Here Kitty Kitty

My wife and I found these tracks in the snow while walking the dog. I'm pretty sure they are mountain lion tracks. The tracks went over a log that crossed the river. I followed them to a cave when all of a sudden the thing leapt out at me!!! Just kidding. I threw in this photo of my daughter and niece playing on the same log this summer. Like I don't have enough to worry about.

 

This is a quarter mile from our house.

Scary.

 

 

This is the log.

This is the same log.

Are you under there?

Are you watching me?

Marlee Midge

Check out my daughters first midge pattern.

This thing is going to crush it!

Told Ya

I told you they would work.

Musky Fly Fishing World Championships

I Just got back from Wisconsin and the Musky Fly Fishing World Championships. It was great hanging out in Hayward, the epicenter for muskies on the fly. I think I tied for second place for big fish. A big thank you to Rayovac Batteries and Redington Rods.

Muddy Water Magic

Recent rain in Colorado has flooded the front range, but it's been good for fishing here in the Rockies. I had Mr. Steven Clerou strip a big black bunny leach through high muddy water with fantastic results.

I also had a client launch himself in my boat the other day. I was in the crapper when I heard another guide screaming. I thought he was raising a ruckus because he had a fish on. When I poked my head out to see what was going on I saw my boat going downstream without me in it. My client was flailing trying to row through the calm rapids when another guide screamed at him to drop the anchor release. It all worked out. What a great start to the trip....  just making memories that will last a lifetime! Sorry, I didn't have time to snap any pics.

Lindsey Vonn

I had the pleasure of taking gold medalist Lindsey Vonn fishing yesterday. You can check out her tweet http://instagram.com/p/dX02MNETlA/

Families and Return Clients

Family fishing fun. I hope that everyone has the best experience of their life when fishing with me and Gore Creek Flyfisherman. Unfortunately The fish don't always listen to me when I tell them to bite, and I tell them to bite a lot. So if your goal is to catch a dozen fish you might be let down. If your goal is to have lots of fun and maybe catch a fish or two we can do that. Success for the later has been overflowing lately. Here are some pictures from the Frendrick family, first timers with GCF. Hopefully they call again. Then there is the Wunsch family and Mike Mayer and Mike jr who have been fishing with me for as long as I've been guiding. Thanks guys, it's fun for me too.

The Fish Are Always Biting... It Is the Angler That Is In Question

    Are the fish biting? Is the water wet? Asking a fly shop attendee if the fishing is good is like asking my dog if he is hungry.... Yes, Yep, Always, Sure, Frikin Awesome!!!
My own general manager coined the phrase "Selling flies and telling lies".We try telling people the truth. That early mornings and late evenings are better and they still book a trip in the middle of the afternoon!
    When the fishing is tough, which means trout are being selective and spitting the fly quickly, nymphing will always catch trout. Just catching trout is like dog food. Sure, my dog likes dog food, but swinging nymphs is like steak. Stripping wooly buggers is like fried chicken, and casting dry flies is like fresh fish. I'm not dissing nymph fishing by any means. It is a powerful way to catch trout, and should be in every angler's arsenal.
       A better question might be "How are you catching them right now?" On top, bottom, stripping buggers, or even what pattern. Cuz if you ask how the fishing is I am going to assume that you will need a guide to show you how to eat dog food.

Did you just say "Fried Chicken"?

Disappointment and Triumph at the Go Pro Mountain Games

It was another disappointing finish for me at the now Go Pro Mountain Games, finishing thirteenth out of fifty six competitors. Still beating out every guide from the Vail Valley, I will not be satisfied without a top three finish. Here's how it went....

The mountain games are the country's biggest celebration of adventure sports. The games are sponsored by Go Pro and attract competitors from across the globe. The competitions include mountain biking, kayaking, rock climbing, slacklining, stand up paddle boarding, running, adventure racing, slope style biking, dog jumping, rafting, and yes fly fishing. The fly fishing competition consists of two rounds of accuracy and distance with the top eight men and top two women fishing for the finals. Picking up sponsorships from Rayovac and Redington, I set high expectations for myself. I drew a great starting position at number two. Getting a good starting position is key to eliminate the wind that kicks up later in the day. Taking advantage I missed three targets, but was one out of only five competitors to hit the bonus. Qualifying tenth, I was headed to the bridge. The young gun Connor Murphy, around eighteen years old, qualified first. At the semifinals, otherwise known as the bridge, I slid three spots finishing thirteenth. Usually nerves get the better of me at the bridge, but this year I felt great. This year my problem was missing the easy targets. Brandon Soucie from Gore Creek's sister company Taylor Creek fly shop in Basalt won. Ryan Ryzska Filipek from Gunnison River fly shop took second, and Frank Smethurst from Scott fly rods, last years winner, came in third. I felt Connor Murphy's pain as he slid from the top qualifying spot to finish eighteenth. Probably the best story was Hutch Hutchinson, almost missing the competition because of a sick child. Then rallying, with his ill son at his side, finished sixth. I want to say thank you to Redington for the sick Link five weight that I used for the competition. Let me tell you Redington Rods cast great, look beautiful, and stand up to all the abuse that my clients can dish out. Also Rayovac. Rayovac batteries last as long as Energizer and Duracell, but cost less. Use the promo code "flyguy"to save 20% on their entire web site. Be sure to watch for Nate (Sick Dog) Reynolds and I ripping some musky lip at the Musky Fly Fishing World Championships this fall. Keep tuning in to LCFF for river reports, client photos, and other cool stuff.

Sunrise on the Gore Range

Start your engines

It's a friendly competition, Alex Parsons taught me a lot about guiding

"The Bridge" a thousand people watching you

Work it

Ex NFL player Tahani Jones learning to cast

Hutch with his tough kid

It made me remember what's important

Watch out muskies

Thorn In My Side

I've been to Clear Creek Reservoir three times this spring trying to catch a tiger musky. For those of you that don't know, I'm a trout guide that craves bigger toothier critters. I have tried flies, bucktails, and I've even trolled some cranks. What have I caught??? NADA. Not even a bump, follow, or a sniff.  There have been a few suicidal stockers. Sometimes the little rainbows all come in a pack and you think it's a follow. The scenery is beautiful, my dog is miserable, and I'm not going to quit till I get one!

I can't think of a prettier place to not catch fish.

Bit off more than he could chew.

What are they thinking?

Sunshine?

Toughen up!

There has also been a plague of bad picture taking lately.

Nope.

Nope.

Yep

Nice hand.

These poor trout.

Nope.

Good enough.

It's even happening to me.

Nope.

ARRGGGGHHH!