Not Since 1991...

...have I personally experienced snowfall on or after May 1.  That year I was a youngster and on a month long family tour of the western United States.  Come to think of it, that was probably when I first fell in love with Yellowstone and the Rocky Mountains in general.  I'll never forget driving at night into Oklahoma on April 26, 1991 during one of the worst tornado outbreaks the area had or would see for several years.  The lightning was incredible.  The snow in Yellowstone was incredible as well, just in a different way.  The bison were using the roads to get around since there was still 4+ feet of snow everywhere else.  Now, thanks to my new home here in Colorado, I'm experiencing snow on May 1 a full 22 years after my previous encounter with the late-season white stuff.  Oh, and not the stray flurry either, but a lot of snow.  Some places in the mountains of northern Colorado received over 2 feet of snow!!!

Spring?

We continue to experience warm weather with bouts of cold and snow in between here in northern Colorado.  That's just fine with the local fish population, and I can assure you that while I would enjoy warm weather, I'm still not complaining about the ongoing cold and snow.  Winter storm warnings are in effect for the mountains, foothills, and adjacent plains and some Snotel sites up high are already indicating 20 or more inches of snow with this storm.  Summer is looking better and better, it just takes a bit of patience to wait for it...

California Poppies!!!

When You Get Lemons...

We all know the ridiculously overused finished to the above or something similar at least.  However, while visiting California this past weekend, I found something much better to do.  My great Aunt and Uncle have lots of fruit trees including oranges and lemons!  I discovered that guacamole is much better using fresh avocados straight off the tree and fresh squeezed lemon juice from lemons straight off the tree.  Amazing is all I can say!

While out there, I did find a somewhat hidden pond nearby as well as a stream that supposedly has some salmon runs.  If I return with more time on my hands I'll have to take a rod along and do some exploring.

Back home now, I'm ready to start fishing.  I may not get a good chance until closer to the weekend.  The weather guys are suggesting that more snow may be on the way.  Runoff will become a bigger problem very soon but I'll still find some fishable water close by I'm sure...

A road trip may be required soon.  My buddy Juan over at the Hopper Juan is reminding everyone that it is caddis time down on the Arkansas.  That is an event I have yet to experience so this might be the year I head that way...

I'm thinking more and more about the Salmonflies over on the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers so my post-school travels will likely take me to the West Slope.  Yep, the summer lies just ahead and things are looking up!!!

The Sentinels

On a recent hike at Hall Ranch Open Space, I was blessed to find a picture I've been after for a long time.  Some time ago, I tried to get this picture in Cades Cove in the Great Smoky Mountains.  Unfortunately the deer ran off before I could position myself for the correct silhouette shot.  Most recently, the deer were much more unconcerned and posed perfectly.

Two Days

Two days make quite a difference in Colorado.  Just this past Monday I was fishing during a heavy snowstorm.  Aside from the stream not being frozen over, it could have been the middle of winter even though in reality it is now late April.  On Wednesday, the last of the snow was melting along Boulder Creek.  I took a picture of the same pool I fished and photographed on Monday.

It looks just a little bit different.  Maybe its just wishful thinking, but I'm guessing that we have seen the last of the snow.  Every time I think spring has arrived, winter laughs in my face so time will only tell if we have finally turned the corner.  

There is a lot (finally!) of snow in the high country ready to melt and head down the hill so my fishing my start trending towards warm water options in the near future.  I'm starting to consider an early summer trip to chase the salmon fly hatch on the other side of the state as well.  School will soon be out so things will be getting more enjoyable for me!!!

Snowy Solitude

One of the rare pleasures of fly fishing, at least for me, is fishing in the snow.  Yes, it can be ridiculously cold, but the quiet and solitude of being outside during a snowstorm is well worth the price of admission.  When the snow started to pile up yesterday, my first thought was to go home and relax.  My evening opened up a bit however and with time to spare, I headed for Boulder Creek.

After finding the lower creek muddy on Sunday, I figured with the cold weather it had to have dropped and cleared.  Wrong.  Entering Boulder Canyon instead of fishing in mud, I was impressed with how quickly the road conditions deteriorated as I left town.

The Trout Mobile has seen better days and the balding front tires suggested an extended adventure deep into the canyon would be foolhardy at best.  So it was that I found myself stopping just above Four Mile.

The stream was a black ribbon through an otherwise white landscape.  Again I wondered if it was wise to fish, but, curious on how the fish would respond to the snowstorm, I quickly rigged up.  In retrospect I should have used gloves, but I didn't plan to fish long so just through on my lucky fishing cap, a fleece, and a rain coat and scrambled down to a nice pool just below a stretch of pocket water.

Not really wanting to move, I started changing patterns, looking for that one that might do the trick.  A Bellyache Minnow produced several soft hits including some from nicer fish.  The cold water had the fish a bit lethargic though, and I failed to connect.  Several other patterns were tried and I even dropped a soft hackle behind a little streamer to no avail.  Miraculously, I could still tie knots, sorta at least.  This is my usual "test" for getting "too" cold.  Opening up the streamer box, I stared for a while.  Finally, I reached for a Girdle Bug but at the last second my fingers veered to a sculpin pattern.  I was now in the zone, making the right choice without even knowing why.

It took only a couple of casts before I had a solid hit and quickly pulled in a beautiful but sluggish brown from the chilly water.  I took a couple of pictures, then started to consider the warmth I had left at home.  Hunger reminded me that it was past supper time and probably time to get out of the canyon before dark.  Pausing, I took another picture of the stream, thankful for the opportunity for an hour of solitude in the snow.

What A Difference A Year Makes

April 22, 2012

April 22, 2013

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Need a Good Luck Charm?

Most people could use a little extra good luck while they are out fishing, but how about a good luck charm that simultaneously calls in the big fish and also carries you down the river?  My buddy David Perry over at Southeastern Fly has a Hyde drifter for sale.  I've floated in this boat and can attest to both the good mojo that is in this boat as well as its good handling.  Need to catch a big trout?  This boat has all kinds of big fish attracting abilities...

For more information, please visit David Perry's page and check out the boat!  This would be a perfect first drift boat for someone wanting to get into the float game.  From trout to smallmouth and musky, this boat can do it all.

Want to catch fish like this?

Want to enjoy a relaxing afternoon on the river catching fish?

Then check out this boat!!!