We are pleased to announce the grand opening of Colorado’s smallest fly shop. All flies are $1.25 including tax and designed for the river 50 feet away. The unit is stocked with leaders, tippet, floatant and tools. You’ll find fishing reports and brag a board just like the big shops but we don’t have to sit there all day. We want to thank our wonderful customers and community for our success and making this possible. Thank you Pueblo!

Ben and Lou
Oh right, the fishing report
November 30, 2012
Flow: 70
Water Temp: 48
Fishing continues to be great with lots of big browns in our high rainbow population. A tapered nymph rig starting with a san juan worm and ending with a 20 zebra midge worked well. Fly Fisherman magazine’s article naming Pueblo in the top ten tailwaters in the country has added a little traffic to the river. Pueblo’s local guides know the secluded spots. Give a hole thirty casts and move on or let it rest. Explore anything with 12” or more of water. Print your pictures and put them on the brag board. Best picture of December gets a free vend.

Tight Lines,

Ben

November 25, 2012
Flow: 83
Water Temp: 47
What an incredible weekend. The Arkansas River tail water faced unprecedented pressure. It is sad in a way, Ben and I started all this and now face the idea that the precious fishery we have has been discovered by all. In any case the fish were very selective and the browns are almost over their amorous mode. We are settling down to the winter cold with very selective fish and gin clear water. The flow is down 10 CFS from the "normal” because of the drought. Remember, the flow out of the dam is not the actual flow. The hatchery below the dam adds 20 to 30 CFS approximately ¼ mile below the dam. Recommendation??? Size 20-22 black midge patterns, small copper johns, (Red), pink egg, orange egg and the browns were attacking the ubiquitous Red San Juan Worm. Go figure??? In all a gorgeous weekend fishing in the banana belt!! Stay tuned to an important announcement from Steel City Anglers!!
Tight Lines,
Lou

November 17, 2012

Flow: 70 CFS

Water Temp: 44-51

If you take a walk in the Big Apple and say “Hi” to everyone you see, you’re likely to be rewarded with several “Up yours!” At least that’s what we’re led to believe by the television. I cannot confirm or deny this as I’ve never been to New York, so if I offended anyone of that great city, well…Up yours! ;)

 

What’s this have to do with fly fishing, you ask? Don’t worry folks I’ll get there.

 

This scenario unfortunately can be seen on the river. Anglers crossing paths utter grunts at each other and guard their spots like a spider monkey jacked up on Twinkies and Red Bull. I see kids run to get ahead of 70-year-old men and people slide into the water you were fishing when you step away to take a wizz. And god forbid a baitfisher walks by!

 

Today was not a day like that. Today, I met new friends, said "hi" to lots of people that were having a great day, shared holes with old friends, and clients and even stood on the bank shooting the bull for over an hour watching others catch fish. A couple of folks just walked up and shook my hand. As fly anglers, the image we convey is completely up to us. If we are the “advanced” form of angling, we must also advance our image. Today’s main photo was hooked in “MY” hole I shared and as you see, Dan was the one to bag it. At the end of the day, I feel better for it. So I’m making the challenge to everyone to do more than grunt and beat your chest. On your next outing say “Hi” or “’Sup homie” to everyone you see and see where the attitude meter lands at the end of the day.

Okay, that was the public service announcement; here’s the fishing: Eggs, san juans, pheasant tails, hare's ears and the Drift’s FOD are killing them. The Lower Ark is on! Cast anywhere that’s wet. The water is gin clear with green water beginning in three feet or deeper and trout are loving it. Watch for subtle takes and adjust your depth frequently. Present to everything and cover lots of water. Keep moving or let the water rest. One 3-foot-by-10-foot pool produced 20 quality trout because we gave it periodic breaks. On the way home, I got another report from the Martini hole downtown from a future Frostbite Fish-Off hall of famer that I’ll include.

"Three fish over 20" today. It was a weird day. It was slow for most of the morning and then we hit three big fish within an hour or so. If you want to use this pic for advertising, feel free! My fish porn is your fish porn!" :-)

-Jamie

Tight lines,

Ben

November 10, 2012

Flow: 59

Water Temp: 51-55

All the leaves are brown, and the skies are grey, Colorado carp dreamin’ on a winter’s day.

A multitude of fronts may put the trout down but Pueblo’s loco anglers can always steer you to a good day. We had a slow but good morning with previous client and future Frostbite Fish-Off hall of famers. Everyone caught numerous trout but the big boys were elusive with multiple fronts coming overhead. We have nine miles of river plus our special sections to keep you our dedicated readers informed on and sometimes even we’re surprised. November carp is such a wonderful thing. #14 hares ears and eggs provided hookups all afternoon long. Get your entry in now for the Frostbite Fish-Off as teams are filling fast.
Tight lines,
Ben and Lou.