Choosing the Right Fly Line

July 9, 2018

Like many specialty sports, fly fishing carries a mantra that fly shops are stuck-up which makes it tough for a consumer to enter a shop and ask a question.  This sucks, we know it and strive hard not to be that way.  We love helping our customers get dialed in and want them to learn something new every time they enter our store.  This leads us to this week’s blog about how to choose the right fly line.  This is a common problem for anglers and we want to help. 

It used to be an easy decision but technology in manufacturing of both fly lines and fly rods has made this tougher and tougher.  Not all rods are built with the same specs so there is variance between rods and rod companies and the same can be said for fly lines.  Years ago the American Fly Fishing Trade Association (AFFTA) set up a system to grade fly lines by weight.  This way a consumer could purchase a fly line by matching the weight of the line with the weight of the rod and you were good to go.  However, with the advances in our sport companies are making rods lighter, faster and a heck of a lot more efficient.  With these advances this system has gotten a little squirrely and now we need to pay more attention when purchasing a line.

When looking at the original AFFTA system, essentially the last 30 foot of every fly line is weighed.  From here the line will be classified by size based on where it fell within the weight chart.  For example:  all 5 weight fly lines within the market will weigh around 140 grains.  Because we use the weight of the fly line to load and cast the fly rod it’s very important that we get a fly line that is weighted properly for our fly rod. 

This system is great and has been a good starting point but the problem is fly rod and fly line companies are making so many different models that it can be overwhelming for the general consumer.  Below is a breakdown of the different fly lines available for trout and what to consider when choosing your next line…

WF– The Weight-Forward Taper. This is the “standard” taper for trout fishing.  The general idea of a WF fly line is that the first 30 feet (casting end) of the fly line have all the bulk and weight followed by running line to the back of the line.  This makes it better for casting longer distances and gives the manufactures more room when designing specialty style lines. In my opinion, this is the best way to go for an all-purpose fly line when fishing anywhere in the West.

DT– The double taper fly line is essentially a WF fly line at both ends of the line.  This is great for shorter casts and fishing in close.  It is used mostly by anglers fishing bamboo or slower fiberglass rods where they aren’t fishing very far.  The major benefit of the DT fly line is that you can flip the line after you wear one side out and use it from the other side basically giving you two lines for the price of one.

Sinking Fly Lines– Sinking fly lines are used in many different applications.  They are great for anglers looking to present a fly in the depths.  These are used mostly by anglers fishing in large rivers or lakes. 

There are three different style of sinking fly lines.

Sinking tip:  These are fly lines that have a sinking head usually 5-15ft in length followed by thin running line.  They are generally used by anglers fishing rivers from a boat and are casting streamers to the bank.

Intermediate:  These are slow sinking fly lines that sink at a rate of 1 inch per second.  These lines have the same sink rate throughout the entire line.  These fly lines are used generally used by still-water anglers that want to count their fly line down to a specific depth before retrieving it.

Full Sinking:  These fly lines get down quickly and are rated type 3, 5, 7 and 10.  Essentially meaning they will sink 3, 5, 7 or 10 inches per second.  These lines are generally used by still-water anglers but some anglers will use them in very fast or deep rivers.

All sinking fly lines are WF fly lines and have size ratings to make it easy for the consumer to choose the correct size.  If you are fishing lakes or large rivers I highly recommend looking into a specified set-up equipped with a sinking line.

First you have to ask yourself; what am I using this fly rod for?  Is it for a lake, a stream, an all-purpose set-up, dry flies, streamers or nymphing?  Then talk with your local dealer about the different options that fall under that category.  As a fishing guide, casting instructor, and avid angler I have more fly rods than I really need.  I love casting and enjoy having different set-ups available for multiple styles of fishing.  I have some rods that I overweight (for ex:  6wt line for 5 wt. rod) making it easier to turn over bigger flies in short quarters.  I also have rods that I underweight, they are for my very slow rods that I don’t want to overload.  There aren’t any rules when choosing a line and the more time you spend casting the better your selection will get.  One thing is for sure, all rods have a sweet spot and choosing the correct line matched with your casting style will make your rod very happy, and possibly get you a few more fish.

High Country Options

July 5, 2018

With the recent passing of the summer solstice and the increasing number of hot and sunny days, it’s time to start heading up into the high country for some cooler temperatures and awesome still-water fishing. We’ve compiled a list of high country options ranging in difficulty levels to choose from. All of these lakes are great for camping and backpacking and can be turned into a multi-day adventure to get away from the mainstream hustle and bustle of life.

Rainbow Lakes

Rainbow Lakes are located in the Zirkel Wilderness and are about a 3.5 mile hike one way. There are two lakes at the top of the trail which both provide great fishing opportunities. This is a great trail for the beginner backpacker or can also be done as a day hike.

Bighorn Lake

Bighorn can be reached from the Lone Pine Trailhead located at the end of County Road 16, directly west of Walden. It is approximately a 3.5 mile hike one way that is ranked as difficult.

Lake Kathrine

Also located at the Lone Pine Trailhead, Lake Kathrine is another difficult 2.3 mile hike. Lake Kathrine and Bighorn Lake make for a challenging, yet rewarding multi-night camping trip for the experienced backpacker.

Clear Lake

Located in the Rawah Wilderness, Clear Lake is about a 9.5 mile hike that is ranked as difficult. It’s great for the experienced backpacker looking to get away.

Kelly Lake

Also located in the Rawah Wilderness, Kelly Lake is about a 7.5 mile hike that is ranked as difficult. Again, it is great for the experienced backpacker. Clear and Kelly make a great multi-night backpacking trip as they are only about two miles away from each other and can be reached from the same trail head.

Seven Lakes

Seven Lakes is an 11 mile hike located above Big Creek. Not for the faint of heart, but another good option for those looking to get away from people.

American Lakes

This trail is 6.8 miles and can be ranked as difficult. There are two lakes connected by a small creek as well as a third lake up above the two. All three lakes have stunning scenery.

Lake Agnes

Lake Agnes is located on Cameron Pass and is about a one mile hike one way. It’s great for families as it is a short and easy hike in and provides good fishing and camping opportunities as well.

Fishing techniques at all of these lakes will consist of terrestrials such as ants, beetles, spiders and hoppers with droppers such as soft hackle hairs ears and pheasant tails. Come into the shop to get all of the bugs you will need, as well as a map and friendly advice! Fish on!

Written by: Taylor Martin

A Guide’s Choice Guide

June 28, 2018

Last week we talked about the guides’ secrets on battling mosquitos, and many people seemed to enjoy the info, so this week we are back with more. Summertime fishing, especially in North Park, can be a little bit intimidating and confusing, but North Park Anglers is here to help. This week we are going to let you in on more of our tools of the trade to help you have a more fun, comfortable, successful and enjoyable time in North Park, and that can help you all around the state and country as well.

Beating the Heat

Water

Not the kind that fish live in, but the kind that humans drink. Far too often we have to cut our guide trips short or see people leaving the river early because they are dehydrated. The town of Walden sits at an elevation of 8,099’ and can be even higher as you move around the park and especially into the high country. If you’re coming from out of state, or even from a lower part of Colorado, you should be prepared to drink a significant amount of water, both a few days before you come up and while you’re here. Pounding beers on the river is fun, but it’s even more fun when you’ve already pounded a few waters and are not sicker than a dog.

Wet-Wading

Here at NPA, we typically put our waders away June 1st and wet-wade all the way through the summer. Wet-wading is exactly what it sounds like…wading in the water and getting wet while doing it. Up here, we wear long, lightweight, water repelling pants, neoprene guard socks with our wading boots and a lightweight shirt (typically the bug stopper ones). We also carry a few different wet-wading specific shoes  here in the shop. Wet-wading is an awesome option in the summertime, because it helps keep you cool and comfortable. We have everything you’ll need in the shop, so if you need gear or want to know more about it, don’t be afraid to stop in and ask! Also, see last week’s blog for tips on how to beat the bugs if you typically use your waders as a defense mechanism against them (http://northparkanglers.com/world-class/).

NPA guide Taylor Martin gripping a nice brown during a recent wet-wading trip.

Sun Protection

During the summer months, the sun and heat can be brutal, and at the higher elevations you are more prone to sunburns and skin damage (yes, even if you’re from Denver). Wearing sun protective clothing, long pants, long sleeve shirts, buffs, hats, sun gloves, sunglasses and sunscreen is vital. Chapstick with sunscreen in it will be one of your best friends up here.

Now that we’ve covered from the tops of our heads to the bottoms of our feet and are ready to go out on the water, let’s talk about fishing gear. Besides the obvious rod, reel and flies, the guides have compiled a list of not-so-obvious gadgets that we think are important and useful to have out on the water. We keep these tools in our packs or boat bags and use them almost every day.

Stream Thermometer

A stream thermometer is easily one of the most important, yet overlooked pieces of gear to have. Not only will it help keep your sanity on the river, but it will let you know when the temps are too high and when fishing will be harmful to the fish. Optimal feeding temperatures for trout are between 50-60 degrees Fahrenheit. Temperatures that are too low or too high can make fishing tough for the angler and dangerous for the fish. You can read more about the importance of stream temperatures here: http://northparkanglers.com/water-temps-big-deal/ .

Polarized Glasses

Having a good pair of polarized glasses is essential for spending all day out on the water. Polarized sunglasses help to cut glare and allow you to see into the water. Being able to see into the water is essential when you’re trying to spot fish, calculate depth, and even figuring out a safe place to cross, not to mention protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays that are even more intense on the water.

Net with a Rubber Basket

Using a net with a rubber basket assists in protecting a fish’s slime coat, aka, their immune system. It also is much easier to remove hooks from and is more durable than a net with a string basket.

Hook File

Using a hook file to sharpen your hooks is a great tool to keep in your pack and once you have one, you’ll use it a lot more often than you would have imagined. A hook file is great if you keep your flies in your cork, or often snag trees, willows, branches, rocks, etc. (don’t worry, we all do). We most often use our hook files on streamers because they are constantly snagging things in the water.

Sink Tip Leaders

A five foot sink tip leader is a great piece of gear to have in your pack if you need some extra help getting your flies down in higher waters. Fishing streamers on a sink tip leader in higher waters can be extremely effective and having the five foot removable one is a great option to have instead of a complete different spool and line.

Tape Measure

For when you need to measure the fish of a lifetime.

Extra Nippers and Forceps

It always seems like you lose your nippers/forceps when you need them the most, so keeping an extra pair in your pack can be a life saver. Keep a heavy duty pair of forceps in your pack to use for pinching barbs and keep your main pair on a lanyard with your main pair of nippers for quick and easy access.

Nail Knot Tool

A nail knot tool can help you tie all sorts of tricky knots right on the river so you can spend more time fishing and less time fiddling around with your reading glasses trying to see what the heck you’re doing.

Seine

Using a seine net over your main net is a great tool to use to figure out exactly what the fish are eating and to “match the hatch.” It’s also a great entertainment tool for yourself or when you’re trying to entertain little kids or those who are beginners.

There you have it, North Park Anglers guides’ choice gear. We sell everything mentioned in this post in our shop, so don’t be afraid to come in and ask us more about the gear and tools we use. Come in, gear up and fish on!

Written by: Taylor Martin 

World Class

June 21, 2018

Ring Ring… Ring Ring…

“North Park Anglers,”

“Hey, I was just calling to ask how the mosquitoes were up there?”

“They’re world class, bud.”

The Bug Station at North Park Anglers…come in and get geared up!

If you were to call the shop on any given day from June to August and ask how the mosquitoes were, “world class” is the answer you would be given. We’ve talked about it before and we’re going to talk about it again, because sometimes world class fishing comes with world class mosquitoes and discomfort. I’m sure by now most of you have heard the jokes and horror stories about mosquitoes the size of pelicans that create a black cloud around your car when you pull up to any of our lakes and rivers. We know of many people who refuse to come up to Walden during the summer months because they hate the mosquitoes, and every day during their peak season we have people running into the shop begging for bug spray and some sort of remedy to escape, or at least tolerate the ruthless creatures.

“How do you guys do it, man? I can barely spend 10 minutes outside with them and you guys are out there all day with those *choice word* things,” Is a question we often encounter here in the shop. And while it’s all fun and games to talk about how bad the mosquitoes are up here, it’s not very much fun if you don’t know how to wrangle them. Being fly fishing guides in North Park, we pretty much have our mosquito wrangling methods dialed down to a science. When you spend all day every day with the beasts, you get pretty good at learning how to deal with them, especially when you know that around any river bend could be the brown of a lifetime…or another plume of mosquitoes. We’re going to let you in on our tools of the trade, and teach you how the guides at North Park Anglers deal with mosquitoes so you can spend more time on the water catching fish and less time in the car itching your life away.

The gear we use:

• Bug spray with deet
  • • • • • • We use both aerosol and pump bug spray with a high amount of deet, typically 40% or more. Bug spray without deet is a waste of time and money up here. Most of us like to wet-wade, so we spray our pants and shirts with bug spray too, however waders are a good option to keep the bugs off too.
•  
• Neck gator
  • • • • • • Neck gators aren’t only for sun protection anymore. We spray ours with bug spray before we put them on and have found that it really helps keep the bugs off of our neck and face without having to put the deet directly on our skin. You can leave it down around your neck for most of the day, and when the bugs really pick up you can pull it up around your head, face, and neck for full protection. They’re lightweight too, so you won’t get overheated.
•  
• Ball Cap
  • • • • • • • Sometimes, especially for the ladies and those with longer hair who can’t pull neck gators over their head very well, we will spray our ball caps with bug spray. I personally like to use an older worn out ball cap that’s already kind of gross, because the deet, sweat, and sun will turn it into a hat you probably won’t want to wear out in public very much.  Again, this helps keep the bugs away from your head and face and is a good assistant to the neck gator, for those who have a hard time pulling it up over their head.
•  
• Bugstopper/Insect-shield hoodies
  • • • • • • • Both Simms and Orvis make some version of a bug repelling hoodie and they WORK. The shirts are infused with permethrin and are made out of a thicker, yet still light weight, material that repels the mosquitoes and does not allow them to bite through the shirt. At the shop, we prefer the hoodie version so we can pull the hood up over the back of our neck, head, and ears to keep the bugs and sun out.
•  
• ThermaCell
  • • • • • • • • Thermacells work great when you’re stationary by creating a barrier around you that keeps the mosquitoes away. We use ours when we are launching boats in rivers or eating lunch outside.
•  
• Cigars
  • • • • • • • • Basically like a ThermaCell, but human powered.
•  
• Mental Toughness
  • • • • • • • • Mental toughness is probably the biggest and most important tool to have when it comes to battling the mosquitoes. The truth of the matter is that you’re going to get bit, you’re going to be uncomfortable, and you’re going to feel gross. For us, it’s discomfort that keeps us coming back for more every day and having stories to tell the next day about how fighting the mosquitoes was almost as brutal as fishing the fish.

Luckily for you we sell most of the items on this list in our shop, so you can get your defense mechanisms as soon as you get up here, because sometimes world class fishing comes with world class mosquitoes.

Written by: Taylor Martin

Benefits of a Low Water Season

#FullOnPartyFishing

June 14, 2018

It’s no secret that all around the state the water levels and flows are much lower than what we are used to this time of year. Although there are some obvious downfalls to these low water levels, there are also some not so obvious benefits to them. Here are our top five favorite benefits of a low-water season:

1.) Early dry fly action

We’ve been able to fish dry flies much earlier than usual. Small terrestrials, caddis, mahogany duns, and more have been popping on many of the rivers and we’ve had the opportunity to fish some awesome boiling waters. We typically would have to wait until late July for this opportunity, so it’s awesome to be pulling out the dry fly box in early June!

2.) Ability to fish hatches we usually don’t get to

The low water levels have given us awesome opportunities to fish hatches we rarely get to. This year we were able to fish throughout the entire salmon fly hatch which is something that rarely ever happens. Typically the flows are too high even to float so we are unable to fish the hatch at all.

3.) High country is open earlier

Although the water levels are dropping faster and earlier than we are used to, the high country is also open a lot earlier than we are used to. If the rivers are getting to low, hiking up into some high country lakes and streams can be an awesome and fun alternative. Get away from the bugs, heat, and lack of water in the valley and take a hike into some high mountain lakes for awesome fishing and great views.

4.) Ability to cross the river in more spots

This may seem like an insignificant perk, but it’s not one to overlook. Lower water levels give you the opportunity to cross the river in more places which means you have more of a chance of being able to sneak up on larger holes. When the water is high you typically have less opportunities to cross the river, and sometimes the only places to cross are right at the head or end of a deep hole, which runs the risk of spooking fish. Plus, if you’re like me, standing 5 feet, 4 inches tall with your wading boots on, lower water levels are your friend.

5.) Freestone river system keeps us on our toes

Our favorite part of low water levels, is the simple fact that they can happen without warning and we either adapt to them or capsize. We love our freestone river system up here because it keeps us on our toes. We are constantly learning and adapting to the ever-changing rivers and flows up here. Our freestone system is a whole different ballgame than your average tail-water system and the unpredictability is what keeps us coming back for more every year.

Don’t be sitting on your couch feeling lower than the water levels. There are lots of awesome hidden benefits to them, and we certainly are taking advantage of them here in the park. 

Written by: Taylor Martin

Brown Town

June 7, 2018

North Park Anglers resides in a place with an abundance of labels, both geographical ones and nick-names. Walden, North Park, The Valley, Jackson County, Home, That Place with Massive Mosquitos, and my personal favorite, “Wait, Where” are just a few. No matter what your personal preference label is, there’s no doubt that one of the most accurate nick-names for Walden, Colorado  is “Brown Town.” Brown Trout, or scientifically, Salmo Trutta, are one of North Park’s most prized possessions.  We have people come from all over the country in search of 20+ inch brown trout, which are abundant in our valley

NPA guide, Joey Solano with a lake brown.

streams and lakes. The feeling that comes with sticking a wild and aggressive brown trout is one that keeps people coming back for more, time and time again. Nick-named the “butter bean”, the brown trout is probably our shop’s favorite species to catch (although we love all species of trout). Our favorite method of catching a fat, colored-up brown is throwing and stripping streamers of all sizes off the banks of our meadow streams and being able to see the fish come out from under the banks and engulf our fly, however browns can be caught nymphing and dry-fly fishing as well. Take a look at some of our favorite butter bean photos from this season and decide for yourself when your next trip up here will be.

NPA guide, Rob Stout with a meat eater. 

Written by: Taylor Martin 

NPA guide, Taylor Martin with a meadow stream butter bean.

Salmon Fly Hatch: The Experience

NPA guide, Taylor Martin, with a friendly salmon fly during a recent shuttle trip.

May 31, 2018

Think of your favorite food to eat. Maybe it’s grandma’s homemade biscuits and gravy, or your super-secret recipe of chocolate chip cookies, or maybe it’s a nice t-bone steak with a baked potato and steamed asparagus. Now imagine you only had one to two weeks out of every year that you had the opportunity to eat that food. Would you eat it every day, regardless of what other food options were thrown your way? I know I would. This is exactly the scenario that happens during the salmon fly hatch. Every year fish are awarded their most favorite meal that could be available anywhere from one day to two weeks. North Park Anglers guide, Scott Graham wrote a blog about the science of salmon flies and their hatch which you can find here: http://northparkanglers.com/salmon-flies/ .  An experienced salmon fly hatch angler knows just how fun and exciting it is to experience and fish the hatch, but what if you’ve never had the opportunity to fish it before? What’s all the hype about? Without giving out too much of a spoiler alert, here is a small taste of what you can expect to experience during the salmon fly hatch:

1.) Top-water action and a lot of it. Ever thrown double large dries and gotten hits nearly every cast (granted that you don’t cast them into the willows)? Fish the salmon fly hatch and you will.

2.) Skin that crawls…all day. You can never quite get used to 2+ inch flying bugs crawling all over your arms, legs, hands, face and neck. You’ll be thankful for a shower at the end of the day.

3.) An occasional squeal from your fishing buddy. Like I said before, no matter how much you think you’ve gotten used to the bugs crawling on you, when one tries to get up close and personal with your left nostril, or according to NPA guide, Joey Solano, your ear hole,  you can’t help but let out a little squeal.

4.) Catching fish that are absolutely gorged out on giant orange flies. You know that feeling while eating your favorite food of being absolutely stuffed but still wanting to keep eating, because it’s just so good? Trout do too, and they’re not afraid of having a food-baby belly.

Whether you’re an experienced angler who’s been fishing the hatch for years, or this is your first time being able to hit it, the salmon fly hatch is one that continues to excite and intrigue fly fishermen and women. Next time you eat one of your favorite meals, be grateful that it’s available to you for more than a minute period of time.

Written by: Taylor Martin

Why Should You Take A Guide Trip With North Park Anglers?

May 24, 2018

There are a lot of great benefits of going on a guided fly fishing trip, but why should you take one with us? At North Park Anglers, we are able to offer an experience unlike any other. Here are the top five reasons why you should fish with North Park Anglers:

1.) Seclusion and Solitude

North Park Anglers is located in Walden, Colorado, a small mountain town northwest of Denver and the only municipality in Jackson County. With Main Street being about one mile long and lacking even a stoplight, the town of Walden is often unheard of even by Colorado natives. The seclusion and solitude that North Park offers is unheard of around many parts of the state and even the country. As a fly shop, we offer anglers the opportunity to fish over 10 miles of private rivers and streams. Trips taken on these private waters guarantee that the only other potential company you will see that day is a moose or friendly marmot. All of our private shop waters are regulated and rested to ensure healthy waters and fish.

SECLUDED PRIVATE WATER. 

North Park Anglers also offers guide trips on over 50 miles of public water that is rarely touched. The infamous North Park mosquitoes drive away many visitors even during prime fishing conditions, which means that the public waters are not as pressured as other areas around the state, and ofter great fishing opportunities for the bug-brave angler. Public waters include a diverse selection of scenery including meadow streams, wilderness areas, alpine lakes and streams, the North Platte River, and many still-waters. 

2.) Trip Selection

At North Park Anglers, we offer a unique selection of guided fishing trips to choose from. Early on and later in the season we offer half day walk/wade trips on both public and private waters. During our peak season we offer full day walk/wade trips on both public and private waters, full day drift boat trips on public and private lakes, a full day float trip through Northgate Canyon, a full day float trip on the North Platte in the Valley and a full day float trip on the Encampment River in Wyoming. The amount of water options we have available allows us to help customize your trip and adapt to changing conditions.

3.) Guide Selection and Trip Booking Process

North Park Anglers offers a unique and custom trip booking and guide selection process. Unlike many shops, we do not have an online booking process, instead we like to make all of our bookings over the phone or in person. We like being able to talk to you in order to get a good idea of the expectations and desires of your trip. We want to get a feel for you and your guest’s experience level, what you want to learn, what kind of gear you may need, answer any questions you may have and even help you with lodging and travel options. Based on the conversation and information we discuss, we are able to match you with one of our eight professional guides to help make your trip a success. You can see a list of our guides on our website at http://northparkanglers.com/about/staff/ 

4.) Diversity and Uniqueness of North Park

North Park is home to some of the most diverse and unique fisheries in the United States. With the headwaters of the North Platte located in the park, we have the special opportunity to fish many tributary streams such at the Illinois, Michigan, North Fork of the North Platte, Roaring Fork, Canadian, Norris and many more along with the North Platte itself. All of the rivers located in the park are freestone rivers, not tail waters. This means that our water levels are not regulated, but instead depend on snowpack and ranching irrigation. These freestone rivers produce many awesome hatches throughout the year and allow anglers the opportunity to fish a diverse selection of bugs.

MAT PETERSON WITH A FREESTONE RIVER BROWN TROUT.

Aside from the diversity of the waters and hatches, North Park also contains a diverse amount of trout species. Looking to catch a Colorado Grand Slam (rainbow, brown, brook and cutthroat)? You can do that here! Not only does North Park give you the ability to catch different species and a lot of them, it also provides the chance at a freestone river fish of a lifetime. Big fish mean big bugs, which is just another reason why North Park is so special. Due to the lack of pressure and water regulations, anglers have the opportunity to throw large flies. Step aside size #22 zebra midge, we’re fishing with size #2 articulated streamers up here. We often get funny looks from people when we recommend them to buy 0x-3x leaders and tippet up here, but that’s the way to go when you get the opportunity to fish large dry terrestrials, size #8 nymphs, and large articulated streamers. The diverse freestone river valley of North Park is one you definitely want to put on your bucket list.

5.) It’s More Than Just Fishing

At North Park Anglers, we offer an experience that goes beyond just fishing. Sure, there’s a good chance that you’ll hook into some fish while you’re here, but the experiences you take away at the end of your trip far surpass any fish put into the net. Here are just a few things you will be exposed to by the end of your trip:

• Tips and techniques on how to fish more effectively

Our professional guides can teach you how to read water, tie new knots, cast more efficiently, as well as teach you about the different bugs/hatches that happen, history about the park and anything else you may be curious about.

• Wildlife

Potential wildlife viewing/encounters in the park could include, moose, deer, elk, antelope, big horn sheep, bears, hawks, eagles, owls, otters, porcupines, and many more. Bringing a camera with you on your trip will allow you to bring a little piece of paradise back to your friends and family who missed out.

• Scenery

The North Park Valley is situated between a mix of different mountain ranges including the Medicine Bow Mountains, Never Summer Mountains, the Rabbit Ears Range, and the Park Range. Green and golden hay meadows, brightly colored wildflowers, and fiery orange, yellow and red aspen leaves are a taste of the kind of scenery North Park has to offer during the season.

• Creating and Strengthening Relationships

Whether it’s with your guide or your guest, a fly fishing trip with North Park Anglers is a great bonding experience and is sure to establish and strengthen relationships. We have lots of different kinds of groups come fish with us, including parent/child duos, husband/wife duos, owner/client duos, employer/employee duos, best friends, long distance friends, siblings, relatives and more. Did you know we also offer multiple day events for larger groups through our parent company, Buffalo Creek Ranch? You can find out more information about that on the website, http://buffalocreek.com/ .

• Fishing With Us Beats a Day Sitting at Work 

GUIDE MAT JIMENEZ AND CLIENT CARL MARTIN CELEBRATING A GREAT CATCH. 

Do we really need to say more?

Going on a guided fishing trip should be a fun and memorable experience, and here at North Park Anglers we strive every day to achieve and exceed client expectations. So come on up, get your fishing fix with North Park Anglers then join the cowboys at the Stockman Bar. We can’t wait to meet you!

Call today to book a trip: 970-723-4215

Shop Hours: 7am-7pm every day

Written by: Taylor Martin 

Running from Runoff?

Scenic North Delaney Lake. 

May 17, 2018

Is the thought of runoff running you off? Don’t let it! We have been getting lots of calls at the shop lately asking about water levels and run-off fishing options. As of right now, fishing options on the valley streams vary day to day. Warmer days mixed with cooler nights means that many of the valley streams are still very fishable, including the Michigan, Illinois, North Fork and Roaring Fork. Bug options include throwing streamers and running nymph rigs. Dry fly action is not here…yet (we can’t wait for the water to start boiling though). Don’t feel like walking the rivers? Our float season has begun and we are currently running boats through Northgate Canyon which offers a pristine 8.6 mile float through the Platte River Wilderness Area in Wyoming. Trips book fast, so be sure to give us a call to check availability. As always, North, South and East Delaney Buttes, Lake John, Cowdrey, Big Creek, North Michigan Reservoir and Teal & Tiago are always great still-water options and provide great camping opportunities as well. The slow-melting snowpack levels have provided great early-season fishing opportunities and they’re not over yet. And the best part? It’s just cold enough at night that the infamous North Park mosquitoes are still MIA. Be sure to check the fishing report at http://northparkanglers.com/fishing-report/ for current fishing conditions, call the shop at 970-723-4215 to book a trip or stop in and see us. Come up and fish before the mosquitoes  give you a real reason to run off!

Written by: Taylor Martin

“Don’t be that Guy”- a reminder to gear up before it’s too late…

It’s early April, the ice is off, the air is warm, and the sun is shining. You’ve been waiting for this day for six months, the day you finally get to cast a line again. You get to your parking spot and begin setting up your rod, only to discover that you left on your dirty old beat up leader from last season. No problem, you think to yourself, I’ve got another one in my bag. You rummage around in your gear bag some more… Ah ha! Here it is! You pull out your new leader and begin straightening it out when… SNAP! It breaks right in half. Problem. Lucky for you though you notice a guy wearing a North Park Anglers shirt, he looks pretty nice, maybe he’ll loan me a leader. After a few minutes of playing “poor me” he decides to loan you a leader. A brand new fluorocarbon leader, the only one he had left. Alright, thanks man! You leave feeling relieved and he leaves $8.00 poorer. Don’t be that guy.

With your butt saved, you cover it with some waders and lace up your boots. You downsize your bag so there’s not so much weight to carry, grab your rod, and head out for the river. You step in and make the first cast of the year, when suddenly it hits you… the frigid, just melted water hits you that is. Oh shoot… You remember the hole you got in your waders last season and suddenly you’re regretting watching one too many episodes of The Big Bang Theory instead of taking a few minutes to patch it up. After a few moments of debating, you decide to tough it out and keep fishing despite the increasing thoughts of frostbite forming in your mind. Don’t be that guy.

This better be worth it, you think to yourself as you move along the river, losing feeling in your toes. You round a bend and spot a 20 inch rainbow cruising along the far bank. Looks like you’ve found yourself a meat eater. You sit down to change your San Juan Worm to a Wooly Bugger. You pull out your streamer box and…What the heck? That’s right, you have dry flies in your streamer box, and now you’re REALLY regretting binge watching the Big Bang Theory all winter. By the time you finish frantically searching your downsized gear bag, the rainbow has moved on. You wish you knew more curse words. Don’t be that guy.

Feeling bummed out you decide to call it a day. You sulk back to your truck, undress, and put your skunked gear away. You hop in the truck and glance at your rearview mirror, of course this would happen. Your face is as red as the stripe on that colored up ‘bow you didn’t catch. Your pasty white skin was not ready or protected for the UV exposure you just put it through and you know you’re going to be peeling like a banana on Monday morning. Don’t be that guy.

On your way home you pass by a quaint little fly shop with a sign that says “North Park Anglers” and remember the guy from the parking lot who gave you a leader, so you decide to pull over and stop in. You’re greeted by smiling faces, one of whom was the guy that helped you out!

“Hey man, how’d you do?” He asks.

“Ahh, not so good. After I had to mooch a leader off of you, I forgot about the hole in my wader from last season, so my foot is freezing. I missed out on a nice rainbow, because I had dry flies in my streamer box, plus I look like my 8th grade crush just told me she liked me,” you say.

“Awh, man that’s no good. We can fix you up if you’d like,” He offers.

“That would be great.”

You’re sent home with a bag full of goodies. New waders, fresh leaders and tippet, a new fly box full of tasty streamers, and some SPF 50. At least one good thing happened today.

Lucky for you it’s only March, so you have plenty of time to binge watch AND organize your gear. Is something missing from your gear bag? Do you want to try something new?  Head over to NorthParkAnglers to get hooked up with everything you’ll need this season, and don’t be that guy.  

Written by: Taylor Martin 

Taylor Martin with a beauty North Park Brown