September 21, 2015

Flow: 410

Water Temp: 64-71

Well that was fun while it lasted. Over the weekend we enjoyed flows around 150 cfs for the first time since March. This was our opportunity to explore and see what the winter holds in store for us. The lower sections below Valco Bridge have been impacted by the 6000 cfs summer and the major weirs have lost sixty percent of their depth from fist sized rock and gravel.  The good news is; unequivocally the trout are still there. The morning bite has been the most productive in the lower section and we will continue to explore the newly changed riverbed.

The upper section is fishing very well and I can report one of the easiest 20+ day since the salad days when no one knew about the Ark tailwater. Trout took a plethora of patterns but the fly that seemed to elicit the come to jebus suicide strike was the rubber leg copper copper.

Tight lines,

Ben

September 13, 2015

Flow: 548

Water Temp: 65-73

 An object in motion stays in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. I have met that force and it has taken too much of my time lately. The new business (Trigger Ink) is getting its wheels on the ground and I hope to get more time on the river soon. The time I have had to explore has revealed a number of weirs in the lower stretches of the park filled in with sediment. After a historic year of runoff plunge pools that were ten feet deep can be walked across. The next few weeks as the flows drop and water clears will tell the whole story. Stay tuned for that and other news.

Meanwhile the fishing has been a mixed bag. As usual for this time of year the trophy class trout are elusive but the river shows promise of a great winter, Rainbows. Browns and the occasional bass are healthy and fighting hard. Gold rib hares ears above olive midges work well in the morning and the ubiquitous san juan got attention at dusk. The kickoff for the sixth installment of the Frostbite Fish-Off will be October first. All of the previous competitors that have been such a big part of making this such a fun event will get the first invite. You guys and gals are that constant positive force that makes the FFO such a success.

Thank you,