December 5, 2017
Flow: 103
Water Temp: 45
Fishing dogs…
In our sport canine companions have never been a necessity like hunting dogs are; but somehow seem to be a special element of what we do. They don’t sight fish or give hints to the correct pattern. They can’t find lost flies or bring a net (not until my next dog) or do much to service our task of landing trout. A good angling pooch just walks with us from weir to weir, sits patiently and may give a trout a kiss from time to time. But we wouldn’t think of going fishing without them. They’re our companions on the water and as many stewards of these animals know we make a few casts and then turn around and check on them. For the most part they are sitting  on the bank waiting for us to hook up or move or fall in. To them it doesn’t matter if you lose the biggest fish of your life or put it in the net; your buddies may give you the business if you screw up but your canine loves you unconditionally. So we take them with us, and I think all that do so are better people for it.
Saturday I lost my fishing buddy Diamond. At nearly twenty years old we had a great day fishing just a few weeks ago but her little body failed her rapidly and I finally had to get help to give her peace. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done and I will love her forever…
But I’d do it again in an instant.
Thank you Diamond for a lifetime of love and friendship. My heart is broken and I still hear your footprints around the house, you were a very good dog.
Thank you for letting me get that out; The fishing right now is on a pendulum. Bring three rods set up for dries, streamers and nymph rigs with adjustable depths and look long before you make a cast. The water is still green but if you look before you leap you can get a dozen attempts at trout in slow (quiet) water. In fast water there have been some good numbers and our neophyte friends can get in a lot more attempts at them without spooking them.
Thank you all that befriended my pup over the years and if this inspires you to go get a fishing friend, go to the shelters and rescue one. That’s where I found her.
Tight Lines,
Ben, Lou and Diamond

Small business Saturday Special Discount!!

We at Steel City Anglers are offering a 40% discount on all trips in honor of small business Saturday. 

What an incredible way to purchase a gift certificate for Christmas, a birthday, or just because!  Go to www.steelcityanglers.com book your trip and $100.00 deposit to hold the date. We’ll shoot you an invoice with your discounted balance.  We will check our calendar and send you a gold leaf certificate.  This offer expires on 12:00PM midnight on November 27^th.  Thank you all for eight years of great trips.

10/6/2017

Flow:  395 To 480 CFS

Water Temperature:  63 Degrees

This is a special trip for me, I have been a member of PPF (Pikes Peak Flyfishers) for over 20 years.  This is the best fly fishing club I have ever been a member of.  We have donated a trip for their annual auction since Steel City Anglers was formed.  Steve and Rob were a kick to guide.  It is not often that we guide experienced fisherman and it was a whole lot of fun. 

The fishing conditions were the worst you can imagine!  The water was brown/green flowing at 395 CFS to start and went up a hundred cfs while we were on the water.  We had 20 MPH winds gusting to 40 MPH and a falling barometer.  The only bugs that worked all day were an Olive Hares Ear and a Blue Copper John both size 18.  We landed only one in the Hundred Yard Run and the rest in the Flag Hole.  We are just a little over a month from winter storage and clear conditions!   Trips are booking for October so give us a call the conditions are improving.

Tight Lines

Lou

9/23/2017

Flow:  605 CFS

Water Temp:  69 Degrees

I met Steve, one of my best friends, at the Nature Center to play with the fishes.  To my astounding shock the water was almost clear!  Visibility was six to eight feet.  There were fish everywhere in the feeding lanes.  The 100 yard run was on fire!  The 605 CFS made wading treacherous at best but we still accessed the proper feeding lanes and immediately hooked up on a double, a nice 18 inch bow for Steve and I landed a nice 15 inch brown, on a Green Copper John and a San Juan Worm respectively.  The Green Copper John is Steve’s favorite bug.  I bet he dreams Copper Johns.  It was the go to bug of the day I landed many on a Copper Copper John size 16 and a Bead Head Pheasant Tail Size 20.  We had so many hook ups that popped off because of the flow and most were taking the bug on the swing. 

We are booking trips in September and October, things are moving fast.  Just a reminder to all my fellow vets out there we give a 15 percent discount on all trips.

Tight Lines,

Lou

Date:  7/19/2017
Flow:  1000
Water Temperature:  65
We have been remiss in writing reports, last guide trip 1 June.  With the typical 95 degree days and massive flows, a peak of 4820 CFS it is too dangerous to guide, let alone fish.  However, there were a couple of days when the weather was cool and the flow was 1100 CFS.  I fished the Flag Hole with great success!  When the flows approach 700 CFS a side channel appears and it is immediately populated with nice fish.  On that particular day the side channel was clear and I was sight fishing to a 20 incher ++.  I landed a nice 18 inch bow on a Red SJW.
We are negotiating with a local owner to guide on his bass pond!  Further details as we work it out!  As you can see I landed numerous 3 to 5 pound bass on a purple leach pattern.  A couple of the bass actually walked the dog!  The pond also contains 30 plus carp 20 plus catfish and a few wipers.
 As a reminder, we still guide Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout.  This is an opportunity to land trophy trout in the seven pond range on the property.  The steam contains numerous rainbow species, Snake River cuts and some Kamloops all in the 18 to 20 inch range.
Tight Lines,
Lou

March 8, 2017

Flow: 100

Water Temp: 43-48

We all know the joy of sight fishing and landing the trophy trout, bass or carp. That is the reason we carry two or three rods on the Arkansas River Tailwater. When the opportunity arises we want to be prepared for the situation and able to pitch the streamer or dry without tearing down a nymph rig. Carrying a single rod with a dry or bugger doesn’t make for a productive day in most cases. The omnipresent rod always has an indicator somewhere along the leader. We love the chance to sight fish but nymphing a tailwater will be your all around go to technique.

You’ve read this from me before, right? You’ve heard many other guides say the same thing I’m sure but what occurred to me today was that you never hear much about nymphing for carp. Just the opposite really. The fact of the matter is that deep nymphing for carp can be very productive. If you can read water for trout; where the bugs are being moved by the current along with structure that makes for easy swimming the same can be achieved for the golden bones. Carp sun in shallow water but eat everywhere.

Tight lines,

Ben

Date:  2/20/2017

Flow:  87 CFS

Water Temp:  44 F

I met Patrick and Jill at 9 AM at the Nature Center, since they had all equipment we completed the paper work and headed for the 100 yard run.  Conditions were cool with little wind and lately the fishing has been very slow with extremely cold water and high winds.  It was basically the same Saturday except the water temperature was 44 degrees.  Patrick almost immediately hooked up a nice 16 inch bow pic and congrats followed.  BUG?  Size 18 annelid worked most of the morning.  Jill a newbie was learning how to tension cast and caught on immediately!  She had no hookups in the morning so we retired to the Coyote Grill for some delicious burgers and Rubens.  Right after lunch I put her in the High Note Hole and about the 5^th cast landed and gorgeous 20 inch bow.  She said that was the largest fish she has ever caught!  She continued to get strikes and finally a nice 16 inch bow came to net.  BUG?  Size 18 BH Olive Hares Ear. 

The weather is finally taking a turn for the better and we are booking trips almost every day.  Winter storage is over in less than a month and the rainbow spawn is close at hand.  So book a trip now and let’s go play with the big boys!

Tight lines,

Lou