PT Nearing Prime 24Aug14

Greg and I hit the PT after seeing that flows had dropped substantially again to about 380 cfs. Fishing was excellent and we caught many big fish despite visibility still being a challenge. My nymphing rig was consistent on the day and all but the weight delivered rainbows to net... weight fly was a flashy tung head mayfly nymph followed by #20 flashback pheasant tail, #20 rainbow warrior and finally a #22 cool matte black glass head - black/blue/green ice flash wing silver wire midge with peacock colors metal thorax. I didn't see dry fly action and didn't float anything; I was long line nymphing all day. I was near two younger fishermen when my first cast near the diamond right at Valco parking yielded a decent 15" rainbow. Over the next hour I managed to catch nine fish from about the same spot including much bigger fish - the 20-somethings were amazed and moved within five feet of me to hopefully raise their chances, as if that was the issue. "Seems you know what your doing," - "I make some luck." The day included many big fish breaking off my line too unfortunately - while I did catch two ~20" ones, I think bigger tore me off; at least that's what it felt like. Almost every weir and diamond cover headed upstream had something for me with the weirs proving a smidge better. The fish are very strong and fighting always took a while before the tiring and included some long crazy runs for cover. The day was very warm and mid-day fishing slowed as tubers and kayaks took over the river - there were very few fly fishermen but some bait and spin guys - we had plenty of water. We went back out after lunch and did about half as well in the PM but landed big fish none the less... you know it's a good day when you laugh as a 20+ incher jumps out of your hands before the pic (with CO Fish & Game watching) or when a rainbow jumps multiple times 4 feet in the air to shake you or when you need to hold the catch at such an oblique angle to assure it gets in the frame. Here's a small sample. Colorado is so cool.

I need to add that we wrapped the excellent day with a stop at Fieldhouse, a new microbrewery in town, and tried their immature IPA. We dined on chicken Katsu from the Asian food truck. We followed up at Red Leg and enjoyed their IPA and red.

Decent Day @ Chaffe Co Line on Arkansas River 17Aug14

The Arki is still off color considerably. I had to go all the way to the Chaffe Co line for 12" of viz seemingly. All the feeder creeks are still coming in and the daily rains continue to dirty the river. I did fish right at the campground all the way up the near bank and caught nine fish in several hours. I stopped briefly at Rincon for 30 min on the way back and caught another. Only 14" or less this time. I was nymphing the entire time and all the chosen bugs seemed to work to some degree. With the murkiness I went with flash (wait a minute, I always go with flash) and did well with the silver headed rainbow warrior. My pheasant tail-alike weight with red wire wrap worked too as did a couple of pale mayfly emergers (Barr's, WD40). Nothing hit the lead stone/sally. It was great to be back out on the river - plenty of rubber floaters but few fisherman except floater there too. It felt kind of slow despite decent production for me... all the fish were near shore but for one spot; all were kindof skinny too IMO; I pumped one stomache and go nothing - weird. I used the Winston #4 and the smaller fish were fun. It was a great lunch spot overlooking the river. I'm looking forward to even lower flows and greater clarity as we reach into September... and of course I look forward to tossing big hoppers again.

Quick Rain Stop @ 11 Mile 11Aug14

I stopped briefly before the storm and "burning rock syndrome" at 11 Mile. I caught one and headed home.

Once Again Into the Blue River Breach 10Aug14

I was able to hike into the canyon below Green Mtn Rez dam again today. Green drakes and the like were still emerging and I exploited that situation. While the hike remains a challenge and the knee aches, the fish are strong here. It was pretty crowded, but I guess that's a Sunday. I missed several nice fish with break offs or shake offs (one rainbow jumped twice and I still had her but then she did this weird surface wiggling and somehow she shook free) during the afternoon mayfly hatch which seemingly included PMDs, small BWOs and huge green drakes! I was flingin' the big one and a number of fish embarrassed me as mentioned. I caught the football girth 18" rainbow shown below though on my green vinyl flashy mayfly "weight." After fishing 5 hours I headed to the lake for a spin on Mon Ami with a pending storm - I was glad it wasn't like the day prior when a micro-burst blew over 6 boats during a race on Dillon! Still,  I scored a decent sail and sunset over Buffalo Mtn before dining with Kala at Murphy's Pub. Colorado is so cool.

Riding the Lake 09Aug14

Kala and I again circumnavigated Lake Dillon. It was a gorgeous day. Kala was up to her riding togs' brand SheBeast as she topped Swan Mtn in a single push. The Auger ran smooth too and the Wilier was fine after I field fixed the chain that broke on the first mash-down.

First Jaunt Into Jurassic in 2014 08Aug14

I struggled to arrive in Summit Co with heavy traffic into Idaho Spgs (I've learned the escape from I70 on Floyd Hill) and again up to the Eisenhower tunnel. I arrived at the Green Mtn Rez effluent of the Blue River at 2:30pm and fished 3.5 hours. Flows were decent yet high at 450cfs, but the water was gorgeous; the wind was up a smidge. I caught strong rainbows and browns ~16-18in on RS2s, BHGR Hare's Ear and monstrous dry Green Drakes. The drakes were the most fun but also led to several unlanded fish and a number of rejections. I biffed twice taking on water, mostly from poor stability, not flows or risks IMO... grrr. Also, the hiking in, especially the 1st decent, was as treacherous as ever - with new downed trees and steep mtn goat banks... it's worth it; I will be back.

Down But Still "Out" - The PT 01Aug14

I fished the PT for a bit. I thought flows had declined but I must've read the wrong gauge as a CO State Fish & Game guy asked be to be careful with ~1Kcfs flows (I thought it was ~500). He was right, much of my brief fishing was from shore, though I did cross. I caught 2 smallish 'bows and packed it in when the rains came after only 3 hrs. Not good enough yet with flow and clarity weak. Check the weirs!