|
St. Vrain Angler News & Muse June 28, 2005
Greetings!
Thanks for reading! Thanks for the kind comments you send each week! Thanks
for being out there, caring about fish, flies and the environs in which our
friendly denizens of the deep await our arrival, hoping to fool and
frustrate us into going again.
Wow, is it ever time for fishing. July 4th weekend is on the way, water
 levels
are dropping and warming and the trout are going to be hungry, hungry,
hungry. You know what that means? Feeding fish. And fish feeding on bugs -
or minnows, hoppers, ants, beetles and so on - can be caught with flies!
This is good news to anglers near and far. Go ahead; get out there and do
some fishing. Soon!
The Estes Angler will be open every day from 8AM until 6PM.
St. Vrain Angler will be open this week from 9:30-6 through Friday, and
Saturday from 9AM until 3PM. We'll be closed on Sunday and Monday for the
4th.
Last week I mentioned that I was going to go that
day. And I really wanted to go. I was actually drooling. Okay, it was
figurative, but I was
envisioning rising trout taking my Stimulator, Royal Coachman Trude or other
dry fly as it gently drifted down the stream. As I prepared to go I checked
the flow on the Big T - that's where I'd decided to hit the water, you see -
and it was up to 385 or some such thing. Just awful for me. So, I took a nap
instead and moped the rest of the day. (I think my wife might have preferred
if I had mopped, but you know how it is with moping boys like me.)
Well, today will be different. I just checked and the river is flowing at -
ta da! - 124 CFS. This is good news for a fine young man who's actually
tall, old, fat and incorrigible and wants to go hook a few trout on dry
flies. See you on the river. I'll report in tomorrow on my findings, if
that's alright with you. Top of page
Dale,
This has occurred to me more than once when I'm out scouting around new
places to fish.
"Your only lost if you care about getting back. And if you don't care, well;
then your there."
It is definitely time for a guided trip with one
of our wonderful, friendly, helpful guides. They are chomping at the bit to
take you out on the water and help you learn more about fly fishing skills
and fun. The trips have been going great! Here's a story from one of our
guides and a testimonial from his client of last Saturday. Now, you want to
go too, don't you? Just call Rachel or Bob at the Estes Angler at
800-586-2110 or 970-586-2110. They'll get you fixed up in a hurry, set for a
great day on the water. Here are the stories, verbatim.
|
|
The Story From The Guide |
|
Hi Dale,
Just an update on
the guided trip I did on Saturday. Despite the high water (a good thing) the
park is fishing really well right now. I guided Jeremy on Sat and we had a
great time catching and releasing fish all
day. Jeremy's from Brighton but had never fished the park before. I mean we
started the day with a fish on the first cast and finished the day with a
beautiful greenback in a beautiful setting on Jeremy's last cast. We hiked
in about 2 miles (uphill both ways) and it was worth the work. Recently I
enjoy and look forward to the walk in to fish a spot that is not just drive
up fishing. A number of my clients have also mentioned that they like the
walk in. They said it added to the experience and enjoyment of the time they
set aside to go fly fishing. Maybe it's the anticipation of where we'll end
up or reflecting on where and what happened while we were fishing.
We fished a dry
and dropper all day. Most fish came on the dropper but
 we
did get a few on the dry including one of the greenbacks. Jeremy's a good
caster and was getting good drifts. On a couple of spots he hooked so many
fish we just had to decide to move on to the next spot and give some of the
other greenbacks a chance to come out and play. Jeremy's 9 foot rod worked
well because of the reach advantage it has. Fishing no more 3 feet of fly
line with a dry tied to a 5 ft leader and then a 2 ft dropper off the dry
was close to a perfect setup for the day. Having most, if not all, of the
leader off the water with only the dry fly on the surface worked the best.
Dry fly was a
yellow Frank's EZ Mac (shown here, Dale) and the dropper will remain
undisclosed. But last week I seined a creature just like the dropper we had
tied on out of a creek in the park so I am imitating a natural trout food.
Who cares - the thing catches fish!
By the end of the
day we were both tired but a good tired. Can't wait to do it all again.
See you later in
the week.
Frank |
|
The Client's
Story |
|
I can't say
enough about how well my guided trip experience with Estes
 Anglers
went. Dale and his daughter Rachael were exceedingly helpful
setting the trip up, and contacted me to find out exactly what I would
like to get out of my trip. Since I'm a somewhat experienced angler,
they were able to tailor my trip accordingly. My guide, Frank, was by far
the most experienced, friendly, and knowledgeable fisherman I've ever had
the pleasure of fishing with. He was patient, calm, educational, and most
importantly always ready with the net, which we needed often!
I'm sure it is
not the norm, but in one single day we managed to net 25+
fish of all species and sizes. If you are a beginner looking to get into
the sport, or an experienced angler looking to sharpen your skills or
find some new water, I highly recommend taking a trip with the people at
Estes Angler, I know I will be back for more in the future!
Hope you are
well,
jc
Top of page |
|
When the
water is high in streams, which it is at
this time, there are a few tips and precautions that need to be used in
order to fool fish. Here are a few of them. I hope they help you enjoy your
time on the water this week and weekend!
To check stream
flows go to Stream Flows and click a
pre-designated spot, or go to another through the basic link.
 |
Safety is
first! If you wade, do so with care. One more step could
be the end of being dry and the beginning of being soaked - or worse. Use
a wading staff. There is something about having that third leg that really
does help stabilize wading angler. (Not mentally or emotionally, mind
you.) I like using boots that have spikes, which really help keep the feet
from slipping on rocks - another good thing if you are old, tall and fat
like me. |
|
Fish
edges, eddies, flats and more shallow water. High water drives the
fish to the banks. Beware as you approach the water as loud footfalls or
other distractions will frighten fish away from their feeding and holding
spots. |
|
Remember:
Scared fish don't eat! Happy fish do eat! Put flies where happy
fish live and they will take it. |
|
In
heavier water, use larger flies. Be sure to remove the barbs. As
long as even pressure is put to bear on a trout during the fight
they won't get off. Also, use the appropriate tippet size for the fly and
fishing at hand. Divide the size of the fly by 3 and use that tippet. Too
many folks use 7X this time of year, which is not required or necessary.
Using a size 12 fly, for example, calls for 4X tippet. Try it. If the fish
seem to reject the fly due to the drift, add more tippet of the same size
rather than dropping in diameter. Try it; it works. |
|
Dry/Dropper combo's work great. Try them to find where fish
are holding, then switch to just the dry and see if you can coax trout to
the surface! Seeing a fish move from the depths to my dry is one of the
wonderful sights in life. |
|
Suggestion: if you do find the magic combination of dry, nymph or
dry/dropper set up, but all means use it to hook a few fish.
However, once you're pretty sure that works, make a change to another
combo and see if your skills will allow you to hook fish because of good
presentation. If that works, change again. I know. I harp on this one from
time to time, but for good reason. No one should care more about our trout
and their environs than we do. If we figure out how to hook the poor,
feeble minded critters, let's change and give them a chance. The lovely
Greenback shown here has obviously been caught previously, yet fell to
another fly. That's fine; we hope to hook fish more than once. However, do
you like the appearance of the injured fish? I don't. This was caused when
the fish was snagged, more than likely on a large nymph pattern. Now fish
do get injured, and they do survive to be caught and again and to grow
large like this one. This injury could have happened when the fish was
very young and it slammed a big attractor dry. I could have done it to it
- any of us could have done this. The point of the story is that once we
figure out how to hook a few fish with one combo, let's change. Greed is
for a place other than a trout stream. Let's love our water and our trout
- but not to death. Fair enough? Thanks. If you have other questions or
comments, please let me know by calling (303-651-6061), stopping by the
shop (418 Main Street in Longmont; 335 West Riverside Drive in Estes Park)
or dropping me an email at
angler@peakpeak.com. Thanks!
Top of page |
|
|
It's
here.
Are
you ready?
Patagonia is the finest in outdoor clothing, with the best guarantee on the
planet: you must be satisfied. Period.
We
received waders, boots, vests, socks, undies, zip-t's, t-shirts, vest pack
and so on this week. Both shops are filled up with goodies, waiting for you
to make a home for them, while building memories with gear that works and is
comfortable, allowing more time on the water and in the outdoors.
I'm
going to ask each of you to buy two pieces of Patagonia a year. How's that?
Bold, yes. All of us are wearing clothing as we read this, and all I'd like
is for you to purchase two pieces each year that will work for you. We can
get anything from the Patagonia Catalogue, and they'd prefer you get stuff
from us. Please stop by to check out the new goodies, or to find something
that will work for your outdoor comfort and casual wear. THANKS!
Top of page |
|
Hey, guess what?
I found something that lots of folks are enjoying and using. The St.
Vrain/Estes Angler Rocky
Mountain Fly Box Solution
 has
been met with fondness and we're getting great feedback from the folks who
have purchased them from one of the shops. Cool beans. I'm always trying to
figure out how to fulfill fly fishing dreams and solve fly fishing problems.
This one is working!
We fill an SA
SystemX fly box with 42 flies - that's three each of forty-two patterns -
and include a picture and explanation of each fly as well as fishing and
rigging tips. The entire Solutions Box is only $89.95.
Insert are
available separately for $1.95, so tiers can buy one of each fly and the
insert and fill their box with their own flies. |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
Here's a special 4th of July Rocky Mountain Fly Box Solution offer!
Fill out the form below and email it to me by Friday, July 1 at noon
Mountain Time and we'll add one of each fly pattern to the box for $5.00.
That's 14 flies for $5.00 when you buy the box and informative inserts for
$89.95!
This is an email readers offer only, so please take advantage and get
your today. Buy two! They make great gifts. |
|
|
|
Classes This Weekend!
|
Saturday, July 2,
2005 in Longmont: Introduction to
Fly Casting. There's room for you to learn to properly cast a fly rod.
This class is most useful for new fly anglers, or for those who need a
brush-up on their casting skills. Join the fun. Please call the shop at
303-651-6061 to make your appointment, or drop me a line at
angler@peakpeak.com. Thanks. |
|
Sunday, July 3, 2005
in beautiful Estes Park: 1st
Adventure in Fly Fishing. This is our award winning fly fishing class
that teaches about water, fish, bugs, casting, flies, rigging, fly
presentation, knots and on-water fishing techniques. It's fun! Please call
303-651-6061 or 800-586-2110 to register for the class, and for more
information. THANKS!
Top of page |
|
|
Flies!
Flies! Flies! We're in great shape on both custom and standard
fly patterns. Both shops are brimming with them and we want you to fill your
fly boxes for fishing ahead. Please stop in this week to get flies that
work! Here's a special offer that's good during this week only. Buy any fly
box we have in stock and get 15% off flies to fill it up. This is good at
the time of the box purchase only, and will expire on Sunday, July 3, 2005.
Take advantage of our great flies and already low prices with an extra 15%
off!
Top of page |
|
Park Lakes and other
High Mountain Lakes! It's time to take a hike,
 my
friends. The high lakes in the Park and along the Front Range are opening up
and fishing great. And the views, you ask? Stunning. Beautiful. Majestic.
And so on. You'll see. Head up with a few dries, a streamer or two, a damsel
nymph - you should see the new ones we have in the shops! - and a wet fly or
two. Fish inlets; fish outlets; fish from rocks; fish the edges of ice. The
fishing is good and the being there is great! Put on some hiking boots and
take a hike. Enjoy the walk, the fresh and lovely flowers and elk in velvet.
When you get there, get a cool drink of water and relax as you prepare for
time fishing. Pristine. Clean. Cool. Crisp. You're here; enjoy the process! |
|
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
Top of page |
|
Guess what? There are PMD's emerging on the Big T right
now, as we write and read together. That's good news. We have lots of new
patterns
in the shop that will fool trout! These bugs are so lovely. Great stuff!
I'll
bet we start to see Green Drakes very soon. There are lots of mature nymphs
in the water; it is only a matter of time until water temps and so on
 align
in such a way as to get them emerging. Be ready!
Caddis are also emerging. Expect them to be most active towards evening, and
stay until a bit after dark to see lots of aggressively rising fish. Try a
soft hackle.
Golden stones are up there, too - on most of our streams, that is - and the
fish love eating them. My rule-of-thumb is to
look along the banks for empty shucks. When I see one or two, I tie on a
Yellow Stimulator and fish the banks. Nice brown trout lie in wait for a big
bite and will take the fly! Cool beans, huh?
There are a few hoppers - you should see the new foam hoppers we have in
stock - wow! - and the fish will eat them, too. Never hit a high lake
without a few flying ants, okay? |
 |
|
For
me, our legacy is honesty.
Goodness.
Optimism.
Hard
work.
Ethics.
Human dignity.
Humility.
Family.
Worshipfulness.
I
hope we continue. I worry about our greed and selfishness. The mean
spirit of the media condemns us in many ways. It is sad.
Be a
leader. Thrive in life. Enjoy the process. Read and encourage those around
you to love living life.
Go
ahead and go fishing, too. You are allowed.
Those who are my age remember Simon and Garfunkel gently belting out,
Slow down, you're going too fast. You've got to make the morning last.
I
hope you enjoy the Holiday weekend. Relax a bit. I'm going to visit Ohio
 for
a Darling reunion - the first ever that I know of - and to visit mom, aunts,
uncles, cousins and so on. I won't be writing a newsletter next week as I'll
be driving back to lovely Colorado. I'd like to fish my old bass and
bluegill pond, but don't know if that will happen or not.
Anyone out there want to buy a Camaro? I have one for sale, and need to sell
it. It's beautiful, and in great shape. Fun, too. Convertible.
I
hope you are well today, enjoying the most beautiful days we've had in some
time. The sky is blue. The snow on the mountains white, and the grass and
trees green. Have you noticed how lovely the elk are? They have new hairdos;
beautiful.
Hope
to see you soon. Thanks for reading. Write when you will; I'll answer.
Dale Darling
Opinionated old gray guy, who loves people. |
|
