St. Vrain Angler News & Muse March 1, 2005

Greetings!

Thanks again to all of you who are reading for the first time - and everyone who is reading for the 3rd year! THANKS! Everyone on our list, and there are well over 3,000 weekly readers now, has signed up to join the weekly musings on fly fishing, life and other equally important, interesting topics.

I hope you are well, enjoying this day. How do you read your News & Muse? I'm just curious. I hear many reports and am always interested to hear from you.

Thanks for taking advantage of the Line, Leader, Tippet program we hosted last weekend. Mark and Jay think we should do this again, as there are lots more of you out there who need this service. I agree. Please stay tuned; we'll have another day like that in March.

Any trips planned for the near future? I just returned from a drive and stay to and in Durango. As you many recall, my eldest daughter, Rachel, had her Junior Recital at Ft. Lewis College. The people there are so nice, and have helped Rachel in her performing and learning about music lots. My wife and our youngest daughter, Jessica, drove down on Thursday.

The snow, which was falling with gusto, on Wolf Creek Pass as well as the snow along the mountain tops through South Park and the Arkansas valley was significant. I say that to say this: we should have a great water year! I hope there's enough up there, along with that yet to arrive, to fill some of the reservoirs along the Platte system, for example, so we stop hearing all of the water whining about too much; too little. Let's just get out and enjoy the beauty of this area for a summer, go fishing, be able to build a fire in a safe fire pit and so on. OK? The past few years have had too much bad info in the media, and it influences how we feel. Feeling good about living in or visiting Colorado is acceptable, and you are allowed. Go ahead. Do it.

On this topic, did you happen to notice the article in the paper last week reporting that the Denver Water Board, which had budgeted an income that was lower based on drought and less usage, has had to significantly readjust that budget lower yet because now, even though plenty of water is available, people are using less due to conservation efforts? Isn't that cool? Isn't conservation always good? Let's hope we'll all keep doing that and get the dam builders and water bureaucrats off our backs, and more water into streams for all wildlife.

There. That's said.

I composed a piece for Rachel's recital. She asked for it, and I did it. It is for solo flute, which means she had to stand in front of the crowd of folks and play on her own. She played it very well, too. It is a difficult piece, but I've got to say I like it very much. It flows nicely, all in all. Shan asked me how it felt hearing and watching Rachel play something I wrote. I didn't have a good answer, and still don't. The composition process is what floats my boat, but it was wonderful seeing and hearing my lovely and talented daughter play this piece. It seemed to mean a lot to her, as well. Jess thought it was neat. We'll get a copy of the recording, and if anyone out there would like to hear it, let me know.

On to fishing! The shop hosted its February Shop Trip last weekend, and a fine group of fly fishing low-lifes attended, hosted by none other than Mark, himself. Once again, a fine time was had by all. It sounds like the fishing was good, the companionship delightful and, other than the lying and so on that takes place on such trips, everyone behaved well.

They had clear, cool days again, like we did last month, which does not portend great surface fishing to emerging and adult insects. Still, trout were fooled and memories built.

I'm not sure when, but I'll bet Mark is planning another outing for March. Give him a call or drop me a line if you're interested in joining the fun, and we'll let you know what's up.

Along the line of shop-hosted trips, I'm curious to find out some information, if you'll kindly share it with me. There are lots of great rivers in Colorado and sometimes I suspect folks are hesitant to go to new spots because they don't know the area, the access, the flies and techniques, and so on. Is this the case for you? No reason to be shy about it; just fess up. We've all felt that way, even if we won't admit it. Acknowledging the problem is the beginning if fixing it, after all, and fishing is fun.

What I'm thinking is this: I'd like to set up some trips to what would probably be new areas for many folks - the Animas and other SW streams, the Rio Grande east and west of South Fork, the Colorado below Kremmling - and so on. We'd arrange for guides, room and board, and someone from the shop would go along to help be sure everything was set properly. There would be a given cost for the event, which would probably include a minimum of two days on the river. Would you join us for something like this? Please drop me a line at angler@peakpeak.com and share your thoughts with me. I'll get back with more information as there is interest in doing such trips. Thanks!

I'd started this one a while back, but in Durango I found a noisy little coffee shop, sat at the corner checkers table for about twelve hours and finished my next Solutions book: Small Mayflies. I like it, too. There's lots of good info on the bugs that we'll see during March and April, and again in late September through early November, how to rig, cast and fish through small mayfly hatches and lots of tying tips to boot.

If you're going to be fishing during the next two months, or during early fall months, this book is a must-read. In all of the Solutions booklets, I've trimmed out the fat, leaving the meat that matters and information that answers questions that should clarify lots of what you find on the water, and at the tying vise. That's why I call them Solutions Books!

We sell Solutions Books for $9.95 each, or 3 for $20.00. They are printed in full color, which is not cheap. Most of the books are about forty-some pages long and should be part of your library.

We're going to introduce Small Mayflies for only $6.95 per copy. If you'd like to add two other booklets, this week only we'll sell them for $18.00 for Small Mayflies and two other solution booklets of your choice. Fill out the form below, and we'll hold the books in the shop until you can pick them up, or we'll mail them to you. I think it's about a buck to mail three booklets, by the way.

Thanks for all the support you've shown me by using these booklets. They are fun to write and I hope useful to read and use.

Thanks! If we're shipping the booklets to you, we'll call to get a credit card number. We like talking with our friends and readers!

If you're going to pick the booklets up in the shop, we'll hold them.

Did you know? When mayfly nymphs are getting close to maturity and ready to emerge, the wing pads become very dark and fill with gas of some sort that helps the bug drift to the surface of the water. Then, the insect breaks through the meniscus, a tremendous expenditure of strength, and begins to climb out of its exoskeleton, which has split open. All through this process the bug is vulnerable to feeding fish. The mayfly continues to ride along the surface of the water until it is fully out of its shuck, its wings are dry and it can fly off to streamside bushes to molt and become fully mature.

I guess it should come as no surprise that bugs survive on shear numbers. We all know this, but it is most apparent to me while fishing and observing the drama that unfolds on the water. While the nymphs are drifting in the water, Ouzels and trout are eating them. When they arrive at the surface, small birds and trout are eating them. And so on.

The process of emerging is deadly for most of the bugs. I often wonder what percentage of bugs actually make it successfully through the entire process. When I look in the water, there are so many bugs that have not made it all the way through the meniscus, or are caught in foam or have one wing stuck on the water but don't have the strength to pull it off. I guess there isn't an insect red cross, but if there were it would be busy all the time, trying to save the poor wretches that struggle. (Please; take that as it is intended - light on the bugs side. What would Gary Larson do with that one? He has a comic that has bugs in concrete blocks, sinking to the bottom of formaldehyde with a funny caption about entomology. I know; Gary Larson I am not. Ok.)

Instead, trout and birds get fat on bugs and life goes on.

There are so many stories I'd like to share; so little time. If you have any questions about the bugs, let me know and I'll do what I can to answer them.

Need help tying any patterns? Mark, Jay and I are always available to do just that. Stop by; drop me a line; get one of the Solution Books. We're trying to help.

For the St. Vrain/Estes Angler Spring Rendezvous!

We are excited about this one, friends. On Sunday, April 3, 2005 we'll host our First Annual Spring Rendezvous at the Estes Angler in Estes Park, Colorado. Ed Engle, local author, angler, fly tier and all around great guy, will be with us from 10AM until 2PM, signing books and tying flies.

We're going to charge $50.00 per person, with family discounts available. What will you get for $50.00?

Well, first you will get access to a phenomenal day of fly fishing instruction. We'll call it a Spring Tune-up. After we get your reel and line ready, we're going to work on casting, tying, knots, bugs and feeding you some good chow.

Beginning at 8:00AM we'll have hourly sessions on

There will also be door prizes! And, lots of fun.

How may we help you?

Want to know about bugs? Take our Entomology 101 class. Good info about bugs, how they live and how trout feed on them.

Need to know which flies to use? Take our Bugs & Flies! class.

I've spent lots of time creating a Power Point presentation for each session, and I'm looking forward to teaching these classes again. Please sign up!

In the classes that I teach the issue of presentation always comes up. We can tie good flies, identify the bugs, know which fly to tie on and how to tie it, but getting the fly to the right spot sometimes escapes our ability.

The Solutions Book Presentation 101 offers good info and insight into finding fish and getting the fly to them under a variety of conditions. Solutions

The key to hooking fish is getting the fly in the right spot at the right time with the right drift to a hungry fish.

To improve, practice. First, take our Introduction to Casting Class to either learn or correctly re-learn the basics, refresh your casting stroke and enjoy time outside being entertained by Mark, the fly casting guru.

Then, practice correctly. Bend the rod. Form a loop. Control the shape of the loop and the speed of the fly line. Practice accuracy.

Then, take our Line Control Class. Get on the water and apply good casting to good presentation.

To prepare for all of this, to find out more about casting in the comfort of Estes Park, join us for the Spring Rendezvous! on April 3, 2005 at the Estes Angler.

St. Vrain Angler Swaps have become popular, and rightly so. Not only are they fun, they offer tremendous value to our angling friends. Right now we're focusing on fly tying. Our second Hook Swap is scheduled for Tuesday, March 8, 2005 at 5:30PM. The Hook Swap is limited to the first 10 folks who sign up, so sign up soon!

We charge $110.00. You get a hook box and 10 styles and sizes of hooks in lots of 100 of each. That's 1,000 hooks! That's a great deal!

Our famous Hackle Swap will be held on Thursday, March 18, 2005 at 6:30.

Everyone who's taken advantage of our Swaps will tell you they are great fun and a great deal. It's your turn! Drop us a line at angler@peakpeak.com, give us a call at the shop at 303-651-6061 or fill in the form below. We'll get you set and ready to go!

Classes

Class Schedules

Introduction to Fly Tying Classes are held at the shop and start each evening at 7:00PM. We're usually done about 9:30PM and lots of fun is had by all. Two scheduled sessions remain. They'll begin on

March 15, 2005

April 19, 2005

Please call at 303-651-6061 to reserve your time. Tuition is $70.00 per person and includes our Intro To Fly Tying Solutions booklet and all the materials we use during class time. Sign Me Up!

Shop Hours

Here are shop hours for the rest of the Winter, Spring and Fall. Please stop by, have a cup of coffee and get some goodies to tie your next fly or to prepare for a fishing outing.

Monday: 9:30-6:00 (Specialty Classes start at 6:30PM)

Tuesday 9:30-6:00 (Tying Classes start at either 6:30 or 7:00PM)

Wednesday: 9:30-6:00

Thursday: 9:30-6:00 (TU Board meetings are 1st Thursday of month at 6:30; TU Meeting at VFW on 3rd Thursday at 6:30; specialty Classes on the other Thursday evenings!)

Friday: 9:30-6:00

Saturday: 9:00-4:00 (Free Clinics from 10-Noon)

ESTES ANGLER will open in March. I'll keep you posted on our progress in getting it up and running!

Well my reading friends, that's what I have to offer today. I hope you enjoyed reading. If I can answer any questions, please drop me a line at angler@peakpeak.com. I'll always answer, as long as email works. I'll be in the shop quite a bit this week and throughout this month, tying, talking fishing, dispensing grief as required and teaching classes. I sure hope to see you.

Mark, Jay and I love helping folks and genuinely appreciate the opportunity. Thanks to all of you who make the trek to the fly shop for information, gear, flies and to attend clinics and classes. We look forward to the Bass Bug Clinic on Saturday.

Hope you are well! Thanks again for reading, and for being our friend.

Talk with you again next week. Until them, I'm truly yours.