Sunday, August 05, 2007

Fishing Colorado: High Alpline Creeks


trout texture. photo: jp, 2007
Another trout image by request!
jp has got these down. check them out here.


Creek Fishing. photo: jp, 2007
I am fishing the small, deep pool across the creek with a mosquito size #22. The fish are hitting the fly (like a semi I might add) as it swirls to the left of the center rock and enters the smooth water. You can see the different textures at the threshold.

How I present the best dead mosquito;

With less than 10 feet of line out, I float the dry fly down stream from just below the white water at the inlet. The fly has a bumpy ride as it leaves the chop, keeping the rod tip pointed up helps the fly keep a natural flow as it slides and whirls towards the pool. You don’t want extra float line in the faster moving water pulling the fly across the current, so be sure to take in any extra line as the fly approaches the darker water. The fly will float out of the creek current and slowly drift up river as it enters the depths (where the lurkers dwell). Be ready, watch for the flash!
Use a "flip" cast to reset fly.


Beaver ponds. photo: jp, 2007

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Brook trout. photo: jp, 2007

Human - Mosquito - Trout

Today’s itinerary:
Leave home at 6:00am.
Get to trail head by 8:00am
Start walking at 8:15am
Reach target waters by 10:00am
Bushwhack and fish creeks till 1:30pm
Reach target lake by 2:00pm
Fish lake till 4:30pm
Start walkout by 5:15pm
Reach car by 7:00pm
Home by 9:00pm

Some totals on the day:
Miles hiked: 11
Fish caught and released: 20+
Trout variations: 4 (Brook, Borwn, Greenback Cutthroat, Rainbow)
Flies destroyed or lost: 5 (1 ant, 3 mosquitoes, 1 wooly bugger)
Litters of water consumed: 3
Odd looks as JP and I walk out of the trees on to the trail: 3 (and 1comment)*

* In amazement and with a little attitude one guy made a comment about me not having any hiking boots on in the mountain terrain, I was wearing my Chaco sandals, and he looked like something out of a REI catalog.

To which I replied, “My feet are grizzle.”

7 comments:

  1. Cool! Sounds awesome. I fished two creeks in the Warner Mountains of Northern California today - Deep Creek and Lake City Canyon - both near Cedarville. Anyway, keep posting. I'm glad I found your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  2. buoyant cat,
    Nice, I have heard great things about the fishing and terrain in northern California. The Sierra Nevada north through the Lassen group looks amazing on maps.
    What kinds of fish are in that area? What are you using for flies?

    Thanks for reading.
    Alex

    ReplyDelete
  3. I loved the story about the "REI Man" commenting on your choice of foot wear. I laughed out loud on that one. Also enjoyed the pictures and the descriptions. Okay...better start getting that rod out and practicing while I'm out here on vacation because you guys sound like you are having a blast!

    ReplyDelete
  4. FKNA FKNA FKNA FKNA
    killed it! 30+ fish each, good thing we re-instated the 5 fish per hole rule or we would still be on the water. post the pic of that insanely beautiful outlet brookie

    ReplyDelete
  5. There were a few nice brookies pull out of the outlet for sure. This fish was not the biggest of the day but the image might be. If you look closely you can make out the "slim layer" on the fishes head.

    ReplyDelete
  6. holycrapsicle... that looks $$

    ReplyDelete
  7. Alex,
    I fish the Sierra Nevadas a lot too. This area has great fisheries and beautiful terrain. I have yet to make it to Colorado though... Anyway, I have been fooling most fish with attractor flies in the Warner Mountains - power ant, humpy, yellow stimulator, hoppers...

    ReplyDelete