BWO Time!!

After spending some time on the water the last few weeks, now is the time to get moving and make sure you have those patterns you rely on.  Right now, it's BWO time.  You have to make sure you have the lifecycle of this bug, from nymph to emerge to dun.  I've had a couple days with fish looking and feeding on duns on the Arkansas River.  They were also feeding well on nymphs and emergers too, so don't ignore that stage of the lifecycle.  I've attached a video of the CDC Sparkle Dun.  It's a go to pattern for me on top and it's an easy fly to tie.  I used a TMC 2488 hook on this video, but you can certainly use a standard TMC 100 or 101 hook.  Get out and have fun!
CDC Sparkle Dun from Juan Ramirez-Hopper Juan on Vimeo.

Make the Best of It.

When I thought about fishing the Ark today, I imaged a dark, cloudy day, occasionally spitting snow and about 1:00 or so the BWOs would come off and the fish would rise to them in the clear, low water.  Well  today was not quite what I had imaged.  After a few days of warm weather, some of the lower elevation snow was melting and made it's way to the river.  While it was slowly dropping and clearing, it definitely  was not how I had hoped it would be.  The day started clear and cold.  The wind was blowing as it always does this time of year.  The water was higher and off color and the fishing was a bit harder than usual.   After about an hour of fishing I had a terrible thought.  Could a skunk be coming?  I haven't been skunked since leaving the Rio Grande in New Mexico where on any given day it could happen, but on the Arkansas?  Really? I realized this is possible but not for me.  I have invested way too much time in this passion and since this was not the Rio Grande, I didn't have to worry.  The fish would come.  Soon the first fish and second fish were found in a usual spot and on a usual fly, the cream caddis larva.  With the weather hot and cold, snow and bright sunshine, the fishing was still slow.   I kept telling myself to throw on a woolly bugger, as I love to fish them in this type of water and in these conditions.  When I did, it was pretty intense.  Follows right to the rod tip and then they were gone.  I knew I would see lots of fish this way and also assumed I could hook up with 1 out of 4 or 5 follows and I did.  The rest of the day was spent this way all the while I was waiting for the BWOs to start emerging.  I saw about a handful and that was it.  The sun would come out after a few minutes and the bugs would disappear along with the clouds.  I didn't see a single rise all day long and after a good day on the water and some testing of new patterns, I called it a day and headed home.  Some days, no matter how bad, are just plain better than sitting in front of a computer at work.    

Love the old cars in the canyon.  Do they ever move them?

First fish on the bugger.

Lots of these in the water.  

Pretty little things.  

Although I see these the most, I still throw a cream colored one and they eat it.  Hmm, I wonder if they would eat an olive one????

About a size 14

There were only a few of these out today.  I didn't see a single rise today.  

Caddis are out, but not many.

Testing out a new hopper pattern.  It floated well but it needs to be tweaked a bit before summer.

This is a cool pattern that I want to use more on this river.  It's a Jeremy's Arizona Prince.

I eventually hooked up with a few of these.

 Currently my favorite fly on the Ark. My cream caddis larva.

Barr Emerger using Flouro Fibre

Here is a simple modification to a great fly that will increase tying efficiency and will not change the fly's effectiveness. Plus, with this one change, it is still a Barr Emerger.

Barr Emerger
Hook: Dia-Riki 125 #18-24
Thread: Uni 8/0, Iron Gray
Tail: Brown hackle fibers. (use only about 6-8 fibers)
Body: Olive Brown Superfine Dubbing
Thorax: Adams Gray Superfine
Wingcase: Spirit River Gray Floure Fiber

Arkansas River 04/26/09

While the caddis are out and about, it's the BWO that still rules the water. Caddis have been heavier in the Canon City area and near Parkdale with water temperatures a bit higher. With the cooler weather comes the cooler water temps and that puts a halt on the major caddis hatch. I was in the Texas Creek area this weekend and found some caddis out, but the bigger fish came out after the BWOs that hatched late in the day. All it takes is a bit of cloud cover to get the little bugs out and the noses poking out for them. The fish are taking advantage of all the caddis larva and pupa in the water, so there are certainly opportunities to fish caddis all day long and have a good time. I didn't fish a caddis dry, although it was tempting. Most fish caught were on a Hot Wired Prince nymph in Chartreuse/olive color and a Tungsten BH Glossy Back Baetis nymph fished deep. I also had a few fish go after my Hopper Juan that held these flies up. Late in the day, I saw noses poking up to eat duns, I switched to a parachute. It was hard to see at first, so I switched to a Barr's Viz-A-Dun and that worked better.
I will be on the Arkansas again this Saturday helping a friend with his annual fly-fishing camp. Check here for more info. http://www.columbineflyfishers.com/id11.htmlers.com/id11.html. I would highly recommend this for beginner to intermediate fly fishers.
Until next time.


The Sangres and Arkansas River.


The Arkansas River Box. Lots of beads and lead.


Tungsten Hot Wired Prince. One of my favorites on this river.



My Ice Emerger worked well during the hatch. Fish were on emergers big time.


Nice size rainbow for the Ark. Solid fish about 14".


The D-rib Caddis Larva.


Pointing South.