February 7, 2016

Flow: 95

Water Temp: 38-40

Stack ‘em up. The last few weeks I’ve seen and heard numerous fishing days where two anglers fishing the same stretch of water have spectacularly different results. Exploring this phenomenon we’ve found the best practice is to start at the top of a trough and walk your presentation down past the tailouts, adjust your depth and do it again. When you find one there’s probably twenty more stacked around it. Thin mints, black size 14 rubber legs, 22 midges in black and cream and the ubiquitous SJW all produced trout. The river is clear and sight fishing has been great. Dry action has been slow with the cold but we’re anticipating big hatches as the weather warms. Book your adventure today and for every quarter the Broncos score a touchdown we will take 10% off your trip.

Go Broncos,

Tight lines,

Ben

January 11, 2015
Flow: 92
Water Temp: 33-36
I typically guide with premium 5wt rods for the health of the prey on the Ark tailwater. Landing trout quickly and getting them back in the water preserves the fishery. That being said I’ve had my eye on the Douglas Outdoors Upstream 8’ 3wt six piece for some time. The Fly Fishing show in Denver was fantastic and I walked out with my purchase and waited with anticipation for Sunday. Freezing temperatures didn’t help for dry action so I spent some time casting dry droppers to nothing to get a feel for the three weights limitations. After an hour I couldn’t find any.  Droppers and single dries pitched effortlessly. The rod cast perfectly loading  big on the back cast and making a delicate presentation on the water. After having fun for a while casting I thought I might want to fight something on the upstream.  I rigged up a three fly nymph rig wit one bb and a cork indicator and my tenth cast hooked an eighteen inch fat body that gave ten runs. Fighting our energetic trout on a three weight isn’t something I’d recommend to everybody but to me; losing a little control and giving the trout more leverage made for a great fight. Finally, ascetically the Douglas Upstream is gorgeous.
Fishing the tailwater requires patience. Study the water before you cast. Sight fishing is great but that is a double edged sword. Work the tailouts and vary the midges until you find the color then adjust for the size.
Tight lines,
Ben

January 1, 2016

Arkansas River tailwater fishing report

Flow: 88

Water Temp: 34-36

The colors of winter,

Most Coloradoans look to fall for the season of colors. Here on the Ark tailwater we look to January. As the season for Pueblo’s local guides ramps up we’re seeing the coloring of the rainbow population enhance to the beauty that makes our river such an exceptional fishery. Cream midges during sunny periods and  rs2s and black midges under clouds preformed well. Two bit hookers, HL veil eggs and olive BH hare’s ears worked all day. Some mentioned to me today that a red san jaun worked, I replied “Yep, and Bruce Jenner’s cat goes bark bark bark, grrrrr”.

The river is gin clear and sight/nymph fishing is at a peak. It’s a great time to have a guide on the high bank earning their pay. Sight fishing is great but that also means most trout will spook before you see them. Having a seasoned guide keeping you out of trout’s sight will make for a productive day. The weekend weather looks good and we have a few slots left.

Happy New Year,

Tight lines,

Ben

December 22, 2015

Flow: 80

Water Temp: 40-44

We saw a little dip in the winter flows this week and clarity improve to five feet standing in the river. From higher vantage points one can see ten. Two rods are still a mainstay on the river as hatches and rising trout appear all day.  The bigger trout are a bit deeper in this clarity and while they are feeding they are also looking up. Thinking, study and planning is critical with wary trout and making one good cast vs ten fair ones. I expect a busy weekend with decent weather so when you find a spot being vacated stop and give it a rest while you survey the water, look at the bugs and have an egg nog, the trout will come back to life.

We at Steel City Anglers want to wish you the happiest of holidays and great fishing in the coming year.

Gift certificates are available for last minute gifts. Give us a call and we’ll find a way to get them to you.

Tight lines,

Ben

December 14, 2015

Flow: 122

Water Temp: 41-44

Two rods..

Our winter flows are stable in Pueblo and it definitely the time of year to carry two rods. Dry fly action is as good as I can ever remember. A parachute Adams with a Griffiths gnat dropper has produced great results. The bigger trout below the surface have been akin to a two bit hooker and a loop wing bwo emerger. This is a time of year that that potential competitors slotted for the best open tournament in Colorado practice their skills, the tournament may not be here but I’m glad to say our friends are. The FFO will be back in great fashion. In the mealtime the new river structure calls for constant depth adjustment.

The river is doing well and the trout are feeding. We have to adjust from nymphing the deep pools and tail outs to constantly changing your depth to find the trout. Pueblo’s local guides are on top of it.

Gold leaf Egyptian paper embossed gift certificates are available for the Christmas season. Call us today for the best stocking stuffer ever.

Tight lines,

Ben

December 5, 2015

Flow: 120

Water Temp: 43-44

The more things change the more they stay the same. We saw a terrific banana belt day here in Pueblo today. And with that come the people, pressure and dichotomy of attitudes. As usual the tailwater is a good host to all with open water if you care to look for it. Fishing has been excellent with a necessity to carry two rods for nymphing and dry/streamers. Cloud cover provided for great hatches and dry action for some smaller trout. Confidence patterns worked fine. My biggest trout of the day almost swallowed my ubiquitous san juan. It’s been two weeks since I’ve seen a sucker.

Most interesting for me today was the variety of people on the water. I saw those that get frustrated if there is anyone in eyesight, the greeters and conversationalists, hole hoppers, walkers, sighters, campers, biters and fluffers (actually not sure about the last two). At my other company (Trigger ROCKS!!!) I have several young ladies that run my retail medical scrub shop and have to endure the version of todays pop music but one of those tunes today stuck in my head and made me laugh at myself.

'Cause the players gonna play, play, play, play, play
And the haters gonna hate, hate, hate, hate, hate
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off
Heartbreakers gonna break, break, break, break, break
And the fakers gonna fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Baby, I'm just gonna shake, shake, shake, shake, shake
I shake it off, I shake it off.

I have been known to shake it on the river.

Come on down, book your trip now. The water is fine.

Tight lines,

Ben