Colorado River Monsters (fishing)

A couple days ago

 

Spent a few days up in Wyoming catching a few footballs!!!

 

Nice.

 

What elevation were you at there? Trying to piece together whether a lake I want to check out has a good probability of not being frozen.

 

had a nice morning at Joe Wright, pulled a dozen or so grayling out in 2 hours, bouncing beadhead scuds - lotsa fun on a 3 wt and my first graylings.... Think maybe I was a week or two late though, idk

 

11,300!

 

I was there yesterday, they were hitting top water really well on a cadis. Also caught a nice tiger trout on a leach, which was a pleasant surprise.

Late for what?

 

I am new to chasing grayling and had heard optimal time was mid june from a buddy. I saw a few rises (830-1030 am) and they hit the parachute adams I was using as indicator once or twice, but mostly the scuds. Will toss a few elk hair caddis next time - appreciate the report.

 

"Greenback" I think it's a mut. Either way, nice fish out of a little creek.



Actual Colorado river cutt from a week ago.

 

I love small stream fishing. The combination of need for stealth, a good read and a good first cast make it very rewarding. Very nice - enjoyed the post.

 

Bit of a funny story -

That fish was caught out of a creek that's not exactly easy to get to, and I don't think hardly anyone knows about it. Almost exactly two years ago, I posted this picture, which was a fish caught out of the exact same spot, might even been the same fish.





Anyways, yesterday I came up on that spot, saw the fish in only about a foot of water, smashed a big old chubby right in front of him, he ate it, and I completely messed up hook set. Rested him for a minute, and caught him on the 2nd try.

Stealth and delicate presentation aren't usually in my fishing vocabulary.

 

That is totally the same fish - how awesome is that. Compare the spot patterns and it's def a match. Super cool.

 

I'll go back in another two years and try to catch him again.

 

rarewaters.com ? I am relatively new to Colorado and as much as I like to scout/explore for new water it is time consuming. Being on northern front range I need to invest a few hours to get to the type of fishing I like, and guessing can be hit or miss, public/private thing seems to be taken very seriously in CO. Wondering in anyone has any experience using rarewaters.com ? I'm contemplating one of their anual events near McCoy on Saturday.. some fishin,lunch and presentations and access to a private stretch of the Colorado for a day. kind of expensive but I am retired and haven't been on vacation in 20 years so figure I can treat mysel now and then...

 

It’s crazy how some fish are just meant to be caught. Once upon a time I was fishing an area that is known for large fish (average fish is likely 18”). I watched a 19-ish” brown sipping on the surface. Overly excited, I threw a hopper with some sparkle on the butt at it. This fish, I shit you not, ate the sparkle on the fly (behind the hook) 2 or 3 times before taking the fly…and you bet your ass I set the hook every time he ate the sparkle…. somehow I did not put this fish down. Add in the mistimed mends and shitty drifts in between I had no business catching this fish, but alas:

 

yah, me neither but I am working on it - honestly the fishing is mostly a good excuse to be in the mountains and on the water for me. Most of my experience is small freestone streams in central Pennsylvania, tossing wood crickets, small crayfish, maggots, etc.

 

Where about in Central PA? That's where I grew up and learned to fly fish on Penns Creek, the Little J, Slate and Cedar Runs, Spring Creek, Big Fishing Creek, Rauchtown Creek, White Deer Creek, etc.

 

Nice. I had a camp in Bald Eagle state forest about midway between Poe Lake and the White mountain wilderness area, just off swift run, where the Reeds Gap spur of the mid-state trail crosses Swift Run - little bit of heaven. I mostly fished the tributaries to Penn's Creek like Poe creek, Treaster. Didn't fish Penn's often. As much as I have enjoyed exploring western style fly fishing I miss Centre and Mifflin counties.