Pretty Little Things

Let's just spend a minute thinking about a few things.  In southern Colorado, we are about two weeks away from some of the first Blue Winged Olive hatches on the Arkansas River. They generally start around St. Patrick's Day--maybe a week after--depending on the weather and water.  On some of our local tailwaters like Deckers and Cheeseman sections, the BWOs are not far off either.  Fish are rising to midges pretty good right now and that will continue with the BWOs.  On the Arkansas, BWOs will continue to hatch when the caddis show up around April 15th or so in the Canon City Area.  When the water comes down the hill around May 15th, we can hit the area reservoirs for some chironomid eating fatties.  Before we know it, we will be well into the early summer fishing and the best is yet to come.  So hang in there just a bit longer and those bugs will start popping and we will once again be standing in our favorite water, casting our favorite rod and hoping the day doesn't end too quickly.

Not enough fishing.

Well, I would love to report to all the followers out there that I have been so busy fishing, out traveling the roads, in search of that perfect hatch, that one big brown that showed himself right beside the over hanging grass eating PMD emergers, but no, that has not been the case. Fishing has taken a backseat to the more important things in life such as school shopping, family life, and grocery shopping. In between everything that should get done, I have been tying like crazy to keep up with demand for my flies. I have sent flies to Pennsylvania, and Denver with more to go out soon. It's amazing to think of how many fish have been caught on flies that I have tied. Some of my flies are carried in Ghillies Fly Shop and they have started to get in demand. I can hardly keep up with what is needed and not to mention of flies like BWOs that are needed in the Fall. I like to stay at least one step ahead, but right now, I am two steps behind! My own fly boxes needed a little attention a few weeks ago , so I sat down and tied for myself. That was nice to see all those empty slots filled up with new flies that I could catch fish on.

I was able to get out this past Friday to Cheeseman Canyon. It's a beautiful canyon filled with lots of fish. I caught a 19 1/2" Rainbow on a dry that I almost spooked. What an awesome sight it was to see him sllooowwlllyyy rise to the fly.

I was able to get into a good many fish that day using my BH Glossy Back Baetis. I will try to put up a tutorial of that fly soon. As soon as I can get one step ahead.