August, 28 2012

Flow: 165
Water Temp: 67
Sorry for the delay getting a report out folks. Over the weekend I was afflicted with a malicious social disease. This malady can affect anyone and strikes without warning. What I’m talking about of course is helping people move. The last time I checked the side of me truck reads Steel City Anglers not Steel City Movers. The short bit I got to fish Saturday started slow with intermittent stocker size trout hitting 20 bwo dries early morning. The wind picked up around nine and I met up with a friend and we worked upstream. Takes varied between san juans, miracle midges and rs2s. Fishing was hit and miss with just a few fish per spot. Then we made to ****** hole (call us we’ll tell you) and it was “fish on” every third cast. Sight fishing was great in fast water and the hole produced 18” bows one after another. Then the call to move came and the fishing was history. We have a spot left for the holiday weekend at our private ranch if you want open water during the busy weekend. Call now to book your trip.
Tight Lines,
Ben

 August 20, 2012

Flow: 128
Water Temp: 66 and falling
The dog days of summer are behind us for the most part and we have endured the worst drought in many years. Our big piece of luck was a good spring season that warmed the lake gradually. Most years we have hot and cold snaps that churn up the thermal cline and mix up the lake. This year the cold water dropped straight to the bottom and fed us the 58 degree lifeblood that allows trout to thrive. Fishing has been great in the upper half of the tailwater fishing itty bitty nymphs (18-20) below attractors and dialing in your depth. Trout are still everywhere so don’t pass up anything that looks fishy. I tried a plethora of patterns and really can’t say one produced more than any other so use your comfort flies. We are grateful for all your support and reports on the lower sections where water temperatures hit critical many times. To show our thanks we will be hosting a great independent film “Where the Yellowstone Goes” Saturday, October 27^th at the Damon Runyon Theater in Pueblo. The film follows a team floating 400 miles over 30 days down the longest undammed river in the lower 48. The filmmaker will present prior to the showing and following the film we will hold a guide auction with proceeds benefiting Trout Unlimited and our ongoing projects on the Ark. The theater features a full bar and we plan on having a great time with you and this wonderful community that’s made achieving our goals easier than we ever imagined. Click the picture to order your tickets now.
Thanks in advance and as always tight lines,
Ben and Lou
http://www.eventbrite.com/event/4148137190?utm_source=eb_email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=new_eventv2&utm_term=eventname_text

August 12, 2012
Flow: 103
Water Temp: 64-74
There’s no place like home.
Saturday we joined the women’s day expo at the Colorado City KOA. There’s no question why it’s one of the top ten KOA’s in the country. It’s a beautiful place and a prime spot to highlight the new Trout Unlimited special offer. From now until the end of the year Women can receive a free introductory annual membership with all the benefits of a paid member. Go to https://www.tumembership.org/women/ and sign up. After a long day of casting demos and manning the booth we decided to hit Lake Beckwith. It was way to low and hot to even attempt. So we moved on up to cooler climates as San Isabel. It too was low, warm and weeded in. And the fishing sucked. Living along the banks of the Arkansas River may make me jaded but it just sucked. Fishing four hours to catch 11” between two trout just to keep the skunk away is not my idea of a good Saturday. Sunday morning it was time for redemption. In my native waters the fifth cast hooked up on a nice 17” ‘bow on a #20 cdc bwo dry. As the sun rose we switched to nymphs and hit trout in almost every spot. We found a big sight fishing opportunity, dialed in our depth and got into the big boys. By 1:00 it was time for prime rib. The secret of the Sunday brunch at the Coyote Grill is getting out. Attractors fished deep trailed by 18-22 coppers, zebra midges or emergers produce energetic trout. Fish early and use heavy tippet to reduce stress.
Tight lines,
Ben

August 05, 2012

Flow: 104
Water Temp: 58-72
Flows dipped again Friday and trout were wary in the beginning of the weekend. Our guest took a slow early morning in stride and kept at it, applied a few techniques and in the end landed some nice trout. We ran long for a half day trip but that’s the glory of being your own boss and a Pueblo resident. We can focus on the client’s goals instead of the guide factories corporate doctrine. Sunday I finally got to fish and explore for you, our valued readers and clients. The action picked up again and rainbows were taking protein rich patterns without expending energy to get it. Depth and drift are the most important factors to catching trout. Wet wade to feel for cool pockets of water and you’ll find fish. I don’t say it enough but it’s your patronage and support that allows Steel City Anglers to continue to prosper, protect our river and serve our great community. From the bottom of our hearts thank you.
Tight lines,
Ben