The Gunnsion Gorge

Over the past 3 days I had the privledge of rowing a raft down the Gunnison Gorge with some great people.  I was on one of three rafts and had an unbelieveable time.  I want to thank Angus Drummond for setting everything up and providing the opportunity to have such an unbelievable experience.  As far as the rowing and rapids go, the water was very low and the rapids were techinical.  I had not rowed in well over a year and during the first three rapids the rust was more than evident.  I just want to thank Darby and Kyle for not jumping ship after those three.  I finally got into a groove and started reading the water much better and by day 3, the touughest rapids came somewhat easy. The scenery and fish that exist in the Gorge are amazing.  Beautiful rock walls, browns, rainbows, and Gunny green water left me in constant disbelief.  The fishing overall was fair at best with nymphs being the best producers.  However, we did land fish on big streamers and dry flies as well.  I also want to say congratulations to Mike on his first trout on a fly rod.  Overall, there are really few words to describe the beauty of the setting and the fun group of guys that floated this weekend. Thank you everyone for making this trip one I will never forget.

South Platte River Offers Options

While the most busy part of the season seems to have come to a close, the Labor Day weekend provided some excellent trips on both the South Platte River in South Park and closer to Denver.  Last week the flows were dropped in South Park but we were able to stick some quality fish on Dries and Nymphs.   After the signifcant drop in flow, I opted to take the rest of the weekend's trips to another section of the Platte closer to Denver.  Again, Dries and Nymphs were extremely effective as hookups were constant throughout the day.  Tricos and BWO's in the morning have been solid, while PMD's and Caddis are producing later in the day.   I have talked with several anglers recently asking me how I think the drop in flow out in South Park is going to effect the fall run of Brown Trout.  While the flows are low, fish will still move up and fishing should be good.  The biggest problem will be those people fishing to actively spawning fish on redds, as they will be very visible.  If you witness this, please courteously share the info regarding the importance of the fall spawn.  Below are a few good fish from this past week's trips.  There is also one more order of business that I would like to touch on as well following the pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

Ok so the other issue that I have started to stumble upon more and more is the increased amount of dead fish.   These are not little fish either and it truly breaks my heart when I see these big guys belly up in a place where I both make my living and spend my free time.  That being said, I want to remind people to properly release fish by taking the needed time to bring the fish back to life.  Make sure that the fish does not go belly up or is being washed down stream upon release.  Stay and watch the fish for a few minutes to make sure that they are healthy upon release.  On the same note, do not over fight a fish. You can land a fish much quicker than you would believe by simply tightening your drag slightly.  Also, if you foul hook a fish(this will be an issue this fall I have no doubt) have the discipline to break the fish off.  DO NOT LAND a foul hooked fish.  The fish will use more energy and the battle will take longer.  It doesn't count if the fish does not eat your fly.  Anyways, below is a picture of a big thick rainbow that I found belly up in the weeds. It measured just over 25 inches which is why this topic is so important to me.  If this occurs during the fall, the future of the river's naturally reproducing Brown Trout will eventually cease to exist.  Please just be careful and take time to properly release fish.

 



Fishing Remains Steady on the Platte

You can already start to see and feel fall begin to move forward.  Some Aspens have already started their annual color change and in a couple weeks the rest will follow and fill the Colorado mountains with amazing color.  The South Platte River is still fishing well on all sections.  Today, I had a trip on some private water on the North Fork and we crushed fish all morning.  Not only does this section of private water allow for countless numbers of hookups, but the size of the fish can be truly amazing.  Both nymphs and dries produced good numbers of fish and we landed what may have been the largest fish that I have had landed on a trip this season.  Congrats to Jon on that big Rainbow.  On the public water, crowds are becoming ridiculous and will only continue to grow.  Finding fish amongst the crowds is difficult.  Let me or another one of our guides show you how to get around the crowds and find some of the big fish that call the South Platte River home.  Below are some pictures from today including both a great double and the monster Rainbow. 

Fall Brown Trout: Learn How to Hunt Down and Catch These Trophy Fish

As fall approaches here in the next couple months, I get more and more excited for the Brown Trout to be on the move.  Fish will begin to move and migrate for their annual spawn.  The South Platte River in South Park gets a fantastic run of big Brown Trout, Kokanee Salmon, and Fall Spawning Rainbow Trout. Many people take this opportunity to pursue the trout of a lifetime.  It is hard to beat a big burnt orange male Brown with a big ol' kype.  Now is a great time to reserve a day in late September or through October to sight fish for these truly wonderful fish.  Walking and searching for these big fish is one thing, but learning to beat the crowds is another.  If you would like to learn how to find, hook, and land one of these South Park treasures, call Colorado Trout Hunters at 303-325-5515 or call myself at 719-494-6480. 

Transition Time

This week I had another batch of great trips on the South Platte River.  Both on public water an hour from Denver, as well as out in South Park, fishing has continued to be good.  August is usually a time of transition on the Platte.  Water temps heat up and fishing tends to slow.  This year though, we have been blessed with great flows.  Fishing has remained steady. Whether you are looking for numbers of fish or looking to catch (or have a shot at) a trophy, both sections of the Platte are producing.  Fall is around the corner and fish are just starting to chase streamers a little more willingly.  This will only increase as we get closer to fall.  There have been many different hatches that are turning fish.  Tricos, BWO, PMD, and still some Yellow Sallies have been getting fish to eat both on the surface and below. Crowds are also starting to get heavier and sectoins of water that have been fished heavily are noticeably more difficult to fish.  That being said, we did get some great fish this past week.  Below are a few of those great fish. 

Another Week of Numbers....and Big Fish

Over the past week, I have been on guide trips everyday.  The fishing has been great on the South Platte River.  Big Rainbows, Browns, Cutthroats, and Cuttbows are being caught in both South Park and near the Deckers area.  Tricos and PMDs have been the staples, as the Trico hatch has been strong on both sections in the mornings.  Fish of all sizes have been eating very well over the last week and we were able to get some great fish in both areas.  Both dries and nymphs have produced well.  I had the pleasure of taking my Uncle Peter out while we he was visiting from New York and we were able to find great numbers of 12 to 16 inch fish.  The fishing has been best in the mornings before the water temperatures rise in the afternoon.  This is typical August fishing and will remain this way until the end of the month and into the beginning of September or until Fall becomes to bring its glory.  Below are some pictures from the past week. 

Despite Heavy Rain, Fishing Remains Good on the Platte

The last few days on the South Platte River have been nothing short of great.  Whether you are looking for numbers or size, the Platte can deliver.  Over the past couple of days I have guided out on in South Park, as well as the Private water on the North Fork of the South Platte.  Both stretches fished very well.  We caught great numbers, as well as some really big fish.  Whether it was fishing nymphs or dries, the fish were on the feed.  Out in South Park, the hatches remain consistent with Tricos happening in the morning, and PMDs, Stones, and Caddis in the afternoon. I want to take this opportunity now at the end of this long stretch of guide trips to say thank you to all of my clients that I had the priviledge of fishing with over the past week and a half.  Below are some pictures from the past few days of trips.