The Rivers are Black

Well folks, its actually happening. The ash from the fires has found its way down into the Rio Grande and the South Fork of the Rio Grande and both rivers are running black with ash from the fires. I first noticed this over a week ago and it was like coffee grounds suspended in the water but now, its black water flowing and the bottom is not even visible.

I did wade some of this two days ago and the bottom too is covered with a tarry slime. My concern and that of the biologist is that this will eventually kill all the bugs and other organisms in the river and with no food, the fish will die for sure. The other concern is this soot is probably filling the fish gills and will suffocate the fish sooner or later.  

Trout are not the hardiest of specimens and require cleaner water than most fish to survive. The river temperature has also risen to the point where they will have a hard time making it due to the color and how that absorbs heat on sunny days. I honestly believe we will lose the entire trout population in both rivers and some of the area streams. There are still plenty of streams and lakes to fish so don't panic.  

This is part of the natural flow of things in a forest and wilderness environment and man has to learn that some things are just out of our control. The rivers may die off but eventually, they will come back and the fish will return as it did in Yellowstone after the fires there. We are so used to fast answers in our instant society and so waiting on a natural disaster to straighten itself out seems so so hard.  

I will be posting a news article that I am writing for the area newspaper along with photos so you all can visualize better just what I am talking about. Heavy rains today up the valley toward Creede will make more runoff a possibility and heavy ash flow also a danger.

Fishing with The Boys

My cousin's two boys are here in South Fork visiting their grandmother and of course, they have enough energy for several of us put together. Mom and grandma wore out yesterday and so I took the boys and we went up on Park Creek to try a little fly fishing.

Its so hard for those two women to take the boys up on the streams to fish and they worry too much about them and wont let them experience the frustrations and solve their own problems with lost flies, leaders stuck in trees and all the things you have to master on your own. They are 12 years old and its time they learn those skills if they are to master the sport.  

We parked and after a coin toss to determine choice, one of them went down stream and one started at the truck. I drove on up the creek to a better access point for me an told them to fish up to me and see how we were doing at that point.  

I stepped down next to the stream and immediately was onto a nice 10 inch brown. We had rigged up with basically the same flies before starting. A #16 Royal Coachman or #16 Elk Hair Caddis on top and #14 Bead Head Prince Nymph on the bottom. After I caught and released about 8 fish, I got a knot in my leader that I just could not work out and so cut my line and tied on just the caddis dry fly as that was what was drawing the most attention. Many times, in the smaller streams, two flies are just too much to handle and its just more productive and easier to fish with one fly at that juncture.

I continued up the small stream and ended up with 14 fish all but one being 10 to 12 inches. Not huge but typical of these area streams and great sport on a light rod and line. The boys finally caught up with me and had each caught fish so it was a successful outing. They had their problems with tangles and lost flies but such is dry fly fishing in small streams with overhanging trees set to snag every cast.  

We only fished about two hours and its so nice to live close enough to the streams to be able to do that and get home for other commitments later in the day. I believe that the middle part of the day is best in those small streams as the longer we fished, the less bites and attacks on the flies.  The warm sun on the middle part of the day signals small insect hatches and I am sure that triggers the bite.  

Today long slow rainy morning and so I have not had a chance to get out much. Chores and writing duties keeping me busy and chatting with kids and friends on facebook keeping me updated on their lives. What a wondrous tool the internet has become.  

These intermountain showers will continue through mid August and so one has to just be patient for those stellar days that frequent the area. Grab a rod and get out there on your first opportunity and get a few fish for me.  

View fullsize

Fishing South Fork and Creede Colorado.

We have seen another excellent week of fishing here in the Rio Grande basin both from the shore, by boat and also wade fishing the streams. Power baits are all producing limits of nice rainbows in the area lakes. The newer styles of that bait made by Gulp which look like a small rubber pea are really easy to use and stay on the hook so much better than the standard power bait type formula. I recommend three of the pearl sized beads on a number 6 hook and about 3 small split shot to get it out and on the bottom of the lake. These baits last a long long time and if you use some good needle nose pliers, you will be able to recover your hook, bait and all from the fish you catch.

A good fly and bubble combo is also producing limits on days with overcast skies and a slight ripple on the water. My girlfriend Paula loves to fish like this and has done quite well lately fishing in the evening with this rig.  

Spinners, Rapala's, Needlefish and gold castmaster spoons also working well trolled or from the bank. A slow retrieve will bring nice fish to the net and make for a great meal if you so choose.  

Fly fishing is slow on most days as the rivers are low. The water is hotter than normal and the fish become sluggish in moving to dry flies. A good dry fly on top and dropper with a Prince Nymph still seems to be producing fish if a slow approach is used.  

For more or specific information, please feel free to fill out the contact form and I will get back to you as soon as possible. My goal is to make it easy for everyone to catch fish and have a great time.  

Nine pound Rainbow Trout caught on a Number 5 Rapala. Now this is a nice fish and very rare these days.

Brook Trout in the Rockies

The day began with some internet access to the Colorado Division of Wildlife concerning some licensing issues and after getting that straightened out, Paula and I went up in the mountains for some Brook Trout adventures. We found some tiny tiny tiny streams and I was able to catch and release 26 fish during the day. We didn't fish very long but the streams were full of fish. One place on Cross Creek the water was no more than 15 inches wide in a lot of spots and yet the trout were there hiding under the overhanging grass and under the banks. Most of this water is shallow but somehow they hang on throughout the winter seasons and are there to catch all summer long.

The fish ranged from 6 to 8 inches and one was just over 10 inches so although not huge, they are eager to bite and it makes for a fun day. One good thing about this type of fishing is the banks are level grade and you don't have to wade so people of varying abilities can fish easily.  

I didn't walk more than about 200 feet from the road today and it was a gorgeous day. Cooper enjoyed the fishing about as much as I did and he got to fetch in a few fish and chased them all over the shallows in the larger sections as I reeled them in. He ended up soaked to the bone and swam several deeper sections. Not your typical Yorkie I guess but I didn't raise him to be a house dog and he thinks he is a golden retriever at the least and a human at the best. All I have to say is, "I got one", and he comes running down the bank from wherever he is.  

All in all it was a fine day to be outside and the weather cooperated until about 2 pm when the rain showers formed up and we decided to head down to town. The fish are definitely biting wherever I go and all the people I talk to say the same thing. Today I was using a Royal Coachman in a size #16, divided hair wing fly. This is a fail safe pattern for any stream here and I can catch fish on it any day of the year, I believe.  

The brook trout were not big but current regulations let you keep 10 of them if you so desire. Pan fried 8 inch brook trout defy description in quality of taste and I would encourage you to get out and find these eager fish and have a nice shore lunch.  

There is nothing quite as good as a fresh caught brook trout over an open fire. You can bring a pan and all the fixins or do like I do and suspend them over the flames with a long green willow branch through their gills. They will grill up a wonderful and succulent meal. By leaving the skin on while they grill, the meat remains moist and has a nice red, almost salmon like flavor and color. More on this will follow in the blog about fishing a hidden lake last year and the great meal we had on the shore.

Time is awastin as they say, so get out there and find the beauty and pleasure in the outdoors wherever you are.  

View fullsize

Cooper the Yorkie fetching a Brook Trout

Fishing up toward Creede Today

Today brought about more welcome showers in the mountains around South Fork and Creede and it was a nice cool day to be outdoors. I drove up toward Creede and did some target practice on the public land in that direction. I had bought a new .22 rifle and wanted to see how it shot and get the scope sighted in.

On the way back, I stopped in some Gold Medal Water and fished for about an hour. As I exited the truck I was surprised to see a large number of Green Drake flies buzzing around me and landing on my shirt sleeve. Stepping into the water I immediately was into fish and had fun with the browns that came to my hand. Most were in the 14 inch range and just a tad too large to keep if a person was fishing for supper. In that section the limit is two fish, twelve inches and shorter. I have talked about this before in a previous blog but if you are wanting some good eating trout, I suggest the local area lakes or the brook trout from the small streams high up in the mountain. I have learned to get a huge amount of pleasure from catch and release fishing now and most of the time its all about the strike and not actually keeping fish.  

The picture was taken from one of the bridges along the river and it shows the low water levels being experienced at this time. This section is usually a great raft ride with white water and as you can see, there isn't much there now. There are rumors that the Rio Grande Reservoir is under some kind of construction or repairs and maybe they are holding water for that activity. That and the drought is sure to have had an impact.  

However, the fish are still in the river and streams even if they are low. The low levels allows a person to wade much easier but takes a lot smaller fly and more careful presentation. The water is gin clear and the fish can see a long ways and will spot you if you are not careful.  

Today the size 14 Green Drake on top with a Pheasant Tail nymph in a size 10 did the job and 7 gorgeous browns graced my attempts, being released to fight another day.  

The fires continue to be a concern no doubt, but if you are wanting some first rate fishing, don't be afraid to come out and enjoy it. The activity is far from town and from the best parts of the river and you will be safe if you choose to fish here. I can connect you with motels or lodges and some good fishing spots if you want to contact me.  

Rio Grande River