Colorado River Monsters (fishing)

First fly fishing session since before the 2013 floods. Caught this little beauty in the first 10 minutes. We’re currently camping in Lavern M Johnson, Lyons…

Anyone going to Carter lake this weekend?

It’s good to be back in CO!

 

Attempted for the first time a size 24 dry (on a nymph hook) this week to see what I thought of it. I did tie up a few in size 20 just to knock the dust off first. Not as bad as I thought it'd be, so I ordered up some smaller thread and actual dry fly hooks. I think I have all the right stuff to do some decent dries now... I got by with what supplies I had last year, but I spent a few dollars to get some better feathers (hackle and tail) for this season.

 

Nice, remember the tail should be no longer than your hook measured from the eye to the start of the bend. I will say this also. I don't think the fish give a sh*t.
I was killing them on shrimp last weekend. I also tie what I call the white boy and run it like a streamer, this is for going after the bigger fish. I will tie both and post them.

 

Okay, after spending Sunday flushing the FishTaco's trans fluid and changing the oil. Tonight I sat down and tied two on the first is a shrimp that kills almost any river in Colorado. The Rainbows love this second one during the sucker spawn.

 

That shrimp is pretty neat. Nice job. I’m gonna look for a few of those the next time I’m at a fly shop.

 

Has anyone been up to Williams creek reservoir recently? Just spoke to CPW and no gates are closed but was not told about conditions... snow etc

 

That's a long ways from Front Range. Looked it up on CPW website and only saw no Camping/ Fires.

Did list this phone# for more info.
CPW Office (Durango): (970) 247-0855

 

Yeah I spoke to them but they could only confirm that no gates are closed. Camping opens in May so I’m hoping I get all the fishies to myself

 

Not river but in Pagosa Riverside campground lake…

name that fish… I know nothing of lake dwellers

 

Largemouth bass.

 

Hi peeps,

Question about catch and release rules as apparently I am confused.

If I can’t find information in the CPW fishing magazine stating that special rules apply then standard bag limits apply, correct?

For example, Williams creek reservoir (Pagosa Springs), no information listed in the magazine so a bag limit of brown, rainbow etc of 4 is allowed.

I was fishing there today and there was no information posted so I fished with barbless flys. Later I spoke to some Texans and they said most of CO is barbless and catch and release.

If possible please clarify for me.

 

Depends on the section of river or the lake being fished.
Used to be signs on the lakes and rivers, but after a couple decades and a few floods, those are all but gone.
Best bet is flies, all my hooks have barbs.

 

all in here: https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/RulesRegs/Brochure/fishing.pdf also be aware RMNP has its own regs.

 

Thanks, that’s the magazine I was referencing but forgot to link to it.

That magazine doesn’t mention Williams creek reservoir in the ‘special regulations’ section, so am I to presume standard regs apply, ie you can keep your catch?

RMNP is easy ( release immediately and use barbless hooks) and as a result most of my flies are barbless because of living across the road from it back in 2013 for a few years.

Thanks again!

 

So, you can pinch down the barb to create a "barbless hook" also helps keep a 2nd fly attached if you are tying to hook bend.

Trout Unlimited endorses this method and zero need for a barb to catch a trout, just need to maintain tension.

 

What do you mean by this? TIA

 

are you adding a second fly then pinching the barb over the line holding the second fly?

 

No, pinching barb causes a bump, that bump keeps/ retains 2nd fly on if tying onto the bend. Or you can just tie 2nd fly off the 1st flies eye (good luck if 18 or smaller).

 

Yep. I'm still getting the hang of tying dries on a size 24. This one was on an actual dry fly hook from over the weekend. Before you point it out, the hackle is a little long (have heard that the length should be about 1.5 of the hook gap). I must say I really enjoyed the 12/0 thread I picked up with the hooks:



I've been itching to make something with rubber legs, so I order some. Came up with this for fun and practice:

 

Those both look great, I'd bite it if I was a fish.

True story, I have a moskeetoe that has thread trailing off the back of the hook about an inch, and they still strike it.