St. Vrain Angler News & Muse June 7, 2005

Greetings!

I hope you are well this fine morning. It is 9:27 Rocky Mountain fly fishing time, which is any time around here, and I'm eating a granola bar, drinking a cup of coffee - cream and sugar, rather than salt this time - and writing to all of my reading, fly fishing friends. That's a good thing, too. I look forward to this every week, and think about it much of the time. Of course many of the thoughts that come and go are then gone, but enough remain to encourage, instruct and entertain. I hope you enjoy this issue.

The Jack was caught in Ascension Bay on our trip in January. I'm hoping to do another in late October/Early November. Want to go? Please drop me a line at angler@peakpeak.com

My sister - I call her my ittssy, bittsy snot-nosed sibling - just had a birthday this weekend: Happy b-day Diane. She's also waiting to be a grandmother for the second time: go Beth Ann!

I was fantasizing about what the fly says as it drifts through the water. I suppose the first thing would be to wonder if real bugs, as they finally emerge into adults and prepare to mate, drift along saying something about getting to the church on time, if you remember My Fair Lady. Or, when looking down into the depths from which they've just come, feeling a sense of relief - until something very large with a big mouth is coming at them. Do they scream? Does their singing emit certain odors that attract hungry trout? How could we imitate that with our flies.

I'm suggesting a small speaker system, computer controlled, of course, with bug calls that emit as the fly drifts.

(Our friend David took and submitted the picture at the right. Lovely. I think it is a Callabeatis - at least that's what it looks like to me. They emerge mostly on lakes and become trout food very quickly. We'll be watching for them in the near future.)

Okay. That was silly, but hey, it's me, right? I still wonder what the bugs say. Maybe Walt Disney Studios will tell us, like they did with deer, rabbits, mice and so on. I guess we'll see - or hear, as the case may be. Top Of Page

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, class or to purchase a gift certificate. Other folks are blessing us with their presence in the shop to buy dad presents. (Isn't English wonderful?) For the details, please follow this link. Sign up guys, and send me your family's email address so I can write them and let 'em know what you'd like for your Father's Day! Thanks. Father's Day Special. Top Of Page

Carp Time! We've talked about warm water fishing in the past. This is the time it is made for. Many streams are high - but not all of them - and sometimes a hike to the high country just won't work properly from a time perspective. Well, we have the answer. A carp trip! Our friend and Carp Class instructor Andrew says the fishing at Union is really good right now (that's one he hooked just the other day - a mirror carp), and he'd really like to take you, or you and a friend out for a few hours of carp fishing instruction and fun! He'll help with flies, casting, spotting fish, where to put the fly, presentation after the cast - that's called fishing, by the way - and how to set the hook and fight these large, hard-fighting fish. Try it; you'll like it! Sign up below and I'll get in touch with you to set a time that will work for you and Andrew. It will be fun!

St. Vrain Angler & Estes Angler Classes continue to flourish. And, they are fun! Our Introduction to Fly Casting Class last weekend got washed out, so the folks who came - and got soaked trying - are going to do the session again next time. They did have a special session on knot tying, which was good, and all of them had a great sense of humor, which is also a good thing.

Here's what's coming. Hope you will join us.

Fishing Tips & Places: The Big Thompson, our local gem, has been fishing well above Drake. The water is flowing well - 128 or so most of the time - which is a great thing. After a few of the rains we had they raised the flow significantly, but in both cases it was only for about 24 hours, then it went back down. Check before you go at http://www.dwr.state.co.us/Hydrology/flow_search.asp. Find Big Thompson below Lake Estes and you'll know what the flow is right then. Or, call the Estes Angler at 970-586-2110 and Rachel or Bob will fill you in; they see it every day.

The Park has been good, as well. The water is high in streams, but for the most part has been clear. High lakes are beginning to thaw and some are fishing well, why the same lake the next day might seem void of trout. High lakes are interesting. You have to go, fish, and wait until it changes, which it will.

Local Ponds are fishing well for bass, bluegill and so on. We're getting some great reports on the bass fishing - big bass, too. They are taking flies, which is cool beans. Of course when I go, I hook small bluegill, but not everyone has that ability - yet. You just have to keep trying, that's all. I'm not bragging or anything, but some of us just have it when it comes to hooking small fish in the midst of large fish. It's just the way it is.

Bass are taking poppers - have you seen the new ones we have in stock? They are beautiful! - and crawdads, as well as black Zonkers and that sort of thing. (The fly at right is one I tied. Tying tips are available by clicking the picture; enjoy! I have the materials to tie these, and will demo it if you'd like. Same with the Zonker, below.) Right now, big stuff is getting big bass. Bluegills take small poppers, little wets or dries and take them with vigor and a sense of commitment to eating that is foreign to me at times. I'm committed and all, but these guys are something else.

If you do fish water that is high, use large, dark flies. If the water is clear and you find foam along edges and in eddies, try swimming a dry fly through it. You might just be surprised at what eats the fly, even though it is difficult to imagine how a fish can even see the fly. Don't doubt fish and their ability to eat!

There are a few golden stones around at this time, and the fish will eat them. Small mayflies continue to emerge, and larger attractor flies work well this time, too.

One of the keys to fly fishing is to put a fly in the right spot. What's that? The right spot is the spot where a hungry fish will see it and decide to take it. The fly should get to the fish in a manner that is similar to the naturals on the water, so watch how the real bugs are acting and imitate it. Presentation is about the right fly - usually size and shape - in the right spot - where fish can see it - at the right time - fish is hungry - behaving in the right manner. Keep trying; keep observing; keep remembering; keep trying some more. Never give up, and don't be surprised when a fish does take your fly. When it does, look at the spot and ask Why did that fish take that fly in that spot?. Then, find a similar spot, fish it with a similar fly in a similar manner and hold on: another one is going to eat now! Top Of Page

Fly Box Solutions: I'm making headway on this project, and people are very excited about it. There are now two boxes available: Attractors! and Rocky Mountain Flies!

The Rocky Mountain Flies came together after a recent guide meeting, when all of us shared our  we-d-never-be-without-these list. One side of the box has a laminated picture of all of the flies, their names and basic uses with the flies next to them in the foam. The other side of the laminated insert has fishing and rigging tips pertinent to the flies.

I really like this, and feel that it is a culmination of all of my years of tying and teaching. At least for now - more is on the way!

The Rocky Mountain Flies include 14 patterns with three of each, the inserts - there are two; one for wets, the other for dries - and the SystemX fly box from Scientific Anglers. Cool. Here are the inserts to give you an idea of what's going on. Order your own box - what a good gift to yourself, and for a friend - by filling out the form, or stopping in one of the shops.

That's 42 flies, a great fly box and instructional inserts for $89.95. That's a good deal! For my fly tying friends, get the box so you know what to tie - the patterns are good samples. If you'd like, we'll load them with one of each instead of 3 of each pattern, and we'll lower the price accordingly.

The Attractor Solutions Box has the inserts and fly box, and 10 attractor patterns that work! There are three of each pattern, so 30 flies, all for $64.95.

Add an Attractor Solutions Booklet, and a Fish! Bugs! Flies! Solutions Booklet. While you are at it, since they are $9.95 each, or three for $20.00, include Presentation 101Solutions.

The flies are high quality and normally sell for $2.00 each; in some shops, they are even more than that. The quality is guaranteed, or I'll refund your money.

Thanks! You're going to get a lot of use out of this one my friends.

Fly Tying Evenings at St. Vrain Angler: Last night was the final fly tying class of Spring. Already I'm missing it. Several folks asked if they could do another class - was I going to offer an Intermediate Class right away?

Well, the answer was no, I'm not. This time of year it is tough to get folks to commit for four consecutive evenings. (There's that funny old English again, huh?) So, 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.

Shop Hours: St. Vrain Angler is open Monday-Friday from 9:30 until 6:00. If you need a special appointment to get gear, take a casting or tying session with Dale or something else, please call to make arrangements at 303-651-6061, or by dropping me a line at angler@peakpeak.com

The Estes Angler is open 7 days a week from 8AM until 6PM. Guided trips are going out every day and people are having a great time!

For driving directions, please follow the shop links. We look forward to seeing you soon. Thanks for allowing us the privilege of fulfilling your fly fishing dreams. Top Of Page

Gear Specials! here are some new used/consignment rod specials that should be of interest to many of you. Please follow the link Specials! and find something you'd enjoy fishing with. The outfits are great deals; you should get one or two.

This has been lots of fun today! I hope you're enjoying the read as much as I've enjoyed putting it together. I start with a blank page and start writing; what comes is what we all live with for this week.

Thanks to everyone who is reading, everyone who is fishing, and everyone who is caring about the environs where fish are found, which are lovely to behold. I hope you are well; I hope you are planning a fishing outing in the near future; I hope to see you in the shop, at a class or on a guided trip.

Please drop me a line at angler@peakpeak.com or send a picture you'd like to share with a friend - lots of angling friends, that is!

Stay tuned for more information coming to a computer near you.