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.