Hiked into West Creek, pretty stream not as impacted by runoff, fish were spooky. Managed to get a couple of small brookies on an ant pattern. Probably not a place for nascent anglers, however, lots of cover with trees and deadfall.

In the afternoon went to Cub Creek, and Morraine Park. Water very high and fast, must wade carefully. Fish not visible except in deep calm pools. Managed a couple of Browns, again on an ant, on both Cub and the middle channel. No bugs in air and turned over a few rocks, bare! Run off in full swing. Water temperature 45 degrees.Glacier is unfishable.

Did some research yesterday. Started at Cub Creek,flows are still below high water level but slightly stained still very wadeable. Water temperature at about 10:30 was 42 degrees.Saw some midges and a few small dark gray stone flies. Used a 0 weight with a 12 foot leader, tied on a size 18 black caddis,with a brown biot midge larva dropped off it. Picked up a couple of small browns all on the black caddis.

Moved on to the middle channel in Morraine Park. Kept the caddis on and switched to a zebra midge dropper. Caught a couple of more browns. Water was about the same as Cub Creek, slight tannin stain and not up to high water mark. Fish again took the caddis.

On to the Big Thompson. By 2:00 water temperature was up to about 45 degrees. Fished from just below Cub Lake trail head to picinic area half way to bus turn around. Kept black caddis, and switched to red disco midge dropper. One brown and one brookie both on black caddis. Guess the caddis was the fly dejour.

Went to Roaring river next, lived up to it's name. Fast ,high and muddy. Didn't bother to fish. Over to Glacier Creek. Same as Roaring and over the banks saw a couple of fish feeding in calm pools on emergers. Wading looks difficult. Didn't bother to fish.

Hope this helps some, please share with customers and guides.

Fishing Report for Memorial Day 2008 in Colorado

It seems like every year I sit down at the computer a week before Memorial Day, with the weather report and the DWR stream flows page trying to decide where to go fishing for Memorial Day. Although its great to get a three day weekend off of work in May when the weather is finally warming up, the fishing always seems a little tainted by the prospect of increased traffic (and cops) on the roads, high stream flows, and a scarcity of places to camp with the muddy season having begun to peak in most mountain towns. I have put together the following suggestions to guide you in your decision making process on where you can fish when the streams are flowing hard and gas prices are raging.

THE REPORT

Rivers to Avoid: The Roaring Fork, Colorado River, and the Arkansas are some of the Colorado's best opportunities to hook into trout but not this weekend. These rivers are high, off color, and require at least a two hour drive if you are leaving from the Front Range. You want to think tailwater (dam released) and check flows the minute before you leave.

Rivers to Fish: The Frying Pan, the North Platte River west of Casper and the South Platte at Eleven Mile and Cheesman Canyon should all be fishing well. All of these rivers offer the prospect of getting into fish when stream flows are up across Colorado. Flows on the Blue are high both in town and below Green Mountain but, anglers can expect to get into get into fish with the usual assortment: San Juans, Mysis, various baetis nymphs, 20 inchers and Discos.

I hesitate to mention the North Platte given the recent surge of anglers in the last year or three but it has been fishing well. Flows in this area are way up. However, the fishing is still quite good from a drift boat (tuff to wade at 2300 cfs). Those of you fishing here probably have a good idea of what to use.

Lastly, we have been hearing great things from the South Platte especially in and around Eleven Mile Canyon. Think small and baetis/ midge patterns and you will be just fine.

Lakes: Many of our local warm water lakes are fishing well now. I would recommend fishing Pella Crossing, Walden Ponds and Sawhill Ponds if you are interested in catching bass and pan fish. Teller Lake is also fishing well and offers the opportunity to go after Carp (the elusive land locked Bonefish). Fly boxes for these lakes should include an assortment of buggers, leaches, small poppers, hairs ears, and crayfish patterns.

If you have an appetite for trout I would recommend Spinney Reservoir and possibly Delaney Buttes. We have heard great reports from Spinney especially mid-morning on scuds, eggs, olive buggers and chironomids.

Summer is Coming

Fly Fishing for Bass and Afternoon Baseball Games.....

May weather in Colorado is hard to predict but, the temps are usually warm enough for both of these afternoon activities. This weekend we were lucky enough to get out for a Rockies victory on Saturday night and some stellar bass fishing at Pella Ponds on Sunday afternoon.

As for the fishing....the bass are still up on the reds in this area and are visible on the banks. Afternoon water temps hovered around 60 in the shallows providing excelent opportunity to score numerous largemouth, bluegill, and a few crappie.

Hot flies included olive and golden buggers, small poppers, and black rabbit leaches. We fished from pontoon boats to avoid back-casting into unsuspecting dog-walkers (this is not uncommon when fishing from the bank as the lakes main trial runs directly behind some of the best bank fishing locations). The majority of our strikes came from shallow areas with heavy tree/ brush cover but, we did manage to score a few fish out in the open as we were crossing to fish the far bank.

DONT FORGET TO GET YOUR FISHING LICENSE!!!!

Some of you might be wondering why you even purchase a license when you haven't gotten checked in the last three years. I have been living in the state for over 10 years and have only been checked three times. However, bass ponds like Pella, Sawhill and Walden are easy places for Division of Wildlife managers to hang out and get there quota. Thirty dollars may seem like a lot of money to pay for a fishing license but, it does go to a good cause and the fine for not having one is about ten times the alternative.

Reports from the Arkansas have been great. Anglers have been seeing caddis hatch sporadically from Canyon City all the way up to the lower reaches of Salida now that water temps have begun to increase. In addition, Baetis are still on the move in both the upper and lower stretches of the river on overcast days.

This weeks weather forecast shows mixed rain and overcast days during the week followed by sunshine and warmer temps on the weekend. Plan to see water temps, clarity, and water level fluctuate as high alpine runoff from rain shower events moves water into the valley. Now is the time to get out on the water! Plan to see fish-ability dissipate as the Arkansas continues to increase in flow.

The most recent report indicates that the best afternoon fishing is in and around the Texas Creek area where Caddis are returning to the water in the afternoon to lay eggs.

Fishing tactics for the Arkansas very this time of year depending on water temps, water levels and clarity. Plan to adjust your tippet sizes with clarity (6x-4x) and dont be afraid to fish longer leaders (10 feet) through the deeper holes. The best fishing is often above or below the main hatch. Think dry dropper/ double dropper rigs with mixed stonefly, caddis pupa and baetis nymphs for the double dropper rig. Fish BWO's on the surface as well as a mix of other alternative patterns when the hatch is on. Often your fly can get lost in the swarm if you are matching the hatch.

Stoneflies: Tungstone%u219s (golden and brown) and 20 Incher%u219s #10-14, BH Prince #10-14, Golden Stone #10, Speculators #8, Guides Choice Hares Ear #12-14.

Baetis: High-Vis Para Adams #18-20, Quill Baetis #18, Loopwing Emerger #20, CDC Baetis #20, CDC Comparadun #20, RS2 #20

CADDIS: Mothers Day Caddis #16-18, Headlight Caddis #14-18, Black Foam Caddis #16, and Elk Hairs #14-18

Our guides have been having a great time fishing the Big Thompson this week. Between occasional baetis and midge hatches and great nymph fishing anglers of all ages and ability levels have been able to get out and have a great day on the water. Stomach samples reveal that fish have been taking baetis nymphs with a narrower thorax. Try fishing Killer Mayflies.