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St. Vrain Angler News & Muse

August 7, 2006: Do you know where your fly rod is?

Greeting!

I hope this finds you well.

It's been awhile since I've written. There are a number of reasons, but today - even with all of the things going on that are going on - I'm constrained to write you. So, here we go.

The majority of this issue is going to be pictures with a few thoughts and ideas about fishing, life and so on.

Many of you mentioned that you'd like to keep up with the progress of the opera. It is taking all of my waking hours, other than the normal day-in, day-out stuff, and teaching. Right now I'm teaching a fly tying class - loads of fun - and teaching several days a week on the water - also great doings for all involved.

The opera is really taking shape. It is amazing, but each day that I sit down with staff paper and begin writing another song it just keeps coming out. Right now there are multiple arias and recitatives complete. Many will need edited, but they are on paper and in the computer.

If you have any other interest, please let me know.

Now, to fishing!

For some reason, lots of fishing has taken on the element of critters other than fish. Of course where fish live, critters live, so we shouldn't be surprised by this, right?

How about snakes?

In all the years I've waded the waters of the Rockies, and walked the banks of rivers

and lakes, I've never run into a rattle snake. Well that has ended rather nicely, all in all. Thanks. While leaving my friend's place one day there was a fresh rattler next to the road. The snake had been hit by a car and its entrails were trailing behind, so I killed it and put it in a quiet place. It just seemed right, somehow.

The young man who was with my, my friend Chris, said, "That wasn't very pleasant."

I answered, "Well, I guess that's life."

A day later, while walking to the river, I noticed a sound and a movement. Off to the side a rattler was coiled and ready to do business. I'm not sure how ready, though, because I touched it with the tip of my fly rod - I was using graphite that day, and didn't think much about the rod being bit - and it didn't move. I was amazed at how solid the snake was, coiled as it was, rattling away and probably more interested in leaving than biting.

I guess when I left the snake and I were both just as happy. I gave it a wide berth and it continued to rattle, staying coiled until it left. How do I know it left?

Well, it was gone when I came back through that spot.

On a trip to Pennsylvania as a young Boy Scout I decided to climb a hill to take a leak. Well, when you are a kid taking a leak on the side of the hill you are mostly interested in getting done so you can get back to doing something fun. In this case we were swinging on a big rope over the water and letting go. We were also canoeing, which is always fun.

As I stood trying to complete the job at hand I thought I heard a strange sound. Upon further consideration I was pretty sure it was the rattle of a snake. They lived there. I wasn't all that interested in finding out just where it was so I ran down the hill, dove into the river and can't remember what stage of fishing the leak I was in.

So it goes.

Our neighborhood garter snake population is very good, as well. We have a clematis bush that grows on our garage brick; there are two garter snakes in there every morning, eating bugs, I suppose. Very pretty. Very cool.

My wife does not agree.

Oh well, there's no accounting for taste in girls.

Fishing? Ah yes; fishing.

It's been good. What I hear is that folks continue to have fun fly fishing. That's a good thing, too.

I hope you are getting out from time to time, or more often.

My friend Todd, ever the one to hook large Cutthroat Trout, sent this picture. Make you want to get out there and fish? I suppose it should.

Go ahead; you are allowed.

This fish qualifies as a beaut.

I hope Todd remembers it forever. I think - or hope, at least - that I would.

	Lots of fly fishing is about the people. This is my friend Cork, with a big Cutthroat hooked on a dry fly on Long Meadow Ranch.
Cork was pretty happy to be fishing. He lives in Omaha an is a dentist. I know few people who have been through more physically, yet want to thrive and will smile as this man does
	We're fishing again tomorrow on Long Meadow Ranch and I'm really looking forward to it. Cork was all smiles when we talked about our outing. I hope the fish are taking dry flies.

		Jan took a Fly Fishing Class. She was a real trooper. The water was moving pretty fast, but she kept right on fishing and telling me how much fun she was having. She also said she realized how much practice it will take to get good. Nothing replaces time on the water when it comes to learning to fly fish. Nothing.
The beaver was a bonus one night along a local trout stream. I was with Bob and his brother-in-law Rick. We worked on mending and line control. The beaver kept us busy for a few minutes. I sure expected the gunshot tail slap that never came.

		Bob and Rick both hooked and landed a few trout. It was fun. Rick is coming out again later this month. Bob will be out again next month with a group of friends. It will be great seeing them again.
Ouzels - or dippers - are always fun to watch along the river. Sometimes they fly between my fly line and the stream! One day I walked up on a youngster who just sat on the rock at my feet until deciding to fly off to the other side of the river. That probably seemed safe, for a bird. This guy was getting all the chow required to stay an ouzel.
		Tom, and his friend, Tom, came to the area from Iowa. They wanted some pointers. One Tom - not this Tom - had never fly fished. We had fun. Hooked some fish. Told some lies. Drank a beer or two after fishing, as I recall. They'll be back.

Maybe I'm just getting older. I am, of course, but don't know if that has anything to do with the beauty of the brown trout or not. They sure are lovely. Tom is holding wildness in his hand.
		Ed and Lynn are locals. Ed had some cancer surgery and decided a day on the water with his wife was better than another day at the office. He likes his job. He loves his wife. We had lots of fun.

I like Ed just fine. I took more pictures of Lynn, though. She's lots prettier. And brave! When I asked what they wanted to do, she said, "I don't want to wade in deep water. I'm afraid of it!" So, we went to deep water, and waded it. She did great. So did Ed.
		Well, Cutthroat trout are really pretty, too. Right? This was one I hooked on the lower Big Thompson. Imagine the surprises that await if only we take our rod out and get some flies wet. I guess we won't know until we go.
Then again, the Brown trout are lovely. Tommy really liked this one. It ate a Renegade. Dry.
		If you watch while on the water you might find real weirdness. Like blue bugs with orange heads. Or, orange bugs with furry backs and heads. Look close enough and you might just see both of them at the same time!
We had a Joe Arguello Fly Rod Outing. It was a spur-of-the-moment sort of thing. We all showed up with Joe's cane rods.
		There were five ugly guys with five pretty fly rods. The rods were all made by hand - with Joe's hands. A few were more worn than others as they'd been used more often. Well, every rod has to start somewhere. And every rod needs to be properly worn. On the water. Fishing dry flies.

I was of the opinion we came to fish a bit, too. Three of the anglers had to hold a conference to discuss the finer points of something. Two needed help standing up. Only one person had to wash fish smell off their hands before lunch. I said, "Just wait a minute, fellows. I' have to go wash the fish small off my hands. You guys go ahead and order." I'm not bragging. It's the truth.
		Joe's still building rods. If you'd like one before Christmas order soon! They are coming out great. I hope you'll order one - or two, as the case might be - in the near future. It is our responsibility to keep this artisan going, building rods out of the Lovely Reed.
One of the new Arguello Rods was involved in hooking this lovely little brown from a lovely little stream. Bob was visiting Boulder to move his son out of a room. We needed to try his new Arguello out. The rod is a beautiful 7' 3/2 3-weight. That means it is seven feet long, has three pieces and two tips and casts a 3-weight line. On the ugly guy/pretty rod day we tried this rod with two different lines. Both worked great.
		The next day was spent at Long Meadow fishing dry flies. With bamboo fly rods. Chris, at left, hooked that nice cutt on a dry fly. His dad hooked the fish on dry flies. Everyone was pretty happy about the entire thing. The rods worked great.
Places like this linger in my mind. My spirit is renewed when I view the beauty and feel the freshness of cold water plunging past a rock that grows grass. There's a wild brown trout lying under that foam. Where will you put your dry fly? What dry fly will it be?
		David enjoyed a fine day at Long Meadow, joining Chris and Bob, along with Jon. The fish were a bit stubborn this day, but they ate dry flies. We all met new fish and enjoyed the company of new friends. I think we learned new things about fly fishing - especially line control, and getting a good drift.

		It's always worth taking a minute to admire a beautiful trout. Holding wildness in one's hand is awesome. I don't know why, either. Do you? I guess we'll just have to go and try again.
Well, I hope you enjoyed this short missive and its pictures. I hope you'll get out fishing again soon, too! Want a Joe Arguello fly rod? Drop me a line at angler@peakpeak.com and I'll help get you set up! For more info, look here: BambooNew Want to go fish with me at Long Meadow? There are a few days available in September, but they'll fill very fast. The dry fly fishing is spectacular right now, with very big fish rising to take lovely dry flies. As long as they are presented properly. I'll help you with all of it. Just let me know when you'd like to go and I'll see if I can find a date that works for both of us. Thanks for reading. I've got to go tie some dry flies for tomorrow - Green Drakes, Red Quills.....ah, dry flies. Dale Darling composer, angler, teacher and goof-ball.

or call 303-651-6061

We wish you good fishing, fly tying and great fun throughout the year!