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.

The Denver Fly Fishing Show, 2013

It has come and gone, but man was it fun! The 2013 FFS was great as usual and it was awesome to meet up with old friends and to meet some new friends.  Many of you stopped by to thank me and to tell me that they enjoyed this blog.  That really means a lot to me and energizes me with more ideas and more passion.  Bringing you great content is something I strive for.  Thank you to all the readers out there for supporting me over the years.  

It seems like the tiers this year were more than usual and that was great.  The usual Denver area guys were there cranking out some of the world's best fly patterns and some really innovative patterns.  I think this area has the greatest concentration of great tiers than anywhere else.  Let me know if you agree.  There were a few highlights to the show.  One has to be seeing Howard from Windknots and Tangled Lines Blog.  With what has come to be a yearly tradition, he stopped by to talk and show me his Fiberglass Manifesto shirt. This year as we were chatting, Mike Broward showed up repping the FM shirts.  How do these guys find each other?  

Keeping it real

MFC Tier, Casey Duncan

The powerful Shea Gunkel

I was also able to meet Josh Udesen, an artist and areally cool guy.  His art work graces the water bottles and fly boxes of Montana Fly Company.  Check out his work Here.  We were trying to work out a barter involving some orginal artwork and a fly box, but since he has more shows scheduled in the coming weeks, we will hold off.  The photo above has him thinking really good and hard about the deal.  

Dave Whitlock

Capt. Bill and Molly with Royal Gorge Anglers.  

Many of you may know who April Vokey is. If not, I ask you if you really are a fly fishing fool or not?  April is one of the hottest (literally) names on the scene these days.  She is a B.C. based Steelhead guide that is taking the world by storm.  While she is not your typically looking guide, she is the real deal and a hoot to be around too.  My buddy Jake Ruthvan from Fins On The Fly blog was lucky enough to spend some time with her and I even think she has a crush on him.  What a problem to have right?  April will be joining the Montana Fly CO. design team this year, so you will see her patterns coming out soon also.  

Another highlight of the show was getting to meet Phil Rowley, a long time fly tier from Canada.  Phil is one of the most recognized stillwater tiers. When the FFS first came to Denver in 2001, I made the trip up from New Mexico and Phil's book was the only thing I bought.  I used that book to learn patterns to fish on the lakes of Northeastern NM and when I met Phil, he mentioned that he loved this blog and followed it regularly.  That was such an awesome compliment.  We hit it off and he is just an awesome guy to be around.  I am sure we will be lifelong pals.  I had him sign that book and it feels like this show has come a complete circle.  I bought a book and followed this guy's instruction for tying and now he is watching me tie flies.  Wow!  Phil, I appreciate your friendship and thank you for all the inspiration and instruction over the years.  

With that, I will unload all my crap and tie some more flies.  What else would I do?

Juan's Hollywood Hopper

A new hopper pattern for you for you to start tying to be ready in August.  This pattern is a lower riding, more realistic pattern than the Hopper Juan.  While it may look complicated, after trying it a few times, it all comes together.  The hardest part is getting all the materials together.  A recent change has me using a Chernobyl taper cutter to get a more precise body cut, otherwise everything else is the same.
Pull out the foam and Super 77, order some eyes and legs and get started.

Hopper/Dropper Fishing

Working the BWO hatch on the Dream Stream after a late summer storm.  

You got 'em ?

How do I like to fish the Hopper Juan? 

I often start fishing the hopper in early spring. I know that there are no hoppers out in February, but that is not what I am expecting. On the Arkansas River, above Canon City, CO, the water is low and clear in early spring. In late February, the BWO nymphs are numerous and are just starting to become a more important food source for the fish. After eating mostly midges during the winter, the sight of drifting baetis nymphs must be a sight. I still like to use a nymph rig for the deep dredging of stoneflies and midge larva, but as soon as there is a temperature rise and fish become more active, I like to fish with a dry/dropper. The fish may move up to feed on drifting BWO nymphs in the riffles and adding a heavy dropper such as a Copper John or a stonefly nymph followed by a Randy’s Baetis or a 719 Baetis nymph may just be the ticket. I can fish closer and have more control over my flies than a nymph rig. Also, fish may be nosed up in warmer, more shallow water, picking off a few bugs in about 6” of water. By putting a dry/dropper rig over those fish, you have less of a chance of spooking them. I would rather use a smaller caddis or mayfly dry at that point, but if you are already rigged up and only have one rod with you, then chances are you don’t want to change out and chances are that you might get that fish to eat one of your bugs. As early spring moves into late spring and early summer, I can still use the same rig to target fish eating BWOs and caddis nymphs. Over the last few years, I have hit more days where the fish were keyed into the BWO emergence and not the duns. This is usually due to the fact that the bugs are out and so is the sun. 

The fish can eat right below the surface without having to expose themselves up higher in the water column. As the fish move into the upper third of the water column, you can see them feeding on nymphs and emergers, but they are too high to use a nymph rig and too deep to use a small dry like a Parachute Adams with a dropper that will not get down deep enough to them. This is where I like a hopper on top followed by a tungsten dropper like a Glossy Back or a 2 Bit Hooker to get down in front of their faces. I then follow that with a more impressionistic pattern like an RS2 or a Foam Back Emerger. This set up works great and adjustments can be made by the length of your dropper tippet. 

In the early summer, when runoff has the flows higher, there is a time and place for the same set up. When the South Platte is running higher than normal, a lot of those fish retreat to the banks where they can still eat with out having to exert too much energy. This means the pocket water that has been created by the higher flows and close to the banks. Again, a hopper pattern followed by a heavy stonefly or heavy mayfly pattern thrown up against the bank where a 6”wide holding slot holds a fish can mean the difference between a couple fish and a couple of good fish. I know a spot near Deckers that has always held a nice fish, up against a rock, where only a rig such as this one has been able to get the fish to eat. The fly needs to get in front of their face in order for them to eat. If they don’t see the dropper, they won’t eat it. As the water starts to drop, the fish settle down into a more normal summer routine. On the S. Platte, flows can move up and down like the stock market. Fish move according to these ups and downs. When flows are more stable, fish are more stable. I like to fish those spots that most people miss because they are fishing a nymph rig. Those slots behind small rocks are everywhere in the summer and the fish are in there. The beautiful seams become more defined and knee-deep water is everywhere. 

 I can target those fish with the dropper, again making sure it is heavy enough to drop in front of the fish and matches something they are eating. I love those slots about 6” wide and knee deep. I have pulled some really nice fish out of those places when a nymph rig would have been too much. A dry/dropper rig is more precise and I have more control over it in those situations than a nymph rig. Also, how many times have you seen a fish feeding in the hydraulic cushion in front of a rock? The one time I tried to use a nymph rig, I ended up having the flies go one way around the rock and the indicator going the other way. After breaking off the rig, losing everything and scaring off the fish, I decided never to try that again. 


By late summer and early fall, I have already targeted the BWOs, Caddis, Stoneflies and PMDs with this set up. The Hopper Juan was designed as a hopper and while it is not the answer for everything and doesn’t exactly look like a hopper, it makes a fine imitation. As many of you know, here in Colorado and more specifically, the S. Platte, it’s not known as a huge hopper river. Sure they are around and fish eat them, but it’s not like fishing in a Montana meadow stream. I didn’t specifically design this pattern for a particular stretch of water. I designed it to work as more of a problem solver pattern. Those situations I mentioned above led me to find a pattern that floated well and caught fish and held up well after a few fish. While I do love plopping this pattern on the water and hoping for a fish to smash it, generally that is not the case. I enjoy watching it float along perfectly on the waters surface, only to be jerked down by a fish eating the offering below the surface. Either way, as long as there is some action and fish are landed and released, everything in my world is right. The really good days are when you only fish the hopper and a dropper is not needed. This sometimes happens earlier in the season when fish are keyed into the Golden Stoneflies. 






Again, more often than not, they like to eat the bug below rather than bug on the surface. As fall gives way to colder water and lower flows, this set up again proves its worth by being able to hit the nooks and crannies where fish are feeding. Usually at this time, fish are on the feed before spawning and winter. Big nasty streamers are great fun during this time and are effective. By late fall, the hopper/dropper set up is replaced by the standard nymph rig for fishing the deeper water where the fish are waiting for the baetis nymphs begin to start drifting and the cycle begins again. While I prefer to use a Hopper Juan for this style of fishing, please don’t think that this is the only way to fish it. I generally use a size 8 to hold up most of my droppers. When I tie the flies, I always finish it with a good waterproofing material such as Water Shed. I cannot stress how important I think this is. While foam floats great, once you put everything together; foam, elk hair, wing material, thread and a water absorbent antron wing, it tends to take on water and sink. By adding a waterproofing agent, along with some floatant, it will repel water and keep on floating for a long time. Without a good waterproofing, it tends to sink in rough water or if you have too much weight off the back end of it. Again, you can use any fly you like to use in this system. I often use an Amy’s Ant, a Chubby Chernobyl, a Club Sandwich or a Fat Albert in place of the Hopper Juan. When fishing in smaller streams, I often downsize my offerings. A size 10 or 12 works better and is better suited for the smaller fish. I also like to use a Juanna Be Hopper Juan, which will hold up a small tungsten dropper and allows the small Cutts and Brookies to get it in their mouth. Whatever fly patterns you choose to use and what ever style of fishing you choose to do, just remember to have fun. It’s the reason why we tie and why we spend time standing in a river waving a stick.

A good day at work.  Durability is a must!

The Mini -or Juanna Be Hopper Juan

I like me some Chubby too!

Need hoppers?

If you guys are looking for the Hopper Juan fly, there are many places you can get a hold of them. You can find them in several of the Denver and Colorado Springs area fly shops or you can order them through Dream Drift Flies. The link to Dream Drift Flies is to the right on the side bar. Look for the "Buy Hopper Juan Flies" button and it will take you right to my page of flies. As for the shops, Anglers Covey in Colorado Springs has them in stock, Anglers All, Discount Fishing Tackle, Trout's Fly Shop, & The Denver Fly Shop in Denver all carry the Hopper Juan. So if you need some, give them a call or stop by and pick some up.

The Hopper Juan is available in size 8-12.

Chubby Chernobyl and friends.

It's that time to start throwing Hopper/Dropper rigs.  Not like I haven't for the last 6 months, but now is the time.  To start it off, I completed a new Video on the Chubby Chernobyl, a fly you will certainly hear more of this summer.  It's taken off recently and I wanted to put it out there for you.  Also, I will put up the Hopper Juan and the Amy's Ant.  With these 3 flies, there is no reason why you shouldn't have an epic summer!  Enjoy.

The Juanna Be

As a follow up to the Royal Gorgeous, here is the Juanna Be Hopper Juan.  The little brother of the HJ, it's designed for the smaller streams and smaller fish that live in them.  It still has a good amount of foam and float-ability so it can hang with the big boys, or maybe I should say that it can hold up some big boys!  Throw on a Royal Gorgeous and fish some of the smaller pockets and seams and see what happens.  You might be surprised!


Tying the Juanna Be Hopper Juan from Juan Ramirez on Vimeo.
This is the little brother to the full grown Hopper Juan.  It is designed for early and later in summer when fish have seen all the big hoppers that all the companies tie and sell.  It pretty easy to tie, give it a try.

Arkansas River 04/08/11

Arkansas River, CO

I was finally able to get out yesterday, the first time this year.  I used to be able to get out more, but right now my free days are filled with laundry, grocery shopping trips,  kids and fly tying demos.  My time on the river has been replaced with the time behind the vice.
I hit the Arkansas River with a couple of friends and it was pretty good.  The fish were eager to eat and there were even some BWOs coming off despite clear skies.  The wind wasn't as bad as I thought it would be although it was blowing all day.  The set up was a Hopper Juan on top, followed by a #14 Golden Stone and a #16 Royal Gorgeous Caddis (RGC).  The RGC was the early favorite with many fish eating it.  In a different stretch of water, the Golden Stone was the favorite.  As the day went on, I switched to an Ice Emerger as the last fly.  A few fish came on it, but the caddis was still the preferred fly, although my friends had success with a Barr Emerger.

The Three Amigos

The set up I used worked great on the water I was fishing.  I was usually running through knee deep water and both my bottom flies had tungsten beads to get deep.  I think this is the best way to fish the Arkansas River or any fast pocket water stream.  It's a lot of fun and I thought of switching to dries or a bugger yesterday, but they way I was fishing was producing so why not stay with it.  As summer rolls around, I hope to be able to provide more fish pictures and stories.  Today will be laundry day and grocery shopping day mixed in with some fly tying.  I am already planning the next trip!

A typical brown trout from the Ark. 

The Golden Stonefly

My Royal Gorgeous Caddis #16

#22 BWO Ice Emeger

I didn't tie this one. 

Closer.

Closest.

The Hopper Juan is a bit bigger and could take this dude.

My buddy Kent, wondering how to wind the reel when the reel is set up wrong! 

The Fly Fishing Show

January 7, 8 & 9, 2011
Denver,  Colorado

Stop by at the upcoming Fly Fishing Show and visit with me. I'd like to meet and talk to as many of you as I can.  I'll share as much as possible with you and give you a new sicker that I have.  I will also have 5 dozen Hopper Juans for sale as well as the materials kits so you can tie them yourself.  The kits are $5.00 for enough materials to tie 6 Hoppers and the Hoppers are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00.  I hope to see you soon.

2010 Fly Fishing Show