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St. Vrain Angler News & Muse June 14, 2005
Greetings!
Welcome to all of
our new readers, and welcome back to those of you
 who've
been on the list for some time. I hope you enjoy reading today's missive.
There are over 3600 of you receiving the newsletter weekly and I appreciate
each of you. Thanks.
How's it going
this morning? I hope you are well, enjoying the onset of summer, even though
snow, rain and cool weather have prevailed. On the other hand, so has good
fishing and that's a fine thing for all of us. I hope your future holds
plans for fishing. If not, where are the priorities? It's time to go
fishing! You have my permission, doctor's orders. I'll bet you'll be smiling
just as I was when the above picture was snapped. Somehow, fly fishing makes
us smile and relax while we forget the tyranny of the immediate and press on
to clear thoughts of life.
Life is a good thing and the connection we make with it while on the
 water
is unique and lovely. For some reason, standing in a trout stream or walking
the edges of a lake with a fly rod in our hand and hope in our heart allows
us to see things differently than if we were just hiking or strolling -
which are also good things, by the way. I seem to notice wildlife, flowers,
color and light more fully and completely. There's usually symphony going
on, too, if only I will listen. Isn't the air fresher than that of a mall
parking lot?
Let's go fishing.
Let's go soon.
Father's Day Special:
This is turning out to be a fine idea - thanks, Greg - and folks are taking
advantage of the offer. Certain families are calling the shop to set up a
guided trip, a class or to purchase a gift certificate. Other folks are
blessing us with their presence in the shop to buy dad presents. For the details, please follow this link. Sign up guys,
and send me your family's email address so I can write and let 'em know
what you'd like for your Father's Day! Thanks.
Father's Day Special. Top of
page.
Happy Father's Day
to all of my special Father Friends. You guys are great, and I'm proud of
you for being loving, nurturing, mentoring dads to your children. I could
philosophize for some time on this topic, but will leave it for fly shop
chit-chat. Still, Happy Father's Day to all!
Folks are signing up for the Carp Classes
we are offering at Union
 Reservoir
in Longmont. Most sessions are four hours in length. We teach casting, fly
selection and presentation, spotting fish and fighting large, strong fish.
This is loads of fun, but please don't tell anyone else about it. Space and
times are limited, but we'll do all that we can to help you get a time.
Please complete the form below to set your time.
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Please, don't tell anyone, but I'd like to do a
carp class soon!
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Fly Fishing Rocky
Mountain National Park: Once again, too many folks are listening
to the media. During the height of the drought several
years ago folks would come into the shop and say things like, "It's too
bad all the fish are dead because the rivers are dried up."
Now, we have
lots of water and people think all of the rivers are flooding and there
is no fishing to be found. Curious, but untrue.
The Big
Thompson, other than two days of high water due to increased releases
from Olympus Dam, has been flowing at 128CFS. That is a fantastic flow
for fish and angler alike! The water is clear, trout are feeding on
emerging bugs and those who are going are having a great time.
In addition,
the Park is fishing great! High lakes are thawing, even though there's
still plenty of snow along their edges and on certain trails, and the
streams are running high but clear. The fishing is actually great!
"Where do
I go?" is a frequently-asked question in our shops. It's one
 we
love answering, too. This area is blessed with fishing opportunities;
all we have to do is go.
I've often
thought - and still do, truth be known - that discovery is half the fun
of fly fishing. While I love teaching technique so folks can better
enjoy their time on the water or at the tying vise, I'm prone to allow
people to discover their own fishing spots. It's a good idea to know one
or two sections of a local stream and learn how the fish in that water
respond to bugs, flies and so on. If we listen they will teach us all we
need to know about trout fishing!
New places
are great, as well, and Rocky Mountain National Park has small streams
and high lakes that make folks salivate for a taste. But here's the
deal. These waters are small and intimate, and if we tell folks
where to go there's a good likelihood when they get there someone else
will also be there. This defeats the purpose of serenity and solitude
that the Park offers. That's my opinion, of course.
We can fish
in crowds on the South Platte, the Frying Pan or the Blue - and now, the
Big Thompson. However, there are many spots within a short hike that we
can have to ourselves in the Park.
So, take a
hike! I say that with all goodness and friendliness in my heart, okay?
Find a map; look for blue lines, which are streams, and
 blue
dots, which are lakes, and follow a trail to one or more of them. The
trail might just be an adventure in and of itself. I know that tripping
over my tongue helps me enjoy the walk. Be sure to carry enough water on
the walk to cleanse your palate.
Upon arrival
- if there is such a thing in life - we never know what we'll find,
other than profound beauty, that is.
Perhaps the
reflections will stop us for a moment. While we try to catch our breath,
the view just might take it away once more. (My tongue gets a workout on
these little strolls, that's sure.)
When we do
string our rods and attach our fly we'll probably find that our casting
is choppy at first. Then we'll settle in and the first fish will bring
focus to part of the reason we came to this spot.
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Cruising
trout will be brightly colored and lovely to behold. In addition to the
breathtaking views around us, the trout will also cause our heart to
skip a beat.
This doesn't
sound so healthy, does it? In fact, it is! Fresh air. No phone. Lovely
sights and sounds. Beautiful trout.
It's why we
came. Let's go fishing!
Discover fly
fishing anew. Rocky Mountain National Park is a national treasure. It's
also less than an hour from Longmont.
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Our friendly, professional fly
fishing guides love sharing their joy of fly fishing on guided trips
into Rocky Mountain National Park. They are
ready to take you for a hike to a high lake or connecting stream and
teach you the ins and outs of fly fishing in the Park. All you have to
do is register by calling the shop at 303-651-6061 or 970-586-2110. If
you live out of the area, call 800-586-2110 and we'll set a time and
date for you to experience the wonder of fly fishing in paradise.
Top of page.
The anatomy of a guided trip.
Many of us have never been on a guided fly fishing trip. Others have,
and perhaps wish they had not! There are definitely mixed experiences
when booking a guide for a day
 on
the water. Sometimes our expectations are too high; sometimes the
conditions don't pan out; sometimes we have the best day of fishing we
could possibly imagine.
A guided trip
with St. Vrain Angler or Estes Angler promises to be fun and
instructive. Our guides are friendly and want to teach people while
helping them have a great day on the water. All of our guides have CPR
and First Aid. They work at their fly fishing with glee, casting
together, fishing together, sharing fly patterns and techniques and so
on.
After
registering for your trip - 4-, 6- or 8-hours - and setting the date and
time, you will meet your guide at the shop. They'll find out what you'd
like to accomplish during your time together. You will try on your
waders and get geared up for the day.
If it's your
first time, or if you feel a bit of casting is in order, you'll head out
to the park near the shop and learn the basics that will serve you well
during the day. After a short drive to the Park we get dressed and
rigged up, then head to the water.
The spot
promises to be lovely, as discussed earlier in today's missive.
 Your
guide will bring you back to the fishing at hand and help you understand
how and why we do what we do. The goal is to have a great day, and to
prepare you for another day on the water on your own, practicing
new-found skills.
The guide
will help you rig up properly for the conditions at hand, and show you
where to put the fly. The friendly coaching and encouragement will be
music to your ears. Both of you will be hopeful as all anglers are
optimists. The next cast; the next drift; once
more; keep trying.
When
everything comes together, success is in hand! A memory is built that
will last a lifetime. The beauty of the spot, the friendliness of the
guide, the loveliness of the fish: all of them will live on in space and
time as you recall the wonder of it all.
It still
amazes me - fly fishing, that is. That I can find the right spot to put
a fly and that a fish, which has somehow survived the bitter winter and
small waters, will come to intercept my drifting offering. Amazing.
Wonderful. Delightful.
 Let's
go fishing!
Our guides
are waiting to teach you and to help you enjoy a day on the water. Take
a good look at the schedule and mark a day off for fly fishing with your
friends at the St. Vrain Angler and the Estes Angler.
Guided Trip Info
Register
for Guided Trip
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Dale's Casting Classes.
What I'm
interested in here is folks who really have a passion for and desire to
improve their fly fishing skills. I love teaching and will make other offers,
but the casting is the beginning.
Here's what one
of my students wrote after a recent casting session:
"Dale your insight, understanding and mastery of fly casting is truly
amazing. It gives me hope of becoming a better fly caster seeing what can be
done with a fly rod in the hands of someone who truly knows what they are
doing. Your instruction was clear and easy to grasp. I look forward to your
continued tutoring and encouragement."
The sessions will
last for 90 minutes and will cost $60.00. I'd prefer to do this one-on-one,
but if you have a friend that would like to join the fun, let me know and
we'll make arrangements for that, too. The sessions will begin at either
8:30AM or in the evening at about 6:30PM.
Interested?
Please let me know by dropping me a line at
angler@peakpeak.com or filling in
the form below. Thanks. Top of page.
Rigging Tip: We get lots of broken fly rods
during the year. Of course most are broken on the largest fish that swims.
If it would have been landed water levels throughout the west would have
dropped more than a foot. Really.
Actually, most
rods are broken by windows, feet or improper stringing.
When stringing up
the rod, be sure to make a loop in the fly line just behind where the leader
is connected. Put this loop through each guide on the way up the rod and
always support the rod just behind the guide that's being strung up. When
nearing the tip of the rod be very careful not to bend the rod at all! Keep
it straight. Pull the fly line and leader through parallel to the rod until
it is all out of the tip of the rod, then walk back down the rod holding the
line.
How often do you
witness folks pulling and jerking the line through the rod tip while making
it bend at severe angles? Too often.
Breaking a fly
rod while stringing it up is bad form, but it does happen. If you have any
questions about repairing rods, please stop by the shop. We're here to help.
Top of page
Fly Tying Evenings at St. Vrain Angler: I'm going to offer Fly Tying Evenings. As long as at least four folks sign
up, I'll do the session. Seven will be the maximum number, so we'll have
individual tying time and lots of fun. I'll provide materials; you bring
your tools and thread.
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Jock Scott: Tuesday, June 14, 2005:
Learn to tie a Jock Scott! This is a
beautiful, full dress Atlantic Salmon fly. Several folks have asked for
it, so I'm going to try. Tuition will be $60.00 - the materials are
expensive for this fly - and we'll tie one that evening. Start at 6:30PM;
finish when we are done - it will take at least three hours. (The fly
shown is a Gordon I tied a year or so ago. Pretty, huh?)
There's still one spot left for this evening!
Please call today and join the fun. |
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Stimulators: Monday, June 20, 2005:
Learn to tie and fish this
popular, useful fly pattern. We'll talk about materials, techniques and
several styles of tying this useful, lovely fly pattern. Tuition is $30.00
per person. We start at 6:30PM and will be done by 9:00 or a bit before. |
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Green Drakes: Monday, June 27, 2005:
learn to tie the entire family of Green Drakes - nymph, emerger, adult -
and how to fish them. They are going to start emerging, and you'll need a
few. Tuition will be $30.00 per person. Join the fun.
Top of page
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We'll try these three to start. If there's enough
interest, I'll add more. Please let me know if there are any other
sessions that would interest you - Tying Alaska Patterns, Tying Flats
Patterns, Tying PMD's, Etc. |
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Well, that's it
for today! Thanks for reading.
I hope fly
fishing is in your near future, and I hope you'll allow us the privilege to
help you get the right gear, the right flies and with where to go and what
to do. It's time to get into the swing of things and go fishing!
Don't forget, we
offer:
We're here to
help. We're friendly, helpful and love encouraging and teaching.
Thanks for being
out there. I hope you have a fine day.
Dale Darling
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