June 2015

This summer's season sure has started with a bang. I locked up my brakes while passing a camper on Battle Mountain to avoid an enormous black bear! That got him moving. The prettiest doe batted her eyelashes at me this morning, and it's enjoyable how elk herds can make the mountain side look as if it's moving. Smaller animals have visited too; beaver, otters, marmots, coyote, and fox. Eagles to hummingbirds graced the sky, and lets not forget what allows me to see all this beauty... FISHING! I was on the water twenty four days fishing every creek, river and puddle. High water made it an adventure. My clients had to be reassured that we would be fine in my drift boat after seeing a competitors drift boat get destroyed on the Colorado River. Around one hundred fifty trout, (and a few white fish), came to the net. I probably tied five dozen flies and drank one hundred daiquiris. My body is riddled with multiple cuts, scratches, and bruises. My back hurts, my shoulder hurts, my mind is delusional, and I love it! Bring on July.

This Could Be You

The local rivers are at peak flow right now, but will start dropping soon. Once the water starts to clear and drop it can be some of the best fishing of the year. Till then we are fishing some smaller more manageable rivers and creeks.

They're hitting dry's at Homestake

The diversion hole at Cross Creek

Of coarse if you want to float the big water I got the muscle

This one was caught on a Purple Marauder that my daughter tied.

Memorial Day

Happy Memorial Day from Red Cliff. Thank you to all who have served and are currently serving our awesome country.

Eagle River 5/11/15

The Eagle river flows have been up and down with the variable weather, but fishing has been good. Yesterday I had the pleasure of taking David and Matt fishing. We started catching fish on san juan worms, then switched to small mayfly nymphs. A dozen fish were brought to the net, another great day.

Tuesdays Fishing Trip

I always enjoy receiving these. Tuesday was tough fishing. We couldn't get anything to chase a streamer, and nymph strikes were few and far between. We stuck with it however and managed four trout. We also took a big wave that doused John and his camera. He replied that it is a good story for the grand kids.

"Dear Mike

                   Can I thank you once again for the excellent service you provided on Tuesday which made it such a memorable day fishing.

                    Your knowledge of the water ensured that even a duffer like me stood a chance of catching fish.

                      I got the camera working by drying it out in a bag of rice and I enclose a photo.

                                                      Regards

                                                      John Rotheram"

Thank you John

Bait

A snow storm brought out thousands of worms this morning. They looked like they were snow bathing. I have not put a worm on a hook for quite some time, but it seems odd not to use what nature gives. Funny, my parents told me that as a baby my sisters once fed me worms on a fishing trip. I just tell everyone that's how good of a fisherman I am... ya got to make sure your using fresh bait.

Just making sure it's fresh.

Vacation Snook

    A family vacation to Jensen Beach provided me with a chance to catch a few new species on the fly.  A special thanks to Captain Ray Winters of www.greenwatercharters.com for a great night of dock fishing for Snook. The ecosystem under the lights of a Florida dock at night is intense to say the least. Little shrimp and fish, getting eaten by bigger fish, getting blown up by even bigger things. I would not recommend swimming there, but chucking a fly in there was fantastic.

    We started the evening shooting the shit because we were early, the action starts after dark. It is pretty easy to see the action once it starts, fish everywhere. Ray was great, pointing out the Snook that made a definite sucking sound when feeding. The Jacks were more plentiful and less picky. Ladyfish and a paper thin fish called a Lookdown also bent the rod, but Snook were the best fighting. They set up on apex positions, in front of or behind the dock pilings letting current bring them a meal. I had many refusals, but managed to hook four Snook. Once hooked the fish had to be wrenched from the dock, then they leapt brilliantly before bull dogging at the boat. A great battle. One snapped my line, another came unhooked after smashing into the boat. Two came in the boat and posed for a quick pic.

    I highly recommend Captain Ray. The day prior I watched a dozen surf casters catch two fish off the beach all day. Green Waters Charters offers a two hour night dock fishing session for $200, where I hooked a dozen fish and landed several of different species. It was awesome!