June 24, 2013
Flow: 414
Water temp: 58-68
After another great weekend on the water with a double double guiding terrific folks Saturday I’ll let the kitty out of the sack. After a break in angling pressure from irrigation flows the trout are dumber than a bag of ball peen hammers. The water is stained from the upper Ark’s runoff causing an increase in water temperature. Fish early and break in the afternoon. If you
  take a cruise around Lake Pueblo you’ll see a channel moving brown water from the gorge right through the lake to the river. I expect the water to clear up soon. In the meantime give the trout meat and po-ta-tos; san juans, streamers
  and big Barr’s patterns.
Lou met his couple at eight for a half day trip and I dropped in to say hi and wait for my father daughter pair at nine whilst admiring the lady
joggers and a beautiful morning. As I sat in a patented Steel City Anglers chair sipping coffee a gentleman from Arizonian walked up and said “Hi I study your site before I come here to visit my kids, what’s working”? I gave a few tips and had a little more coffee. My pair pulled up and we did the diligence (paperwork) and hit the water. Our morning was a little slower than Lou’s but I love when the kid (especially a daughter) bags one first. Finally my pair said “we’re so  hungry we could eat at Subway” but as customary we had rubens, sloppers and grande nachos at the Coyote Grill. Lou’s pair took me aside, complimented him and asked for a photo with the three of them. After lunch we headed down to where Lou’s pair had this successes to find kids swimming in the weir. In spite of the adversity we  pulled through and put some in the net. Sunday took us to Rainbow Falls for big cuts and bows.
Angling has slowed since opening day but the spring fed stream is offering great sight fishing for 20” class trout. The ranch has been almost devoid of people and there’s room to explore.
Earlier this week I was able to replace my net and after a new waterproof camera from the weekends earnings I’ll be back on top better than ever.
We continue to be blessed with the best guests an outfitter can dream of.
Thank you Colorado for making us the most successful guides on the state’s best tail water.
Ben and Lou

June 16, 2013
Flow: 1836 cfs and falling
Water Temp: 58-64
We had a great Saturday competing in the Sangre de Cristo Celebrity Fishing Derby.
It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to fish great lakes that have been closed to the public for 17 plus years. We met some old friends and some new ones before the sun hit the horizon, dropped off a big
package of food for the wildfire victims and hit the water. This year was considerably cooler than last year (107) and not much wind. I enjoyed seeing
conventional anglers fishing side by side with the fly guys with courtesy, respect and sportsmanship. I took the prize for smallmouth bass and gave the check back; a principle I took to heart from team Scott/Costa of February’s Frostbite Fish-Off. The kids tourney produced some very nice fish with several
bigger than the adults. Thanks to all the volunteers that made it happen.
 We were humbled by how many people stopped to say hi and give a handshake between events. In our little community it’s good to be king. Now it’s our privilege  to use our outreach to help the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo. Saturday July 20th we’re going to attempt something new. A self proctored carp tourney. See below on how to enter. I encourage the carp pros to pair up with someone eager to learn how to bag the golden bones. The tourney is cheap to organize, cheap to enter, easy to promote and if successful easily repeatable. Without the expenses we can raise a lot of money for the NRCP.  I'm sure we’ll make a mistake or two but we can take the heat from the pundits and bloggers. Thanks to Trigger Promotions for donating the facilities to make the tapes.
I’m also going to go out on a limb and say the peak flows are done and the water will be going down in the tailwater over the next few weeks. The high flows are the spring break for trout we’ve missed for a few years. With a break in angling pressure our trout’s little brains get stupid again. I expect wadable waters in a few weeks with some epic fish stories to follow.
Tight Lines,
Ben and Lou

Join us July 20th for a mini carp tourney benefitting the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo.

The rules are simple. Your two person team must be standing on the Nature Center deck at 8:30 for registration. You’ll be given a measuring tape with a random code.

At 9:00 am when the horn blows you can go fish any public access water in Pueblo County. Anglers can fish simultaneously, sight fish, net and employ any method of fly fishing that your strategy requires. Carp must be fair hooked in the mouth (honor system).

When you land your carp take two pictures: One clearly showing the carp and code on the tape and one with the angler. Immediately upload the photos to https://www.facebook.com/SteelCityAnglersPueblo. Be back on the deck by 5:00 or you’re out. The longest Carp Wins the Barry Reynolds Carp library. Tiebreaker is the 2nd and third longest. Entry is $25.00 a person or $50.00 per team. All proceeds go to the NRCP to continue their mission.