Love/Hate relationship with the Dream Stream

I was hoping to get back on the water the next day on a guide trip.  Things fell through as the clients never answered their phone to schedule this thing.  Hmmm.  I was then hoping that I could go up there today, Sunday on another trip, but it didn't happen either.  I get one day of fun for myself and any other day, I  have to be making money.

Since I won't get there this weekend, I can spill what I saw up there this weekend.  It's not like there are any  secrets about that river.  I would estimate it sees a couple hundred anglers on any given summer weekend.  Of those, maybe 50% can figure out what is going on.
 Tricos are there and the fish are eating them.  Not many fish are eating on top, most of the fish are eating below the surface on the drowned duns and any drowned spinners.  Along with that, you have some caddis coming off along with some egg layers on the water.
We started off with nymphs and soon heard some big splashes from big fish eating something off the surface.  "That doesn't sound like a fish sipping duns or spinners".   I took 2 rods with me just in case I needed a dry when I had a nymph rig on.  For me, the nymph rod was in my hands the most as I targeted the deeper water.  My first choice was a San Juan Worm followed by a #20 Black Sparkle Wing RS2.  That was a good choice as the RS2 imitated a drowned trico.  Most of the fish were lake fish as some of them were just as wide as they were long.  The thing I love about the Dream Stream is that the fish are freight trains.  When they decide that they want to go, there is nothing that will stop them.  You can only hop that your knots hold.

Juan's PMD Ice Emerger

Throughout the day, the fish ate tricos, caddis and PMDs.  Flies of choice were a #16 Caddis, #20 Black Sparkle Wing RS2, #18 PMD Ice Emerger, Olive PT Nymph and San Juan worms.  Another good fly is a Spent Wing Trico Spinner.  Kent was trailing this behind the caddis and did well with this pattern.

A lot of us have a love/hate relationship with the Dream Stream.  Some days it can be so good, and others it is stingy.  This day was one of the better days I have had on any river recently.  It was fun. It reminded me of why I love fishing and why I still have that burning desire to get out there.  The mosquitos were horrible though.  As I write this, I have to stop and scratch my hands.  I forgot my bug spray and I paid for it.  If you go, make sure to have the bug spray and maybe a net.  It helps landing those big, solid 18" fish that you can't get your hands around.  Believe me,  I tried and wish I hadn't forgot my net in the car.

18.5 ".  They feel a lot bigger.  Still, it's not a bad fish.

Kent's big bruiser brown on a caddis.  

Got Caddis Larvas?

So a buddy of mine posted a picture here, and asked the question, "What would you tie on"?
With day 3 of fishing, I headed to "The Dream Stream" to check out what was going on.  Caddis larva was going on.  About 30 minutes into being on the water, the flows appeared to be going up.  There was a lot of junk coming down the river.  It came up about 50 CFS, not a big jump, but enough to throw things off.  The first fish came about 10 minutes into the day and guess what it ate?  A caddis larva.  The 2nd came about 15 minutes later and he also ate a green caddis larva.  It was a thick 20" Cuttbow.  After the water came up, the fishing went off for about an hour and a half or so and then it picked up a bit.  With all the junk and off colored water, I went to a pink SJ worm and it got things started again.  A few fish later I was  working a good stretch of water when it happened.  It always happens.  I was high-holed.  About 6 guys came and jumped in front of me.  I sometimes hate fishing in Front Range accessible waters.  But, like a New Yorker complaining about riding the subway or the congestion, we move on.  Soon the notorious South Park winds came howling down the valley and I had enough.   So if you want some action, whip up a few cream and green caddis larvas and go have some fun.  Flow was 168 and went up to 210.

 Green and Cream!

 You can match them with these two flies.  

 More larva.

There is still a lot of snow up there to melt.