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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If there is one thing I have learned about fly fishing in the Rocky Mountain West, it is that nothing is constant.  River levels rise and fall, insect hatches come and go, and a trout’s mood can be influenced by any number of outside variables, both tangible and not.  While it would seem logical that late summer would be one of the more consistent times of year to fish, the reality is that there are evolving circumstances that can change the make up of a river and how fish will subsequently react.  Knowing how to identify these variables, as well as understanding their subsequent influence on the productivity of a stream, is a paramount skill that every fly angler in Colorado should have.  So let’s take a moment and discuss some of the key factors that influence the productivity of a river, particularly in late summer.

River Flow:  While the flow of a river is in constant flux, it is from mid July to mid September where we see water flows play such a vital role in the productivity of a fishery.  Too high and everything gets blown out leaving the fish scrambling trying to find suitable habitat.  Too low and the fish begin to get stressed because they feel more vulnerable to predators.  So it seems that we’re always looking for that elusive “prime” flow where the bugs are hatching, and the fish are happily feeding.  So how do we know when that “prime” flow is?  Unfortunately there isn’t a set standard or method to measure this; every river is different, and each will react differently to the rise and fall in flow.  But if we understand where the water that fills our streams comes from, it becomes easier to calculate when these “prime” flows will be, particularly during the late summer months.

In the west, roughly 70% of our annual precipitation comes in the form of snow.  So once the snow is gone, we are totally reliant on rainfall and cooler weather to help keep rivers at optimal levels.  This year has been unique as we started out the summer with a state wide snowpack around 100% of average.  We then quickly lost much of our snowpack in a short period of time right around the first weekend in June, when temperatures in the high country peaked in the upper 80’s and low 90’s.  As a result, we experienced river levels that peaked at near 25 year highs on certain rivers.  While these high flows are great for flushing out our streams, the mass exodus of our snowpack has ultimately left us very vulnerable to low flows and now 100% reliant on rainfall to help us get through the last months of summer.  So what does this mean for late summer fishing here in Colorado?  Pray for rain and cool weather!!! Read the rest of this entry »

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Bill Nelson, Trout’s customer extraordinaire, was by the shop this morning and we were reminiscing about our Tarpon adventures this summer.  Turns out Bill was in the Keys the week ahead of me, and has put together a great little teaser of the experience.  Enjoy!

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As reported by the Anchorage Daily News, the Nushagak River, one of Alaska’s premier King Salmon fisheries, has been closed for the season due to poor King Salmon returns.

read the full story….

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It’s great when you have a boss that has the tarpon fishing trip of a lifetime, they typically come back all smiles and full of “yeses”. Still riding high from jumping 30 and boating close to 15; Tucker to say the least was in a very giving mood. Upon reentry into reality, the confines of Trout’s Fly Shop, Tucker afforded me the opportunity to take his place on the “1st Annual What The Shuck! Dealer Rendezvous-Rio Grande River”. You may be asking what is the meaning behind “What the Shuck!”?  And what exactly constitutes a “Dealer Rendezvous”?

First things first, “What the Shuck!” was a term coined by super rep. Michael White, a.k.a Whitey, for this shin dig.  Taking into account that this inaugural event was to take place stream side on the infamous Rio Grande and at a time when the dry fly fishing was to be at critical mass,  this new term best described both the uncertainty of what was to unfold before us, as well as, providing a wholesome twist on a common exclamatory remark. I hope this begins to paint a clearer picture.

Now to the “Dealer Rendezvous” part of this equation.  Commonly used as a noun, “rendezvous” I believe is best described and defined by MANY of the associated synonyms listed below.

Main Entry: rendezvous

Part of Speech: noun

Definition: get-together or place for get-together

Synonyms: affair, appointment (slightly late due to an emergence of grey drakes, handle of JD and LunaAzul Tequila), assignation, blind date (I didn’t know many in attendance, therefore I went in blind), date, double date (with three to a boat, more like a threesome), engagement, heavy date, matinee, meet, meeting, one night stand (I was told not to comment), tryst, gathering point (Cascada Bar & Grill), hangout, haunt, love nest, meeting place, spot, stomping ground (glorious Creede, CO), venue, watering hole (TommyKnocker Tavern…shot ski anyone?)

Combine these two terms and you get a short list of owners, managers and guides getting together to chase fish, sip on whiskey, brainstorm, smoke cigars, make fun, bbq in the rain and “borrow flies”.  Certainly in no particular order.  Clearer yet??

A few shout outs are certainly in order for this spectacular event.

Michael “Whitey” White:  The grandmaster, orchestrator…big daddy of the event is a highly skilled industry representative (Simms, Ross Reels, Idylwilde Flies) with a knack for poker, multi-tasking and two handing.  With mad “creek cred” and admiration from his retailers, Whitey was able to amass some of the industry’s finest for one heck of a fun weekend.  Thanks Whitey!

Patrick Kilby:  PK was the supplier of all things chewy and is the Director of US Operations for Idylwilde flies.  To say that Patrick came prepared would be an understatement, he had more flies in his duffle bag than all the fly shops in Mineral County combined.  Bug Du Jour for Monday:  Wilcox’s JC Special in olive or gray #10-12, Quigley’s Film Critic Green Drake #12 and Hairwing Drake gray #10-12.  Bug Du Jour for Tuesday: Quigley’s Victory Drake #12, Bloom’s Sedge Hammer brown green # 14-16, Hairwing Drake gray #10-12 and Parachute Adams #10-12.  Thanks Patrick for the use of some of your bugs!

Andy Wunsch: Despite ending his first evening in Creede with an unfortunate misstep, Andy was the “brains” of this trip.  As the Director of Sales for Simms Fishing Products, Andy brought with him the knowledge, answers, open-mindedness and wise ass remarks to keep us retailers educated, in-line and entertained.  Having literally “grown up” in the retail world, Andy was able to understand the needs of specialty retailers and parallel them with the needs of Simms, the manufacturer.  Thanks Andy for sharing your insight and opening your eyes and ears to our needs.

Duranglers and Wolf Creek Anglers:  Arguably some of the fishiest guys around, the guides from both Duranglers and WCA were top notch all the way.  Thanks guides for making all those mayflies emerge, I still don’t know how you do it!  Check them out: www.duranglers.com and www.wolfcreekanglers.com

To sum up this entire event in a concise form would be unjust…but I’m going to do it anyways.  In a few words:

Guides: $$$$$$

Fishing:  INSANITY

The company: INSANE..R

Flies: DIRTY and chewy

New Product: EXCITING

Oh yeah, just so you can hate me more…I’m going back in two weeks.  This time however Tucker and I will be hosting 6 lucky anglers on a trip that is sure to live up to this one.  If interested give us a call, we have a few spots left.

I think I’ll coin this first ever Trout Bum Trip…What the Shuck! Trouts Rendezvous-Rio Grande River.

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Trout Bum Trips 2010

Rio Grande River

July 16-19, 2010

Come join the guys from Trout’s Fly Fishing for a memorable trip to Colorado’s Rio Grande River.  We’ll be float fishing this world renowned freestone river for 2 days with South Fork Anglers, as well as wade fishing the private waters of the Rio Grande Club.  Don’t miss this opportunity to fish a classic Colorado stream with your favorite Denver Fly Shop!

Dates:  July 16-19, 2010

Cost:  $595

Price Includes:  3 nights lodging, 2 days guided fishing, all breakfasts and lunches, 2 dinners, plus a 10% discount at the shop on any supplies you need for the trip.

Accomodations will be provided by the Rio Grande Club

Space is limited to 6 anglers

hosted by Jim Kanda & Tucker Ladd

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This is a short clip from my Tarpon fishing trip in the Florida Keys.  This fish at in about 24″ of water over a sandy flat.  The eat and ensuing fight is something I’ll never forget.  Enjoy!

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Congratulations are in order for Fletcher Davis with “Cast, Mend, Strip, Strike, Repeat”. Fletcher is the proud owner of a new Simms Dry Creek Boat Bag.

Between our Facebook post and this blog post, Fletcher beat our Keith Soriano by 1 vote! Thanks Keith for the continued support of local business and the great T-Shirt slogan idea. Perhaps we’ll use that one next year.

Thanks go out to everyone that contributed/participated in this contest.

Fletcher, hit us up. We need some contact info.

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