Trouts Fly Fishing Blog

As Fall approaches every year, there are certain givens that we can all expect.  The days are going to get shorter, the fishing is going to get better, and we’re about to be inundated with tons of NEW product for the upcoming year.

Sage let the cat out of the bag a bit early this year with their debut of the NEW SAGE VXP Fly Rod Series.  Available in 3 wt. – 10 wt., the VXP is a versatile fly rod that is as comfortable on a small high country stream as it is on an open salt water flat.  The real exciting buzz about this rod lies beneath the classic green color and layers of gloss… this fly rod is essentially a remake of the ever popular XP series that was discontinued about 4 years ago!  And starting at $485, this fly rod is a steal.  We’ve got 4 wt. – 6 wt. in the shop, so be sure and come by give one a test drive.

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The Simms Wader Rebate Program, arguably one of the best sales promotions offered in the Fly Fishing Industry, is back by popular demand and Trout’s Fly Fishing is proud to be a participating fly shop.  Here are the details:

-  The program will run from September 1 thru October 31, 2010

-  Customers must have a rebate voucher which can be obtained starting September 1, 2010 on the Simms Website.  Vouchers will only be available through the month of September, but may be redeemed as late at October 31.  Unlike the original rebate program, there are UNLIMITED VOUCHERS.

-  Bring in your old waders along with a valid rebate voucher to the shop and receive $50 OFF any Guide Series Wader and $25 OFF any Headwater Series Wader.  NOTE:  your old waders can be from any manufacturer, not just Simms.

That’s it!  So if you’ve been contemplating getting a new pair of waders this year, this is the time to do it.

Click here to see the full line of Simms Waders on our Online Store

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Trout’s customer David Miller posing for a nice shot with fellow angler Michael Keaton while on a recent trip to Belize.  Supposedly Mr. Keaton was a might bit keen on the look of our Trout’s hats, can you blame him.  If you’re reading this Michael, give the shop a shout and we’d be more than happy to set you up with one of these classy lids.  Thanks for sharing David!

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Recently, there has been a lot of controversy and debate of the proposed ban of felt soled boots.  Alaska and Vermont have officially banned felt soled boots, and other states like Maryland won’t be far behind.  I’ve remarked in previous posts on where I stand on this issue, and have had insightful conversations with customers and business colleagues alike.  So I was thrilled/amazed/disappointed to read the latest article put out by none other than the New York Times on the issue (read the full article).

Now putting the debate and accompanying science to the side for a moment, what struck me most about this article is how poorly it makes our industry and sport look to the general public.  The author does a great job of using published science and the opinions of those that matter most to paint a picture of a bunch of sportsman who are more concerned about what material stands between them and the bottom of a river, than they do about the future health and viability of our nations fisheries.  So whether or not you believe in the need and viability of a ban on felt soled boots, I think it’s fair to say that the time has come for all of us to put petty personal beliefs and differences aside, and open our eyes to what this debate is truly about.

But hey, these are just my thoughts, what do you think?

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Simms has historically been recognized for developing the most advanced and highest quality products for anglers. The Simms Spring 2011 line continues this tradition featuring products designed for all fishing segments – from fresh to salt and tarmac to drift boat.

Simms Waders offer the broadest ranges of styles and sizes for every angler. 2011 brings a new Special Edition in the G3 Guide™ model and an expansion of Custom Shop options and sizes.

There is a lot going on in the Footwear category. Highlights of the 9 new and updated boots and shoes are:

• RiverTek™ BOA® Boot – Simms has developed a new wading boot featuring the BOA® Lacing System; this boot is the ultimate in CleanStream™ design.
• Our updated Freestone® Boot offers a more durable boot with a rubberized toe and heel at the same fantastic price!
• Simms is introducing three GORE-TEX® footwear pieces for 2011: the Pursuit GORE-TEX® Shoe Mid and Low and the Harbor GORE-TEX® Shoe, all designed for wear on and off the water. All three shoes feature a GORE-TEX membrane, Vibram outsoles – originally designed for use by the US Navy on carrier ships – and OrthoLite memory foam sockliners for superior comfort.
• Mariner Shoe is the finest made amphibious sneaker for boats and skiffs.
• RipRap Shoe & StreamTread™ Sandal – you asked for them and Simms delivers…a shoe and sandal featuring Simms StreamTread™ sole with Vibram technology. Both can accept Simms HardBite™ Studs and Star Cleats.
• Zipit Bootie! A new price-point bootie that will be the answer for float tubes, kayaks and saltwater wading.

We’ll have all these new offerings, plus any other amazing items Simms will have for the 2011 season, as soon as they’re available.  We’ll be seeing all these products and more next week, so be sure and stay tuned for future updates.

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Kristian Lichtenfels with a dandy Roaring Fork Jim Brown.  Apparently he and Adam Barbour had a killer day floating the Fork with many nice browny’s to hand.  Hey Adam, where’s your Trout’s Hat?

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Glancing over each row of my fly box, I search for that pattern that alludes the confidence in both my mind and in appearance.  I have already gone through numerous variations of adult mayflies, stones, hoppers and drakes, yet to no avail.  I am reminded and humbled by the often overlooked complexities of summer fishing; with all the available food sources, it can sometimes be a formidable challenge to determine what the trout are keying in on.  There are those days when you have the right fly on and the fishing can be absolutely lights out.  Then there are those days when no matter what you try, the fish just don’t want anything to do with what’s on the end of your line.  The latter being how my day is seeming to go.  It is at these times that I often find myself trying to think outside the box, and conjure up a strategy that might entice a trout to say “what the hell, I’ll give that interesting looking morsel a try”.

It is at this moment as I stand on the river’s edge that I locate the solution to my fly query, a drowned grasshopper.  Being a new fly in the shop as well as my fly box, I am not sure how exactly to fish this unique pattern.  With the look of a dry fly, but the weight of a large nymph, the applications of this fly are not  totally clear.  But with little apparent surface action, and no hits on any of the dry flies I had presented to these finicky trout, I seemed only natural to go deep.  A few minutes later my creation is complete, a three fly nymph rig consisting of a size 12 stonefly, a small caddis pupa, and 18″ behind that my secret weapon; Takahashi’s Drowned Hopper.

Now I’ll be totally honest that as I cast my line to the head of the run, I had little hope that this method was going to actually work.  So it was to my astonishment that as my flies passed next to a large submerged rock that my indicator went down in a manor that suggested one thing, FISH ON!  Four jumps, 2 runs and 5 minutes later I had in my hands the largest brown trout of my season; a beautiful male with a hook jaw to boot.

So the next time you find yourself on the side of river, perplexed by what fly to tie on next, think outside the box and you too may be rewarded with an unexpected surprise.

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With the crowds gone, the foliage in full color, and the fish hungry and frisky, expert anglers agree that fall in Colorado offers the finest fly fishing anywhere and they offer the top spots

DENVER, CO – Colorado is a world-wide destination for fly fishing, as there are thousands of miles of streams in the mountains and plains, and hundreds of ponds, lakes and reservoirs that offer fly fishers unparalleled access to the finest fresh-water fish on earth. Trout of every stripe, kokanee salmon, bass, muskie, crappie, catfish, walleye, splake – there’s a challenge nearly everywhere in the clear, cold waters of Colorado.

And autumn is a particular popular season for the veteran fly fisher for a variety of reasons. First, of course, is the solitude: with kids back in school and the majority of summer tourists back home, even the most popular streams, reservoirs and lakes hot fishing spots feature little company or competition. Then there’s the weather: the fall in Colorado is spectacular, with warm sunny days, and cool starry nights, and foliage colors unmatched in the West.

But of course, it’s the fish that matter. In the fall, many species are spawning in Colorado streams, and once finished with their labors they need to fatten up for the long winter. In this season all types of fish are especially hungry and frisky, which makes the angling possibilities endless and the fight well worth the effort.

Seasoned anglers mark their calendars for September, October and November in Colorado as possible the best fly fishing on earth.

Colorado offers many opportunities for excellent fly fishing, from remote back-country sites and guided tours for Colorado river fishing, to day trips from major cities and resort locales where the famous Colorado trout – rainbows, cutthroat, brownies, brookies and lake trout – are abundant and ferocious.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (http://wildlife.state.co.us/) is an excellent source of information on available species and places to go, and of course the Internet is replete with fishing blogs, fishing guide sites, and a wealth of information that is a gateway to Colorado fly fishing.

Truth be told, in Colorado no one is ever more than a few miles from a great fly fishing spot, but here are five premier locations that expert anglers agree are among the very best locations for successful, memory-laden Colorado fly fishing:

• The Blue River is a medium-size river in the central part of the state near the Continental Divide, and one of the most scenic fishing spots in the state. Experts believe the best fly fishing on the river is from the Dillon Reservoir dam down to the Colorado River, between the town of Dillon to the Green Mountain Reservoir. While most of the water borders private land, there is 10 miles of public access between the two reservoirs. Look to land brown, rainbow, some brook trout, cutthroats and fall-spawning Kokanee salmon.

The Black Canyon of the Gunnison River in western Colorado is renowned for the brilliant combination of deep canyons and sheer cliffs, beautiful terrain and fishing opportunities unrivaled anywhere. The Gunnison River is subject to many restrictions, but there are 26 miles of the river that are managed as a Gold Medal tailwater fishery, which veteran anglers says is among the most productive in the state. The open portion is equally divided: thee lower 13

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With the experts predicting an “epic” grasshopper hatch during the 2010 summer, it seemed appropriate to feature this chewy morsel for this week’s Chewy Fly.  The Drowned Hopper is the brain child of well known tier Rick Takahashi.  While most anglers only think of fishing hoppers on the surface, the reality is that many trout key in on any type of terrestrial pattern that is below the surface.  Think about it, a drowned hopper is easier for a fish to target, and it’s high in protein and other nutrients that the fish needs to survive.  Seems like a win win to me.

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Since finding out that I’ll be headed to Bolivia in May 2011 to chase Golden Dorado, I have been scowering the interenet for any snippets of info I can find on this amazing fish.  I came across this amazing video this morning and had to share it with our faithful followers.  Enjoy!

Shot in spring of 2009 by Mike Nelson of Patagonia Fishing Company on an HVX200, this was a fun festival piece. Mike has some camera experience but mainly he excels at putting people into great fishing situations. I had to find a way to make the footage work and decided to go for a surrealist touch. Hence the hyper saturation and mattes. All sounds were location sounds. The percussion sound came from a log in the current shown in the 2nd clip of the film.

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