netboy

As expected, I see no difference in the C&R areas. In the catch and keep areas there are probably fewer trout, but the average size is much better. I would say the average size is probably 2-3" bigger than before the new regs. I have been catching quite a few fat 17-18" rainbows in the catch and keep areas.

I have had a few swoop in and try to grab hooked trout I had on the line. One actually got a trout and tried to fly off but dropped it when the line tightened. I have seen them catch many trout and also sculpins. They are a nuisance along with the otters.

The caddis hatch appears to be winding down as I have seen fewer this week. Good news is the trout are still looking for them and with fewer live bugs on the water, your fly gets more attention. I fished the dam, Rim Shoals and Roundhouse Shoals this week and caught good numbers at each location. Best flies were a size 16 deer hair caddis dry and a size 16 caddis emerger. Here's a couple of the better ones from this morning...

That is disgusting. Hope they somehow catch the guy. There was a similar incident at Dry Run Creek a few years ago. Some jerk was notching the tails of fish his kid caught.

I have been seeing more caddis popping over the last few days. They have been starting around 9am and then slowing down around noon. I caught a dozen this morning on elk hair dries and lost a really nice rainbow to a pulled hook. Also missed quite a few by setting the hook too soon. It is hard for me to delay the hookset when I see them take the fly. Here are a couple of the better ones.

This last week I have seen only a few caddis coming up and no trout rising to them. This morning was a different story. They started popping around 9ish and the fish responded. Caught quite a few on deer hair dries. Here is the best one....

Caught this guy on a yellow slush egg. It took me about 15 minutes to get him in. He was too big for the net, so I worked him to the bank and was able to beach him. Caught a couple other browns and 10 rainbows. Surprised that I was the only one there.

The river was brown in Cotter this morning after about an inch and a half of rain last night. I decided to try the dam as I knew there would be clear water up there. Fishing started out good with a nice brown on the first cast of the morning. Ended the morning with 3 browns, 1 cuttie, 1 tiger and 8 rainbows. Lost a really nice rainbow to a pulled hook after a good fight. Best flies were eggs and a San Juan worm. Apparently, many of the guides up there are using Alaska style bead rigs as you can see from the picture I took earlier this week of a limb on the river bank. Here's a few pics...

Yes, when a big north wind hits the bluff it can be like a hurricane by the time it makes it to the top. It actually flipped my heavy steel BBQ pit over and pinned it against the railing a few weeks ago.

Yes, from the deck.

Most of them never actually pay the fines.

Another great day trip in the area is Mesa Verde National Park. Mesa Verde National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Fishing has been good since the C&R area reopened on the first of February. LOTS of guide boats out, but most of them leave when the water comes down and that was the case this morning. It is sort of like the changing of the guards as the boats leave, the wade fishermen arrive. I got there around 11:00 when the water shut off and had a good day. Best flies today were eggs and an olive/brown micro jig. Caught lots of rainbows, 1 cuttie and a few browns. Here are a couple of the better ones.

The Uncompahgre is catch and release, artificial lures only. They also have a small lake where you can keep 4 per day and I think it is artificial lures only. It is heavily stocked so it was easy to catch dinner using a small spinner. The creeks and streams around Ouray and Silverton suffer from bad water quality due to seepage from the old mining operations. That was the case last time I was out there, which was 10 years ago. They may be in better shape now???

The Uncompahgre River below Ridgeway Reservoir has some good wading water and lots of trout. It is about 20 miles north of Ouray just past the town of Ridgeway. Pa-Co-Chu-Puk State Park has a great campground and access to the river. The San Miguel River also has some good wading water and is about 15 miles west of Ridgeway.

Just do it yourself. It's pretty easy. Here is a video.

Here's our latest forecast...

Forecast shows 20" here in Cotter. We sure need the moisture, but not all at once.

Be sure to try Feijoada, the national dish of Brazil, while you are down there. It is a pork stew with black beans, sausage, bacon, onions and served over rice. It was the traditional Sunday meal at many local restaurants when I worked in Rio.

Most of mine are 5 or 6 weights.

Made a late morning trip to 3 Chutes after the water went down today. There were quite a few boats out for mid-week, but only a couple other waders. Had a good trip with lots of rainbows and a couple browns. Scuds and eggs were the best flies. At one point there were 5 eagles chasing each other. They would chase each other and then fly to separate trees and about 15 minutes later they would chase again. Might be some sort of mating ritual. Here are the best ones today...

SWPA was predicting minimum flow today but bumped the flow up to a little less than 1 unit. That level still provides plenty of wading opportunities. I went to the Cotter access and had a good morning. Very few people out and only 1 trailer in the parking lot. Ended the morning with lots of rainbows and a couple medium size browns. Best fly today was a size 12 olive/brown woolly bugger. Here is the best rainbow of the morning...

My Grandparents lived in that area. One was on the Lackawaxen River in the town of Rowland and the other was on the Delaware River in the town of Milanville. We used to spend the summers up there fishing for trout and smallmouths in the rivers and occasionally fished at Wallenpaupack for walleyes. Also had an uncle that lived in Lake Ariel and raised chickens.

Those old fly rods are great finds. I refurbished an old 4wt, 8 foot Shakespeare Wonder rod my Dad loved to use at Bennett Spring back in the 60's. I still take it out occaisionally just for the memories.