[Jimbo]

Jimbo

September 7, 2024 at 4:57 pm #16596

“A Change of Venue”

My time was up in Pagosa. The last day is spent, washing the Truck, doing laundry, packing up (A monumental task in itself), and maybe a little fishing.

First Things First….

Wash the truck,… especially getting all the mud off from underneath and inside the fender-wells. Plus, driving down the forest roads, no matter how tight your door seals are, even with the windows rolled up, that micro-fine dust finds a way inside and sticks to everything, especially plastic. I used 2 towels just wiping all the trail dust off everything inside the Bronco.

It’s not perfect, but that will do since I’m still going down a bunch of Forest Roads in Wyoming.

Joe and I went to grab lunch at a Burger Joint called “Sage”. It’s not cheap, but it is the best burger and monster pile of fries you will get anywhere in Souther Colorado.
Then the rain started, so no quick trip for a few last Trout somewhere. Back at the Condo, it was time for the laundry, inventory, and packing. We had the Olympics on and watched that too. Then it came time to pack the Bronco. In addition to all the flyfishing equipment, I did bring everything to camp comfortably. With everything packed in tight with the back seats folded flat, there is about a 10″ slot to see out the back window. I must be getting better at this….

Friday morning, bright and early….

Goodbye to this comfortable Condo, check out, and on the road before 8am….
West across southern Colorado….

In Utah and working north….

Over Soldier Pass….

There was a huge traffic jam in Salt Lake City. They shut down all but 1 lane on the interstate during the rush hour and I spent 1 1/2 hours going 2 miles. Through that finally and I continue to head north on IH 15, turning east again towards Logan. Then running up the Logan River, over the top and down to Bear Lake. They were having some big festival there, so the going was slow. I picked up a Sheriff there and he followed me all the way to Montpelier for some reason, probably my out-of-state plates, so I was extra mindful of the speed limits. Then I cross into Wyoming and on to Afton, where I checked in to the Hi Country Inn.

I slept late. Got up and drove to Burger King for a fast breakfast, as there’s no real breakfast joint in this little town of 2264. Back to my room and sorted through my flyvest and changed out some fly boxes that are more appropriate for the waters here in Wyoming (Think Bigger Attractors). The Olympics were on and I watched them some as started putting my daily stuff back in the Bronco: boots, wading staff and belt, several flyrods and reels, Gore-Tex Jacket, towels, sunscreen, stool, tools, and extra water. It’s early afternoon and I know a Little Creek, not too far away that should fish well….

So I’m out the door. This side of Wyoming has been a drought for several years now. The east side of the Wyoming Range and the Green River Drainage have been hit especially hard. This winter they had near normal snowpacks and it will be interesting to see how the Cutthroats have faired. Down the highway, I find a certain forest road, down that a ways, then turn off the forest roads to a little side track going down into the valley….
And there it is….

Here is the home of an aboriginal population of Snake River Cutthroats. Today I would be using my Sage 576 LL. I found this rod a number of years ago. Sage does not even list this weight and length rod in their catalog. It was a special run of rods for a certain rod builder in the northwest. This one is labeled “Anderson Custom Rods 1993” made in Southern Oregon and is personalized with a woman’s name “Kelly Cathleen Curran”. It is a 7 1/2′ 5wt. Graphite III Light Line with a superfine cork grip, silver Struble reel seat, and 2 gold SIC stripper guides. I have never seen or heard of another one like it. When the quarters are tight and I need a little more backbone than a 3 or 4wt. can offer, this is my go-to rod. I tie on some new tippet and a Hippie Stomper….

Here’s another little side bar….
My 1 year old Simms G4 wading boots were starting to delaminate at the toes. The sole was coming loose from the uppers. I called Simms warranty department and told what was happening and that I was at the beginning of my summer flyfishing vacation. I sent them a couple of pictures of the toes, they understood my situation, and said they would send me a brand new pair of boots. This was happening when I was in Colorado and since it would take a week to get them to me, they sent them here to Wyoming. You got to love that kind of service !!!!
So here are my brand new G4 boots getting wet for the first time.

I cross the creek and continue hiking on downstream to the fence that marks the line between private property and the National Forest.

I often wondered what the creek would fish like downstream on the private land. I haven’t approached the owners yet to ask permission, but when I get here I usually think about doing it sometime, but not today. There’s too little time. Clouds are building to the west. It seems it’s been fairly dry here up till now, but apparently I have trailered the Monsoons up here with me, as would be played out in the coming week.

Now down the fence line to the creek.

I step down the slope into the water.

Come on, enough of that already….
Let’s make some casts….

Ahhhh….
Just as I remembered !!!!

Another please….

If you seen some of my other summer posts, you will recognize this creek….
And no, It won’t do any good to look back at those posts, I haven’t and won’t name it.
FOASTWRN

Here we go….

More of these please….

The only question is how much time will I have to fish? How many can I catch in the allotted time?

The answer is…. A Lot !!!!

Another reach….

How many will I catch here?

A Lot is always a good answer….

There were more in each of these runs, but they are all cookie cutter versions of the same!

So instead of showing you every fish (And I usually don’t unless it’s a particularity slow day anyway)
Here are the runs and riffles with some of the Cutts caught there….

When I come up here, there are 3 other Cutthroat creeks like this one, that I fish all the time.
When I’ve had a bad day, I pick one of these waters, so I can catch a good number, and feel better about everything.

And not to give anything away, but I should have fished more of these waters than I’d like to admit this year in the time I had left.
But most of these smaller creeks and streams are still doing quite well up here.

I have fished: the Green, the Snake, the Salt, and the Greys, but I tend to fish the creeks and headwaters of these rivers instead of the Big Water they offer.

Now there is one major river section I have been meaning to fish up here, but never got around to it.

And that is the South Fork below Palisades Reservoir.
I should just bite the bullet some year and hire a guide and drift it.
That is not in the cards this year, but maybe next year.

Again, these fish are mainly 6-12″, but some better ones do show up….

In fact I’ve caught fish to 17″ here….

Here’s the proof that little creeks can produce some surprisingly big Cutts

Some more of those better spots….

I cut the nose of this one, too bad….

And one more good spot….

Yeap, one of my favorite places to fish up here….

There’s nothing wrong with this creek !!!!
And then there is Thor playing with his hammer again. The dark clouds have made it to the ridge. I haven’t fished much more than 2 hours and landed 34 Cutthroats. Another blast rumbles through the valley. I need to go, because I need the Bronco to climb out on a pretty sketchy trail when it’s dry, much less if it’s pouring down rain. It’s just a loose rock twin track, not even a real forest road. So, I get out of the creek and start back. I hike along the edge of the creek, so much good water that I will not be able to fish today….

This is a place that I know well, of course it changes from year to year, depending on what the spring run-off did, and what the Beavers did afterward.

Yes…. Weather would be a big part of my stay up here this year.
It’s all part of the deal.
You play the cards that are dealt you and see what happens.

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

September 6, 2024 at 12:56 pm #16587

A Worthwhile Return Trip

It was a long night. I have been having lower back pain wake me up in the middle of the night and not being able to go back to sleep. I had slept maybe 2 hours and I woke at 3am. I tried some Tylenol but it had no real affect. I found that if I sit up in a chair, instead of laying down flat in bed, I could get a little more comfortable. Still, I was awake when the first light of dawn brightened the mountains in the east. I had some milk with whey protein as up I watched the sun come up. I was really tired. I turned on the TV and watched some of the Olympics again falling asleep in my chair sometime later. When I woke up, I had been asleep for about 90 minutes, and now I felt much better. I got dressed and being close to noon now I went out and got a burger.

It was going to be an afternoon start today and I decided to go back to the Cutthroat Creek I fished 2 days ago.

The drive takes a while once I’m on the forest roads and as they say it is not the miles, it’s the time it takes to cover them.

It’s a pleasant drive up into this Alpine Valley

Here I am again looking up into this small meadow

Today I would fish a little higher in the meadow and see if this fishing was the same. I pulled out my Sage 4711 LL again and put it together for another round.

The Hippie Stomper has severed me well….

It’s almost like walking in a daydream….

It’s all so easy….

And easy is what I looking for today, with very little in the way of energy reserves on tap….

But it’s not like I am the only one who knows about this little gem….

That’s a very fresh boot print….
Had he fished here today?
More likely yesterday.
But certainly not more than 3 days old because of how often it’s been raining up here.

No worries…

And those better Cutts are still coming and to take my fly floating by….

It’s one of those soft fuzzy days….

I am moving slow, but I still have my strength. I am not stumbling around, I am not wandering aimlessly, everything I’m doing has purpose.

Fish after fish….

No Cutts were pulling off seconds after they were hooked….

Everything seemed so perfect today.

There were still challenges….

Cutthroats hiding under the willows. A difficult cast to execute precisely and get it right the first time. To get the fly close enough to the willow without hanging up. And then the reward, to get the Cutthroat to notice and decide to come out from their hiding to take the fly.

And the satisfaction that comes from making all that happen….

This is the right day to happen after yesterday’s many and puzzling lost fish and last night’s insomnia….

No questions today

Just letting it happen naturally

God, I love flyfishing for these natives high up in the mountains

It perfectly suits me at my age and abilities

The fly is pulled under and I set the hook….
This little guy comes flying out of the water, past my shoulder, and landing back in the creek….
But no harm done….

I sun is already low on the horizon. I am feeling the end of the day coming fast.

And today, even being a short one on the water, is perfect for how I am feeling.

Some more really good sized fish from this meadow at around 10,000 feet….

The soothing sound of water moving downstream, tumbling over the rocks in the streambed….

Many cooperating Cutthroats

Then something unusual

Two flys in this Cutthroat. My Hippie Stomper and someone else’s Stimulator. I was right about the boot print. That Stimulator has not been there long. It’s still in fair shape. So, I remove both flys and release the fish back into it’s home.

One last run….

One more Cutthroat….

Just before I get out of this stream, I take one more look at what possibilities still lay ahead in this valley.

I have never been all the way to the headwaters.
Maybe Someday I’ll do that.
Here’s to Somedays….

I climb out of the water, up the stream bank, and move through the trees….

I take a long look up the valley and the mountains along the Continental Divide….

I spook a doe hiding in some trees. I bounds off, reaching the far tree line, before stopping and looking back at me….

I continue to walk through the meadow and it’s wildflowers as the light fades and forest prepares for sleep….

At the bottom of the meadow, I set my rod upon a post in celebration of the day well spent….

I cross the creek one last time and walk up to the Bronco. I open the rear door, pull out my stool. I sit down for the first time in hours. Sitting there and relaxing feels so good. I look around at this valley and enjoy everything the Creator has put here. After several minutes, just sitting, and just being here, I pull off my wading boots, dry my feet, put on some warm socks, and my tennis shoes. This is just what the doctor ordered. A pleasant day on the water, no rain, light breezes, and lots of Cutthroats….

I put everything away, close the rear door, and climb into the truck. I start the engine and listen to the music coming from the stereo. It’s nice. I put the truck in drive and start to move back down the forest roads towards Pagosa. I turn off the stereo, and lower the windows. I listen to what the forest has to say. The wind stirring the aspen leaves. The call from a hawk somewhere overhead, I look up and see it there, gliding, wings fixed, moving effortlessly through the sky. What it must be like to be that hawk and living in this valley?

The sun is gone, I turn on the headlights and follow the winding gravel road back home.

Really though, I am more at home in places like this, than in 4 walls with all the comforts the modern world.
Give me moving waters, meadows, forests, a light breeze, and Blue Bird Skies….
And of course, some Cutthroats that will take my dryflys drifting down a stream….

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

September 5, 2024 at 9:27 pm #16571

“My Rio Grande Cutthroat Favorite”

Joe still hadn’t nailed down passage to Puerto Rico, but he had also and enough of trying for awhile.
So today, he, Willow, Violet, and myself would head into the backcountry for a Rio Grande Cutthroat stream that has produced the largest Rio Grande Cutthroats I have ever caught in moving water. It’s a long trip. We would spend at least 1 1/2 hours just on Forest Roads to get there, and no I won’t name it. This is definitely in the “Fishing on a Stream that will remain Nameless” category.

Joe borrowed my Winston AIR 490 and I selected my Scott Radian 590. This stream can be Easy…. or it can be as tough as the Toughest Spring Creek you’ve ever fished. You just never know what you will get until you start fishing. Both of us geared up, we and the Labs went down to the stream.

We started off throwing medium sized Chubbies that usually work so well here….
And it didn’t take long….

Joe finished out the run without another strike….

Then it was my turn….

I was fishing up to and under the bridge….
As I approached the bridge and the shadows under it, I saw something move. You know, I didn’t really see a fish, I didn’t see it’s shadow, all I saw was that bottom moved. I will tell you, I’m not the best at spotting fish, but this time I noticed that something changed.
I cast to the spot….
Immediately whatever had moved took my fly.
While I was fighting the Cutt, Joe was saying…. he saw the fish and was just about to tell me where to cast, when I sent the fly and the fish took it.

An average fish for the first one, and happy to have it.

Joe took over on the other side of the bridge….

We saw some fish, but they took off upstream….

In the upper part of the run, we witnessed something that would be repeated throughout the day. A fish rose to the fly, we saw the fish take the fly down, Joe struck the Cutt, the rod loaded up for about 2 seconds, and the fly popped out and the fish was gone. It’s like he was holding on to the fly, with the hook point somehow never stuck in anything, and then it let go. Joe turned and looked at me and said….
Did you see that?
What happened there?
I really don’t know….
It would not be the only one either.
Both of us had fish strike, the rod load up, and then seconds later,… Nothing ?!?!?
Yes, it was going to be one of those tougher days on the water here.

I had my turn now….

No problems….

Then Joe worked upstream….

He had another fish come up, load the rod, and let go ?!?
Again ?!?!?
Joe was beside himself.
His luck turned though….

This was going to be a very strange day !!!!

It was time for the “Touch and Go” to happen to me.
I was working up a run. It was fairly straight and unobstructed, so I laid out longer and longer casts.

I had just cast about 50′ upstream, a nice Cutt came up and took my fly down. I set the hook, or at least I thought I set the hook, the rod loaded up, the fish swam from the left side of the creek towards the middle.
Then my fly and flyline came shooting back at me !?!?!
It had happened to me now.
And fortunately a few casts later, my consolation prize…..

But the tone was set for the day.
We were going to loose fish, we thought we hooked….

It was Joe’s turn at humiliation….

This time it happened to him twice. I thought he might take it out on the rod, he was so exasperated !!!!
He would look at me….
With that what did I do wrong look….
All I could say is
“I have no idea!”

I had some good luck and caught a better one….

Joe finally caught a good one without loosing one or more first….

In the next couple of hundred yards on the stream, we both had fish strike, load the rod, and come unhooked in a manner of seconds. I had one strike, jump and somersault, land in the water, start swimming in another direction, rod bent pretty good…. and then fly line screamimg back at my head !?!?!

Then Joe said….
I can deal with fish that won’t strike.
I can deal with fish that somehow throw the hook, like when they are jumping.
But when they become unhooked, with the rod under prefect pressure, not too little pressure, not too much pressure….
That Drives Me Mad !!!!!

We came up to this cool “S Bend” pool.
Joe caught a nice fish in the tailout.

I got my turn. This pool was loaded and we could see the fish were eating some emerger.
They ignored my Chubby. So I decided to change flys. While I was retying, Joe had added a dropper and sent it through the pod. They moved out of the way as the nymph passed them. I tied on a Callibaetis Spinner that I had bought at “Let It Fly”. I cast and let it drift back over the pod. They were interested, but it took several casts to get one to rise.
I set the hook….
Snap….

Joe said….
Too much of a Bass set in that one!….

I bought the leader in for a look. The knots had held and the brand new tippet I had just added, broke in the middle !?!?!
Bad Luck ?!?!?
That was so weird !!!!
Joe had tied on another dry/dropper was now working that pod again.

So, I cut off the bad piece of tippet, added a new piece, another new Callibaetis Spinner, and mashed the barb down… When I was finished putting the new fly on, I went up the side and started casting to a fish I could see in the run/riffle that led to the pool. It was a narrow, skinny, piece of water moving pretty fast, and I could see the Cutt holding in a little gut in the middle. I cast numerous times, trying to get the drift right. The fish didn’t move, he didn’t spook, he just kept in that little gut. I don’t know how many casts and drifts I made on the fish. Finally, a cast was just right, it drifted down to him, he came up and ate it. It was a better fish than I first thought. It turned and ran down into the pool. There, I played it a little more gingerly than the last. The water was deep, there was no wood in the bottom for him to dive into, and I took my time….
I pulled my net and waited….

He came by the first time….
Too far….
Patience….
He came by again….
Nope….
He was really starting to tire now….
Pulling the rod back over my head….
Scoop….
He was mine !!!!

This one was colored by the Master !!!! A solid fish, about 16″ long, but thick, heavy male….

Such a perfect specimen !!!! Not the biggest I’ve ever caught here, by a large margin, but maybe one of the prettiest. Just look how thick this male is all the way down his body to his tail. It’s fins were all prefect, and the spotting, well it couldn’t be more ideal for the species if Dave Whitlock painted a picture of one. It was an older Buck that had been eating well !!!!

I told Joe….
OK…. that’s the one I’ve been looking for all day.
If nothing else happens, I can still be happy with this !!!!

Of course, we caught a few more fish, Thank God !!!!
Joe worked through this run. I had high hopes for it as this is where I caught a 18″er last year….

There was a hole and undercut next to the boulder, but nothing showed this time….
A little later up the stream….

Then me….

The dogs were hungry and Joe headed back to the truck. I wanted one more….

Oops….

Not such a good handling of that one on my part….

I thought, just one more….

And I did catch one more, but fumbled that one too….

I looked back and Joe was nowhere in sight.
Time to go.

It was a pretty good walk back to where we parked the truck.

We landed some good fish, but it had been a day of frustration.
We each had several fish, come off, for no particular reason.
Still, this is the place. I will fish here any time I’m even close.
Sometimes it can be spectacular.
Sometimes you can barely find a fish, much less catch one.
And sometimes, they do things that will have you talking to yourself.
It was one of “Those Days” today.
But I will be back….

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

September 5, 2024 at 2:25 pm #16553

“What Recovery Looks like”

Today I would be revisiting a Cutthroat Creek that I have been fishing here in the Pagosa area almost from the very beginning, I think I actually fished it the second year I came here some 17 years ago or so. This creek drains off the ridge that is the Continental Divide and has harbored pure Cutthroats because of a series of waterfalls that block any upstream migration of Rainbow Trout. When I first started coming here the Cutthroat were numerous, but small. Big fish back then were 10″. As the years passed the Cutts got to be 12″. Then a series of forest fires, drought, and over-fishing, just about wiped the Cutthroat population out. I fished this creek some 6 years ago and caught just 2 fish. I talked to those who knew about this creek and they said the same thing, it wasn’t worth fishing anymore.

Good thing Mother Nature loves this creek, because it started to come back. I fished it last year and caught a decent number of Cutts and some were 12″ again. I was hopeful that the trend would continue and I would find this creek was as good as it ever was….

It’s a pretty long drive into the back-country….

Yes, the road would go from OK to “I hope I don’t break something”….

Embedded rocks in a washed out road….

I told you it would get worse….
Hold on….

Well That’s Better !!!!
And there it is….

Drive a ways, park the truck, and gear up….
I hike back down the meadow through the wildflowers….

Now, it’s time to find my way through the willows and get in the creek….

Today I am using my Sage 4711 LL Graphite III. This is my favorite from the Light Line series built in the 1980’s. And I have 7 LL models including the famous 389 LL. I tie on some new 5X tippet and put on Red Hippie Stomper. I ready and it doesn’t take many casts to get the first one on….

Perfect !!!!

I move upstream….
It’s a little more than I expected before my second bite,

but right in the seam behind the boulder….

Well it’s early, I say to myself, it should be an afternoon bite, and that is several hours off.

Here, somewhere in the shade on the right, under those willows, and hugging the bank….

There should be something in there.
Probing with my casts, getting the fly to drift into those little pockets along the bank, keep probing and….

Of course, it always could be the fly pattern is not the best choice, so right after catching one, change the pattern and see if another comes out that refused the original pattern. Nothing shows, so back to the Hippie Stomper.

Big enough to net in fast water. Again, change the fly pattern to a Wilcox Special and see what happens…. Nothing else….
Let’s keep it on for awhile and give it a try in some undisturbed water.

Then this target rich enviroment!!!!

You know that a Cutt has to be holding somewhere in those branches ready to jet out into the current to grab any tidbit that goes by….

Another cast along the fallen tree, a little higher and closer to the drop….

OK, is it the fly or is it the presentation? There’s always a few of those questions rattling around in my head!
Not sure yet, but these two flys are definitely working today.

It’s time to fish along with me.
Where would you cast? What fly would you chose?
Isn’t this just Grand?

This would have been the prize….

What about here?

Well, I started out in the middle and worked my way to the left.

This came from the lower bush on the left…

This one came from the bush right next to the riffle.

Always moving, always looking upstream….

I mean, you can’t pass up something as good as this!

You don’t have me yet….

Now what you do say?

This is getting Real Good !!!
That Cutt is 13, maybe 14″ !!!!
This turning out to be a really good day !!!!

Don’t you just love creeks like this?

I Do !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now here…. was the BEST spot of the day!….

A log had been swept downstream. The roots dug in and spun the upper part of the tree downstream. The water had hollowed out a hole under that log and it was over 3 feet deep in spots. This could be a multiple Trout place, so many places to hide, tailout, next to the log, under the log, behind it, up in the riffles….

I tell myself….
This is “Big Fish Water” and I tie on a #14 Copper Chubby.
I start at the tailout….
I take my time moving up, fishing it all thoroughly on the way up….

1

2

Take a few steps up.

Take your time and put the fly just where you want it….
A Cutt comes up to look at the Chubby,… but turns away !
The next cast in the same spot…. Nothing.
I cut the Chubby off and put the Hippe Stomper back on….
3

4

5

What Colors !!!!

Sorry for the blurry picture, but those colors !!!! I had to include it !
These are some really nice sized fish for this creek!!!! Previously, over all the years I’ve fished this creek, I have caught just a hand full of Cutts 12′ or better. Today I am SMOKING that number !!!!

A few more steps upstream to fish the head of the pool and riffle flowing into it….

6

7

That’s a crazy number in such a small stretch, in a small creek, but it had it all !!!!
Didn’t it?

It’s mid-afternoon now. The bite is “ON, like Donkey Kong !!!!”

I work my way up into this stretch.

It’s a little tight, so I use a “Bow and Arrow” cast to flick the fly right under the overhanging willows on the left….

Bingo…. The fly is Gone !
The fish twists and turns, trying to find a way to dislodge the hook. Darting to the right and then back to the left, maybe it will find a root to work with…
But no and I pull the net.

Another longer one….

Moving fast now, as the sun will soon be behind the ridges up here, long before dark….

And then the battery on the camera died !!!!
I kept fishing for awhile. I caught even more Cutts some around 13, 14, and even 15″ !!!!
I’ve never caught so many bigger Cutts here like I did today and probably the biggest I’ve ever landed here.
Do I sound excited?
Well I am !!!!
Now 13, 14, and even 15″ Trout won’t sound big to those Trophy Hunters out there. You know the ones! Those guys who catch a “Nice” fish and with arms outstretched, put the fish about 2″ from the lens to make it look bigger than it is in relation to their own body in the background, Those guys who will call a 18″ fish a 20″, a 20″ fish 23″, and a 22″er a…. well use you imagination. Now I like catching big fish as much as any other angler, but for me, it’s not necessary. I would rather catch a difficult fish, in a difficult lie, that’s 12, 13, or 14″, or a rare fish in their native drainage. And I love to fish for Cutthroats, where they have been since God put them there.

I’m not sure how many I ended up catching today, but it was a good number. And I caught probably my biggest Cutthroat in this creek ever !!!! This Creek is BACK,… in Big Way !!!! Sometimes, after things get bad, time passes and things return to what Mother Nature intended in the first place ! I think I will come back here when I can before I head north….

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

September 2, 2024 at 12:44 am #16552

I’m Dove Hunting Sunday and Monday. I’ll pick this back up later in the week….

Jimbo

[Jimbo]

Jimbo

August 30, 2024 at 9:17 pm #16544

“If it’s not “R”, it’s “W”

It’s Sunday and Joe is still working on getting Transportation to Puerto Rico…
I hang out at the condo and watch the Olympics for a while. They have been pretty good and the US is neck and neck with China for most Gold Medals.
About 2pm, joe says he can’t go fishing, so I load up, and head for some water.

For the first time in a long time, there’s not a cloud in the sky. (What you see are bugs on the windshield)

I cruise over the pass and think, I haven’t fished Pass Creek in a long time.
I get on the east side and look down at the creek. I don’t see many vehicles which is a good sign.
I drive the access road and park at my favorite spot to start.

I get out of the Bronco and I’m almost immediately hit with a gust of wind that pushes me back.
I stand there for a few minutes gauging the wind speed. Maybe it was a rouge gust.
Nope….
The more I stand there the windier it gets. There is a steady 15mph with gusts that are at least twice that !!!!
It’s way to exposed down there to try and flyfish with a 4wt !!!!
…. F#@%!n “W”….

I get back in the Bronco and head back down the hill. There is a small canyon section close to the Highway, that is heavily treed, and may offer some protection from the wind. The bad news is it’s also a place that is often filled with campers. I get down there, stop, get out, and the wind’s not bad and I only see one tent. Let’s try it.
I gear up and walk down through the woods. This section isn’t more than 100 yards, so I want to start somewhere near the bottom.
I’ve seen a lot of these mushrooms, I wonder what they are?

Now, I’ve gone far enough, time to poke my way through the streamside willows….

I step out into the creek….

To my amazement, there’s almost no wind in here !!!!

Let’s Fish !!!!

There you go….

A couple right off the bat.
This may turn out fine.

Yeap, just fine….

The catching is good. They are the usual sized small creek Trout, but I good with that !!!!

So here I go up the creek….

I’m starting to feel the wind now being where the canyon opens up….
Where should I go now?

Good thing about fishing here for so many years, I covered a lot of water, and I know places that are easy to get to and fish.
Back in the Bronco I’m headed down the South Fork to a pull out I know with a good stretch of water.

Down the slope to the river….

I work the run up to the next bend without a looker….
Then the first little guy comes to hand.

I work up into the next riffle/run….

Another, just a little bit bigger….

The next riffle/run….

And one a little bit bigger still….

Oops, I misjudged and cut part of his head off !!!!

Let’s keep moving

It’s getting real predictable….

Another 12-13″ Brown….

Now up to work the hole under the bridge. I have caught so many fish here over the years.
I work my way up the left side and position myself to be able to cover most of the water, being right-handed.

I start by casting into the tailout of the main current. A Brownie strikes, turns and runs downstream, and then pulls off.
I cast a little higher, another Brown grabs the fly. This one stays in the pool and is soon in my net.

It’s a decent fish, maybe 14″….
I work the seam on my side close to the drop. A little side-arm cast and I deliver the fly right on target. It drifts about halfway back and it’s gone….
Fish On….

Another decent fish. I unhook this one and cast to the far seam….
Bam !!!

The bridge treated me excellent.

Now to work up the riffles on the other side.

A little guy, but I’m not complaining….

Working higher in the riffle….

Another little man….

So, I’m up at the top now. It’s getting late. I could go and this would be a decent day. First though I scan the flat water up ahead. I watch for a few minutes and don’t see anything. I keep watching. I guess nothing is happening….

Then I see a rise!
I keep watching. A minute later another close to that spot. They are about 50′ ahead of me. I take to the left bank and work up through the trees. I slip back close to river’s edge and watch. There it is again maybe 25-30′ above me. I put one foot in the water and face upstream. I pull some line off the reel and calculate what I need to put the fly about 3′ above that.
I make the cast….
I watch the fly drift back.
A nose pokes through the surface film.
I strike, sending droplets of water into the air as the flyline comes tight and highlighted, glowing in the setting sun.
The rod loads up and the fight is on. This is perfect !!!
I land this Brown.

Not bad !!! But most importantly this is the first Trout, I’ve seen rising to a hatch, and I was able to target the fish and land it.
I release it back into the river.

I look upstream again and watch.
A couple of minutes pass.
There’s another rise…. and another….
There are several Trout up here still rising.
I wait and make sure where they are.
They are holdiing station and not really moving upstream.
This is what dreams are made of, Trout rising to a hatch, and I have the right fly on to catch them.

I select another rise form.
I make the cast, too far left.
I make another, it drifts back, this fish porpoises on the fly, taking it down….
I lift the rod and I’m tight again.
I’m giddy…
I net the fish and it’s another good one.

Usually this doesn’t happen this late in the season. Rising Trout to an evening Hatch !!!!
I admire the colors on this one and let it go.

I watch the water up ahead again. That last fish must have disturbed them. The remaining fish are now another 20′ up the river. I work as slowly as I can…. I imagine myself a Blue Heron, stepping up the edge of the river. I am watching my feet so as to not make a splash or step on top of a rock that will roll or cause to slip off making noise. I glance up every now and then. Those fish are still there. Just a few more feet. A few more careful steps. I look up. There’s still a couple of fish rising. I turn upstream and measure the distance in my head. The water settles down and I make the cast. There in the glare of the sun on the surface, I see my fly drifting back, it goes past the last rise. I am a second away from picking everthing up off the water….
And the Trout Takes it !!!!

What can I say….
I release this one and look into the sun’s glare again.
I study the water.
It’s all quiet now. No more rising Trout.
I keep watching for several minutes, but they are gone now.

The perfect end to the day.
The wind tried to blow me off the mountain.
I adapted and caught fish.

I moved to a favorite piece on the South Fork….
And just blind casting to likely holding spots….
And I caught some good fish.

Then at the end of the day.
I was just about to leave….
And they started to rise to a hatch….
And I caught Trout.

I goin’ home one happy fisherman.

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

August 30, 2024 at 5:03 pm #16538

“Like Looking for the Seven Cities of Cibola”

I am always open to explore and look at new creeks hoping to find another population of Cutthroats. Today I would drive into the backcountry to look at a drainage that I’d never fished before. It all started, as they usually do, with my maps, and then going to Google Maps to see what they look like, before I decide if it’s worth the drive. I’ve found some pretty good fisheries over the years doing this. Would today be another one of those days?

I loaded up the Bronco, topped off it’s tank, and headed east. Over the pass, down the South Fork, then up Beaver Creek Road.

Then I turn on a non-descript gravel road and head up in 4 wheel drive.

This road was about 18 miles to my target meadow.

Up, up, up….

About an hour and a half later, the creek is getting close….

It’s awful small…. But then I’ve fished in trickles before and been happily surprised.
Getting real close, you can see the meadow from here….

I park the truck and get out to look around.

The creek is mostly overgrown here….

I walk over, rod in hand, to find some open spots to dabble a fly on the water….

Nothing rises, nothing spooks that I can see….
I try fishing just below the road culvert….

Here I stay low, and put a sneak on, I stick the rod over the water, I take my hat off and only my eyes are above the bankside willows….
Nothing

I start to walk up the meadow and look for signs of life.
Like Coronado’s Cities of Gold, my Cutthroats are nowhere to be found.
The ground lights up, seconds later thunder cracks, pops, and rolls across the meadow.
Maybe some fish are here, but today I didn’t find them.
Not a single Trout or Char to hand.
Maybe there is a waterfall downstream.
Maybe there is no water deep enough to winter over this high.
Maybe I just didn’t find the few that are here.
But I have got to go now before it storms.

I drive back down.

It starts to sprinkle.
The Bronco bounces, rocks, and rolls over the embedded rocks on this road. Not much in the way of road maintenance up this high.
It takes a pretty long time to get back down to the Beaver Creek valley.
I drive past where this same creek flows into the Beaver. I pull up to take a look.

I look closely and see a few little Trout.
I go back to the Bronco and get my rod.
This looks like a good spot to fish….

Victory….

I catch a couple more.
This creek has not skunked me today.

It’s late in the afternoon now. I drive down the road to where Beaver gets close to the South Fork. I haven’t fished this reach in years. It is close to the campground, but because it enters a steep canyon in this reach, not many fish down here. Time to see what it’s like this year….

They are here. Pretty much the same as upstream. When I fished this creek early in the trip, the numbers coming to hand were less than I have come to expect over the years.
Today the numbers are just fine. I think I was right the first time, it was the rain that had the bite off. Now, with no rain falling, drifting my drys on the surface, these Trout want them today.

Yes, I catch tiny Trout too….
And some worth pulling the net

Pretty cool places to flyfish….

Average sized Brown here….

Taking it all in….

The Browns are showing up today….

I see only midges and tiny mayflies in the spider webs….

Again, some of what I saw….

I climb out….

I decide to head down to the South Fork and look around.

I make a cast and it drifts perfectly along the far cutbank. Something takes the fly and heads downstream. The little 4 weight is bent over good. I follow downstream and I am able to net a pretty good Brown. I get my camera ready, pull the Brown out of the net, but it struggles, and I have to let it go. Best Brown of the day and no evidence of this butterball. You know, that’s the way it happens sometimes….
I work upstream a ways but with no other strikes.
I turn around and what do I see?

Black Ducks, just as calm as you please, following me around. You’d think they were hand-raised in somebody’s backyard, but these are as wild as the wind.

Well. It was time to go home once again. I caught fish today.

But today was a disappointment.
I had been high in a small drainage, with visions of big Cutthroats coming to hand, but it was a BUST !!!!
Yes sometimes things don’t work out.
But that’s part of the game too.
There are no guarantees.
Other than a possibility….
To discover something remarkable.

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

August 29, 2024 at 10:07 pm #16527

“New Water”

Every year, it is important to me to explore new waters. Today Joe is going to his friend’s memorial, and myself, I’m headed to Creede to fish a new creek. My first stop would be the Orvis Fly Shop in Creede. Here I am driving up the Rio Grande northwest of South Fork.

Through the Gap….

Then driving up the valley where Creede’s historical mining started….

I stopped in Creede and bought some flys and floatant at the Fly Shop. While I was there I pulled out my maps and I talked to the proprietor about the creeks in the area.
Sure enough, several of them were ones he fished and the one I targeted today, had it all: Browns, Rainbows, Brookies, and Cutthroats.

Confident, I left Creede and headed to this creek.

Geez…. looks like rain !!!

As I got closer, things looked a little better, still, there’s no way I’m going up the trail without my rain jacket. I reached the end of the trailhead and geared up with my favorite small creek rod, my Sage 476 XP and started up the trail. It started sprinkling when I was gearing up so I pulled out my old Up-side-downer to keep my head dry. I hadn’t gone 50 yards, when I met another flyfisherman coming out. We stopped and talked a few minutes about the creek and what to expect. He said go to the double bridge across the creek and then start fishing. Sounds good to me….

I get real excited going into new water. I passed the bridge and thought to myself, this is probably where he fished today, so I am going a bit further. Plus, the higher you go the better your chances at finding Cutthroats.

Maybe a bit further….

I am now somewhere about a mile from the trailhead. Time to go look at the creek and make a decision….

I mean, this sure looks fishy to me !!!

Here I made a couple of casts working both sides of the current seam. Nothing happened? I hit the inside seam again right next to the roots in the water and a Brown came out from shadows and smashed the Hippie Stomper. This was a good fish and I let him run around a bit before I pulled my net…..

Sweet !!!! The first fish was about 14-15″, very nice !!!!

This was a very good sign of what might be in this creek.

The willows and streamside trees were thick along the creek. It was going to make approaching the water to fish, a tactical thing, where you could fish certain stretches, and then you would have to retreat, move up the creek and look for another spot to fish. Some of the creek was densely canopied with willows and my Loomis 6 1/2′ 3wt. would have been a better choice. These are the things you learn on a first time visit to new water. Still there were plenty of places my 7 1/2′ 4wt. was just fine.

Mark Dillow, has told me many times I needed to fish the creeks around Creede….

Mark…. You were right !!!!

Another fat Brown about 13-14″….

This is the kind of water that makes me a “Creek Geek”

A more average sized Brown that I expect….

Some open stretches, that made life easy….

First Brookie of the day….

I was getting lucky here, with long stretches of open water….

I made a cast and saw something real colorful flash at my fly and take it down….

Nice looking Brookie !!!!

I’m telling you, this is looking real good….

These fish were not in as predictable lies as I had expected.
So, I cover everything with my casts, because they might not be in the eddies, and shadows, as much as in the non-descript riffles….

Here’s some water and the fish that live in them….

Watch out for the Wild Roses and Stinging Nettle….

My first Rainbow of the Day

There’s got to be one behind that rock waiting….

Yeap….

Canopied and “Bow and Arrow” country….

Squeeze in there, pull back the fly’s leader, and let it go….

And some places you just pass by, getting in there is one thing, getting out is another….

So, I jump ahead and look for another place to get in….

Smell the flowers along the way….

Look at the peaks towering above me….

Then look towards the creek once again….

And one last Brown….

Well, this was a nice creek. I never did find a Cutthroat here, but I think I’ll keep this one to myself for awhile, and come back and start even higher to find my favorite quarry…. Now it’s time to turn around and hike out….

I arrived at the trailhead and guess what….
It started to rain!
Come on, you knew that !!!

Now driving back out and down the Rio Grande and eventually Pagosa….

Dramatic lighting….

Heading back up Wolf Creek Pass at Dusk….

So would I do it again?
You Bet !!!
And next time I will be here earlier, to hike higher up in the drainage to find those Cutthroats I’m after.

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Jimbo

August 29, 2024 at 6:22 pm #16521

“Higher Ground”

Joe was still working on getting to Puerto Rico, so I would be fishing solo today. The entire area had thunderstorms in the forecast, so that meant certain places on the must fish list, were not among today’s possible choices. After looking at my maps, I decided to head up into a higher meadow section of Park Creek. Not much to do other than make a Jelly and Peanutbutter sandwich, fill the camelback, and head out the door.

I’ve always marveled at the sheer rock cliffs along the highway going up Wolf Creek Pass

Over the Continental Divide, Wolf Creek Pass is 10,856′, and then down in the Rio Grande basin.
Then up Park Creek Road to one of the upper meadows.

I park on a bench overlooking the upper portion of this meadow, get out and gear up.

I’m still using one my creek rods. I enjoy the light and relatively short rods while fishing dryflys, for smaller Trout, and at short distances.

The creek is generally shallow and inviting. There are 4 major meadows going up Park Creek, and then there is the uppermost headwater, where the creek is very small, and full of mostly Brookies. I start off with a Hippie Stomper again, the real choice is which size and which color will work best.
#l6 Red is a good place to start….

The last few years Gold was #1 followed by Yellow and Purple. But this season Red seems to be the ticket if they are the least bit picky.

The catching is real good from the start….

Funny how one fish can be real buttery in color, followed by the next one, much more pale and silvery in general appearance.

Both fish are healthy, but color variation, among individuals, of the background and spots is amazing….

Another thing I do constantly, and especially after landing a Trout, I will check the tippet for nicks. If there is any abrasion or nick, I cut it off, wrap into a loop and stuff it in my fly-vest for later disposal. I do my best to leave no tippet material or flys behind. Here I am tying on a new piece of tippet with a double surgeon’s knot. Fresh tippet allows me the maximum amount of pressure to land that next Trout which might be a fish of a life-time. You never know when it’s coming, so “Be Prepared”.

Add the fly and I’m ready to do battle with the occasional “Big One” that shows up on the end of my line. I have caught Browns to 18″ in this creek, although they are very rare here.

It a good day, but T-Storms are building over the ridge, and the rumble of thunder is rolling up the valley. It won’t be long before my rain-jacket will be needed.

Best to make hay while you can….

You know I am higher in the drainage when Brookies start showing up….

A great looking piece of water with a little depth….

Here two Browns back to back…. Notice the difference in the numbers and boldness of their black and red spots and their halos….

It was another stupid numbers day. A day that just unhooking and releasing Trout, can result in the fabled “Bass Thumb”. Where the skin in your finger tips is pricked an lifted, giving them a soft fuzz appearance. What I would do, to be standing in this stretch of water again, and casting to the Browns waiting there….

The good thing about these posts, are they allow me to do just that, metaphorically….
I close my eyes and I’m back there, with sudden movements of the Browns coming out hiding spots, and taking my flys down.

It’s started to rain again, so I pull on my rain jacket. I am getting a lot of use out of it this year. I will tell you, I really like my Simms Gore-Tex. I’ve bought it maybe 6 or 7 years ago and it is everything you would want in rain protection. It is also easily packable, but heavy enough to lessen the impact of hail if you encounter it.

Bam !!!!….
He’s on and running all over the place. My rod flexing this way and that as the fish tries to get away….

The numbers are adding up to something close to 50 again….

When is enough… enough?
That is a very hard question if there is still light on the water.
But with Lightning, that makes the decision more urgent and imperative.
The day is cut a little short, but better than ending up a piece of fried bacon in the forest.

There is a little climbing to do out of the narrowing of the valley up here, but I’m on top and hiking back to the Bronco quickly.

Soon I see the Bronco sitting on the bench overlooking the creek.

The day was excellent, if the Thunderstorm hadn’t showed up, who knows how many I would have landed. A full day here, when the creek is fishing well, 100 is not out of the question. My high-water mark here was a day when I stopped at 125….
And this place is no secret, but no need to spread it’s name around either.
Respect this water and it will stay like this for a long time.

Jimbo

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Jimbo

August 28, 2024 at 8:20 pm #16507

“Fishing On A Stream That Will Remain Nameless”

So, Wednesday came around and Joe was still working on everything necessary to fly himself and his dogs to Puerto Rico without spending 3-5000 dollars !!! He was on the phone with various carriers trying to figure out what was the best airport to fly out of, and or if he would need to hire a special carrier just for the Labs !?!?! He was very frustrated bouncing around from different agents, and getting different stories about what was available. He couldn’t have been more uncomfortable, if you told him he needed to hit his thumb with a hammer everytime before he called….

It was almost noon before he gave up on getting an answer today. And since we were fishing together today, we would be taking the Escape.

So, we loaded the rods, our vests and boots, Willow and Violet, their food and water, in the back, and jumped in….
We drove through town and stopped at “Let it Fly”. I wanted to pick up some “rubber legs” to repair some of my attractors that had their legs broken off by Trout. I am constantly amazed how a Trout can decide to eat one of my attractors, only grab a leg to pull it under. And when I strike, I get the fly back sans a rubber leg. I mean what evolutionary tactic have these Trout developed to test whether what they think is a real insect, like a hopper, or a fake, by grabbing it by the leg first, instead of just taking the whole thing in their mouth?

From there, we drove east, and discussed where we should fish. Cutthroats were on our mind, so we agreed of a very small little stream that held a special population on Cutthroats. Since this is a special place, it’s location won’t be devulged….

FOASTWRN

So down the forest roads we go. We stop where we can reasonably approach the stream. This is such small water that today we are taking just one rod, that we will share, fishing this stream. It’s really one of the smallest headwater creeks you can fish, so one rod, and alternating fishing holes while going upstream makes sense….
We spend some time bushwacking through the forest to get to where we can start fishing….
And then, there it is….

One cast is all it takes….

I catch a couple more and hand the rod to Joe

In this water the fish are very opportunistic, almost anything they see will be eaten, if you don’t spook them first.

Yes these fish are very small. These Cutthroats average about 6-8″, a 12″er is king in these waters.

I get my turn.

Even in these small pieces of water, you can usually catch 2 or 3 fish there, before you hand off the rod and move up to the next piece that holds fish.

Again, there is no need to show you every fish, many were caught by both of us today. We will spend most of our time actually getting to the next spot to fish as actually fishing that spot. This creek has a very high gradient, stair-step fashion, and many deadfalls that must be negotiated before you are in position to fish the next piece of water. This can be a lot of work and one can get pretty scratched up doing this kind of fishing, but for us, fishing aboriginal populations of Cutthroats in their native habitat is well worth every bead of sweat and every drop of blood. Some will understand this effort to catch these little fish, others will just shake their heads, and use words like: why, crazy, pointless, nuts, to describe us….

Exempla Grata

Almost anyone would fish the hole below….

But would you climb up on top of those logs, to fish the little open spots between the logs, risking slipping and falling, maybe scraping yourself up, or breaking a bone, much less your(my) rod in the process, for a 8″Cutthroat? We would and do all the time….

One of the open spots, and Joe makes it pay off….

My Turn….
Much of the casting is done, “Bow and Arrow” style, as there’s a pletera of entanglements from all sides and above.

Here I am using the willows to hide me, from the Cutts upstream, and you can see me holding tension in the rod for a perfect Bow and Arrow delivery….

Hummm…. questional genetics in this one….
Whose your Daddy?

Again after a couple of fish, I hand the rod off to Joe….
Jackets are now on as a light rain starts.

Success….

The fishing today is like this over and over again….

I came up on this spot. I took this photo after catching somewhere around 8 Cutthroats in this little spot.

Most of the fish were under the willow in the shade on the left. There is that little space between the branches to land a fly. Here I was deadly. 6 of the those Cutts came out of the spot. My Bow and Arrow delivery was spot on. I was amazed at just how many I was able to pull out from the willow and not spook the others. The last few came from just below the logs crossing the stream above me.

It stopped raining and Joe took his jacket off….

The last spot….

These fish can be so beautiful….

And now I take my jacket off for the trip out of here.

OK, now we have worked our way well upstream, uphill, and past a 100 deadfalls. We can backtrack our way back down the creek, or climb our way out the side, and look for a bench up there, where we don’t have to crawl over all those deadfalls again. So, we bushwack our way across the floor of the valley, and then start up a shale scree slope.
I should have taken a photo looking at the way up, but once I started, I didn’t want to stop for anything, to avoid the shale under my feet from deciding it was time to visit the bottom.

Safe on top….

Now we need to find a way down….

After negotiating this slope we find a bench that leads us back to the forest road we are parked on….

Mission accomplished once again.
No broke bones, no broken rods, and lots of moments with a light flyrod in hand and eager Cutthroats attacking our flys….

Jimbo

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Jimbo

August 28, 2024 at 2:56 pm #16493

“Bad Luck and Good Luck…. The Same Coin”

Many of you have heard me talk about my friend Joe Eichelberger, who used to live and guide in Pagosa Springs. He moved to Hawaii to open a Fly Fishing Shop and Guide Service. Unfortunately, the money end of the deal went sideways. He did live there for a time after that, just to chase the largest Bonefish species in the world. He had a lot of stories about chasing them around the islands and 20lbers, who never made it to his hands. From there he moved to Florida, where again Bad Luck found him, and he ended up in a job away from flyfishing. Some Good Luck, finally caught up with him, in the form of a job managing a large construction project in Puerto Rico. But before he would start that job, one of his good friends in Pagosa passed away. He knew I was going to be in Pagosa during the time of the memorial for his friend, so I invited him to crash at my condo while he was in town.

He arrived Sunday and he and I spent Monday hanging out and catching up since the last time I saw him in Pagosa. We decided to fish on Tuesday and it didn’t take much time to settle on Park Creek. So, Joe, his two labs Willow and Violet, and myself, headed over Wolf Creek Pass, and headed up to a meadow I often fish.

Joe was also working on arranging to fly to Puerto Rico with his labs, which if you don’t know,…. flying internationally with pets, since COVID, is a nightmare of: getting certificates of health, arranging the timing of fights so the dogs are not exposed to excessive heat while loading into the cargo of the planes, and selecting a carrier that will even take dogs on flights !!! So, you see him in my rearview mirror in a Grey Ford Escape, and yes that is my old Ford Escape, that is now his. If you even wondered what happened to it, my old Escape is still going on many fishing trips, as suits it’s upbringing !!!! But…. Joe could not spend the entire day fishing as he expected calls about his labs certificates and the scheduling of flights from the US to Puerto Rico, “Bad Luck”…. And myself, I wanted to fish as long as I could, so I’m in my Bronco….

We arrived and drove down into the meadow. There we geared up, Joe using my Sage 4711 LL and me my Sage 476 XP. We started above the camping area and headed upstream. Since Joe only had something less than 2 hours to fish, and this is a one person water, he started off in the lead….

We fished upstream and as Joe’s luck has been running, the fish were not real eager to take our flys….
This stream has been historically very productive, but we covered quite a bit of water, before Joe landed his first….

I let Joe stay in the lead, because of his limited time on the water, and I fished behind him catching several small Browns in his wake….

We were covering a lot of water and seeing below average numbers?
Was it the proximity to the camping area? Maybe long term drought or even the time of day? We could only guess….

Finally, he had his second Brown….

Again, it was a good stretch upstream before he caught his third….

Believe it or not, we had been on the stream for 1 1/2 hours, and not many fish to show for it. “Bad Luck”….
Joe said he had to go now if he were to be back in Pagosa in time to catch the incoming calls.

“The Same Coin”

From here on, I would be fishing alone, and see what I could do….

They say, luck runs in streaks….
I believe that is true !!!!

I caught 5 Browns about as fast as you can cast, land the Trout, unhook it, and cast again….

It’s almost as if a switch was turned on. Was it the increasing distance from the campers? Was it the time of day? Or was it a little of both?
I’m using the same flys and the catching just becomes…. well…. Incredible !!!!

Now this creek was producing like I have known it is capable. Fish after fish…. They were behind mid-stream rocks, hiding in the shade of the willows, even in the shallow riffles, almost everywhere you could imagine a Trout waiting, they were there, and ready to strike. Now I didn’t land everyone of them, but when there are so many willing to pull the fly under, even the ones who spit the hook, are a cause for joy, because now you didn’t have to handle them to remove the hook, before you cast again to a likely spot, and have another Brown strike !!!!

I could bore with all these small but willing Browns, but I won’t. Just enjoy, moving upstream with me and a few of the Browns that were caught….

What is “Joy” in flyfishing?
Today, it was knowing there is no real end to catching these Browns.
Numbers? Well, you can try and count them, but you loose count sometimes. Especially for me today, when you hook one, start to count it before you land it, it comes off, you hook another that comes off and then finally land the next one. The numbers got silly fast. I was in a state of “DryFly Zen” !!!!

It’s my “Good Luck”, to be right here, right now !!!!

Here I enter a canyon section of the creek. I’ve been here before. I’ve never been all the way through it before and it’s starting to get late, but I do know where I can climb out in a certain section, as I’ve done that several times, so I press on….

The shadows were getting long now. I had a climb out of several hundred feet, and then a hike back to the Bronco….
It was time to call it.
Up and out I go….

My path out was as I remembered it. Straight up, then going left staying on top of a ridge bordering a wash. Then straight up again to the road.

Getting close to the road, I stopped to look around.

For the first time I saw that I was closer to the next meadow that I thought. There was probably another 300 yards or so, and I would pop out in the next meadow section…. Someday I need to go all the way through and fish into that lower meadow section.

I topped out on the road, started my way back down and into the meadow where I started, and the Bronco was parked.
It was longer than I remember, but when you get older, those walks always seem longer….

How many did I catch? Let’s say around 50….
And if Joe had just stayed another 15 minutes, he would have probably caught double digits.
But He had to go. His ” Bad Luck”
And the beginning of my “Good Luck”
Fishing is like that at times.
If you had only stayed a few more minutes….
If you’d only changed your fly sooner….
There are so many “if’s” in flyfishing
And if you don’t try
You’ll never know

Jimbo

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

August 26, 2024 at 10:59 pm #16473

“Is it Going to Rain?”

I rose early and drove to McD’s for a Sausage Egg McMuffin, I love those things. Back at the Condo, I’m looking at my maps. I decide to go look at the Hermosa River down in the lower valley. I’ve looked at this on Google Maps before and seen some videos. There’s some good looking water down there and some decent sized creek fish. So, that’s the plan….

They are flying this morning….

I grab a couple of 4wts, throw them in the Bronco, and I’m off….

Headed west on Hwy 160 and I pass a familiar landmark…. Chimney Rock

I make the turn at Durango and head north on 550. Next as I cross the bridge that spans Hermosa Creek, I look down and there seems to be a good amount of water in it. I find the the forest road that takes me to the trailhead of Hermosa Creek. It’s a rough paved road that turns to gravel and gets real narrow going up. When I get close to the parking spot I realize the trail is way above the creek.

There is no quick exit if the weather gets rough today, so time to rethink this….

Well, I know E Hermosa is not that far from here. I haven’t fished it in a while, so it’s “Plan B” again….
Back down the forest road, back to 550 and north again to Purgatory Ski Area. Once there I take to forest roads that lead to the back side. It’s muddy and slick, I switch to 4 wheel drive and lock the differentials.

About 20 minutes later, there she is….

Yeap, there are clouds up the valley, down the valley, and on the side ridges….
Where’s my Gore-Tex?

This is really 2 or 3wt. water, but I didn’t bring one, so I pull the Sage 476 XP again….
I stuff my rain jacket in my vest with a Jelly and Peanutbutter sandwich and start down into the meadow. As you can see I am below the west side of the ski resort. This is a Colorado Cutthroat Restoration area that was started years ago. Before that, this was Big Brookie Water. CF&W decided this would be an excellent place to have a Cutthroat only headwater to feed the Hermosa River downstream. It also had an initial setback because not all the Brookies were removed the first time, as it’s often very difficult to hit every tiny little pocket of water to make sure no fish left anywhere above the fish barrier. The second time stuck though, and it’s been getting better over the years. Of course, this meadow is where the springs pop out, so the fish are generally small, but they are pure Colorado Cutthroats.

Who’s watching me?

I walk a little ways down the meadow. I am expecting rain, but I want to give myself some room to fish upstream.
Here’s as good a place as any to start….

The Yellow Hippie Stomper goes on first….

I make a few casts and it starts to sprinkle already….
Vest off, pull the Gore-Tex, slip it on, vest back on, and ready to catch.

They are here, and they are eager to take just about anything. I catch several this size. The rains starts to come down a little harder.

The Cutts still are attacking my flys….

The rain steadily gets harder….
And then it starts to hail….

You’ve got to laugh at yourself for chasing Trout in the mountains this time of year. The hail is already pea-sized and as dark as these clouds are it could get bigger. I start my retreat to the Bronco and sure enough the hails does get bigger. Some nickle sized is coming down now, enough to sting a little as it hits my legs going up the slope to the road.

So, a little time-out in the truck, but I am prepared. I start to eat my Jelly and Peanutbutter sandwich, the stereo is on playing SRV “Couldn’t Stand the Weather” and I start to read “No Shortage of Good Days” by John Gierach. I can hear the clicking of the hail and the rain on the Bronco’s top, but it’s small enough not to do any damage. Then again if it were larger, about all I could do is stuff it in the pines, as there’s no real shelter anywhere up here. It rains a good 30 minutes, and then lightens up for the next 15 minutes before stopping altogether. There is no better flyfishing author to read while passing the time than John.

The rain stops, I step out of the truck and look around….

Well it’s not ideal, but it’s all that I have….
Let’s see how long I can fish this time !!!
Down the valley….

Up the valley….

It really wants to rain here !!!

This time I arrive with my Gore-Tex already on….
Good Choice !!!

Well, at least there’s no hail, and no lighning….
Yet….

I catch a number of fish, the rain tapers off, but I can hear thunder and see lightning just over the ridge….

Time is up again….
Runaway and fish another day….

I hike back up to the truck, shuck my gear, and stow it for the trip home. It rains on me driving back out of the forest roads and turning south on 550.
I drive about 5 miles and traffic comes to a stop….
They are turning the cars around.

When I roll up to the officers directing traffic, I ask if they will let me drive through, and they do….

There was some much hail with the rain, it caused a slurry, that froze, and clogged up the drainage, resulting in some deeper water and hail covering the road.
With the Bronco in 4 wheel-drive, makes it through easily….
A little further down the road, another bad spot with rock that slid down, and covered some of the road….

While driving back to Pagosa, my niece calls. They as staying here with her in-laws and they asked me out to dinner at the Meridian. Sure, why not, I love a free meal. By the way, this new restaurant is nice, but for the prices, I think it’s just OK. Personally, I rather eat at Kip’s or Sage….

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

August 24, 2024 at 3:55 pm #16459

There was going to be a theme, this trip. Mother Nature was wide awake, the monsoons were starting to kick in, but not coming from the south south west, but more from the west and even north west. Saturday morning broke and there was a morning shower. With this is mind, afternoon storms almost a certainty, I was headed east over the pass, and down to Beaver Creek. This is a small tailwater, mainly a brown Trout fishery, and one of my favorites over the years.

When fishing both sides of the divide, I always bring 2 or 3 flyrods, to cover the bases in case I need to move to plan B or C. Today the quiver includes: Sage 476 XP, 4711 LL, and Winston AIR 490 in case I fished the South Fork. Heading east out of Pagosa and driving up the San Juan Valley. Mostly Blue Skies, but a few clouds are already building on the west side at this time of the morning….

I usually start about half-way between the campgrounds. I gear up with the 476 XP and head down to the water.

Now this stream does see some pressure. It is also a place where locals do hit it hard and harvest does take it’s toll, but most years there is still plenty of Trout that will rise to my dries. I start off with a yellow Hippie Stomper and it doesn’t take but a few casts….

Full of confidence, not much wind, I am hitting the edges of seams, pockets, pillows above, and holes below mid-stream boulders as I work my way upstream. Something is off though. Usually, I can’t go more than 20′ without catching a fish. Today, I work well past the standard and don’t see a fish roll or spook one from it’s hiding spot.

Upon reaching this choke point, with that log creating a fall and hole below, I know there must be a Brown next to the Boulder….

And I’m right….

Well, not all my pictures are perfect. I was hoping for a couple of fish here, but just the one.

I work the fork to the left of the big boulders and find a little Rainbow.

So maybe the catching will be normal. I do notice that banks have well worn paths of stomped down grass, more than I am used to seeing in past years.

I fish around the small island and have zero Strikes. It’s time to question the fly I am using. So, the usual suspects get their chance to get wet, foam LYS, Parachute Adams, Small Chubby, Stimulator…. But like most small streams, it’s not the fly, it’s the presentations and the fish. Well there is always the other things….

Checking the spider webs, small mayflys, well dried out, but probably PMDs and Tricos.

Another choke point with the flow funneled and creating a nice hole….

And it pays off….

Thinking this might be one of the multiple fish spots….
But only one rises….

What’s going on? Maybe it’s the wrong time of day? Maybe the morning shower and now full sun have them hunkered down and refusing to look up to the surface?
Fish can’t squint you know….
I’m covering the water more quickly than normal without the strikes and refusals that slow the pace.

Good flows, clear water, casts on target….
Patience, I tell myself, the fish will come.

The yellow Stimulator pays off.

Another good stretch of water….

I land a Rainbow that won’t wait for the camera. And another tiny Rainbow not worth the pixtels…. I don’t take pictures of every fish and some that are worth a picture flip off and otherwise have no portrait.

I am also noticing something else. This stream is predominately a Brown Trout stream, somewhere in the 4 or 5 to every Rainbow.
Today they are running neck and neck.

Even though this is a tailwater, storms or unusual high runoff can push the trees down….
I decide to go back to my Hippie Stomper. Gold has been my favorite color, but I ran out of those last year.
Yellow my second favorite, but is not working as well, so I try a red one.

My casting is certainly not the problem and the right drift still brings up the occasional Trout.

I am now at the upper campground. I’ve landed 10 fish. I am disappointed with the numbers. There are a good number of campers here, and it’s not that many days from the July 4th crowd. So, I make my way back to the truck. I decide to drive up to where the flow gage is located and fish up into the canyon. Clouds are starting to fill the sky. I will not be fishing till dusk today, but let’s see what I can do. If there is a Cutthroat to be caught, this is the likely water.

I get to the pull-out. There are 2 vehicles parked here, but as soon as I get there are a couple of anglers coming up from the creek. I ask how they’ve done, they just fished the hole, and caught only one. As I swing my vest on and grab my rod, I am hoping the other vehicle is an ATVer. I climb down to the creek here and head downstream to fish upto the hole and give it time to rest. I hear thunder. I may not have long to fish before it opens up.

There’s a good long hole here. First cast brings a splashy rise, but no hookup. I study the water. I see nothing else in the tailout’s bottom. With time limited, it’s time to cherry-pick the water.

Another Rainbow, but at least I am catching Trout. Red seems to be working and I keep that fly on for what turns out to be the rest of the day. Nothing else to the surface in the remainder of that hole.

It’s starting to sprinkle….
I fish all the way up to the flow gage and it’s hole, nothing shows itself.
As I go around the gage to the upper section, I see and angler climbing out of the canyon ahead of me.
No time to change spots. There’s already a light rain coming down and expect that it’s going to get worse.

I try a bow and arrow shot, deep under the willow, and close to the bank. The Hippie Stomper lands perfectly and almost instantly a Trout takes the fly. This fish is full of energy. At first he refuses to come out from that pocket beneath the willow and I don’t move him. Then he bolts for mid-stream where he goes where he wants to for some time. I pull the net and scoop him as he tries to pass me going down stream….

He’s the best fish of the day, 13-14″….

Well, the rain has arrived. Time to pull on the Gore-Tex jacket.

The rain is now coming down hard enough, that even with a foam fly, it’s not wanting to stay on top more than a few casts. My Amadou Patch does a good job of drying the fly for another drift. Here I catch two Rainbows and pictures of only one….

They are pretty much twins, so no big deal.

I’m wading wet and the rain has really dropped the air temperatures. I’m starting to get cold, but I have a few more fish in me.

I catch one behind the rock in the middle….

I work up a little and have a strike behind the rock on the upper right of the photo. I should have netted that one, it was another pretty good fish 13-14″, but I swung it to my hand, unhooked it, and reaching for my camera, it decided it had waited long enough, and squirmed out of my hand and back into Beaver Creek.

I felt a shiver come over me….
Time’s Up !!!!
I worked my way back down the creek and started the climb back up to the Bronco.

There’s something about calling it a day and getting back to a relatively warm and dry vehicle. There just enough protection in the rear when I swing the rear glass up, to take off my boots without getting any wetter or colder.

Once in the driver’s seat, I can take a shot of Basil Hayden, and that warm’s me up proper….
I drive out of the valley and start up the South Fork for Wolf Creek Pass.

Today was difficult, I landed about half of what I normally do. When I am back in Town I stop at “Let It Fly” and Pop’s tells me other shops have started guiding on Beaver Creek. Well, that explains the trampled down grass everywhere and the lower numbers I guess. Still, I think weather also played a factor and I will fish it again.

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[Jimbo]

Jimbo

July 23, 2024 at 9:10 pm #16410

Looks like the Guadalupe finally got some really good rain !!!! I am seeing over 16,000cfs at Comfort !!!!

Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….

Jimbo

[Jimbo]

Jimbo

July 8, 2024 at 12:16 pm #16406

Well, that didn’t work out for the Guadalupe and Canyon Lake….
Time to look elsewhere for some much needed rain.
Time to pray….

Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….
Tom tom tom tom….

Jimbo

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