Colorado River Monsters (fishing)

Hiked into upper Cheesman again earlier this week. Finally am figuring out this dropper thing, as I finally got action on the dropper there. Caught my first cutbow ever !

 

Camped out in 11 mile over the weekend. Fished Saturday and Sunday. Only got 1 the whole weekend. Those fish are super picky. There are so many in the water its insane. None of us got anything on Saturday. Flies floating past 3-5 fish and none of them go for it. There was one point where I crossed the river to get back to camp and a fish swam into my leg. The most action I got.

Sunday was a little late start, but I was eventually able to get one. Almost got one just before on a worm, but I guess I messed up my knot because the whole thing came off, oops. Retied another worm on and nothing for a few casts. I had to add a little weight and put the worm right in front of the fish before it would take it. Finally got one though and was stoked on it.

My dad and gf weren't so lucky.

 

is this considered nymphing?

i asked about nymphing and euro nymphing before. i thought euro nymphing was keeping the line tight and relying on feel.

for this, i could see the worm and the fish because the water was clear and went based on sight.

 

Lame.

https://coloradosun.com/2023/06/05/colorado-supreme-court-ends-river-access-dispute/

 

Picked up some size 26 Tiemco 2488 nymph hooks to try my hand at them; I've done some 24s in the past. I did a few in brown foam back emerger (aka Chocolate Thunder). Looking forward to catching with them, if my game is good enough.

 

heading to the Ark(BV/Salida) this weekend. anyone been out there recently?

 

I passed through BV on Monday and the Ark was high and murky. I was thinking it might have another couple weeks to settle down. The S Platte was swollen as well around Hartsel. I fished a few minutes below Crystal Mill on Sunday. It was still in runoff as well, but managed to pull a few fish from some protected pockets.

 

I would stop by or call Fly Fishing | Tumbling Trout Outfitters And Fly Shop | Lake George

She has helped me find public places (granted more South Parkish) when run off is high.

 

fished a section called factions since we were camped right there in BV. was stilll very high, almost too high. had a few hits on nymphs. Was honest just hard to find spots withit being so high and everything overgrown.

 

The Crystal Mill near Marble or is there another one closer to the Platte?

 

trying my luck again this week/weekend in the same spot. Friend was telling me he was getting some good fish on streamers over there

 

Near Marble.

 

nice Denver Post editorial on river access:

https://www.denverpost.com/2023/07/03/colorado-river-stream-right-to-wade-lawsuit-roger-hill/

 

Accurate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wttqvh4c4Q

 

Arkansas River is looking much better now.

A guide that I'm friends with here in Salida has been taking out clients since last Saturday and the fishing has been good. Still fishing with indicators and nymphs. Getting close to switching to top water as the water gets more clear.

 

While fishing the headwaters of a creek where an 8" fish is big, I got surprised by this guy. Since I was using a 1 wt, it got my attention... I think I said to myself "Oh $h!t, I've got a real fish."

 

Brought the tenkara on today's dirt bike ride.

 

Went up high yesterday and had some fun with cutthroats. I was especially tickled to get the ones sippin' tiny bugs to bite one of my tan dry flies in size 24... over and over.

 

Any chance this is Urad Lake SWA?

 

No, but I do go there. I don't think I've caught cutthroat in Urad; just brook, rainbow, and tiger. That was FRR.