still plenty of good fish to be had. I am convinced there was very little fish-kill from the flash floods this summer, which is great news. Jeff Spohn, biologist for the upper South Platte basin, has a good feeling about the lower river too. He did not shock the lower river, but feels confident that most of the fish survived the floods and off-colored water. As of late last week, the river was ice-free to the confluence of the North Fork.
South Platte River - Elevenmile Canyon - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
The South Platte River below Elevenmile Reservoir is absolutely beautiful. The South Platte River tumbles and twists through a majestic canyon as it carves its way downstream to the small community of Lake George. Parts of the scenic canyon remind you of the fabled Cheesman stretch while others look much like the renowned Deckers area. Elevenmile Canyon is a great winter and early spring fishery with tremendous opportunity to consistently hook nice fish. The river is loaded with Rainbows and Cut-bows with the occasional brown trout. The average fish ranges between 12 and 17 inches and are strong as an ox. Occasionally you will hook fish between 17 and 24 inches in the upper reaches below the dam. The river is comprised of riffles, runs, shelves, gravel bars, and nice pocket water. The scenery is fabulous with logjams, huge granite boulders, fallen trees, waterfalls, and bald eagles soaring above the canyon’s lip. The ideal flow for Elevenmile Canyon is between 150-250 cfs. The best fishing is in the upper two miles. The aforementioned two-mile stretch is flies and lures only. This section is catch and release and all fish must be returned to the water immediately. Pinch down your barbs and protect this incredible resource.
Current Conditions:
Flow: 144 cfs
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: High 30’s to low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Anglers can expect fair-to-good fishing in the traditional winter runs with midge patterns. Fish the slow, deep sections, and stay away from the faster riffles.
Tips and Other Information: Fishing has been fair to good in Elevenmile Canyon with tiny midge and mayfly nymphs, especially, in the transition areas the funnel into the deeper pools. Effective nymphs include: # 22 Sparkle Wing RS II’s, #22 Black Beauties, #22-24 Top Secret Midges, #22 WD 40’s, #22 Mercury Midges, and #22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails. Anglers can expect a few rising fish to adult midges in the slow, deep tailouts. A #26 Adams is the fly of choice when trying to fool these risers. You’ll need to concentrate your efforts in the upper mile below the dam.
South Platte River - North Fork - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
The North Fork of the South Platte River offers yet another opportunity to sample the South Platte River system. The vast majority of this swift, fast flowing stem of the South Platte River is within an hour’s reach of metropolitan Denver, nevertheless, this branch gets over-shadowed by the renowned South Fork. The headwaters of the North Fork, as it is referred to, commence on the eastern side of legendary Kenosha Pass. The North Fork is extremely small and expeditious for the first several miles until it joins forces with diverted water from the bottom of Dillon Reservoir via the Roberts Tunnel. Another tributary—Geneva Creek—further adds a substantial quantity of water to the North Fork near the small town of Grant. This creek is especially influential during run-off as the North Fork swells and becomes high and roily. Several other smaller side-streams also enter the river but are not the magnitude of the two previously mentioned sources of water. The North Fork is comprised of shallow riffles, runs, and an abundance of pocket water. Deep holes are uncommon throughout this section of river. The water is gin clear, and standard sight nymphing tactics work best on a day-to-day basis. Short-line nymphing is the most effective technique with the heavy brush, small pockets, and quick seams—all of which are key holding areas for the trout. Typically if it looks “fishy”, it generally is, and of course it’s always lucrative to find fish positioned where you think they should be.
Current Conditions for Boxwood Gulch, Long Meadow, Farmer’s Union, and North Fork Ranch. These are the private leases we guide on. The same conditions are present on all the public water, however, access is limited.
Flow: 40 cfs Grant
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: Low 30’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Low flows, tough fishing until the flow improves.
Tips and Other Information: A large percentage of the river is frozen, and fishing is tough with the cold water temperatures (34-38 degrees). Many of the private leases are closed until further notice. Productive flies include: #18-20 Red Mercury Pheasant Tails, #20 Top Secret Midges, #18-20 Mercury Pheasant Tails, #16 Nuclear Eggs, and #22 Mercury Black Beauties.
Effective Patterns: #16-18 Red Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #14 Pink San Juan Worms, #16 Nuclear Eggs, #22 Sparkle Wings RS II, #22 Mercury Black Beauties, #20-22 Mercury Brassies, and #20 Zebra Midges.
William's Fork River - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
The Williams Fork River is a top-notch fishery of its own. This beautiful fishery is nestled between the Williams Peaks and Middle Park and is truly a fly-fishing paradise. The two-mile stretch between the upper boundary of the Kemp Unit and the confluence of the Colorado River is a mixture or riffles, runs and pocket water with one of the best populations of brown trout in the “west”. A 30-minute hike to the river keeps the crowds to a minimum. Anglers can catch trout with a variety of methods including nymphs, streamers, and dry flies. The hatches include caddis, blue wing olives, midges, tricos, and red quills. Being a tributary of the Colorado River-spring and fall-spawning runs bring some “lunkers” into the stream. Ideal flows for the “Fork” are between 100-250 cfs. The regulations are flies and lures only and all fish must be returned to the water immediately.
Current Conditions
Flow: 65 cfs
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: High 30 to Low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Getting to the river will be difficult with all the recent snow. Think simple, sparse, and most importantly small. Stay away from the faster riffles, and concentrate your efforts in the slow, deep pools.
Tips and Other Information: The Williams Fork continues to fish fair to good. Effective patterns include: #16 Hot Tail Flash Egg, #20-22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tails, #20 Barr’s Pure Midge Larva, #20 Mercury Black Beauty, #18 Buckskins, and #20-22 Churchill’s Sparkle Wing RS II. Dry fly enthusiasts have been hooking a few in the slower pools with small adult midge patterns. (Note: There has been some “midging” fish in the Parshall hole too.)
Effective Patterns: #18 Bead Head Black Beauty, #16 Bead Head Breadcrust, #20 Mercury Baetis, #20 Rainbow Warrior, #18 Buckskin, #18 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS II, #20-22 Parachute Adams, and #20 Sparkle Dun.
Blue River - December 30th, 2006
supplied by: Blue Quill Angler FISHING: Good
Many anglers I know have a love-hate relationship with the Blue River. Just about the time you think you have the river figured out, a humbling experience devastates your ego. The Blue River is a fantastic fishery and a favorite of mine. The Blue certainly is a beautiful as they come, and gives visiting anglers a real sense of “Colorado”. It’s a tough river at times, but a good challenge will always make you a better fly-fisherman. The water is extremely cold coming off the bottom of Lake Dillon. This cold water dictates and controls the feeding window of the trout. It’s not a great morning fishery, but as the water gradually warms up throughout the day, the fishing improves dramatically. The upper stretches of the Blue (from the base of the dam through Silverthorne) holds trophy trout, fattening up on Mysis Shrimp from the lake above. The water is gin clear requiring perfect presentations. Down stream the river changes back in a typical mountain trout stream with a diverse insect life. Several tributaries inter the river before it spills into Green Mountain Reservoir. The river is lined with cottonwood trees and willows and is tucked to the east of the beautiful Gore Range. Because the water is so cold the river fishes best from mid-day to dark. Anglers can expect to catch mostly brown trout, a hand full of cut-bows as well as a few rainbows and the river can be excellent with dry fly patterns later in the afternoons and evenings. The hatches include blue wing olives, caddis, red quills, green drakes, pmd’s, and stoneflies. The regulations are catch and release in Silverthorne and on the lower reaches the limit is two trout over 16 inches in length and is artificial flies and lures only.
Current Conditions
Flow: 104 cfs below Dillon
Clarity: Excellent
Water Temperature: High 30’s to low 40’s
Major Food Organisms: Midges
Hatches: Midges
14 Day Forecast: Look for good flows and the opportunity to hook a few trout in the three mile stretch below Dillon Dam. Incorporate your standard winter tactics into your plan of attack.
Tips and Other Information: Flows are about normal for this time of year on the Blue River. In Silverthorne, fish your classic tailwater flies—small mayfly and midge patterns. Effective nymphs include: #22-24 Top Secret Midges, #22 Black Beauties, #22 Brassies, #20 Mercury Blood Midges, and #20-22 Flashback WD 40’s. Anglers can expect some rising fish to adult midges in the slower pools along the river’s edge. Flies of choice are #26 Parachute Adams, and #24 Griffith Gnats.
Baetis: #20-22 Mercury Flashback Pheasant Tail, #20-22 Sparkle Wing RS II, #20-22 Stalcup’s Baetis, #20-22 Barr Emerger, #22-24 Mercury Baetis, #22-24 Mercury RS II, and #20-22 Randy Smith’s Baetis.
Midges: #20-22 Mercury Midge, #20-22 Rainbow Warrior, #22-26 Top Secret Midge, #18-22 Mercury Blood Midge, #20-22 Mercury Black Beauty, #20-22 Mercury Brassie, #22 Buckskin, and #24 RS II’s.
Forage Fish and Leeches: #8-10 Electric Leech, #6-10 Rabbit Fur Leeches, #8-10 “Buggers” (both Cone Head and Bead Head in olive and black), #8-12 Horny Bugger, #6 Grey and White Clouser Minnow, #8Egg Sucking Leeches, and #10 Deer Hair Sculpins.
Colorado River - Kremmling - August 14th, 2006
supplied by: Cutthroat Anglers RECORDED:72 °FISHING: Excellent
Its Trico time on the Colorado. We're seeing these tiny mayflies all the way from Byers Canyon to below Statebridge, but the majority seem to be around the Parshall wade accesses. The hatch starts early, so get there as the sun rises. The fishing seems to really slow once the hatch quits, but the fish go on the feed again in the late afternoon. Depending on the day, we're seeing strong Caddis and BWO hatches in the afternoons. So, get there early. Fish till you drop. Take a nap and a quick bite to eat. Then fish the afternoon/evening hatch. What could be better? Read all the local reports...
Troublesome Creek - July 20th, 2006
supplied by: Cutthroat Anglers RECORDED:70 °FISHING: Excellent
Our private stretch of Troublesome Creek is fishing fantastic! The recent rainstorms flush dirty water into the system, which is actually a good thing. The murky water allows anglers to use gaudy flies and larger tippets. The trout are also more aggressive when the clarity is not gin clear. We had a trip last week and the anglers through nothing but Stimis and Caddis patterns. Its quite a sight to see a 24-inch trout rise to a Stimi in a stream that barely wider than your rod is long.
Arkansas River - July 20th, 2006
supplied by: Cutthroat Anglers RECORDED:75 °FISHING: Great
Its time to float the Ark! Anywhere from Johnson's Village (near BV) downstream past Salida is the place to be. The flows are manageable now, so fishing is at its prime. The state turns off the water on August 15th, so I suggest taking advantage of the floatable conditions while they last. Right now, we're mainly throwing dry-dropper and double dry fly rigs. The Caddis and PMDs are thick, and we are turning a surprising number of fish on hopper patterns. The trout are rarely over 16-inches in the Ark; however, their lack of size is quickly forgotten when a trout lies ready to eat behind almost every rock. As long as the weather cooperates, the fishing should remain strong until the middle of August. The upper stretches of the Ark (near Leadville) are also fishing well. We are starting to see Green Drakes, and the Caddis continue to be thick in the afternoons. The only draw back is the crowds. If you're not finding fish in the usual places, be sure to hit the shallow riffles because the fish seem to be moving into the faster water insearch of cooler temps. Again, dry-dropper set ups with a hopper or Stimi trailed by a tiny bead headed nymph is going to be your best bet.
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