December 28, 2013

Flow: 111

Water Temp: 37-40

End on a high note.

Today I went up to valco and below the dam to count close to forty vehicles. The upper part of the tailwater is being hit hard. Downstream was sparser and downtown had miles to explore. Aside from the gauging station a packed river in Pueblo means an angler every 150 yards. I spent the morning talking to folks for the most part. A few little bows came from my efforts and I was snapped off by one smartass leviathan ‘bow just to keep me humble. We traveled back down to the Nature Center to find the rock piles empty. I found a lovely young woman trying out her new Christmas fly rod and offered some casting technique. I wandered back down to my spot and after a few dead drifts had the suicide strike I’d been waiting for. Forty yards downstream it was in the net and I called it a day. End on a high note. As is the story of 2013.

2013 has been a great year. We started off helping The Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter (509) of Trout Unlimited with the best Frostbite Fish-Off in the group’s history. New scoring and venue made for a terrific event. Thanks to all who came and we’ll probably see you in a month for the fourth installment. TU also helped financially and with lots of sweat for river improvements we’re all enjoying today. Thanks for the hard work and support.

After the tourney we got back to work and booked 92 guests for the year, served close to 100 meals at the Coyote Grille and stocked a lot of gear as we continued to grow. We opened Colorado’s smallest fly shop. We’ve had our mugs in the papers, TV and radio. 2013 has been our most successful year and it appears we may have the distinction being the first guides to owe the park extra money at the year’s end. Just what we need, another bill!

We’ve certainly had our setbacks but looking back they seem so small compared to the successes and in time those will fade too. What will stick in our memories forever are the incredible days with you our guests and the smiles on your faces. For that we want to thank you and wish you the same success in 2014.

Happy New Year!

Eternally Grateful,

Ben and Lou