It's that time again...

We are starting to see an increase in the number of Baetis on the rivers nowadays.  Not a thick hatch yet, but it will come!  In preparation, tie a few of these up, they won't let you down!

Silenced Observations

Waltzing amongst the multitude of swirling currents and taunting greedy predators below, it didn't take long for the single dry fly to become the target of a wily brown trout.  I watched as a mouth appeared from below, and in a fraction of a second, the synthetic offering attached to the end of my line sat firmly embedded in the corner of the unsuspecting trout's mouth.  Shaking his head in disapproval, the fish soon succumbed to the resistance of my tippet, unaware that all I desired was a picture before releasing him to fight another day.

I watched appreciatively as the trout regained stability, and swiftly slipped through my fingers as it hurriedly swam for the security of the depths.  Refocusing my uninterrupted attention on the slow moving run, I watched.  Not moving, not casting, just... watching.  Minutes passed, when a small dimple caught the attention of my peripheral vision.  The fish sat farther downstream in the slowest moving part of the run... A rather tough position to get to on my part.  Knowing that the fish would have all the time he needed to evaluate my imitation, my fears of cruel rejection combatted my willingness.  This was just a fish... yet it worried me more than being denied by any good looking girl.  

So, I removed to beaten little fly from its secure spot on my hook keeper, and crouched on the bank as I prepared to cast, knowing that my fate awaited.  I knew I would have one cast at this fish before he retreated to the depths, so it was now or never.  Emotions roaring inside of me, I dropped the fly 2 feet upstream of the trout's lie, and quickly laid a mend in the line.  Watching, watching, watching, surely I had already drifted over him, but some weird internal sense was screaming at me to keep the fly on the water.  It seemed I couldn't bring myself to cast again, I was going to get something on the first drift.

As if being summoned by the fish gods, a lazy brown appeared behind my fly, and as slowly as physically possible, he engulfed the fly gracefully. Resisting every urge to set the hook, I waited until he disappeared, and smoothly raised the rod.  Fighting valiantly, the educated trout dove underneath branches and rocks, making every attempt to break the 7x tippet.  Eventually the resistance proved superior, and he slid calmly into the deep bag of my net.  I had succeeded, a feeling that could be unparalleled by seemingly any other happening.  

I relished in my achievement, and knew that I could now call it a day.  Striding confidently away from the river, I felt on top of the world...  What a day.

Midges and Meat

Swing by Charlie's Fly Box in Arvada tomorrow, February 18th, for a little fun at the tying bench!  I will be hosting the Saturday morning demo, and look forward to seeing a lot of familiar faces in the crowd, as well as meeting a myriad of new friends.  I will be twisting up everything from midges to streamers, so don't miss out on a chance to learn a few new tricks.  The demo will run from 11 'till 1, and more details can be found here!

I look forward to seeing all of you there!

Monday Movie ~ Ed Engle Style

Second Chance from Samuel Ebersole on Vimeo.

Shellshocked Adventure

The stage was set - snowy weather, sunny skies, and a plan to meet at 9:30 that morning by the river.  As the brakes squealed and both cars came to rest, anticipation hovered above like fog, and friendly handshakes were exchanged as Sanders and I shivered violently in the frosty morning air.

Slightly torn waders and trusty wading boots were slid onto my frozen body, and an overflowing hip pack was strapped to my waist as it tightly hugged the over-sized wooden net also known as the 'Pig Stick'.  Worn laces were cinched tight, and a few weapons for the day were selected from the diligently organized rows of my fly boxes. The moistened knots were then drawn tight, securing the meal courses to the tippet.

Approaching the water, flows became a concern whether we said it or not, but determination drove us forward without looking back.  A mere fifteen minutes into the day, I dropped to my knees as I screamed "Holy S**t Sanders, We got a 25 inch fish right here!"  What usually spans the course of 20-30 minutes of presentations took only a single cast as the fish turned without hesitation to slam the easy meal.  A smooth lift of the rod resulted in intense runs, but after around 45 seconds the big male brown was brought to net, and we both stared in disbelief.  The colors were astonishing, and my day had been made.  After a series of photos, and a dramatic increase in morale, the beautiful fish was released, and we knew that Sanders' turn would come next.

4.5 pound brown

My best Brown to date!

Continuous searching resulted in few fish, so a swift decision was made to proceed to the next area, giving us a shot at different fish.  Rods were loaded into the cars, and off we went.  Upon arrival, it appeared that every person in Fort Collins had decided to try fly fishing that day, seeing as there were exactly two spots left in the lot.  Crowded water resulted in minimal fishing, but as fellow anglers left whistling the signature Super Bowl anthem, space became plentiful.

As the afternoon midge hatch entered full swing, a single fisherman sat perched right in the heart of the action.  Sean and I tried above him, and quickly brought three fish to hand.  Frustrated, the man left the perch, giving us a shot at a few fish.  A single rise was spotted and after a few refined presentations, the dry fly was slowly tugged under, and what seemed like a 12 inch stocker at first suddenly showed itself as an 17 inch cutbow thrashing below the surface.  Directing the fight while chest deep in the river with the net, I watched as Sean bravely battled the fish.  A few minutes later, the chance presented itself, and the gorgeous fish was scooped into the net.  Sean's face lit up like a kid in a candy store - an image I will never forget.  Sean proudly hoisted his biggest trout from this particular watershed, and after many pictures, the camera-friendly cutbow was carefully released. 

Sanders with his gorgeous cutbow!

Poor guy's jaw was ripped up...

Favorite pic of the trip

 What had been my best day on the water so far this year came to an end with handshakes and talk of the next outing.  Sanders is a great guy, and I could tell he learned a lot about the river that day.  Check out Sanders' blog here!

To Sanders - that was a badass day dude.... we are definitely going out again soon!  This time though, we have to try and beat the fish from this trip... ha!

Tuesday Tie

This week, I have chosen a pattern tied by the guys down at CO Skies Outfitters.  I have really been interested in tubes lately, and this fly is an excellent little pattern that is simple and effective. So without further ado, I present to you the Marabou Tube!

Monday Movie

Come on down!

This weekend the Denver Fly Fishing Show will be going on at the Merchandise Mart.  The show starts on the 6th, and ends on the 8th running for most of the day.  This is a great place to come learn a few tricks from the pros, and stock up on the latest gear.  I will be tying all three days, so feel free to stop by my booth and chat or ask questions!

I will also have flies for sale by the dozen, so don't hesitate to support a high school trout bum!

Beef Jerky and Soda

Glancing over the cold metal rails of a small footbridge, I observed intently as three decent rainbows sat idling in the current, munching on anything that came their way.  The air was frigid, but the heat of determination could be felt from a mile away; whether we said it or not.  

Back at the car, I slid on my trusty old waders, and the worn laces of my boots were cinched tight as the excitement built inside of me.  A few feet of hair thin tippet were unwound from the spool, and two synthetic snacks were selected from the foam slots of my fly box.  The wind howled as the knots were delicately fastened to the eyes of each hook, and two small split shot were clamped to the over priced piece of line known as a leader.  Once rigged, my trusty hip pack was strapped around my waist, and my net was held between the straps of the pack and my jacket as I set out in search of my first fish of the new year.

Returning to the bridge, I zeroed in on one small rainbow, and elegantly placed the rig in front of him.  As the flies drifted effortlessly through the current, the line drew tight, and the small rainbow was ushered towards my awaiting hands. 

As the day progressed, Many beautifully colored fish were brought to hand, and the winds howled in celebration.  Time after time, we would watch as the hungry fish moved to the side, claiming our artificial offerings as their own.  As the line was drawn tight, the fit of lazy headshakes would begin, and eventually the fish would come tiredly to hand.  With swift releases, the small creatures were free to return to the frigid waters that served as home.  

In the aquarium

Colors!

Most uniquely colored rainbow I have ever seen

Weirdest looking brown I have ever seen

Dennis Martin with a nice brown

Last fish of the day!

After awhile, the small midges attached to my line were slowly depreciating in quality, and the sun was slowly tucking itself away behind the snowy peaks that surround colorful Colorado. The day was coming to a close, and after our excited emotions had quieted, all that could be heard was the soft trickle of river water.  The muddy gear peeled slowly away from our bodies, and we drove off into the night.

'Chief' of Fishing

Have you ever hit that perfect tee shot on your favorite par five, or thrown a perfect bullseye in a round of darts?  The feeling of sheer perfection and happiness sets in almost immediately, and there is no denying the smile on your face.  Every once in awhile, each of us finds or does something that seems to engrave a smile on our face, and recently, Smith Optics' "Chief" Sunglasses have been that something for me.

Over the past year or so, I was fortunate enough to meet some truly incredible people, most of them being met either on the water, or through facebook.  One thing that seemed to be recurring amongst these guys was a trusty pair of high end sun glasses either wrapped over their eyes, or dangling from their necks.  I never really thought much of it, and continued using the $5 pair of glasses that i bought off of a guy at the CTU Camp earlier this year.  Well, after enough 'bragging' from my fishing friends, I finally decided to save up some money from the summer's lawn mowing, and get myself a pair of Smith Optics. 

So, when the time came, I placed an order for a pair of chief's with a Polarchromic Copper Mirror Tint and Techlite Glass Lenses.  I waited for a couple of days, and before I knew it the UPS man was at my door handing me a package with the Smith logo stamped to the front.  Delicately slicing the tape on the package, I drooled in awe as I removed the enhanced optics from their protective case.  Skeptical as to how they would perform, I couldn't wait to try them out on a particular section of river that I am so fond of.

Upon arriving at the water's edge, the water was clear; too clear.  There was a hint of superstition in the frosty morning air as we began to search for fish, but we trudged forward with high hopes.  As I approached my favorite run, I stood patiently, scanning the bottom for feeding resides.  The run usually yields fish, but almost always I am dredging the deepest part with an indicator and a few nymphs.  Suddenly, the flicker of a tail appeared, and a good brown was spotted gorging himself at the bottom of the run.  After a few casts, the fish was landed and released happily.  Put simply, these glasses rock.

Frame
The chief frame won the award for best new eyewear at the Fly Tackle Dealer Show a few months ago, and after using the frame, I can see why.  With a medium fit and large coverage, the frames prevent side glare, glare from above, and beneath your eyes. It fits perfectly, and provides the upmost comfort.

Lenses

The lenses on these glasses are what truly set it apart from the rest.  The techlite glass lenses provide the clearest view in the game, and make seeing fish so much easier.  I couldn't believe the difference between glass and polycarbonate lenses - the view is so much clearer with glass!  So, if you plan on getting a pair of these glasses, go with the glass lenses; it's worth it.

Tint
Seeing as Landon Mayer is basically my idol, I gave him a call to see what he thought I should get as far as tints are concerned.  He said that copper is the best all around tint, and that the polarchromic feature is an excellent bonus.  Well, after using the polarchromic copper mirror lenses, I can honestly say that they are superior to anything that I have ever used.  The mirrored tint is able to handle extremely bright days, as well as overcast days.

Things I would change
The one thing I don't like about the glasses is that they fit so well that they tend to fog up, but Smith makes an anti-fog spray, so the problem is solved.  Other than that, I have no complaints!

Conclusion
If you are serious about sight fishing (or fly fishing in general for that matter), investing in a pair of quality sunglasses will change the way you see things forever.  They are definitely worth the investment, and they will make every outing that much easier.  Smith Optics' Chief sunglasses are perfect for any angler, and perform flawlessly.

Monday Movies

Snow Flakes, Call of Duty, and Fly Fishing

Glancing out the window of my friend's basement, I couldn't help but notice the fresh layer of white powder that lay frozen on the ground.  Accompanying the powder were delicately falling snowflakes, and dark, dreary skies.  But the decision was made to make the best of it, no matter the conditions.  Besides, it was the weekend, and it would be an unbearable five school days until we would get to do this again, so why not?

The mission of the day was to teach my friend Trevor the basics of fly fishing, and hopefully get him into a few fish at one of my favorite spots.  So, we arose from the mess of left over pizza, blankets, and video game controllers from the previous night, and bundled up in our warmest clothing.  As we downed our cinnamon rolls at the kitchen table, I couldn't help but think about the day, and the events that it would bring.  Trout have a way of indirectly forcing you to pursue them, no matter what the conditions; something Trevor was having a hard time understanding.

As we geared up and jumped in the truck, the thermometer read 17 degrees Fahrenheit.  Hopeful that the sun would soon show its face after a long night of hide (and seek), I stepped away from the car, and grabbed the rods from the back.  Two minuscule thread midges were selected from the warm, homely rows of my fly box, and a few feet of 6x fluorocarbon were peeled off of the spool.  My fingers shook violently as I clumsily tightened the clinch knots on the chosen meal course of the day.  After repeating the process with the second rod, both Trevor and I were ready to go, and trudged through the light, fluffy snow to the river's edge.

We watched as fish leisurely moved about a particular riffle, slowly munching on the tiny snacks adrift in the current.  With carefully placed presentations, and a lot of luck, we managed to trick a few small rainbows.

As the temperatures continued to drop, I removed the last midge on my rig from the hook keeper that sat firmly fastened to my rod.  The wind howled, and I placed one last cast into a low, clear moving run.  Intently, I watched as a glint of white showed up in the water, and I set to the feeling of a long, slow tug at the end of my line.  As trevor sat shivering on the bank, I netted the fish, and set him free  to his home in the frigid waters.

The picture doesn't demonstrate how cld it really was...

We reeled in the rods, and returned to the truck, frozen to the bone.  As the digital temperature gauge glowed with life, the temperature read 13 degrees fahrenheit, even lower than when we started.

After removing our frozen waders and boots, we returned to the basement of his house, and munched on left over pizza as we played a few rounds of Call of Duty.  About the time my Dad arrived to pick me up, the feeling had returned to my toes.  Upon entering the car, I couldn't help but laugh to myself as I glanced over at the thermometer.

13 Degrees.

Greenback Kinda Day

I received a message on facebook the other day from a good friend of mine saying that we were going to pursue some Greenback Cutthroat when he got back from the IFTD in New Orleans.  We made a plan to meet in the parking lot at 10 A.M Saturday morning.

The lush vegetation was incredible!

Casey and I before heading out in search of trout

 Vincent brought along a friend of his, so he and I decided to hike ahead of the other three guys.  We hiked pretty far up, and fished about a mile and a half upstream from where we started. It was a breathtaking place full of great scenery. clear water, and tons of Greenbacks.  We started off the morning with ant dries, and switched later to attractor dries with unweighted emerger dropper patterns.  It was amazing to see some of the takes.  One of us would spot the fish, and then the other would cast to it.

Discussing tactics in order to fool that particular fish

Can you spot the fish?

Super clear water, and rising cutties. Nothing gets better.

Not huge, but beautiful as can be!

Greenback!

I was a bit upstream of Casey, and spotted a nice (for this area) greenback feeding heavily on emergers, so I decided to try for him.  I put one cast over him, and he came up to check out my dry, but refused it.  On the second drift, he kicked over to the side a few inches, opened his mouth, and I set.  The reward was a beautiful cutthroat.

Trying to Indian Hand Grab  a monster Rainbow in the stocked pond

 We ended the day with eating at a local pizza place is estes park, and had some fun messing with the huge trout that reside in a stocked pond there.  Overall I had an awesome trip, and will definitely be heading back soon!