What’s the weather going to do, anyway? Along with the weather, we might just as well ask what the fish are going to be doing. In today’s issue I’m going to discuss fly fishing on the Big Thompson and in 11-Mile Canyon. These are two Colorado Front Range streams that offer easy access and good fishing for beginner and expert alike.

I’m also going to talk about local bass ponds. You know: the one down the street, in the Park? Yea, that one. There are fish in there, and they need to be caught on flies. It’s a great time to try out fly patterns while practicing fly casting skills.

In March, we’re going to have some spectacular days, full of bright sunlight and warm air. This is the time for bass, bluegill, carp, perch and so on. Soon, wipers will be taking flies.

In March, we’re going to have snow, cool air and overcast days. This is the time for river fishing with midges and small mayflies. Soon, early brown stoneflies will be emerging and the fish will be eating them.

What to do? Go fishing, of course.

On the Big Thompson we’re going to see continuing midge emergences, the beginning of the small mayfly emergences and a few early brown stonefly emergences. Small bugs are the key, with a size #16 being on the large size. Carry the family of imitations, from midge larva, pupa, emerger and adult patterns, to small pheasant tail, soft hackle and blue-winged olive adults. If a large fly is required, try a size #12 Copper John or my new Golden Stonefly pattern, which is shown here. The fish are going to average about twelve inches, with smaller and larger fish feeding on bugs. The rainbow and brown trout we’ll hook in the Big Thompson are healthy and wild. Excellent!

In 11-Mile Canyon on the South Platte near Lake George, the bugs are going to be similar. Midge emergences are prolific on this stream and the beautiful rainbow, cutthroat and brown trout seem to like eating them. Trout that eat bugs will take flies that are presented properly. And that’s a good thing: hungry trout that eat flies. Be prepared for the mayflies, too. On cloudy days they’ll be emerging and the fish will eat them. Try a small Thorax BWO and a flashback pheasant tail dropper. After a few fish, switch off to another combination. Always fish to one rising fish at a time, as that’s all that can eat your fly. Flock casting doesn’t work. Really.

Always be prepared to make adjustments. One of the keys to good angling skills is observing and meeting the conditions at hand. Keep your eyes open. Be aware of how the fish are feeding, where they are lying, what the current is like and how trout respond to the bugs on the water and the casts you make to them. And remember: scared fish don’t eat! Be gentle; practice stealth.

When fishing small flies such as Griffith’s Gnats or Parachute BWO’s, start with a leader that tapers to 5X and add a length of 5X tippet – shorter when fishing nymphs, and up to 5 feet in length when fishing dries. Get the fly in front of the fish so it drifts naturally with the current and let the fish take the fly before setting the hook. Set the hook like the fish takes the fly. When trout sip small midges and mayflies the take can be very slow. A quick hook set under these conditions will pull the fly out their mouth. While most of us are there for the scenery anyway, hooked fish are acceptable and make for good, tall tales.

On the local bass and bluegill pond, be prepared for cruising fish on warm days, and fish that lie near the bottom on cooler days. Always look for structure and make casts to it for bass, while trying to find gravel spawning beds and scrappy bluegill inhabitants to anger into taking a soft hackle or old prince nymph. Early season means small streamers for bass. I like to use a brown Zonker tied on a size #8-12 hook. Add a little weight to the shank of the hook before tying the fly so it will get down quickly. Experiment with other patterns like Hornbergs, Buggers, Hare’s Ears and so on. Bluegill will let you know how durable a fly is tied by eating it over and over again!

Use leaders that taper to 3X and add 4X tippet at the lightest. Warm water fish will not be leader shy and it will be best to hook, land and release them quickly so they can spawn successfully. While longer casts will result in covering more water, make casts that work for you. Practice adding a little length to each cast, but only after the casting kinks are out and loops are under control. Only use the amount of energy it takes to form a proper loop and present the fly.

Once the fly is in the water, count it down as it sinks and begin stripping line back in. Keep the line under control and stay in contact with the fly by holding the fly line under the index finger of the rod hand. Vary the lengths and speed of the strips. Try long and slow, short and quick or other combinations. When a fish takes the fly remember how you were stripping, how deep the fly was and so on. Do that some more: another fish is probably waiting at a similar depth to take your fly.

Ah, March. There are lots of opportunities out there. How to choose? Warm days, warmwater; cool days, coldwater works for me. All I know for sure is that we should go soon, and then go more.

It's a who, what, where, when and why proposition, eh? So, that's what we'll discuss. Oh yeah; I'm glad you reminded me: how!

Who? If you are reading this, ambulatory and suffering from basic cabin fever, meanness, grumpiness and so on, it is you! This will even cure bad breath. Know why? Because no one will be able to smell it!

What? We're going fishing. Fly fishing, actually.

Where? In a trout stream. Local if we're investing a couple of hours into our sanity and memory bank account; far-flung if we're going for a day or two. Options? Poudre, Big Thompson, St. Vrain, Boulder Creek, South Platte near Deckers, in Cheesman or 11-Mile Canyon, or below Spinney Reservoir, the Arkansas below Pueblo Reservoir, near Canyon City and on upstream through Salida, the Blue below Lake Dillon near Silverthorne, the Eagle from Vail downstream, the Colorado near Hot Sulfur, Glenwood and so on, the Roaring Fork from it's confluence with the Colorado upstream to near Aspen, the Frying Pan from Basalt to Reudi Reservoir, the Yampa around Steamboat, the Gunnison, Uncompahgre, Delores, San Miguel over that way to the west, the Animas, San Juan in SW Colorado and so on and so forth. There's the San Juan in New Mexico, Green in Utah, North Platte at Saratoga, Miracle Mile or Grey Reef and the Bighorn in Montana. Want to go farther a field? Let me know. I'll help if I can.

When? As soon as possible, and then again. This year, 2006, we're going fishing with more frequency. We promised to do so last year, but last year is gone, fishing trips were attended or not and it is time to begin fresh, like so many buds blooming leaves on trees. Look at your calendar now. Now, throw it away and go fishing today. If today won't work, then go the next day or the next. Don't let things get out of hand here, folks. Go fishing soon and often. You are allowed, regardless the circumstances. The circumstances will remain while fishing opportunities are missed. I don't think anyone I know is going to throw everything out the window, shirking all responsibility and so on. The opposite is true, and living is being thrown out the window. Living and experiencing life. Where better than a trout stream? When better than now? It's up to you. You have my permission to go fishing. There. Live it up.

How?

We'll just do it, that's how. Nothing replaces time on the water.

Gear. Take what you have, of course. Rod, reel, matching fly line. leader that fits conditions at hand, tippet material, waders, boots, sunglasses and something to hold your flies, lunch and water bottle.

The rod might be made of graphite or bamboo; maybe you even have a fiberglass rod. More power to you if that's the case. It will be 9' long or shorter, and may be from a 2- to 5-weight, unless you are going to Wyoming; then it might be a six to fight the wind and the fish.

You should be able to cast this fly rod. Practice. Take a class.

The reel will, at the least, hold fly line that works on the rod. The reel might also have a silky smooth drag system that will protect light tippet material.

Leaders will be from 7-1/2' to 9' in length and taper to either 4- or 5X. Tippet spools of 4-, 5-, and 6X should be carried; they should be new. Divide the fly size by 3 and use the answer for the tippet size.

Waders should be comfortable and mostly leak free. The water is going to be cold; live it up. Boots might just as well fit so you can stay out as long as you want to.

Sunglasses are polarized and required. Done.

Vest? Fanny pack? Chest pack? What works. Wear an old shirt with big pockets, or carry an old creel with all your stuff inside. Whatever floats your boat is fine; just get out and row, row...You get it.

Flies. They are the connecting point with the trout. Some of the flies should imitate active bugs such as midges and small mayflies. It's possible certain areas will have early brown stoneflies and small caddis emerging, too. The key is small and dark right now, in a size and shape that's about like the bug. Take a minute to watch the bugs; see what works. Here's a basic list of flies you should take along. You may select the proper size.

There are many others; these are imitative flies that will fool fish.

Attractor patterns such as:

Caddis adults will work in certain spots. Larva patterns should work everywhere.

There are golden stones and dark stones in the water all the time. Most of the streams listed above support stoneflies through the year. Carry a few nymph patterns from size 8-18!

A few streamers are a good idea. I like Zonkers and feather-wing patterns like Gray Ghost and Platte River Specials. Of course the Woolly Bugger is an all time favorite for anglers.

Rainbow trout will begin to spawn. There are folks who insist on fishing with Heuvos, and that's fine. Add a few San Juan worms to the mix and you start the road to perdition.

Most of the streams have sow bugs, but few anglers fish them beyond the Bighorn. Scuds in orange, olive, gray and tan work well on the Platte and other stream system.

Rigging. Once the fly selection is complete - at least for this outing - we have to tie them on. Tippet to leader knot is either a Triple Surgeon's Knot or a blood knot. Tie the fly on with a Duncan Loop or Improved Clinch Knot. There are several options.

Fishing. We're either going to fish the water, or fish to fish we see. There are days when we can do both.

Fishing the water means searching with a fly pattern for fish that will eat. Sometimes I think fish are curious and will take a fly just to see if it tastes like food. Aren't they in for a surprise? I think so. At other times an attractor pattern just looks like something to eat and they take it out of hunger.

To fish to fish we see usually means we observe feeding fish. They're the best because they are already eating and we don't have to feed them some sort of hunger stimulant - that's a joke, okay? When we see feeding fish it is important to pick one feeding fish. After all, flies are small and usually only hook one fish at a time. If fish number one does not eat, move on to fish number two. Keep trying.

Putting a fly in the right spot is best. This means getting the fly to drift into the fish's mouth. The closer to that position the better the chance of hooking up. If the fish moves a bit from side to side or up and down we'll have more leeway on where we put the fly, but a fly in the right spot is better than the perfect fly in the wrong spot.

What's the right spot?

It's you, in a river, with a fly tied to your line, casting to a rising fish and putting the fly in the current lane that's carrying food to the fish. When the fish rises, takes your fly and you gently lift the rod to set up, then feel the tug from the other end, everything and everyone is in the right spot.

Except the fish.

They'd rather you'd stay at home.

Go fishing soon.

Then, go again!

Thanks for reading.