Fishing The Ark In BHSC ~ Greg Met Me Half Way For Decent Fishing Among CoWWs 08Apr26

BHSC... Greg & I hatched a plan to meet in Big Horn Sheep Canyon (BHSC) for a fishing day on our classic freestone section. BHSC has recovered since the Hayden fire years ago but sports many more rainbows than prior to the fire, when it was almost exclusively a brown trout fishery... both co-exist now (and of course both are exotics as the Ark should hold cutthroats in CO) and that's fine, 'cause humans disrupt ecosystems all the time. We arrived at Pinnacle Rock (thx GL) about 9am and quickly donned our gear and weapons ~ we went to the east end of the section to make a full run. Greg had his custom built rod and I presented with the RF Diamond Blaze 4wt.

I dropped in immediately and GL wandered downstream to his 'special spots' on the Ark. His home water is this fine freestone river. My 3rd cast yielded a small brown on the oil can Perdigon ~ it's kind of a mayfly but more like a FOMO (fear of missing out) fly tossed in faster moving water; it sinks like a demon and is regularly my weight now. Landing the tiny was netless; yeah, I'd forgotten it... trudged back to the car and back downstream.

North Bank Pass @ PRock... I headed across the river to fish the north bank... I prefer it on this stretch as fewer folks dare the cross. It was fine at 250cfs today. I had a good morning with a number of good browns and rainbows behind structure. I didn't even try the mid-stream structure as most of the fish in my experience (IME) are <6' from the bank on the Ark in spring. The Perdigon, a #18 MHFBPT, and a #20 Purple May Reign took the fish this AM. Got some 'bows as expected but thankfully scored mostly browns (flashback). Nobody hit the caddis despite my seeing plenty along the bank timber and rocks and on my clothes as I trodded past. The 'bows were bigger, like 14"-15" and the browns were thinner.

Fine Dining On The Ark... I completely lost my rig 5/6 of my pass at PRock and signed to GL I'll be heading over to the south bank near our cars for lunch. That was directly after scoring a sucker ~ he 'threw' the rig and was tail caught. GL & I communicated. I enjoyed my home built turkey sammy and a Red Leg hazy from an ethereal picnic spot ~ I noted too that mine was one of few tables to have already been deployed this season by CPW. I really like being out in BHSC.

Moving Ahead... We didn't go far upstream but hit a favored curve and river split a mile ahead of PRock. It's not named but we all know it. I often cross and encounter longhorns but left that for the return ~ I fished the left bank up to the split and watched Gregger again head downstream to secret spots. I was warm at heart after a good 7 fish in the AM, and started again with a decent brown soon along the left. Nice. Then I wandered across and through the 3 channels of this section without much take. Yet I settled in coming through the biggest water of the channels and scored another 4 fish for the PM! The fish are not generally large out here, but they are less discriminating and a blast. I was wandering in less trodden parts and came upon a mom goose on her nest, eyeing me intently as I backed away. And yeah, on the return to car, there were huge longhorns pooping in my way.

There's nothing to not like about SoCO on the Ark with a CoWWBoy and plenty of fish. We don't adhere to the "Madison Mantra" of "don't dare tie on a nymph" ~ heck, that's our jam in CO.

Spring On The Front Range ~ Hiking Blodgett And Fishing Cheeseman Canyon 05Apr26-06Apr26

Kala On Blodgett Open Space... Kala & I hiked around in Blodgett Open Space yesterday. We had a great outing on a nice day. It was an initial decent jaunt of '26 for Kala "Some Knees." We were pleased to be out and high above COS. The pines and firs are dropping mad amounts of cones/seeds this spring, as they do in drought conditions, "c'mon cones make more tiny trees, it's tough right now."

DC Fishing Cheesman Canyon... I headed out to Cheeseman solo today; it wasn't for lack of offering the CoWWs, it just happens that way. Cheeseman Canyon is a notoriously technical section of the S Platte river; it's the effluent of Cheeseman Rez, so a tailwater. I arrived 9:15am and was the 20th car at the Gill Trailhead leading into the canyon. More followed me so that's something. It's a strong 2.5mi hike in to the best fishing.

I fished lower in the canyon but did jack till ~2.2mi in where I could target feeding fish in spite of the flows increasing to 120cfs recently. Most productive was where DD first took me in this canyon years ago... ok, his guide took us. I caught several fish but the great cutbow got off at my net, shitty form DC ~ prob 18'-20" cutbow who then took off again 60 yds upstream and wrapped around a huge rock to break off. Else, 'bows and a brown of lesser stature on Barr's emerger & Cheeseman emerger (in the PM) and Awesome midge and JuJu midge in the late AM. OK outing but plenty of fish blew me off when hitting them on the nose... I used a #18 oil can Perdigon as weight and I sensed they saw me coming. Too, my hip flexors are blowing up this year ~ tire and get sore "quickly" ~ rue the day of the "bowling injury" and ER visit.

Any day catching fish on this tricky tailwater is a good day but they should'a been bigger in the pics.

Ripping Pine Valley & S Platte ~ Fun In The Sun With TK 04Apr26

Happy Easter weekend. Matt & I gathered with the folks of C&C to rip through a couple of canyons to the south. We stopped at Fat BBQ for lunch in Lk George. I headed back to COS while others headed to Tarryall then back to Denver. The team was filled with keen cars including a C8 Vette, a Jag, a Supra, a Lambo, a Pony GT, a Camaro, four 911s, a Defender, some Merecs and Beemers, and my Boxster GTS. I was among the lead cars this day so indeed 'let 'er rip' and felt I represented the 'gentlemen' well. We all grabbed rocks in our windshields. No one else had a top down - I just turn up the cabin heat a bit.

Fishin' 11 Mile Canyon With Yoho ~ Decent Catch In The Wind 30Mar26

Jim & I headed to 11 Mile Canyon section of the S Platte to fish the 'Disneyland of the Rockies' despite the forecast for high winds and gusts. We arrived a smidge late at the last bridge at about 11am. It was not as crowded as expected with ~25 cars counted on the way up the canyon. We quickly rigged up the Rodfather Diamond Blaze for Jim, and the True Five for me, with some weight and brownish midges. It was sunny and warm initially but soon became more overcast and cooler, and windy. I began just below the bridge and hooked up but lost the fish while Jim nabbed a 'bow on his second cast below the 3rd weir above the bridge. Nice start but there ultimately was little bug sign today on the low flows and wind in 11 Mile Canyon. I saw one mayfly all day. We both caught fish on midges; I even caught my first brown, a small chunker, this season out here but the 'bite' was not 'on.' We left about 2:45pm but were almost the last to depart. Decent day with a good friend ~ no team pic damnit.

Cat Clyde & Eric Johnson Concert @ eTown Hall ~ A Rip With Wilks Before & An Awesome Show 29Mar26

The Mini-Rip... I headed to Boulder for a Cat Clyde concert today and went up early in the FlyBox to say hi to T&L and give Wilks a taste of Porsches in canyons. He has a motorcycle himself and buzzes the canyons in good weather, so he knew a good route for the time allotted, Left Hand Canyon to Pk2Pk Hwy. We had a blast ripping the tight canyon with confident corners at speed. Sure we hit traffic now and again; some would let us pass, others not. Still it was good seeing and rippin' with my old friend. No pics; I'm a dumbass, but I think Wilks liked the ride.

The Venue & Offer... After dropping Tom back home I was quickly off to find nosh and the show venue, eTown Hall. I grabbed a sammy at Snarfs, found street parking, and hit the queue by 5:45pm, my objective. I was 3rd in line for 6pm doors ~ I didn't expect that! Folks around me said for the GA-VIP tickets I had, even for the great shows, there's no rush at this venue. The hall was 'cute' and is actually a Town Hall for other Boulder events. It holds just 200 people in seats and pews on the sides (remnants from old church). Sound was OK but small ~ I was just slightly askew of center and heard the imbalance. I held 'Gold Circle' tix for +$20 and sat anywhere in the front 3 rows. Being just 3rd in line I sat in the 'center' of the first row along with Carl, #1 in line, and a huge live music fan. I was slightly to the side of the center filming camera position but the operator said he'd stay low the whole time (and did). I've seen eTown vids on YouTube and production is strong. There were many cameras but none in my way... this was a taped event to be streamed later and on YT. Simultaneously it was cast on radio on 100 US channels; eTown is recognized my NPR as a player. I wasn't allowed to take pictures or videos during the show so all I have is before and after.

The Format... I wasn't expecting the staged format with hosts Nick & Helen Forster introducing, interviewing, and collaborating with the artists throughout the show (can't call it a concert really as it is tightly produced by the locals for radio and YT vids). They also featured a local author Hillary Rosner, a prof from CU, an animal person concerned for what humans are doing to them, whom Nick interviewed between Eric's set and Cat's set. While a surprise to me, it was all actually pretty cool ~ we sat in on a clever radio studio music show. I didn't like that I was asked to clap wildly and hoot prior to everything starting (to be used a audience excitement fill), and I was a weak participant there. I don't even like when artists ask me to do shit like wave or clap or sing a line or dance. Don't look for me on YT vids as they just wanted my voice and hands, and you won't get much of that either.

The Performances... Here it shines even brighter. I came to hear Cat Clyde, a rural Canadian sourced spectacular folk & rockabilly singer-songwriter with clever lines and funky chops. But, I was completely pleased with the co-artist playing this night, the 13-album, silver-tounged, IL now LA-based, Grammy noms, obtuse leader of the Fruit Bats (he really is the Fruit Bats), former Shins member, and co-founder of the wonder-star band, Bonny Light Horseman, Eric Johnson. What a lineup! They did not disappoint. Eric opened, and was solo; his playing is strong as is his writing but his voice is other-wordly excellent. I was mesmerized sitting on his capo. I love the Fruit Bats and BLH and live from row 1, this was amazing. Then, full band in tow, full makeup on (kind of odd but I expected nothing really), mostly wailing great tunes from her latest excellent drop 'Mud Blood Bone,' Cat Clyde takes the stage and filled the room with completely engaging vocals and material. Contralto with funky breaks, eclectic vibe, and backcountry playing yet modern aware sentiments in the lyrics... she delivered with a full band. The lead guitar was present on his riffs and good, but the show was all Cat. Thank you both. I only scored Eric's setlist and he didn't sign as I didn't see him at the merch table. I didn't wait for Cat to show at merch and I own all the music already. Cat's setlist was well known by all and needn't have been written down I sense - very professional delivery with little banter. Yet, she was a hoot during interviews and the extra session on covering classic 'Bye Bye Love' where the house band and Cat & Eric all played. Really good show but I'm aware each artist basically only plays 30min on the night... that said, the artists that come to eTown Hall are excellent and nearly all in my wheelhouse. Look for these YT vids when they hit your streams.

The Friends... Worth noting are my wingmen at the show in row #1. The traveling hockey dad to my left had two sleeves of tats and came for Eric. I engaged and he works and spends much of his time and money supporting his kid's hockey dreams on travel teams. Yet he grabs ~20 live concerts/year. To my right was Carl, #1 in line (though just 5 min before me ~ local knowledge). He's a single Boulder guy building spook satellites with Ball Aerospace. He was a fount of info on music and especially concerts... our tastes were very similar and we'd been to many of the same shows but how could we not as he now scores 120 concerts a year!!

Fishin' The PT In A Chill ~ Good Quantity; Modest Bugsign @150cfs 27Mar26

I headed to the Ark tailwaters today despite the precip & cooler temps. It was 40° or so with 150cfs flows steady. I started at ~11am and caught 2-3 fish an hour at Nature Center before heading to Valco Ponds in the St Pk for the mid-afternoon pass. There wasn't much bug sign but for a small mayfly hatch in the PM; the spinner fall brought smaller fish to sip. On the NC section in the AM I caught fish on the oil can Perdigon and flashy midge emergers. In the PM, mercury midges and mayflies (especially Destiny's Child) drew attention. Solid 18'ers but no >20" fish today... mostly ladies. The bite was not 'on' this day but it was fun with fewer fisherman out due to the uncomfortable weather... that's all relative though; my hands were cold but it's often much colder in March in CO... the warm winter lures one in. I used the Rodfather True Five today and it laid the longline nymph rig out there 90ft easily.

Springtime Summit Stuff ~ IoT, Movies, Old Folks' Event, On The Blue: New Cutthroats, Pizza, & Spring Corn 23Mar26-26Mar26

Kala & I are up in Summit checking the Nest, attending events, and doing some sporting stuff. I first observed the lack of snow, weird year for sure. Then I added a temp sensor to the new boiler when it went over pressure and we didn't have hot water or heating on arrival. Zooz sensor was integrated with alerts on my SmartThings.

We saw Mercy on the NestMT, decent SciFi actually ~ cautionary tale regarding AI.

We went to a Longevity Project panel guided by the Summit Daily editor. It was packed but we got good seats and chatchkis and met some cool people and panelists. It's a good reminder that aging is Summit is really only for the healthy ~ there are precious few services here for the elderly.

I fished the Blue in town on Wed and caught a number of 14" cutthroats (must've been a stocking session) on the red/black PopTop emerger midge in low afternoon flows, but gorgeous weather. I used the Rodfather True Five today but sure didn't need it for landing. Where are all the big cutbows? It was kindof crowded and while I stopped at the "cop hole," it was occupied so I just left.

Closing the day was a nice stop 'out' at our fav pizza spot, Last Chance, and their taphouse spot, Cove & Craft, in Keystone.

Of course I closed the stop in the Rockies with a ski day at Keystone. So barren, so warm, likely so long for this year as closing day is Apr 5th.