1st Fishing Outing Of '20 - Late But Strong - Plus Snowpack 11Mar20

March 11th is a very late start to the fishing season for me but I was somehow rewarded. I hit the PT mid-AM on a fabulous 80° day. It was kind of crowded out of the Nature Center so I skipped about half the holes on the way upstream but still managed to catch a number of nice cutbows 19-20". The bug-sign was minimal with a few tiny grey midges. My best performer was a #22 purple Bronx midge but the #22 Money Midge nabbed one out of Valco in the afternoon. The spawn sign was evident but the redds weren't occupied till PM... then there was a frenzy with the biggest boys chasing away the big boys. A nice lady gave up a spot to me from which I landed my first big fish - she was awarded the Bronx midge in gratitude. AM ended with an offer from a well equipped lady fisher to land a big cutbow I had on (the fighting of which led me into her space). I said "thanks - no need" and fairly promptly lost the fish when it shook the hook and I had to attempt landing a snag - oh well. Gr8 start to 2020 fishing.

All of Summit Co drains to the Colorado and most of the south of CO drains to the Arkansas while the northern Front Range drains to the South Platte. These are the river basins we most fish - though the Gunny gets its turn in the fall. The snowpack is currently above average in our most fished CO spots, but for the southwest. Much snow should be yet to fall in Mar & Apr but so far it looks positive for a normal runoff in June.