A Tale of Pre-Runoff Fishing

May 16, 2019

Recent client with a pre-runoff gem.

Pre-runoff fishing has made its way into the North Platte Valley this year and despite what one might hope, it’s not always as glorious as you might see on Facebook and Instagram. Below is a realistic tale of two friends who made their way up to North Park for the weekend to try and get their own taste of pre-runoff fishing.

Kevin and Nicole had been fishing crowded tail waters all season. Small bugs, smaller tippet, big crowds and early mornings. They had heard about North Park from a friend, and were immediately intrigued. They started following the local fly shop, North Park Anglers, on Facebook and Instagram, patiently waiting for the lakes and rivers to open up and get the go ahead on pre-runoff fishing. Once they saw that the word was out and pre-runoff fishing was on, they started planning their weekend getaway. They drove up on Friday afternoon and got into town around 5 p.m., deciding to stop by the fly shop and grab a burger in town before heading out to the lake to set up camp. At the shop they chatted with the staff, bought some recent ticket flies and made a plan for the following morning. They were informed that water temps were still pretty cold in the morning, so there was no reason to be on the water at 6 a.m..    

“Sweet, that means we can actually eat breakfast in the morning and not run on four hours of sleep,” Kevin exclaimed, having spent the weekends of the last six months skipping the most important meal of the day. Kevin and Nicole left the fly shop, grabbed a burger at the local bowling alley (yes, the bowling alley) and headed to set up camp.

Saturday morning, Kevin and Nicole got up well-rested around 7, made some camp-stove omelettes and headed to the river around 8:30. It was a bright and beautiful day with a forecasted high of 65 degrees. They threw black and purple colored streamers and covered lots of water, but despite their efforts they ended up with only two fish apiece, nothing larger than 13 inches. Right before they left, Nicole suggested that they check the water temperature…45 degrees…brr. They headed back into town to give the fly shop staff a report and grab another burger. When they headed back out around 3 p.m., the once full and semi off-color river was now a scene from Willy Wonka…a raging chocolate river. They decided to head back to camp and spend the evening fishing the lake.

NPA staff member, Taylor, with a recent pre-runoff, meadow stream brown.

Temps dropped drastically overnight and the two woke up in frosted tents Sunday morning. Bundling up in their coats and hats, they made more omelettes for breakfast and headed to the river around 8:30 again. When they got there, Nicole immediately checked the water temperature…40 degrees. Not optimal feeding temperature for trout, but the cold weather had dropped the flows and cleared up the water back to good condition. This time instead of tying on streamers, they remembered the advice they got from the fly shop and set up nymph rigs with pink san-juan worms, and various smaller, size #14/#16/#18 bugs. Within the first two hours they had caught four fish apiece, but around noon they noticed the water started getting a little more off color. They decided to hit a few more holes and then call it day so they could get headed home in a timely manner. On the very last hole, Nicole’s indicator quickly disappeared under the water and she set the hook. After a few minutes of fighting and an expert-level net job by Kevin, Nicole had managed to pull out an 18 inch brown like the ones she had been dreaming about. Satisfied with the day, they packed up camp, shared pictures with the staff at the fly shop and headed home with smiles on their faces. 

The story of Nicole and Kevin’s weekend trip in search of pre-runoff fishing is one that we hear and experience all the time in the shop. Despite what Instagram’s highlight reel may portray, pre-runoff fishing is not always glorious giant fish one after the other. However, time on the water, a positive attitude, and changing things up can often reap great rewards.

Written by: Taylor Martin

Boatman Season

The ice has finally come off the Delaney Buttes, which means some monster fish coming in shallow to eat! There’s several food items on the menu this time of year such as leeches, chironimids, crayfish, and baitfish, but one fly that a lot of people overlook is the water boatman. Boatman are a small oval shaped insect about ¼ to ½ inch long, and have a pair of prominent legs towards the front of their body. They also have a pair of wings on their back, and they usually fly at night and travel to different bodies of water. To breathe, they swim to the surface and grab a small bubble of air, and keep it on their back creating a shiny appearance. They usually have a mottled olive, brown, or black back with a lighter colored underside.

In terms of fishing boatman flies, there’s several ways to fish them. Stripping a leech with a boatman behind it is one of my go to techniques. Fishing with short erratic strips imitates the boatman swimming its way along, and can trigger some vicious strikes! Stripping a single boatman on an intermediate line with the same retrieve is another great way to present these flies. Fishing under an indicator with a boatman is a great way to catch some fish as well. This works especially well when fish start going deep in the late spring, and can be hard to reach by stripping. Certain times of the year, especially around ice off and in the fall, fish key into boatman in a major way. There’s times when fishing them could make or break the day, so make sure to have some in your box!

Written by: Rob Stout

Prepping for a New Season

Excitement: the feeling you get when you step outside your office at the end of the day and still need to wear sunglasses for the drive home (thanks daylight savings). The sun is still shining at 5 P.M. these days, which means spring fishing is right around the corner and summer hatches are following not far behind. If 7x tippet and frost-bitten fingertips are not your cup of tea during the winter, and you’ve been opting to tear up the slopes or get good use out of your favorite recliner (hey, we don’t judge), it may be time to pull out your fishing gear and get prepared for the upcoming season. Here are some of our tips to get yourself and your gear ready for slingin’ bugs at fish in the upcoming months:

Rods, Reels and Fly Lines

Now is a great time to inspect, clean and if needed, replace your gear before you get out on the water. There’s nothing worse than hooking up and losing a big brown because you didn’t notice the crack in your fly line from last season.

            – Inspect your fly line: If you notice any cracks or wear and tear in your line, it may be time to replace it. If you don’t know how or don’t want to unspool and re-spool your line, take it into your local fly shop and ask them to do it for you. If you are unsure of which kind of line to buy, take a look at our blog about the different kinds of trout fishing fly lines (http://northparkanglers.com/choosing-fly-line/) and see your local fly shop for more tailored information for your needs.

            – Clean your fly line: If your fly line doesn’t need to be replaced, it probably needs to be cleaned. Cleaning your fly line helps restore the color, makes it more buoyant (if you have a floating line) and helps keep it casting and performing smoothly. Cleaning your fly line is a simple task and can be done at home. Simply peel your line off the reel into a sink of soapy water and gently massage it around, specifically focusing on the first 30-40 feet of your line as that is often the most used/dirty part. Rinse your line with clean/fresh water and use a towel to dry it off as you reel it back up.

            – Clean and lubricate your reel: Remove the spool and gently clean off any dirt, sand, mud, or any other grime that may have accumulated during the past season. Once your reel is clean, add some lubricant to the drag system and make sure it is functioning properly. If you don’t feel comfortable doing this on your own, most reel companies offer to service your reel for a small fee, or take it into your local fly shop and ask them to help you.

            – Inspect fly rods: There’s not much you need to do when it comes to servicing your fly rods. Check to make sure your reel seat is clean and secure (you can use a toothbrush to help clean any dirt or accumulated debris) and inspect your rod for any nicks, scratches or cracks. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, contact the manufacturer about repairs or replacement as even the slightest nick or scratch can cause issues.

Apparel and Other Gear

            – Check waders for leaks and patch holes/seams: A simple way to check your waders for leaks is to roll the top of them shut and completely submerge the bottom part of them in a sink or bathtub. If you see any bubbles coming out, they leak. Try to decipher where the leak is coming from and use Aqua-seal and patches to fix the leak. Some companies also offer wader servicing/repairs if you don’t feel like being a do-it-yourselfer.

            – Clean your waders and boots: If your waders/boots are dirty or you notice a foul odor coming from them when you pull them out for the season, you probably need to clean them. Wader and boot companies often give instructions on how to clean and care for your gear properly on their website. Often a simple rinse with a garden hose and air-drying will do the trick. Loon also makes a product called “Fresh Pants” that kills odor-causing bacteria and is safe to use inside waders.

            – Check your net for holes: If you spend a lot of time trudging through the willows or trees, don’t be surprised to find that your net may have some unintentional holes. Inspect your net for large rips/holes and repair or replace the bag as needed. Don’t let the fish in the net be the one that got away.

            – Clean out the fishing pack and fly boxes: Remember that half-eaten PB&J you left in your pack last season? It has new life forms growing on it now. Or those nymphs you threw in your streamer box and told yourself “I’ll reorganize when I get home,” but got distracted by The Office and never quite got around to it? We’re all guilty of it. Fly boxes and gear bags don’t clean and reorganize themselves. Take a few moments to clean out, organize and inspect the gear you have and make a list of the gear you need to acquire before your next outing. If you’ve been saving your Christmas money and tax refund for more fishing gear but aren’t quite sure what to get, take a look at our blog, “A Guide’s Choice Guide” for some inspiration (http://northparkanglers.com/guides-choice-guide/).

After a long and wet winter, we are just as excited as you are to be getting back out on the water this season. Make sure you have all of your ducks in a row so you can spend more time having fish in the net.

Written by: Taylor Martin

The North Park Anglers Fly Fishing Club

Just imagine having over 75 miles of private water to choose from when deciding where you plan to fish for the day. That kind of sounds like being in Alaska, Kamchatka, or Argentina, but no, it’s here in North Central, Colorado (North Park) along the Eastern side of the Continental Divide. North Park is the Northernmost “Park” (high mountain valley surrounded by mountains) in Colorado. The North Park area of Colorado is an authentic western trout fishing paradise and home to the headwaters of the famed North Platte River. From high alpine creeks and meandering meadow streams to the North Platte River, the North Park area of Colorado has it all. The North Park Anglers Fly Fishing Club is a one of a kind opportunity for fly fishers to take their fishing to the next level. The club consists of 75 miles of water on 12 different streams and rivers, seven trophy still waters, three streamside cabins, and a clubhouse. Members of the fishing club get unlimited access to fish all of this water with guest benefits as well. To learn more about this fantastic opportunity check out our website at: NPA Fly Fishing Club

Ask Us About Our Gloves

October 30, 2018

Fall fishing has been heating up in the past few weeks, as I’m sure many of you have seen on our Instagram page. NPA guides gripping and grinning with colored up big browns, sporting the Simm’s Challenger Jacket, G Series Waders, headlamps…and surgical gloves? No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you, our guides really are wearing surgical gloves during their nighttime fishing adventures. We think the idea is pretty ingenious, but many people have been raising some eyebrows at the idea. So, go ahead, ask us about our gloves…we’d love to let you in on the secret.

The reason why we wear surgical gloves during night time fishing (or during any sort of cold weather fishing) is quite simple, and that is to help keep our hands warm. Fingerless fishing gloves are great, until they get wet and start serving less as a warmth provider for your hands and more as only a soggy wind blocker. Let’s face it, wet hands are cold hands. Surgical gloves aid in keeping your hands dry and therefore warmer. They also help block the wind on your fingertips where your fingerless gloves do not. They are safe to handle fish with, as long as you get them wet before handling the fish just as you would normally do. Simply slip your fingerless gloves off, dip your hands and get ready for your photoshoot. Wearing surgical gloves under your regular gloves when cold weather fishing is a simple (and cheap) trick you can use that makes a world of a difference. You asked us about our gloves, and we’re sharing the secret…we can only hope that you’d do the same so more of us can enjoy tight lines during these chilly months.

Written By: Taylor Martin

Angler Safety During Hunting Season

September 18, 2018

Fall brings many great things…chilly evenings, cooler days, changing leaves, football, beautiful browns and hunting season. For many anglers, this time of year means putting away the fly rods and boats and brining out the rifles and bows, however that’s not the case for everyone. Many anglers long for fall time fishing and they can’t wait for the cool bite of the morning air to hit their faces and guides. While anglers and hunters all have a passion for the outdoors and typically are pretty friendly toward each other, a rifle or bow can do a lot more damage to a human than a Sex Dungeon can, whether it’s on purpose or not. North Park Anglers’ parent company, Buffalo Creek Ranch, guides hunters throughout most of archery and rifle seasons, with many of the guides being the friendly faces you see in the fly shop throughout the summer. That being said, not only can our guides point you in the right direction for fall time fishing, they can also help anglers and hunters work together and stay safe during these fall months that we love. Here are a few tips that our professional guides recommend for anglers to stay safe and have fun during hunting season:

1.) Wear Orange

We recommend that you wear some visible article of blaze orange during rifle and bow season, especially if you are going into the high/back country. An orange vest or cap is best, both of which we sell in the shop. If you fish with your dog, we highly recommend placing an orange bandana around their neck and keeping them close by. Just because you’re on a more centralized river doesn’t necessarily mean you shouldn’t wear orange either. Whitetail deer typically live along river bottoms, so it’s still important to visually let hunters know you’re there.

NPA guide Rob Stout practicing good angler safety during a recent trip to the high country                           

2.) Be Courteous to Hunters and Their Whereabouts

If you come across a hunter on a back/high country trail, don’t be afraid to briefly stop and talk to them. Ask them where they plan to go and tell them where you plan to go. Don’t barge in front of them and ruin their hunt, especially if they are in pursuit of an animal.

3.) Stick to the Rivers

It’s best to stay out of the back/high country all together during hunting seasons if at all possible. Stick to more centralized rivers or lakes where there is going to be less of a chance for hunters. Hunters usually don’t have much business along rivers and will respect your space. However, like we said before, do be aware of Whitetail deer hunters and be sure to wear your orange!

By following these few simple tips, hunters and anglers can easily work together to enjoy their sports and stay safe in the outdoors.

Written by: Taylor Martin

Northgate Canyon Float

August 9, 2018

It’s no secret that summertime is coming to an end and before we know it, fall will be here with us. While we love the changing of the leaves and looking forward to fall time browns, hunting season and football, it’s also time to start thinking about next May and June…float season. Here at North Park Anglers we offer three different float trips during the course of our float season. Each float trip season varies due to our freestone river system, but they typically all take place between late May and mid July. We offer floats on the Encampment river, the North Platte river through the valley here in Walden and the North Platte River through Northgate Canyon in Wyoming. While all three floats offer great experiences, scenery, good times and typically good fishing, our float through Northgate Canyon is our most highly demanded float.

Without giving too much of a spoiler, here’s a little information about Northgate Canyon and what you can expect when you float it with us:

  Wilderness: North Park Anglers offers one of the only one-day wilderness float in the lower 48 United States. The float runs through 8.9 miles of the Platte River Wilderness, and although the wilderness area starts in Colorado and continues into Wyoming, our float runs completely through Wyoming.

Wild Trout: Unlike many floats offered in the United States, Northgate Canyon produces purely wild trout. The canyon has not been stocked since 1979, so anglers can expect to catch mainly browns and rainbows with the occasional brookie or cutthroat. Most fish range in size from 12-16 inches.

Wildlife: It is unusual to float through Northgate Canyon and not see wildlife. It’s not uncommon to see elk, deer, moose, bears, bighorn sheep and many more species during your float. In fact, it’s possible that you’ll see more animals than people while floating through the canyon. We’ve had multiple clients tell us that the scenery is so special on the float that they nearly forgot about the fishing. It’s true, in most people’s opinions, you can float the entire day without catching a fish and still be in awe when you return home that night.

Snapshot from our float through Northgate Canyon

Highly prepared and trained guides: Set aside the fact that our guides know the river arguably better than anyone else in the industry and are able to use both skill and knowledge to give clients opportunities at fish, they are also able to safely pull off the potential technicalities of the float and get you down the river. The trip begins before you even get to the put-in by our guides running your raft for the day down a 1/4 mile dirt path to the river. Throughout the float they safely navigate rapids, rocks and riffles all while doing their best to give you opportunities at fish and help you have a great experience. At the end of the day they load the boats onto a custom-built 4-wheel-drive truck and trailer and navigate their way up and out of one of the gnarliest roads in the canyon. The float on the water is an amazing experience, but the road out is an experience of its own.

So, why should you be thinking ahead to next May when you can barely think of what to have for dinner tonight? If you want the opportunity to experience one of the most special and pristine floats in the lower 48, you’re going to need to plan and book your trip soon. Our Northgate Canyon floats typically book up by mid March, and after that the only chance you really have at booking a trip is if we have cancellations (which you can check on by following our Instagram and Facebook pages). Do yourself a favor and book early to avoid the disappointment you may have next May if you don’t. Not only can we help you book your trip, but we can also help advise you with travel directions, lodging, food and other activities to do on your trip. Call the shop to book today, we hope to see you on our boat next summer!

Written by: Taylor Martin

Boiling Waters

August 2, 2018

If you’ve been on the river much during late July and early August and even into September over the years, there’s probably a good chance that you’ve seen and experienced the trico hatch. Tiny bugs come off the water and fall back into it, fish start looking up, and rises are happening so often that it looks like the waters are boiling. You might even ask yourself, “Is that a riffle right there?”, and it’ll actually just turn out to be a pod of rising fish. For many, the trico hatch is one of the most special hatches of the year and anglers wait in anticipation for the water to be serenely blanketed in spinners only to be severely disrupted by the mouths of hungry trout. However, tricos can also be one of the most frustrating hatches of the year due to the technicality of it and how decisive and picky the fish get.

So, what are tricos anyways? Tricos are basically really small mayflies. They are typically imitated with flies ranging in hook sizes of #18-26 and is the only time of year where North Park fishermen dust off their 5x and 6x spools of tippet. If you would like to read more about the science and entomology of tricos check out a blog written by NPA guide and manager, Scott Graham here: http://northparkanglers.com/tricos/ . Regardless of whether or not you’re a trico hatch connoisseur or avoider, it’s a special event to see and experience. If you have questions about the trico hatch feel free to stop in the shop and chat with us, or call us at 970-723-4215.

Written by: Taylor Martin

No, it’s not a grainy photo…and that’s not foam on the water…it’s the trico hatch!

50/50 On The Water

July 26, 2018

Marcia learning to fly fish for the first time during the all ladies lodge group at the Buffalo Creek Ranch.

Last week we hosted an all women’s group at our private fly fishing and hunting lodge on the Buffalo Creek Ranch (http://buffalocreek.com/ ). It was four full days of badass chicks fly fishing, hiking and trap shooting and for me personally, after spending my entire summer with dudes, it was a breath of fresh air. As expected, I was asked lots of questions about how I got into fly fishing and why I decided I wanted to be a guide. After spending four days with these ladies, teaching them how to fish, hearing their stories, watching them play outside and truly enjoy their time spent in the dirt, I started to think about my own story and experiences and what it’s like to be a female in the fly fishing industry. Recently, Orvis has launched a new initiative called 50/50 On The Water that aims to “inspire and celebrate women in the sport we all love,” (https://5050onthewater.orvis.com/). Since the launch of the 50/50 initiative, Orvis has received many mixed responses, both those who think the campaign is awesome and innovative, and backlash from those who believe it is simply a marketing ploy and is starting a “battle of the sexes.” After seeing both sides of the argument, I started really thinking about my personal experiences of getting into fly fishing and what it’s been like working in the male-dominated industry. This post is not intended to be political or trying to spark argument, I wanted to write it to share my personal story and try to connect with other ladies, as well as help us anglers see around potential blindspots. This is my story:

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in North Park. My father spent his summers as a kid up here fly fishing, tying flies for the gas station and helping control the gopher population. For the first 16 years of my life, the majority of my time up here was spent eating homemade biscuits and gravy, chasing Wile E. Coyote with a .243, tying knots in my fly line, and getting really good at netting my father’s fish. I loved being outside and I loved hanging out with my dad on the water, but quite honestly, I sucked at fly fishing and preferred to spend my time playing with bugs and netting fish instead of untangling  my line all day.

When my dad first mentioned the idea of going on a guided fly fishing trip with North Park Anglers, I would have rather poked a sharp stick in my eye. There was no way I was about to spend all day on the water with some dude I didn’t know and let him boss me around. I was convinced that I was going to be the laughing stock of the day, that I wouldn’t be able to pee until we got home, and that I was going to have to pretend to like hardcore fishing for eight hours. I was intimidated and nervous, but I finally gave in for the sole reason that I wanted to make my dad happy and hang out with him. After connecting with other lady anglers, I’ve learned that many of us felt similar emotions when we first got into fly fishing. No one has ever created physical barriers for us, but the emotional ones were definitely present and that’s what 50/50 On The Water is trying to mitigate and eliminate. When the day of the guide trip came around, I felt like I was walking into my first day of high school as a freshman. I had a slight idea of what I was doing, but I decided that I wanted to start fresh and re-learn what I already knew about fly fishing in the hopes that my guide would be able to explain things in a different, more understandable way than my dad could. By the end of the day I was sunburned, had caught fish bigger than I could hold, was freshly educated on how to fish a river and ready for more. Every weekend after that I was cancelling shopping trips and skipping high school football games with my friends in Denver to come fishing with my dad in North Park. I was hooked…pun intended.

My very first guide trip that would unknowingly spark a life-long passion.

Fast forward a few years and I’m spending my summer under the wings of some of the best fly fishing guides in the state and eventually get hired to work alongside them. When people talked about barriers for women, I never really understood or related to what they were talking about (I always thought my nervousness of going on my first guide trip was just me being worried  about making a fool of myself). I grew up outside, playing in the dirt, hunting, fishing, camping, and trying my very hardest to be just like my dad and brother (shout out to my mom for reminding me to brush my hair every once in a while and for washing the grass stains out of my clothes). It wasn’t until I started working in the male-dominated industry that I really started to feel the effects of being a woman in the sport. My coworkers are some of the greatest people I’ve ever met and never once have I felt like an outcast or belittled by them because of my gender. I’ve never felt disrespected or not taken seriously by them. They don’t give me special treatment or extra hand holding, I’m just another one of the guides and I’m expected to pull my weight just as much as any of them. Working in the shop and talking to customers is when I started to notice the lack of respect and acknowledgement for female anglers. Again, this post is not intended to spark argument, I simply want to share my experiences. Over the past three months I’ve had some pretty disturbing and insulting comments said to me and about me, but by far the most annoying situations are the ones where customers avoid me and are dismissive. For example, I have been asked if there was a guy around who could answer questions about fishing instead of myself and I have had customers go into full blown conversations with my coworker after dismissing me and my advice, only to get the same advice from my male coworker.

I think it’s safe to say that 80% of the time people are very respectful, take me seriously, and listen to what I have to say. Once you cut out the shenanigans of disrespectful anglers, in my experience, being a woman in the fly fishing industry is not that much different than being a man.

So, as a woman, what is my opinion of Orvis’s 50/50 On The Water campaign? I think it’s a good start and in the long run is going to help the industry advance the technology for women in fly fishing. Do I believe it’s simply a marketing ploy? No, but it’s no secret that you’re going to have to spend money to get into a new sport and if big name companies such as Orvis are taking a serious approach to designing quality and functional gear for women, then of course they’re going to make money off of us. Besides, most anglers both men and women choose to buy their gear from local fly shops, so adding to the population of fly anglers is going to help keep our local and friendly fly shops around and in business. I also believe the 50/50 On The Water movement is going to help normalize women in fly fishing. Walking into a fly shop and seeing female guides, employees and anglers will become less of a shock, the idea around a “battle of the sexes” is going to die off, and more companies will finally start getting as serious about making functional gear for women as they do for men.

I really do think 50/50 On The Water is helping women feel more confident and comfortable when venturing into fly fishing. For example, this summer I’ve had days on the water with my friends where there were equal numbers of men and women and even a few days where there were more women than men. At the beginning of the summer, two girls who had a summer job with Parks and Wildlife walked into the fly shop to get fishing licenses. Over the course of a five minute conversation, I learned that they had all the gear for fly fishing, but were new to it and trying to learn. I told them about 50/50 On The Water and offered to fish with them after work one day. We swapped cell phone numbers, and they quickly became some of my best (and only) girl friends in this small town this summer.

The effects of 50/50 On The Water with my new-found Parks and Wildlife friends.

Working and guiding for North Park Anglers is one of the best experiences of my life, despite the backlash and disapproval I sometimes get from outsiders. My goal coming here was to provide an inviting, fun and non-intimidating experience for women looking to get into fly fishing but haven’t taken the first steps yet because they don’t want to hang around a strange dude on a river all day. North Park Anglers has embraced that goal and is working towards being a shop that everyone feels welcomed and comfortable in, and provide advice and service that people can trust regardless of gender.  Fly fishing is a universal sport and I think with the help of friendly fly shops, good people and programs such as 50/50 On The Water, together men and women can keep the sport and conservation that comes with it in generations for years to come.

Written by: Taylor Martin

Beating the Heat

July 17, 2018

As many of us already know, Colorado is staring down the barrel of a drought season. Looking at the US Geological Survey reports, North Park is sitting below the 25^th percentile on a 100 year average for water this season.   Even though North Park saw over a 100% snow pack early on according to SNOTEL, we are still abnormally hot and dry for this time of year.  The water is depleting rapidly with long days and soaring temperatures.  What does this mean for the venturing anglers as we are headed into the middle of summer?  We are going to have to change some tactics to be respectful to our water resource.  There are several things in which we can do to keep fishing through this drought and higher water temps.

First, pick up a stream thermometer.  This little tool added to your arsenal can play a vital role for you while on the water.  Paying attention to water temps helps keep you in tune with what the fish are doing throughout the day.   A stream thermometer will also indicate when the water temps are becoming too warm to fish.  Trout are very sensitive and susceptible to a lethal amount of stress as water temps rise.  We as fishermen should take note on several temperature ranges for the trout we all love to pursue. At 55-65 degree water temperatures, trout are hungry and happy.  This would be considered the most optimal temp range for trout.  At 65-70 degrees trout are becoming stressed.  It is recommended while fishing through this temperature range to use stronger tippet so you can get the fish in quickly and handle them as little as possible.  Above 70 degrees the water is too hot and considered the NO FISH limit.  Pick up and return another day. 

Secondly, pay attention to the forecast.  If there is cloud cover or projected rain, know that the water temps are going to stay cooler on those days.  If you notice a long period of sunny, hot days, be prepared to start your day early and end early.  We suggest that you are on the water between sunrise and 1 PM because the best fishing is going to take place while the water temps are cooler. Weather mixed with clouds and rain this time of year can be a saving grace. Be on the lookout.

Finally, it may be time to pull out a map and locate a high alpine lake destination.  Getting into the high country and going on an adventure is a wonderful way to spend time with your loved ones and get off the beaten path.  In a recent blog written by Taylor Martin, “High Country Options”, Taylor has laid out a handful of high alpine lake options.  Give it a read and don’t hesitate to give us a call at the shop 970-723-4215.  We’ll be sure to get you pointed in the right direction.

Written by: Mathew Jimenez