Well, I’m finally back to the South Platte River Valley, Decker’s, Colorado! It’s been a couple of months since my last update, as I’ve been working in the Roaring Fork Valley, as a Chef. I’ve been back for about a week now , and I would love to update you on the current fishing situation, in both Decker’s, and the Cheesman Canyon. I have been fishing the Decker’s/Trumbull/Cheeesman Canyon areas for the last 8 days, and have done considerably well, under a variety of conditions. Typical of the South Platte River Valley in Spring, I saw daytime high temperatures range from the mid 40’s, up to almost 70! Combined with 60 mph wind gusts, snow, rain, a little thunder, and even some thunder snow, it all eventually gave way to plenty of sunshine and excellent trout fishing! With the luxury of having quick access to Cheesman Canyon by daybreak, I have taken the opportunity to get out there early and scope out the river each morning for bugs and fish activity, usually getting a fly wet by about 9am. On the Decker’s and Trumble end of the fishing picture, I spent most my days fishing the deeper runs and riffles in the early morning, primarily using a three-fly nymph rig, one split shot, and a variety of midges and emergers. Most of fishing on that end of the river took place below the the second bridge in Decker’s, down through “Hole in the Wall” and to the third bridge. As of late I’ve been fishing the Canyon most mornings and afternoons, with good success with both dries and nymphs, along with the San Juan Worm! Red to be exact! With these low flows, which have been hovering around 55-90 (cfs) for the last two weeks or so, provides both pro’s and con’s. On the positive side of things, when flows are lower in the canyon and Decker’s, the fish are concentrated in smaller areas and you have more wading access to areas that are usually difficult to a pass, or unable to access during higher flow periods. On the down side of things, you will typically have increased Angler pressure due to fewer runs and riffles, and deep pools, combined with the flats being occupied by spawning Rainbows, which should be avoided at all times! If your coming to Decker’s to get away from all the crowds, you may want to consider fishing the less popular stretches of river by the Decker’s Resort, and head on downstream for 13 miles of quality, not as populated water! This past season new signage has been posted along Platte River Road. Anywhere you see the brown sign with the white “P”, parking for river access is available. These spots are limited, so keep that in mind when coming to Decker’s on the holiday’s and weekends. Also, a few things to keep in mind. There is no gas available in Decker’s, nor is there cell phone service. Below you’ll find a list of the bugs that have been doing the trick for the last week! All of these bugs and more can be purchased at Flies and Lies, in the Decker’s Resort. With a full selection of gear, flies, rental equipment, and full or half-day guided trips, the friendly staff at Flies and Lies will get you on the river with all you need for a chance at trophy Rainbow or Brown! Well, that’s it for now folks! Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
Real quick blog post today my friends! I just want to give you a little update on what’s happening at the famous “Toilet Bowl” For months now, there has been quite a bit of talk about how the Toilet Bowl was going to be shut down and made unavailable for fishing! THAT’S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE! I have just spent the last three hours fishing around the bowl, and I’ve got a little bit of new information to share. Upon my arrival, which was pretty early for this time of year, approximately 9:30 a.m, I was greeted by power plant worker who informed me that the new signs posted will be soon followed by routine enforcement of the rules and regulations. As the sign clearly states, No Trespassing, parking, or fishing is allowed within 100 feet of the Plant. On this particular morning, there were already 5 Anglers that were not only well within 100 feet of the plant, but were also fishing pretty close to the tailrace area. The plant worker, who will remain anonymous, was not in a position to enforce the rules, but was pretty adamant about the increased presence of law enforcement, that will be issuing hefty fines to those that don’t obey the rules. He explained to me, that because of the increased risk associated with sudden fluctuations and strong currents around the structure, the risk to the public is too great to leave to chance. This comes after someone had already damaged the fence with a vehicle this past fall, and others that were diving in the area as well. As I fished below the structure, well outside the 100 ft. “off limits” area, several Anglers were ignoring the signs and showed no respect for the employee who was watching them from his truck. I’m not sure what the problem really is, that people cannot simply follow some pretty easy regulations that are only in place to protect them in the first place. This has been going on for years at the Toilet Bowl, but with the increase of Angers to the area, along with a general “lack of respect”, combined with the fact that this could really turn into a dangerous situation at any given moment, the county has no recourse but to make this area off limits. He also informed me that if the public does not heed the warning signs and continue to disobey the posted rules, the entire area could quite possibly be made of limits to the public, period! I simply don’t understand why it’s such a big deal to access the area by foot, just a few feet downstream! On a lighter note, and the reason I went up there in the first place today, the fishing was really good. Clear skies, cooler temps early, and flows around 88 cfs. Using a variety of bug, mostly midges and small baetis nymphs, I was able to land nearly 20 fish in under 2 hours! Be careful not to tread on the spawning beds, which are literally scattered all throughout the flats. Stick to the deeper runs and riffles, where you have less of a chance of snagging or hooking into a spawning Rainbow. A few bugs that were working for me today, particularly well, were the grey and black RS-2, along with attractor bugs, such as the purple Pat’s Rubber legs and Red San Juan Worm. I also caught several fish on small pheasant tails and size #20-22 baetis larvae, olive and brown. That’s all the time I’ve got for today folks! Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
Well, it’s been almost a month since my last blog, as I have temporarily relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley, Carbondale, Colorado. I will be returning to my Executive Chef position at the Wigwam club in mid-April, where I’ll continue to fish and write daily of the conditions and the fishing Coming from another valley, the South Platte, this has certainly become an adventure worth discussing! Having the luxury of being surrounded by some of the best fishing waters in Colorado, I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed with all my options of great water to fish! With that being said, I’ve been fishing the Roaring Fork, from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. I’ve fished the Frying Pan, from Reudi Reservoir, to the confluence of the Roaring Fork, in Basalt. Let’s not forget the memorable December afternoon on the Crystal, and last but not least, I could not possibly forget to give the Great Colorado River it’s due recognition in this blog! Let’s get started, shall we? Winter fishing in Colorado usually means two things to me. Be prepared for any condition that may come your way, and be prepared for an epic day or two on any of the fore-mentioned rivers! With the typical winter, tail-water fishery conditions on the Pan, flows have been pretty consistently hovering around 85-90 (cfs). As I’ve been fishing down river from the famous Toilet Bowl, I’ve been sticking to the deeper runs and riffles, where the fish seem to be congregating and feasting on the consistent midge diet, typical for this time of year. The fishing on the Pan has been terrific the last couple of weeks! I’ve continued to have daily success on a variety of bugs, including the simple San Juan Worm, as an indicator bug, followed with a variety of colors of the zebra midge. Red, black, and gold with Silver wire have really been pulling the big browns up the last two days! In addition to these bugs, I’ve also had similar success with a variety of Baetis, such as the Purple and Blue Juju, and the emergers, such as the black and grey RS-2. The Baetis Emerger represents a small baetis nymph as it ascends the water column and hatch. Emerging baetis mayflies are at their most vulnerable when emerging, and fish love an easy meal. Since I’ve been fishing mostly in water no deeper than about 18-24 inches, in most cases on the Pan, this has proven an invaluable technique for catching fish! A simple, two-fly nypmph rig, consisting of that attractor bug, followed with any of the above mentioned, have just been killing it on the Pan! Once again, it’s not always about the bug, but the presentation has got to be there! I basically have adopted a very common practice of making sure that I’ve got enough weight above that top fly, to at least get hung up or be scraping the bottom by the end of my drift. Moving on to the Roaring Fork, I’ve had to make a few adjustments, primarily to yet again, my split shot weight, and my distance to my first fly. Considering the flows this time of year on the upper Fork have been around 385-425 (cfs), my game has had to adapt! Fishing this faster, deeper water has resulted in the need to add significant weight, along with a slightly different way of going about my set-up and bug selection. Primarily, I’ve been fishing around the Carbondale area, workng my way from the boat ramp off Hwy.82, downstream to the second railroad bridge. In addition to this area, I’ve also taken some time to explore a few areas off of Midland Rd, from about 11th street, and then into Glenwood Springs. The clarity this time of year on the Fork, has been nothing but “Gin” clear! This is not only a perfect time to sight fish for big bows and brown’s, but it gives you a little room to increase that tippet size. Nymphing has been productive with patterns such as Pat’s Rubber legs (Purple was on fire the other day), Size 16-18 Stoneflies, Black Hare’s Ear’s, and the ever productive, black, olive, and grey Rs-2. Similar to the Pan, the fish have been eager to take the emerger bugs, such as the Foam back Chocolate Thunder, and the yellow Barr’s emerger. Most of my success on the fork came from fishing the tail-outs, pocket water runs, and believe it or not, some bridge structure has put a few in the net as well. My days on the Crystal River have been limited, considerably less productive than the Pan or Fork, but have still produced fish. With similar flows like the Pan, with none of the crowds to deal with like you do on the Pan, the Crystal has provided me with two outstanding mid-afternoon outings, along the stretch between Carbondale and Redstone. Locating a wonderful section that provided some deeper pools, with shelves and drop-offs on both ends, I had two really good afternoons fishing this section of river, with the similar set-up used on the Pan. Smaller bugs in the size 20-24 range were quite productive, with the black Rs-2 and San Juan Worm taking the title! If you’re looking to “get away” from the crowds and get some quality scenic pictures while your fishing, I highly recommend a winter afternoon on the Crystal. Honestly, the fishing isn’t as consistent as the Pan or Fork this time of year, but the solitude is worth the trip! Great views of Mnt.Sopris and the redstone cliffs are just a few of the natural beauties that make this a great place to spend the afternoon. Finishing up today with the Colorado, I’ve only had one experience to share. One day last week, I finished up on the Fork, near the Confluence with the Colorado, and found myself staring into a cold, fast river flowing at approximately 1350 (cfs) Not having much time, and noticing some fish actively feeding around some boulders, I took a chance with throwing a Streamer or two, and had pretty good success for about an hour! Fishing an Olive and Black Wooley Bugger, size #10, I repeatedly put fish in the net by stripping the bugger just past the boulders along the bank. Adding significant weight to the “cone-head” style of bugger that I had, proved invaluable, as i was hooking up on fish about as deep as I could get! This led to some pretty good fish fighting as I tried to keep them out of the boulders! Well, that’s all I’ve got for now my friends! Look for more reports to come out of the Roaring Fork Valley, as I’ll be here for the next three months. As always, be sure to check the daily flows on the “fishing report” icon, located at the top of each page, detailing the current weather and fishing information for the Decker’s Area! I am planning a trip back to Decker’s in just a few weeks, and I’ll be sure to post my results! I hope you enjoy the video I found on YouTube, it’s really gives you and idea of what it’s like to spend a little time in this valley Paradise! Until then, for a detailed report on what’s specifically working in Decker’s, be sure to check with the guys at Flies and Lies http://www.flies-n-lies.com. Hope to see you on the river soon!
Welcome back and let’s get right into it, shall we? With unseasonable flows almost reaching 200 (cfs) in the Canyon, Decker’s, and Trumbull areas of the South Platte, we’ve seen a drop this evening that has brought us back down to 139 in the canyon, with 135-130 through Decker’s and Trumbull. Last year at this time, we were seeing flows range from the upper 70’s to the 115/120 range. What does all this flow change mean you ask? Well, a number of things. Let’s start with what this means as far as the tippet size you should be using. Typically this time of year, with the lower flows and gin clear water, it’s pretty important to stick with the 5x and 6x Tippet, along with keeping your bugs in the #22-#24 range. With excellent clarity and lazy fish, due to the colder temperatures and shaded areas of the river that don’t see much sun this time of year, a good presentation and a meal that “belongs’ there, is going to be the key to your success, both in the Canyon and below the Wigwam Club. If it looks like a duck? Well, you get it! With the flows reaching the upper 130’s/14o’s ranges in the last few days, and more than likely we’ll continue to see some substantial fluctuation, you certainly have the chance to get out that 4x and take advantage of the higher flows. Thus, resulting in far more opportunities to net that 22” Rainbow that’s sure to push that 5x and 6x tippet to its’ limit. With these increased flows, it’s also a wise decision to stick to the deeper runs and riffles that are providing increased oxygen and a greater supply of food. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is directly related to the water temperature. In case you don’t know, cold water holds oxygen much better than warm water. The effects of water temperature on the amount of dissolved oxygen doesn’t change at a constant rate. It changes at an accelerated rate. In general, for most species of trout, the fish are most active when the water ranges from about 50 to 65 degrees. The cold-blooded trout feed at the maximum rates due to their metabolism level in this range. From 65 to 70, this accelerated rate I referred to begins to take place. In simple terms, at 65 there is no problem and the trout feed aggressively. At seventy degrees, there can be a problem depending on the type of water. The dissolved oxygen content can be low. Still water is one thing and fast, turbulent water is another. The amount of dissolved oxygen will vary greatly. That is why you hear to “fish the oxygenated water” all the time. When the trout start hurting for oxygen, they will begin to cease their feeding activity. It is not a great deal different from the way they react in very cold water, just due to a different reason. When the water reaches about seventy-four degrees, the trout just about have to have highly oxygenated water to survive. Again, keep in mind that these temperatures are guide lines. Also, the particular species of trout and its location and more specifically the type of water it is in will vary this somewhat – not greatly, but a little. So, with all of this being said, let’s not forget about the food source of the trout, and how it is affected by higher flows. Higher flows generally result in a larger area of the stream bed that becomes wet, ultimately promoting the growth of vertebrates and invertebrates alike. When the river drops to levels that ultimately increase the water temperature, thus reducing the oxygen levels, we have the potential to see a decrease in the activity of the fish, along with a substantial chance for “fish kill.” Alright folks, that’s enough Biology for one day! Stick to the midges and beatis patterns, but don’t pass up the chance to take advantage of the occasional BWO hatch, as we’ve regularly seen temps reach the upper 50’s and 60’s this time of year. Until next time, have a great time out there and I hope to see you on the river soon!
Without wasting anytime on the water, let’s get this thing going! We’ve seen two bumps in the flow in the last week, up from the 150’s (cfs) to a current flow through Decker’s at 230 (cfs). Last year at this time, we were in the 70-100 (cfs) range for a few weeks,but being at the mercy of the Denver Water Board, it’s any ones guess daily! As I’m currently visiting family on the east coast, I’m relying on my friends in the Decker’s area to help me get you the information your counting on! With that being said, I’ve also taken a look back at last year’s blogs, which you can read for yourself, by simply clicking on pages 8 and 9 at the bottom of the blog page. You will be able to see what the flows were, clarity, weather, and the specific bugs that we had success with this same period last year. Keeping it current, the fish are active and most of the success will be had fishing the runs and riffles. We’ve got a current flow below Cheesman Dam at 234, dropping just a bit through Decker’s at 230(cfs) or so, and even a bit slower through Trumbull, at about 223 (cfs). This time of year, it’s crucial that you’ve got a good presentation and light tippet, 5x and 6x is choice. The fish are trying to conserve energy, so getting that bug directly in front of the fish is what your look for! Midges and Beatis patterns are going to be the go to bugs for now, but don’t be afraid to throw that Wooley Bugger, or even the BWO, as we really saw the hatches continue far into the fall season! Red and black zebras, purple and flashback juju midges, Olive on the Wooley Bugger streamer, and don’t forget the go- to bug of Decker’s, the Grey RS-2. Other emerging bugs, such as the Barr’s Emerger, Chocolate Thunder, and one of my favorites, the Cheesman Emerger, will all usually get the job done when the fish are hitting the emergers. As far as the size on these bugs go, stick to the #20-#22 range, and #12-#14 on the streamers. No precipitation is in the forecast, with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50’s, with the chance of reaching 63 on Tuesday. I’ll be back in the Decker’s area, fishing on Saturday, then heading to the Roaring Fork Valley, to fish the Taylor, Crystal, and Frying Pan rivers! That’s all I’ve got for now folks. Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
April 23, 2018 Fishing Update for Decker’s/Cheesman Canyon
Fishing Conditions, fishing report, lifestyle and fitness[ngg_images source=”galleries” container_ids=”1″ display_type=”photocrati-nextgen_basic_thumbnails” override_thumbnail_settings=”0″ thumbnail_width=”240″ thumbnail_height=”160″ thumbnail_crop=”1″ images_per_page=”20″ number_of_columns=”0″ ajax_pagination=”0″ show_all_in_lightbox=”0″ use_imagebrowser_effect=”0″ show_slideshow_link=”1″ slideshow_link_text=”[Show slideshow]” order_by=”sortorder” order_direction=”ASC” returns=”included” maximum_entity_count=”500″]
Welcome Back!
Well, I’m finally back to the South Platte River Valley, Decker’s, Colorado! It’s been a couple of months since my last update, as I’ve been working in the Roaring Fork Valley, as a Chef. I’ve been back for about a week now , and I would love to update you on the current fishing situation, in both Decker’s, and the Cheesman Canyon. I have been fishing the Decker’s/Trumbull/Cheeesman Canyon areas for the last 8 days, and have done considerably well, under a variety of conditions. Typical of the South Platte River Valley in Spring, I saw daytime high temperatures range from the mid 40’s, up to almost 70! Combined with 60 mph wind gusts, snow, rain, a little thunder, and even some thunder snow, it all eventually gave way to plenty of sunshine and excellent trout fishing! With the luxury of having quick access to Cheesman Canyon by daybreak, I have taken the opportunity to get out there early and scope out the river each morning for bugs and fish activity, usually getting a fly wet by about 9am. On the Decker’s and Trumble end of the fishing picture, I spent most my days fishing the deeper runs and riffles in the early morning, primarily using a three-fly nymph rig, one split shot, and a variety of midges and emergers. Most of fishing on that end of the river took place below the the second bridge in Decker’s, down through “Hole in the Wall” and to the third bridge. As of late I’ve been fishing the Canyon most mornings and afternoons, with good success with both dries and nymphs, along with the San Juan Worm! Red to be exact! With these low flows, which have been hovering around 55-90 (cfs) for the last two weeks or so, provides both pro’s and con’s. On the positive side of things, when flows are lower in the canyon and Decker’s, the fish are concentrated in smaller areas and you have more wading access to areas that are usually difficult to a pass, or unable to access during higher flow periods. On the down side of things, you will typically have increased Angler pressure due to fewer runs and riffles, and deep pools, combined with the flats being occupied by spawning Rainbows, which should be avoided at all times! If your coming to Decker’s to get away from all the crowds, you may want to consider fishing the less popular stretches of river by the Decker’s Resort, and head on downstream for 13 miles of quality, not as populated water! This past season new signage has been posted along Platte River Road. Anywhere you see the brown sign with the white “P”, parking for river access is available. These spots are limited, so keep that in mind when coming to Decker’s on the holiday’s and weekends. Also, a few things to keep in mind. There is no gas available in Decker’s, nor is there cell phone service. Below you’ll find a list of the bugs that have been doing the trick for the last week! All of these bugs and more can be purchased at Flies and Lies, in the Decker’s Resort. With a full selection of gear, flies, rental equipment, and full or half-day guided trips, the friendly staff at Flies and Lies will get you on the river with all you need for a chance at trophy Rainbow or Brown! Well, that’s it for now folks! Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
Chris
Suggested Flies: Grey and black RS-2 sparkle wing
, Juju Beatis, 
San Juan Worm
, Barr’s Emerger
, Epoxy Stone Fly,
Pheasant tail
, Zebra midge
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Toilet Bowl Update-January 29, 2018
Fishing Conditions, fishing report, Rules and RegulationsGood Afternoon Everyone!
Real quick blog post today my friends! I just want to give you a little update on what’s happening at the famous “Toilet Bowl” For months now, there has been quite a bit of talk about how the Toilet Bowl was going to be shut down and made unavailable for fishing! THAT’S SIMPLY NOT THE CASE! I have just spent the last three hours fishing around the bowl, and I’ve got a little bit of new information to share. Upon my arrival, which was pretty early for this time of year, approximately 9:30 a.m, I was greeted by power plant worker who informed me that the new signs posted will be soon followed by routine enforcement of the rules and regulations. As the sign clearly states, No Trespassing, parking, or fishing is allowed within 100 feet of the Plant. On this particular morning, there were already 5 Anglers that were not only well within 100 feet of the plant, but were also fishing pretty close to the tailrace area. The plant worker, who will remain anonymous, was not in a position to enforce the rules, but was pretty adamant about the increased presence of law enforcement, that will be issuing hefty fines to those that don’t obey the rules. He explained to me, that because of the increased risk associated with sudden fluctuations and strong currents around the structure, the risk to the public is too great to leave to chance. This comes after someone had already damaged the fence with a vehicle this past fall, and others that were diving in the area as well. As I fished below the structure, well outside the 100 ft. “off limits” area, several Anglers were ignoring the signs and showed no respect for the employee who was watching them from his truck. I’m not sure what the problem really is, that people cannot simply follow some pretty easy regulations that are only in place to protect them in the first place. This has been going on for years at the Toilet Bowl, but with the increase of Angers to the area, along with a general “lack of respect”, combined with the fact that this could really turn into a dangerous situation at any given moment, the county has no recourse but to make this area off limits. He also informed me that if the public does not heed the warning signs and continue to disobey the posted rules, the entire area could quite possibly be made of limits to the public, period! I simply don’t understand why it’s such a big deal to access the area by foot, just a few feet downstream! On a lighter note, and the reason I went up there in the first place today, the fishing was really good. Clear skies, cooler temps early, and flows around 88 cfs. Using a variety of bug, mostly midges and small baetis nymphs, I was able to land nearly 20 fish in under 2 hours! Be careful not to tread on the spawning beds, which are literally scattered all throughout the flats. Stick to the deeper runs and riffles, where you have less of a chance of snagging or hooking into a spawning Rainbow. A few bugs that were working for me today, particularly well, were the grey and black RS-2, along with attractor bugs, such as the purple Pat’s Rubber legs and Red San Juan Worm. I also caught several fish on small pheasant tails and size #20-22 baetis larvae, olive and brown. That’s all the time I’ve got for today folks! Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
Chris
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January 12, 2018-Roaring Fork Valley Fishing Report
fishing reportGood Afternoon!
Well, it’s been almost a month since my last blog, as I have temporarily relocated to the Roaring Fork Valley, Carbondale, Colorado. I will be returning to my Executive Chef position at the Wigwam club in mid-April, where I’ll continue to fish and write daily of the conditions and the fishing Coming from another valley, the South Platte, this has certainly become an adventure worth discussing! Having the luxury of being surrounded by some of the best fishing waters in Colorado, I’ve been somewhat overwhelmed with all my options of great water to fish! With that being said, I’ve been fishing the Roaring Fork, from Aspen to Glenwood Springs. I’ve fished the Frying Pan, from Reudi Reservoir, to the confluence of the Roaring Fork, in Basalt. Let’s not forget the memorable December afternoon on the Crystal, and last but not least, I could not possibly forget to give the Great Colorado River it’s due recognition in this blog! Let’s get started, shall we? Winter fishing in Colorado usually means two things to me. Be prepared for any condition that may come your way, and be prepared for an epic day or two on any of the fore-mentioned rivers! With the typical winter, tail-water fishery conditions on the Pan, flows have been pretty consistently hovering around 85-90 (cfs). As I’ve been fishing down river from the famous Toilet Bowl, I’ve been sticking to the deeper runs and riffles, where the fish seem to be congregating and feasting on the consistent midge diet, typical for this time of year. The fishing on the Pan has been terrific the last couple of weeks! I’ve continued to have daily success on a variety of bugs, including the simple San Juan Worm, as an indicator bug, followed with a variety of colors of the zebra midge
. Red, black, and gold with Silver wire have really been pulling the big browns up the last two days! In addition to these bugs, I’ve also had similar success with a variety of Baetis, such as the Purple and Blue Juju
, and the emergers, such as the black and grey RS-2. The Baetis Emerger represents a small baetis nymph as it ascends the water column and hatch. Emerging baetis mayflies are at their most vulnerable when emerging, and fish love an easy meal. Since I’ve been fishing mostly in water no deeper than about 18-24 inches, in most cases on the Pan, this has proven an invaluable technique for catching fish! A simple, two-fly nypmph rig, consisting of that attractor bug, followed with any of the above mentioned, have just been killing it on the Pan! Once again, it’s not always about the bug, but the presentation has got to be there! I basically have adopted a very common practice of making sure that I’ve got enough weight above that top fly, to at least get hung up or be scraping the bottom by the end of my drift. Moving on to the Roaring Fork, I’ve had to make a few adjustments, primarily to yet again, my split shot weight, and my distance to my first fly. Considering the flows this time of year on the upper Fork have been around 385-425 (cfs), my game has had to adapt! Fishing this faster, deeper water has resulted in the need to add significant weight, along with a slightly different way of going about my set-up and bug selection. Primarily, I’ve been fishing around the Carbondale area, workng my way from the boat ramp off Hwy.82, downstream to the second railroad bridge. In addition to this area, I’ve also taken some time to explore a few areas off of Midland Rd, from about 11th street, and then into Glenwood Springs. The clarity this time of year on the Fork, has been nothing but “Gin” clear! This is not only a perfect time to sight fish for big bows and brown’s, but it gives you a little room to increase that tippet size. Nymphing has been productive with patterns such as Pat’s Rubber legs (Purple was on fire the other day), Size 16-18 Stoneflies
, Black Hare’s Ear’s, and the ever productive, black, olive, and grey Rs-2.
Similar to the Pan, the fish have been eager to take the emerger bugs, such as the Foam back Chocolate Thunder, and the yellow Barr’s emerger. Most of my success on the fork came from fishing the tail-outs, pocket water runs, and believe it or not, some bridge structure has put a few in the net as well. My days on the Crystal River have been limited, considerably less productive than the Pan or Fork, but have still produced fish. With similar flows like the Pan, with none of the crowds to deal with like you do on the Pan, the Crystal has provided me with two outstanding mid-afternoon outings, along the stretch between Carbondale and Redstone. Locating a wonderful section that provided some deeper pools, with shelves and drop-offs on both ends, I had two really good afternoons fishing this section of river, with the similar set-up used on the Pan. Smaller bugs in the size 20-24 range were quite productive, with the black Rs-2 and San Juan Worm taking the title! If you’re looking to “get away” from the crowds and get some quality scenic pictures while your fishing, I highly recommend a winter afternoon on the Crystal. Honestly, the fishing isn’t as consistent as the Pan or Fork this time of year, but the solitude is worth the trip! Great views of Mnt.Sopris and the redstone cliffs are just a few of the natural beauties that make this a great place to spend the afternoon. Finishing up today with the Colorado, I’ve only had one experience to share. One day last week, I finished up on the Fork, near the Confluence with the Colorado, and found myself staring into a cold, fast river flowing at approximately 1350 (cfs) Not having much time, and noticing some fish actively feeding around some boulders, I took a chance with throwing a Streamer or two, and had pretty good success for about an hour! Fishing an Olive and Black Wooley 
Bugger, size #10, I repeatedly put fish in the net by stripping the bugger just past the boulders along the bank. Adding significant weight to the “cone-head” style of bugger that I had, proved invaluable, as i was hooking up on fish about as deep as I could get! This led to some pretty good fish fighting as I tried to keep them out of the boulders! Well, that’s all I’ve got for now my friends! Look for more reports to come out of the Roaring Fork Valley, as I’ll be here for the next three months. As always, be sure to check the daily flows on the “fishing report” icon, located at the top of each page, detailing the current weather and fishing information for the Decker’s Area! I am planning a trip back to Decker’s in just a few weeks, and I’ll be sure to post my results! I hope you enjoy the video I found on YouTube, it’s really gives you and idea of what it’s like to spend a little time in this valley Paradise! Until then, for a detailed report on what’s specifically working in Decker’s, be sure to check with the guys at Flies and Lies http://www.flies-n-lies.com. Hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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December 17, 2017 Decker’s/Cheesman Canyon Fishing Report
Fishing Conditions, fishing reportGood Evening Folks!
Welcome back and let’s get right into it, shall we? With unseasonable flows almost reaching 200 (cfs) in the Canyon, Decker’s, and Trumbull areas of the South Platte, we’ve seen a drop this evening that has brought us back down to 139 in the canyon, with 135-130 through Decker’s and Trumbull. Last year at this time, we were seeing flows range from the upper 70’s to the 115/120 range. What does all this flow change mean you ask? Well, a number of things. Let’s start with what this means as far as the tippet size you should be using. Typically this time of year, with the lower flows and gin clear water, it’s pretty important to stick with the 5x and 6x Tippet, along with keeping your bugs in the #22-#24 range. With excellent clarity and lazy fish, due to the colder temperatures and shaded areas of the river that don’t see much sun this time of year, a good presentation and a meal that “belongs’ there, is going to be the key to your success, both in the Canyon and below the Wigwam Club. If it looks like a duck? Well, you get it! With the flows reaching the upper 130’s/14o’s ranges in the last few days, and more than likely we’ll continue to see some substantial fluctuation, you certainly have the chance to get out that 4x and take advantage of the higher flows. Thus, resulting in far more opportunities to net that 22” Rainbow that’s sure to push that 5x and 6x tippet to its’ limit. With these increased flows, it’s also a wise decision to stick to the deeper runs and riffles that are providing increased oxygen and a greater supply of food. The amount of dissolved oxygen in the water is directly related to the water temperature. In case you don’t know, cold water holds oxygen much better than warm water. The effects of water temperature on the amount of dissolved oxygen doesn’t change at a constant rate. It changes at an accelerated rate. In general, for most species of trout, the fish are most active when the water ranges from about 50 to 65 degrees. The cold-blooded trout feed at the maximum rates due to their metabolism level in this range. From 65 to 70, this accelerated rate I referred to begins to take place. In simple terms, at 65 there is no problem and the trout feed aggressively. At seventy degrees, there can be a problem depending on the type of water. The dissolved oxygen content can be low. Still water is one thing and fast, turbulent water is another. The amount of dissolved oxygen will vary greatly. That is why you hear to “fish the oxygenated water” all the time. When the trout start hurting for oxygen, they will begin to cease their feeding activity. It is not a great deal different from the way they react in very cold water, just due to a different reason. When the water reaches about seventy-four degrees, the trout just about have to have highly oxygenated water to survive. Again, keep in mind that these temperatures are guide lines. Also, the particular species of trout and its location and more specifically the type of water it is in will vary this somewhat – not greatly, but a little. So, with all of this being said, let’s not forget about the food source of the trout, and how it is affected by higher flows. Higher flows generally result in a larger area of the stream bed that becomes wet, ultimately promoting the growth of vertebrates and invertebrates alike. When the river drops to levels that ultimately increase the water temperature, thus reducing the oxygen levels, we have the potential to see a decrease in the activity of the fish, along with a substantial chance for “fish kill.” Alright folks, that’s enough Biology for one day! Stick to the midges and beatis patterns, but don’t pass up the chance to take advantage of the occasional BWO hatch, as we’ve regularly seen temps reach the upper 50’s and 60’s this time of year. Until next time, have a great time out there and I hope to see you on the river soon!
Chris
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December 9, 2017 Fishing update for Decker’s/Cheesman Canyon
Fishing Conditions, fishing reportHappy Holidays my Friends!
Without wasting anytime on the water, let’s get this thing going! We’ve seen two bumps in the flow in the last week, up from the 150’s (cfs) to a current flow through Decker’s at 230 (cfs). Last year at this time, we were in the 70-100 (cfs) range for a few weeks,but being at the mercy of the Denver Water Board, it’s any ones guess daily! As I’m currently visiting family on the east coast, I’m relying on my friends in the Decker’s area to help me get you the information your counting on! With that being said, I’ve also taken a look back at last year’s blogs, which you can read for yourself, by simply clicking on pages 8 and 9 at the bottom of the blog page. You will be able to see what the flows were, clarity, weather, and the specific bugs that we had success with this same period last year. Keeping it current, the fish are active and most of the success will be had fishing the runs and riffles. We’ve got a current flow below Cheesman Dam at 234, dropping just a bit through Decker’s at 230(cfs) or so, and even a bit slower through Trumbull, at about 223 (cfs). This time of year, it’s crucial that you’ve got a good presentation and light tippet, 5x and 6x is choice. The fish are trying to conserve energy, so getting that bug directly in front of the fish is what your look for! Midges and Beatis patterns are going to be the go to bugs for now, but don’t be afraid to throw that Wooley Bugger, or even the BWO, as we really saw the hatches continue far into the fall season! Red and black zebras, purple and flashback juju midges, Olive on the Wooley Bugger streamer, and don’t forget the go- to bug of Decker’s, the Grey RS-2. Other emerging bugs, such as the Barr’s Emerger, Chocolate Thunder, and one of my favorites, the Cheesman Emerger, will all usually get the job done when the fish are hitting the emergers. As far as the size on these bugs go, stick to the #20-#22 range, and #12-#14 on the streamers. No precipitation is in the forecast, with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 50’s, with the chance of reaching 63 on Tuesday. I’ll be back in the Decker’s area, fishing on Saturday, then heading to the Roaring Fork Valley, to fish the Taylor, Crystal, and Frying Pan rivers! That’s all I’ve got for now folks. Hope to see you out there on the river soon!
Chris
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