Thank You for a Great Season

As I prepare to head to New York next week, the guiding season is coming to a close.  I want to thank everyone that I had the privilege of fishing with this year.  You all have made memories that I will never forget.  This fall was a great one.  While low water levels made conditions less than ideal, we found some amazing fish.  Below are some pictures from this past fall.  Thank you all again for a great season on the water!

Fall is around the Corner

As I write this report, the flows on the Dream Stream are at a low 80cfs.  To be accurate, fishing is tough at the low flows.  While there are a few lake fish in the system, they are very few and very far between.  There is already heavy angling pressure, especially on weekends.  I'll be holding on to a few pictures for another couple weeks of some lucky days on the water.  That being said, be prepared to walk...A LOT in order to find any adult fish (not just the lake run browns).  We are still at least a week or two away from seeing any type of respectable numbers of lake fish in the system.   An increase in flow could really help the cause.  I have been fielding a lot of emails and phone calls recently about October bookings.  If you are interested in finding some of these big lake fish this fall please email me at tere5643@gmail.com or give me a call at 719-494-6480, as days will really start to fill in.  Below are all pictures of years past (not from this year!) and what we are looking forward to this fall. 

Looking Ahead to Fall

Over the past month or so, fishing on the South Platte River has been great.  We have gotten some absolute amazing fish and hatches of Tricos, PMDs, Caddis, and Sallies have been prevalent.  Flows coming into August are well above normal.  As we get into August, we will begin to see the slowing of hatches and morning will present the best opportunities to get into fish.  Looking ahead, it is time to start thinking about booking a trip to chase the large migratory Brown Trout and Kokanee salmon that come into the river for their annual spawning migration.  We target Brown Trout that will range anywhere from 5 to 15 pounds and Kokanee that will go anywhere from 16 to 26 inches and weigh up to 6 pounds.  If you have never caught a Kokanee Salmon, you have yet to feel some of the strongest fish in the Rockies.  To book one of these trips feel free to email me at tere5643@gmail.com or give me a call at 719-494-6480.  Trips should fill up fairly fast so the sooner you call the better chance I have to try and get you on some of these giants.  Keeping the spawning fish in mind, it is important to remember to steer clear of trout on spawning beds.  These beds will be tear dropped shaped clearings in shallow cobblestone riffles.  As ALL of the Browns on the South Platte are completely naturally reproducing, we want to make sure these fish are safe and can ensure the next generation will be just as strong as the current fish in our rivers.  So if you see someone fishing to fish on beds, kindly educate them to not fish to them and the importance of why we don't fish to them.  Below are some pictures from recent trips.

Independence Day Fly Fishing

Today is July 4th and the anniversary of our great nation's declaration to become a sovereign state.  It is important that today we take time to thank those that risk their lives every day to keep this country safe and free.  Fly fishing has been great on the South Platte River, here in Colorado.  Higher water has kept fish actively feeding and happy.  We are seeing hatches of Midges, Caddis, Yellow Sallies, PMDs, and even some Tricos today.  Many of the fish caught below were caught on Dry Flies, and although nymphing has been the most productive means of turning fish, these large trout are starting to look up more and more.  July is filling up fast and I am already getting calls for August and even October to chase giant migratory Brown Trout.  If you are interested in booking a trip to fine tune your fly fishing skills, a fly fishing lesson, or just want to learn more about fishing the South Platte, give me a call at 719-494-6480, or email me at tere5643@gmail.com.  Below are some fish from recent trips. 

Speaking Engagements and Early Summer Fly Fishing

Tonight, June 5, I will be giving a presentation with the Pikes Peak Fly Fishers Club on the Rebound of Deckers since the Hayman Fire. Come by this evening to say hello and have a good night.  Also, be sure to check out the July/August issue of American Angler to check out my latest piece. On the river front, fishing has been very good on the South Platte.  Water levels are rising and the fish are very happy.  Be prepared to fish with some other anglers as many of the other waterways around the state are raging with high water.  We anticipate this summer to be another great year of high water fishing on the Platte.  There have been great BWO and Midge hatches, and depending on where you are on the drainage, Caddis have made their presence known as well.  There is nothing more fun than hooking into a big trout and having to chase them downstream when they get in heavy water.  Give me a call at 719-494-6480 or email me at tere5643@gmail.com if you would like to learn more about fly fishing or about some of our great local waters here in Colorado.  Below are some pictures of some great fish we have been getting for anglers of all ages.

South Platte River and Late Spring Fly Fishing

April was a difficult month on the South Platte River.  Some days created memories of fish that will never be forgotten, and other days that were down right tough fishing.  As we move into May, look for flows to stay relatively low in both South Park and Elevenmile Canyon as Cheesman reservoir is very close to spilling over the dam.  However, snow levels to the west are very high and we anticipate a great runoff this year.  The South Platte in South Park has been fish anywhere from outstanding to to fair at best.  BWOs are starting to show and on cloudy days fish can be fooled with patterns resembling the mayfly. The spawn for a lack of a better term is all but over.  There are a few good fish roaming around but be prepared to work to find them.  Elevenmile Canyon has been fishing well with great BWO hatches in the afternoon.  Fish in the canyon are spawning so please be careful wading and avoid spawning beds.  The stillwaters in South Park are now completely open and unfortuneatly are fishing somewhat tough.  I am planning to venture to both 11 Mile and Spinney Reservoirs this week to really put some time in.  Trips this week have been going well and below are a few of the great fish that we have been picking up both in the canyon and in South Park.  I am getting more and more inquiries regarding trip dates for the summer so book a trip now to make sure I still have the dates available.  Just give me a call at 7194946480 or email me at tere5643@gmail.com.  Below are some pics of some great fish we have been picking up in the last week or two.

Spring Guided Trips

This Spring season has been both one of the best in a long time and also one of the toughest.  The South Platte River in South Park has been producing some great fish....on certain days.  The fish are on the move and one day they will be in the river and the next runs will be close to empty.  That being said, we have gotten some great fish this year.  There is still a good amount of angling pressure which is contributing to sending the big fish back to the lake.  That being said, there are still some great fish running around.  The Deckers area is also fishing well. Good BWO hatches are happening and on many days fish are looking up.  The reservoirs are in great shape and in the next week or two my favorite part of the year will really start to pick up.  Stillwater Season!!  If you are interested in booking a guided fly fishing trip on the South Platte River or the lakes in South Park please give me a call at 7194946480 or email me at tere5643@gmail.com.  Here are some pics from recent trips.

Late Winter/Early Spring Fly Fishing in Colorado

I have been long overdue to post a report here.  Basically, over the past 2 1/2 months I have been spending quite a bit of time on the great waters around the state.  Both thru guided fly fishing trips and personal endeavors, the rivers of this great state have produced time and time again.  I will first discuss what has been happening on my local guided waters.  The South Platte is fishing great.  The stretch around Deckers is fishing very well and the fish are fat and ready to eat.  In South Park, flows have been optimal for late winter fishing.  The flows were bumped to 115 early in the winter and that actually brought in our first wave of spawning fish.  In January, we saw actively spawning fish and lake fish to 8 lbs, hence my lack of publications for fear of starting the crowd rush early.  But me posting this means that the word has spread through one avenue or another and people are starting to make their way in high numbers to the water.  As we get closer to spring, we are seeing more and more fish come into the system and we have caught some true giants up to 12 lbs.  If you would like to chase some of the largest Rainbow trout in Colorado, the next month is the time.  Book a guide trip and lets go chase some of these supremely large fish.  Some of the pictures I have been taking I will be saving to submit with future magazine projects, but I will show a few here.  Guided trips have gone great thus far this year and I have had clients describe some of the fish we are catching as the biggest they have ever encountered on the fly. On other waters, the Frying Pan River is fish very well.  Again, good water levels have the fish on the feed and some large fish are being caught.  While I love the hungry nature of the Pan fish, they have been more than obviously manhandled, and quite frankly the condition of their mouths is a little more than depressing.  So to be on my soap box, handle fish carefully.  Also, with a spawning season upon us, abstain from fishing to fish on spawning beds, no matter how tempted you might be.  If you accidentally foul hook or snag a fish anywhere but their mouth, quickly break them off or try to allow slack so the hook can come out. It doesn't take much skill to put on a lot of weight and hook a fish in the belly.  The funnest part of fly fishing is fooling that trout.  By quickly allowing a snagged fish to get back to feeding, you can almost immediately get that fish to eat!  As the spawn progresses, crowds will exponentially increase.  Be sure to respect other anglers by giving them both enough space so that everyone can have a great day.  Below are some pictures of both guide trips and personal trips.  For  a guided trip please call 719-494-6480, or email me at Tere5643@gmail.com.