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DESIGN
David Martin, Creative Director & Graphic Designer
PHOTOGRAPHY
Frank Martin, Landon Mayer, Brian LaRue, Angus Drummond
STAFF WRITERS
Frank Martin, Landon Mayer, Brian LaRue, Joel Evans, David Nickum, John Nickum, Peter Stitcher
Copyright 2017, High Country Angler, a division of High Country Publications, LLC. All rights reserved. Reprinting of any content or photos without expressed written consent of publisher is prohibited. Published four (4) times per year.
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Published in cooperation with Colorado Trout Unlimited 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320 Denver, CO 80202 www.coloradotu.org
STEVE CIECIUCH, PHOTO BY LANDON MAYER
GETTING LINED UP GETTING LINED UP
by Landon Mayer
One of the best tools an angler can have in Fly Fishing is learning how to understand and use line control. Fit allows you the chance to adjust during the cast, presentation, and fight. The following three tips are lessons I like to teach to clients whenever possible. Each lesson starts with a problem, followed by a solution, which is one of the best ways to learn on the water.
Knowing line control during the fight
Problem: Some anglers have the habit of stripping line while fighting the fish, and believe that this is the best method. I do not believe this, but at the same time
there are times when stripping line in is necessary to keep control of a trout that is moving toward you at a quick pace. The challenge anglers face is fumbling line, or knowing where to reach and grab without hitting the opposite hand that is holding the rod.
Solution: I used to also grab line from my trigger finger or the cork handle of my rod. It was common to lose trout by hitting my other hand when I was trying to grab line, or simply missing the line on a grab. I find it easier to grab line from above the handle or my hand holding the rod. Because I prefer fighting trout with a convex bend in front of my body with my elbow down, I get more line for every strip. I also have more line to grab from my cork handle to my
first guide on the rod, which ensures I will get line from every grab. After I do grab new line from below the guide, I can then release line from below my trigger finger and re submit the trigger finger on the line during the next grab. You will literally gain 3-4 feet of line for every completed motion compared to 1-2 feet from retrieving around your hand.
Solution: In addition to a new position on where to grab line, do not attempt this technique with your rod above your head. It is impossible to see, and you have more control with your elbow down, and the rod, line, and rod guide in front of you.
Shoot mending
Problem: When you perform a basic mend, it typically involves moving the rod tip in a half circle motion placing line up stream of your leader, flies, or indicator. This removes the tension that is applied to the rig by the moving current, and helps you gain depth and control of your presentation. The downside is how
long it takes to perform the mend, and the disturbing movement it places on the fly or flies. For example, if I have a drift consisting of five to ten feet, and I place a standard mend, there is a good chance the moving line can pull the flies away from the target toward me and cause them to leave the fish’s viewing lane.
Solution: I have wonderful memories as a child, of absorbing knowledge off the water, watching teaching videos during unfishable weather, or reading every book on the shelf over and over again. Doug Swisher is one of my heroes, and his Mastery Series videos with Scientific Angler imbedded great tools that still come into play to this very day. In his selective trout tape, he taught the use of a Stack Mend performed by throwing a mini cast using a micro second wrist directing the line toward the flies or indicator. This will throw multiple quick loops –”mends”—on the water’s surface, allowing you to get the ultimate drift and depth.
Years ago, I started applying the same method with a sideways approach to replace the standard mend. I teach it to my clients with the term “shoot mend-
ing.” You perform the same micro second wrist cast with the tip of the rod moving only one foot forward, turning the reel sideways facing the direction you want the loop to unroll. Then, by quickly shooting one or two small mends, you can control a drift without moving the indicator or flies out of the trout’s viewing lane in a fraction of a second.
Feeding line downstream
Problem: One of the biggest differences any angler can see when they advance their skills in fly fishing is in line control. When you learn the basics such as a mend, you are taught to use the motion of a half circle with the tip of the rod placing line upstream of the indicator and flies. This is effective for a standard drift when you are perpendicular from the target, but it is almost impossible to perform a downstream drift to any trout while you are trying to stay out of view.
Solution: When you are upstream of the target, the most productive way to feed line without creating disturbance on the water’s surface—and most importantly not move the natural drifting flies—is with a “kick mend. ” With 1-3 feet of slack line in your hand or lying at your feet, you want the rod horizontal and the tip just above the water surface. From this position you want to lift the rod 2-3 feet straight up with an abrupt stop. This will throw mini loops of line upward and downstream, while the tip is basically mimicking the kicking motion of someone striking a soccer ball.
After the stop, return the tip to the water’s surface and repeat the motion quickly to get a proper drift. By watching your line, flies, or indicator you will know if you need to apply more line or speed to the kick mend to achieve the natural drift.
I hope these lessons bring you success and get you “lined up” for success this winter and fall!
About Landon
Landon Mayer is a veteran Colorado guide and author of several books. His newest book, Guide Flies: Easy-to-Tie Patterns for Tough Trout, can be purchased on his website at www.landonmayerflyfishing.com. You can follow Landon on Instagram at @landonmayerflyfishing.
A TRIBUTE
The Man Who Taught me to Fish
TO MY DAD
By Jeff Ditsworth
This past Saturday evening, August 10th, my dad took his last breath. Surrounded by family, in a room filled with love, he peacefully departed this world. It was a moment of profound sadness, and yet, in that silence, a cherished memory surfaced that brought a smile to my face when I thought nothing could.
For those who know me, it’s no secret that my passion for fly fishing runs deep. It’s a love that was nurtured and cultivated by my dad, the man who first put a rod in my hand and taught me the art of casting a line. He wasn’t just a father; he was my fishing partner, my teacher, and the person who helped shape the man I am today.
One of the fondest family memories we all share happened over 20 years ago during a camping and fly fishing trip to Lake Taneycomo in Branson, Missouri. It was one of those trips where the stories told around the campfire are just as important as the fish we caught. My mom and dad, sister and her husband, uncle and my cousin, and I were all there, creating memories that would last a lifetime.
who my dad was—full of life, full of joy, and absolutely unafraid to indulge in the things that made him happy. It became something of a tradition: he would often request “Piano Man” wherever we went, even nearly getting kicked out of a piano bar for tipping the piano player too much just to keep the song going...and going.
One evening, we may have celebrated the day’s catch a little too enthusiastically, and the song “Piano Man” by Billy Joel found its way into the night. My dad loved that song—no, he adored it. We played it over and over, each time turning up the volume just a little bit more. By the time we were done, I’m pretty sure the song had been played 30 or 40 times. The other campers at the campground were not as fond of Billy Joel as we were, and we were politely, then firmly, asked to turn it down—or face being kicked out.
This story has been told countless times over the years, always met with laughter. It’s just one of those classic family moments that perfectly encapsulates
As we sat with him on his final evening, the room grew quiet after he took his last breath. In that heavy silence, when the weight of loss felt unbearable, a song began to play. It was “Piano Man.” But this wasn’t just a coincidence. The song came on completely at random, from a music channel we hadn’t even selected. It was as if the universe knew that we needed that song in that very moment—a gentle reminder from my dad, a connection far beyond what can be explained by random chance.
In that moment, I smiled—something I didn’t think was possible right then. It felt like a small gift from him, a reminder that even in the hardest moments, there’s room for a smile, for a fond memory, for a connection that transcends this life.
We are a huge supporter of Trout Unlimited, and proudly send around 10% of our sales to our partners at TU.
El Jefe Series Packable Fly Rods
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My dad was more than just a father; he was a mentor, a friend, and the person who sparked my lifelong love of fly fishing. This business, Pescador on the Fly, exists because of him, because of the values and passions he instilled in me. So, as I continue to cast my line into the rivers and lakes that we once fished together, I carry his memory with me, every step of the way.
Thank you, Dad, for everything. And here’s to you, forever the “Piano Man.”
About The Author
Jeff Ditsworth is a lifelong fly fishing enthusiast and owner of Pescador on the Fly. You can contact him at info@pescadoronthefly.com. Or go to www.pescadoronthefly.com.
TEXAS INTERCOASTAL REDFISH
by Brian La Rue
INTERCOASTAL REDFISH
It’s not every day I venture outside of the Rockies, but when I do, you can bet I’ll pack my fly rod! This summer my daughter had a dance competition in Galveston, TX, and as I’ve never caught—let alone targeted—redfish, I wanted to see what was possible. As luck would have it, I have great friends in low (literally sea level) places, so it was on!
The unlucky part of this trip?
Hurricane Beryl was swirling in the Gulf while my daughter began twirling on stage. I had reached out to my friend Vance at Line Cutterz (https://www. linecutterz.com/). I reached out in February to see about fishing, and he insisted he would either host me or set me up with a contact. Life is changing constantly, and by the time July rolled around, Vance was in the middle of a move with his family—headed to the Great Lakes Region to open his second Line Cutterz/ Tackle Shop.
So, I was introduced to one of the fly “fishiest” guys in the region—Besnik “Nick” Haxhijaj. Nick fishes the back bays and flats, the intercoastal, all the time. He’s not a guide but is dialed into the the area, and knows these waters well.
Beryl was now bearing down on the coast, hitting Jamaica and Mexico before turning towards us. We had planned to meet up with a guide Monday, but the storm forced our hand to fish Saturday before it made landfall.
I met Nick at Matagorda, about a 90-mile drive from Galveston. I pulled up to find him with two kayaks and four Moonlit Fly Fishing 8-weight rods (catch the review in this issue as well). It was 5:45 AM—no sun yet, but the mosquitoes were out, and the bait fish were crashing all over the back channel. We shoved off and began paddling to the large back bays. The tide was very low, maybe a product of the incoming storm?
“Brian, the tide is low, a negative tide right now, I
hope the areas I plan to take you are deep enough to fish this morning,” said Nick. “The amount of baitfish in here is incredible right now; I’ve never seen so much life in here. Shrimp, mullet—look at all the surface action. Redfish, gar, and black drum will all be busting the baitfish as we paddle out.”
Nick warned me about the local gator population. He said they don’t see them very often, but they are out there.
“I was fishing with a buddy, and he heard what sounded like an outboard idling,” said Nick. “It was a deep motor kind of sound, and I quickly told him that it was a big gator in the reeds letting us know there was probably a nest there. It was a deep, throaty kind of growl, but sounded like someone’s motor hidden in the weeds. What a sound, so we steered clear!”
As we paddled out, I asked Nick more about the fishery and why somebody should come fish the intercoastal waters.
“The Texas intercoastal offers easy access to one of the best fisheries in America, with loads of kayak and skiff opportunities,” said Nick.
“The variety of fish, wildlife and scenery make it
a fisherman’s paradise. Channels, cuts, back marsh lakes and ponds hold hefty fish.
“For access points and not giving any secrets away, my first pick is Yarbrough Pass in the Padre Island National Seashore. “This launch is a bit tricky as you need a 4X4 and skill to make it over from the beach side through thick sand over to reach Baffin Bay. There you will find hard bottom flats full of black drum, redfish and speckled trout. This area is also wadable.
“My second pick would be Port O’Connor,” continued Nick. “Basically, pick a spot at any marina to launch from. There are lots of areas and trails to paddle to and fish the flats for any Texas saltwater species.
“The last one is my favorite—Matagorda,” said Nick. “With many options to launch from, it’s the easiest to access. Launching at Paddle Sports Park and Beach Road is ideal. This area gives you access to the endless marsh and bay action. Texas Parks & Wildlife has a website that gives you popular launch sites at https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/coastal/.”
Of course, Texas gets hot. June, July and August—you will want to fish early like we did, 5:45 to about 11 AM—and carry a ton of snacks and water. Then there’s the humidity. And for a mountain man, we had one more bay to fish, and I was like, I’m good—let’s get into some AC and grab lunch.
“My favorite times to fish are the months from September to late November and into December,” added Nick. “Temps are cooler and redfish are schooled up in the marsh and heavily feeding then. Tides fluctuate from positive to negative and depending on the winds, which could push and blow water out of the marsh systems, fishing is better. Both tides can be beneficial. High tides flush the redfish and bait up into the marsh grass, and low tides isolate them into areas where they are easy to spot with their backs out of the water.”
In addition to redfish, alligator gar and black drum, anglers can also catch flounder and speckled trout. The biggest I've ever caught here was a 43.25inch bull red.”
That reminds me, how was fishing? It was tough! We were casting a pattern into the grasses, the Centaur by John Wood. The productive fly is tied with natural material vs. a weed guard, so you can cast
into structure and still fish it will confidence knowing you will not get snagged.
Unfortunately, we saw little action, with the low water and rapidly dropping pressure (sub 29.5), and fish were spooked with the Hurricane approaching. It was also obvious there was a ton of natural snacks around, so that also contributed to the rough morning. Nick managed a black drum on the pattern. Other patterns that work well on these waters are the Umpqua Simple Crab (light olive and olive brown) and Redfish Scampi BC.
Overall, though the fishing wasn’t good, we saw spoonbills (like flamingos but with spoon-shaped bills), shrimp were jumping into our kayaks, and we enjoyed the sounds and atmosphere of the intercoastal.
“When it comes to kayaks, I like the Diablo Pad-
dle Sports Chupacabra, Amigo and Adios,” added Nick. “I personally have the Chupacabra. These are kayak/SUP hybrids that are wide and super stable for standing up to spot fish. For a pedal kayak, my top choice is the Hobie Mirage Lynx. Again, very stable and gets into skinny water where the fish are. All these kayaks are under 56 pounds and easy to transport. In the end, any kayak can be used, but be sure to pick one that fits what you need.”
And yes, to conclude my trip, the dance competition was able to squeeze all performances into the weekend, my daughter Sami won first place in her category and second in her division out of 27 girls…. then we headed north to be safe. That late Sunday night/
early Monday morning, Beryl made landfall….guess where.…Matagorda. So, go later in the year when it’s cooler, fly down and watch the weather forecast this fall. Let us know how you do. And say hello to Nick for me. Instagram at @nick_fly_fishing!
About The Author
High Country Angler contributor Brian La Rue enjoys giving fly fishers ideas of where to go for an adventure. Feel free to reach out to Brian at Brian@hcamagazine.com if you want your lodge or guide service featured in an upcoming promotional marketing plan.
Moonlit Fly Fishing’s Umbra
Affordable & Impressive
There’s a wave of fishing companies, both in mainstream fishing and in the fly fishing world where smaller niche rod builders are making a name for themselves with quality gear at affordable prices. One such company is Moonlit Fly Fishing.
I enjoyed the opportunity to throw the company’s latest 9-foot- 8 weight, the Umbra on my Texas trip. The Umbra series of graphite rods was designed to give anglers the performance and feel of a high-end rod but save you and I any kind of sticker shock.
I was throwing the 8-weight in the back marsh lakes in Matagorda, TX while hunting for redfish, drums and trout. I made a lot of casts with this rod, but only had a few strikes. That’s not the rod’s fault, but the casting was effortless, as it helped me guide a streamer into tight grassy holes and casting around structure. It was an easy task with the Umbra. The rod made it easy to cast far to spooky red fish, but also allowed for quick short casts if
I heard another target busting a bait ball behind me. Kind of think of it as the best of both worlds!
The Umbra was responsive and fast. It would be ideal for freshwater bass, maybe some salmon fishing, and it was at home in the Texas Intercoastal for sure. These rods are built to feel light in hand, offer a softer tip for feel and a faster butt section for versatility and power when you need it.
I was impressed with Moonlit. It’s not every day I use my valuable vacation time and limited hours on the water to test a fly rod. It was the first time I’ve fished waters in Texas and targeted redfish, so this was not time to experiment! I had my own 8-weight in the truck, but after a couple casts, I knew I was in good hands with Moonlit Fly Fishing.
And speaking of peace of mind, Moonlit offers a 14-day return policy if for some reason their rods don’t impress you. All you have to do is go into a fishing forum online to see how many people complain about returns and warranties, but with Moonlit Fly Fishing, they are there for you. In addition to this return policy, they also offer a lifetime warranty. Learn more and see all the details on their website below.
The Umbra lineup also comes with a case for travel. Check it out and see the lineup with 7-foot, 6-inch, 3- and 4-weigths, 9-foot 5-, 8-, 9-weight rods as well as a few 10-foot 3- and 5-weight options. For more information, give them a call today at (208) 206-9863 or visit https://moonlitflyfishing.com/. You’ll see they have a lot of amazing glass rods as well.
2024/25
TrouT in The Classroom
Ramping Up
Colorado Trout Unlimited has over 70 TIC sites starting in the 2024/25 Trout in the Classroom (TIC) Program! We are thrilled to welcome our new part-time seasonal Eastern Regional TIC Coordinator, Audrey Kenney.
oUR Regional tiC CooRdinatoR
Audrey Kenney can be reached at audrey. kenney@tu.org. Audrey will be coordinating TIC sites in the Denver TU, Cutthroat TU, West Denver TU, Evergreen TU, and Pikes Peak TU Chapter areas. A total of 38 TIC tanks!
“As the Eastern Trout in the Classroom Coordinator, I am dedicated to fostering environmental stewardship and a love for
aquatic ecosystems among students. In addition to my primary role, I actively contribute to several of TU’s volunteer initiatives. I serve as a member of the Headwaters Youth Programs Committee, where I help design and implement educational programs. I am also the Director in Training for the Youth River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp, where I help mentor young conservationists and anglers. Additionally, I hold the position of Communications/Membership Chair with my local Trout Unlimited chapter, working to engage and grow our community of river-loving, conservation-minded individuals.
I am currently a full-time student at Red Rocks Community College, pursuing a degree in Water Quality Management Technology. Balancing my studies and volunteer work, I am passionate about making a positive impact on our water resources.
In my free time, I enjoy spoiling my 10-year-old yellow lab, Snow, fly fishing, and hiking. These activities allow me to connect with nature and recharge.”
As we welcome Audrey, CTU is also celebrating our successes from our 2023/24 TIC program and 2024 TIC Training. We engaged over 15,000 youth, educators, and community members through the 2023/24 TIC program! We had 60 educators and TIC volunteers attend our 2024 TIC Trainings this summer. Our TIC Training Coordinator, Dr. Allison Baas, played a key role in the success of these in person trainings and even developed a robust TIC Virtual Training for educators and volunteers.
As the CTU Trout in the Classroom Program continues to grow, we continue to fundraise to build capacity, support our TIC educators, and to help offset equipment and gear costs. To grow the CTU TIC program in a strategic way, our goal is to raise enough sustainable funds to have two year-round and full-time Regional Trout in the Classroom Coordinators, and serve over 100 TIC Sites across Colorado. If you would like to help us reach this goal, volunteer with the TIC program, or donate to the program, please reach out to Natalie Flowers, CTU Youth Education Coordinator, at Natalie.Flowers@ tu.org or 720-879-0271. Thank you to the MANY foundations, organizations, donors, volunteers, educators, and TU chapters who have already given so generously and helped us build this program to what it is today!
by Colorado TU Staff
AFTER
While mining was a vital part of early settlement in Colorado, abandoned mines have also left a legacy of polluted streams across the state and throughout the West. Nationwide, there are an estimated 500,000 abandoned mines – with no one remaining that is responsible for clean-up – 33,000 of which are known to be causing environmental damage. More than 110,000 miles of streams are listed as impaired for heavy metals and/ or acidity, with acid-mine drainage being a major source of these impairments.
Trout Unlimited and other Good Samaritan groups have stepped up to voluntarily undertake mine clean-up projects to address this problem. In July, we had the chance to join our partners at Anglers All in visiting one such project site – the Grizzly Mine at elevation 10,800 feet in the upper Clear Creek watershed southwest of Georgetown. The
mine operated from the early 1870s through the late 1950s, with the primary output consisting of silver, lead and zinc.
Spearheaded by TU Project Manager Katrina Hettinger, the Grizzly Mine project rerouted clean water coming out of the mine opening (“adit”) away from mine waste that it picked up on its way flowing into Grizzly Gulch, leading to stream contamination. To reduce metals reaching the creek, heavy equipment operators reshaped the area, moving and capping the waste rock back away from the stream so that it would not be mobilized into the stream by rainstorms – while also creating improved habitat and floodplain connectivity along Grizzly Gulch. A forest road that was also contributing mine waste into the stream was removed and rehabilitated, with a more sustainable route replacing it.
The net result of these efforts was to separate
clean water flowing in the stream and from the mine adit from mine wastes, so that Grizzly Gulch – and downstream, Clear Creek – will enjoy improved water quality for the fish and people that rely on it. Federal grants helped fund the work, with private sector match provided by Anglers All and a host of Colorado Gives Day donors who helped match the fly shop’s $10,000 challenge grant.
Under current law, Good Sams, including Trout Unlimited, can and do voluntarily undertake projects like the Grizzly Gulch restoration that tackle “non-point-source” abandoned mine pollution that comes from sources like waste rock and mine tailings. However, when toxic drainage is discharging directly from a mine adit, creating “point source” pollution, then groups wanting to take on mine cleanup face daunting challenges. Under the Clean Water Act, Good Sams who tackle a point-source project would incur long-term legal and financial liability for any mine pollution that remained, even if their projects significantly improved the conditions that existed before. Concerns over that liability have brought Good Sam projects for such draining mines to a virtual standstill.
Fortunately, bipartisan leaders in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives are working to enable Good Sams to tackle restoration without taking
on such perpetual, open-ended liability. The Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2024 recently passed the Senate by unanimous consent – a promising piece of bipartisan cooperation. The bill would establish a pilot program for the Environmental Protection Agency to issue permits to qualified nonprofit groups and other third parties to tackle cleanups of abandoned mine sites, in part by providing targeted, limited liability protection. Permits would make Good Sams responsible for their own actions and for completing cleanup work to the standards in their permits – but shield them from the large and perpetual liability for the mine’s pollution itself. The bill is sponsored by Senators Jim Risch (R-ID) and Martin Heinrich (DNM), with Colorado’s Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper both as cosponsors.
This Good Samaritan legislation has been years in the making, and we hope that 2024 will be the year where it finally becomes law. With Senate passage already secured, the bill now awaits action in the House where a companion bill is sponsored by Representatives Maloy (R-UT) and Peltola (D-AK), with cosponsors including Colorado’s Representatives Boebert, Crow, Neguse and Pettersen.
The challenge of abandoned draining mines is very significant for Colorado. A study by the State BEFORE
AFTER
Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety showed over 250 draining mines in Colorado with 148 likely degrading downstream water quality. The pilot program that would be created under this federal legislation represents a vital first step in empowering Good Sam partners to help address these sites. We hope the House can follow the Senate in advancing this bipartisan legislation to the President’s desk and paving the way for Good Sam project sponsors to improve water quality for the benefit of fish, wildlife, and downstream communities.
To learn more
To learn more about this and other stories, visit coloradotu.org .
TInto the Flat Tops
he river down-valley below me glowed softly, reflecting the blood red of the dawn sky, while the countryside through which it flowed still remained a formless indigo. Propped up on one elbow, still buried inside two sleeping bags, I lay and watched as river reflected the fleeting transition of the sky overhead—red to orange then pale yellow then pewter—and the first rays of sunlight brushed the granite peaks beyond.
Overnight the wind had dropped, and with the calm had come the cold. I reached for my water bottle and, discovering it frozen, snuggled back into the warmth of my crib, only to be thwarted a few minutes later by the nagging of my bladder.
Pleased to have made it through the night, I rose and communed with a nearby pine tree, then stuck my boot several times into the side of my five-gallon
water jug to break the ice and pour sufficient water into a pot for tea.
Back inside the camper, the burner hissed gently while I added another layer of clothing, and then, steaming mug and map in hand, returned outside to sit in a camp chair. The next half hour was spent alternately watching the sunlight creep its way toward me down the mountainside opposite, and restudying the map I’d pored over last night under lantern light, confirming in my mind that the plan I’d hit upon then was still as valid as now, in the growing light of day.
The water below me, on the map called out as a river yet in reality little more than a robust stream, could wait for tomorrow. Memories of a previous trip to this part of the world several years ago had turned my mind’s eye upstream, higher into the mountains.
Then, I’d hiked a mile or two up into the wilderness area. The trail first skirted a reservoir, then cut deeper into the high country. There, this same stream that flowed below camp was little more than the width of an irrigation ditch, flowing skinny over dark cobbles with the occasional calm pool. The fish that day, a combination of neon brookies and vibrant cutts, had been alert and spooky, yet willing to take a dry fly presented with subtlety. Late in the afternoon, I’d turned back at a place where the terrain steepened and the stream became a series of falls tumbling through a nar-
row, snaking ravine tangled with deadfall. Would the stream fish as well this time as then, I wondered, and what lay up country, beyond that ravine?
I loaded a skillet with bacon and hash browns and, back in the camper, prepared my pack for the coming day: extra clothing and first aid at the bottom, waders and boots stuffed next, small chest pack with a single fly box, and a couple of spools of tippet, knife, reel, water filter, and a lunchtime beer, leaving enough room in the top for a lunch I’d throw together last thing, and strapped to the outside a rod case containing my two-weight.
Few aromas in this world can compete with that of bacon sizzling in cold, high country air. I wondered briefly if there were any bears in the neighborhood, sniffing the same aroma. Returning to the grill, I cracked a couple of eggs into the skillet and placed a tortilla over the lot to warm for a few minutes. The subsequent burrito, liberally drenched with hot sauce, was little more than inhaled, washed down with the dregs of my tea.
The sun, by now fully clear of the ridge tops, bathed the day with both the promise and melancholy of fall in the high country. Stands of bare aspen stood stark among needle-pointed fir, while patches of snow from the season’s first storm lay watery on the
ground. I looked toward the distant mountains and, pack cinched snugly, began to hike up the trail.
About The Author
Hayden Mellsop is an expat New Zealander living in the mountain town of Salida, Colorado, on the banks of the Arkansas River. As well as being a semi-retired fly fishing guide, he juggles helping his wife raise two teenage daughters, along with a career in real estate.
Hayden Mellsop Fly fishing guide. Real Estate guide.
Recreation, residential, retirement, investment.
It had Been 35 Years Since My Dad & I Last Fished Together
by Peter Stitcher
My earliest fishing memories were with my mom, dad, and brother, brand new Zebco rod and reel catching trout with sweet corn at a little pay-by-theinch trout pond called the Crosseyed Cricket just outside of Knoxville TN. For a little kid with ADD in the 80's trout fishing held my attention like nothing else. My pupils reflected the red and white bobber floating in front of me and I would set the hook on an 8" rainbow like it was a 120 lb. tarpon! We named the biggest fish in the pond "Walter," and though he eluded me in my youth, I would often catch him in my dreams. I fished with my dad like many young boys, and stopped fishing with him for 35 years for reasons that are all too familiar to many of us.
My Dad was a doctor, just as his father before him. Driven and hard-working, my father built his medical practice with long hours, late nights, and missed dinners. He crisscrossed the state of Nebraska serving patients in big city and small town alike, before jetsetting the globe to triage and treat the sick of Ecuador, Congo, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan. While my older brother and dad were a lot alike in personality and drive, I was a wild child who didn't know how to sit with myself let alone be in relationship with a father
much different than me. Rules didn't apply to me, and as the walls, classroom and social norms pushed in on me, I pushed back—holding to this day the record of being kept after school 24 times in 1st grade for my "unbridled energy." In 5th grade I was taught to tie flies at school as a carrot to keep me focused, and as soon as the school bell rang, I would be on my bike with fishing rod and tackle box, kicking up dust to the nearest lake. In my teen years, as my dad was finding himself in work, my days were filled with punk rock, hopping trains, and repelling off of grain elevators in the middle of the night. I taught myself to fly fish, and with so much noise around me and in my head,
the water became my quiet place where I could think and feel. The water and fly fishing took root in my person, and would forever be an integral part of who I was and where I experienced life most clearly and honestly. My dad and I "got busy," distracted by life, school, work and friends.
The growing number of months and years between our last fishing trip together went unnoticed by both of us but not unfelt.
The years went on and I went away to college and then grad school, and fly fishing remained an integral part of my life. My freshmen year I skipped class the first week of school to fish the lake in the middle of campus, while my dorm room shelves were filled with more fly-tying gear than books. I earned degrees that never made it from my top dresser drawer to the wall, and I finally embraced the reality that my heart was actually comprised of 73% mountain stream water, and I should be working with trout as a vocation. I poured myself into my studies, learning everything I could about trout physiology, habitat, feeding behavior, entomology, stream dynamics, and cold-water ecosystems. Batchelor degree #3 was hung proudly on the wall, and while my dad supported and loved me, we did not share the passion for fly fishing. Years passed... My parents moved from place to place as I followed the trout from the Pacific Northwest to Colorado. I founded Ascent Fly fishing, combining my love for fly fishing with my insider biologist's knowledge of trouts’ lives, habitat, and feeding.
I got to know so many of you as we shared life on and around the water.
Clients became friends over the years as they would come into my shop (which was my garage for over 9 years before opening a storefront in Littleton CO) and learn about their hopes and goals for the weekend before dropping pins on the best fishing spots and sending them out the door with a fly box full of flies. For me, fly fishing became less about conquest and more about connection. I helped fathers and daughters, mothers and sons map out experiences to connect over bent rods, climbing trees to retrieve flies, and memories cemented into their being by photos of trout proudly held in front of smiling faces. As we shared life between the trays in the fly shop, we celebrated the birth of grandbabies, we stood by friends as they moved through addiction recovery, and cried with those whose kids went before them. My Dad remained my biggest fan through the years, often visiting the shop to encourage me, but never joining me on the water. This isn’t all on him. Like so many of us, we didn’t fish together because we "were busy"—distracted by life, kids’ activities, work, and friends.
In August of 2023 when I received a call that my dad had experienced a precipitous decline in movement and speech, I booked a plane ticket and immediately flew to South Carolina where they had recently moved the year before. He had a brain tumor, and it had grown far too long just out of sight. I moved my parents back to Colorado for my dad’s treatment and prayed. It felt like we were living on borrowed time. Where had the years gone?! We navigated surgery and treatment together, and 9 months later my dad is not only alive, he and my mom have moved in with my family to share what days and months are left to us.
This past week, my dad and I went fishing together after 35 years.
A client learned of my dad’s cancer and invited us both to participate in a Reel Recovery retreat on the South Platte River this June. Over a long weekend, men with cancer from around the nation come together to share courageous conversations as they
process the struggles, fears, and hopes of fighting cancer with other men sharing the same trenches. These conversations, however, take place along the river, where each man is paired with a partner who acts as their fly fishing guide. Not knowing how my dad would respond to this invitation, I was surprised and deeply moved that he not only accepted the invitation but did so to better understand my heart and the sport and waters that have been so integral to my person, profession, and being.
I will hold in my heart the memories and experiences of that weekend forever. I watched my dad cast and mend, smile cheek splitting smiles as he recounted the fish he landed, and heard the wistfulness in his voice as he recounted the “Walter”—sized monster that got away. My dad met many men who
knew me as well. Men who had learned how to fish in my classes or shop, who had shared stories with their own families sprung from pins I had planted for them along rivers on the map, and how our friendships had grown over the years.
Fishing together allowed me to know my dad and my dad to know me in a deep and intimate way that can only happen when time is shared on the water. The strong currents of life are still pulling at us, but right now, in this moment we are together. Cancer and the cares of the fly shop drift away with the current as we hold onto each other for support and I point out the next cast, celebrate a good mend, and smile over shared fish and memories made on the water.
We might not have next year or even next month to go fishing together again, so this time I’m going to make sure that we have a trip booked for next week.
Peter Stitcher is an aquatic biologist by vocation and the owner of Ascent Fly Fishing located in Littleton CO and online at ascentflyfishing.com. Peter has written the “Bug Bites” column in High Country Angler for the last 7 years. Whether you are new to fly fishing or are a seasoned angler, Peter and the team at Ascent Fly Fishing would love to be a resource in equipping you, your family, and friends to help you get out on the water and experience it in a way that is life giving for you!
Tame Your Creativity
As an innovative fly tyer myself, I consider many who tie to be creative people. Of course, the primary purpose of fly tying is to catch fish. So, one can catch a fish on a purchased fly or one tied by a friend. Or, one can learn to tie and then tie patterns designed by someone else—learning by taking a class, referencing a book, or watching videos. A fly pattern has no right or wrong. Create your own or modify an existing design. True, some patterns tend to be more effective than others and need no modification, but indeed new ideas and new materials and new tools open the path to creativity. So, to be a tyer that is always designing and changing and evolving a pattern is admirable and fun, but some patterns are just simply great the way they are and
need no further alterations.
Everyone has their favorite water, whether at home or away. Everyone has their favorite style, whether fresh or salt, whether river or lake. I live in Colorado, so trout fishing is my primary passion. Colorado has spring creeks, technical tailwaters, stillwater havens, rivers large and small. I play in all of them, and certainly a bent rod with a heavy fish is a thrill. But fall in a high-country small creek full of wispy trout is joyful.
So, what pattern to use to entice those small and overeager trout? Do I need to spend hours at the vise designing a new pattern or redesigning an existing pattern? I could. That’s part of the fun of fly tying. But I could also choose a time-tested recipe, keep it simple, and just go fish.
That is what the Peacock Trude is. A dry fly is mostly all one needs for those opportunistic small creek trout. Easy to tie, with only three materials. Sort of like maple syrup on pancakes, peacock is always, always a good fish-catching choice. The white wing has visibility. Quality hackle provides flotation and profile. Hook size can be easily varied from small to large. Simple, quick to tie, effective at fooling fish.
So yeah, be creative for the fun of it, but keep a multitude of Peacock Trude’s in your box.
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About The Author
Joel Evans is president of the Gunnison Gorge Anglers chapter and the current Southwest Regional Vice President of Colorado Trout Unlimited.
CtU’s sUmmeR Camp
More than Just Fun on the River
by Barbara Luneau, Camp Director
The 2024 River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp hosted 23 campers and 6 youth counselors from Colorado, New Mexico, and Ohio for a week-long program focused on community, conservation, and angling. Set in the picturesque Taylor Park, high in the Gunnison Basin's headwaters, the camp provided a communal experience in outdoor living, conservation education, fly fishing instruction, and hands-on experience.
A dedicated team of 14 volunteers, including nearly 50% camp alumni, led the camp program in partnership with agencies and nonprofits. Our 2024 partners included Adams County 4-H, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, US Fish and Wildlife, Trout Unlimited National staff, and Hunters of Color. This committed group of volunteers returns year after year to create a memorable experience for each camper.
This single week of fishing, skills building, and expanding awareness turns out to be so much more.
Summer camp fills a vital need for teens at a time in their lives when they are seeking independence, social connection, and self-identity. It turns out that the unique culture we foster is a central part of what campers value most about their time at camp. We strive to build an inclusive and supportive environment where everyone feels accepted and celebrated for who they are. It’s humbling to see how this welcoming presence enables a sense of belonging and empowers teens to be themselves without fear of judgment.
We’ve worked hard to increase diversity at camp, and this camp was our most diverse ever. With 30% of the campers representing non-white communities, we experienced socially rich interactions and connections. Each evening we saw the entire group
come together organically for campfire stories and games sharing experiences, languages and much laughter. There is a palpable emotion that builds daily. Parents and guardians felt it also, and have expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity their youth had to be a part of this and make connections that haven’t been easy in other environments. Gary Borger once told me, “an angler that I haven’t met, is a friend that I haven’t made yet.” This rings true for the lasting bonds these campers make with each other and with our volunteers. Fly angling and caring for the waters we fish brings us together in ways we don’t expect.
The camp offers a range of fishing skills instruction to meet every angler's needs, from beginners to experienced anglers. This year nearly half of the campers had very little to no fly angling experience. By learning a new skill and increasing their independence throughout the week, these young people are building self-confidence and discovering their abilities. The experience often lights a passion in them and changes their lives. These are often the same campers that remain connected to the program and return as youth counselors. More experienced campers have the opportunity to fish with each other and focus on more
advanced skills such as developing casting techniques, reading water, and sharing fly patterns. The diversity of skills at camp also offers more experienced anglers the opportunity to take on leadership roles and support their peers in gaining skills.
In 2023, we expanded the youth leadership component of the camp to offer more volunteer opportunities for camp alumni and develop the future camp volunteer community. This is closely tied to the legacy of this camp to connect young people across the state, and give them opportunities to imagine education and career paths for themselves that align with their passion for the outdoors. The camper and youth counselor community spans the age range from 14 to 20. Most are exploring future pathways whether through education, employment, or volunteer engagement. The professional partnerships and evening programming at camp offers young people the opportunity to meet professionals and ask questions important to them.
One of many magical moments at this camp was observing young female campers speaking with Sara Porterfield, TU National Water Policy Analyst. Seeing themselves in successful professionals inspires young
people to pursue their own goals and aspirations. Later following camp, I received a lovely thank you from one of these campers stating “One of my favorite parts was getting to hear from the different guest speakers. They taught me a lot and had a lot of very interesting experiences to share.”
Other feedback that we receive from campers is how building conservation awareness lights a fire that makes conservation ethics personal. Camp alumni develop a passion for the TU mission and immediately start to look for ways to engage. Many camp alumni have shared how this created a focus for them at times of uncertainty. It’s helped them choose their path and pursue their futures. We see it in an increase in volunteerism: for the past two years, a contingent of campers have come home from camp and volunteered to help at Troutfest. They regularly volunteer for youth events, general outreach, fly tying events, stream clean ups, and other opportunities to reconnect with each other and their volunteer mentors.
It’s no secret that the body and mind are connected. It’s part of what drives us as outdoors enthusiasts to
spend time on the water. Time outside has important positive effects on physical and mental well-being. Colorado Trout Unlimited’s Conservation & Fly Fishing Camp delivers that to campers and volunteers. It's a time to unplug, make new friends, discover new things, and grow as individuals. This camp is so much more than just fun on the river. These young people are the future TU project managers, river advocates, guides, outdoor educators, conservation community leaders, and volunteers.
The 2025 camp is planned for June 8-14, 2025. Applications open Jan. 1 and are due by April 1.
About The Author
Barbara Luneau is Colorado TU’s board President and chair of the Headwaters Youth Education Committee.
A YOUTH COUNSELOR’S REFLECTION ON CAMP
This year’s camp has provided me the opportunity to share my enthusiasm for a personal passion with campers that had little to no experience with fly fishing. To watch their faces light up and their spirits soar as they found the same joy in fly fishing, made me realize the impact I have as a youth counselor.
I quickly realized campers really look up to the youth counselors, and with this understanding I took my role very seriously, knowing that my actions can potentially be the reason a camper has a life changing experience at camp.
I went into camp hoping I could help out as much as I could, with a camp that I had a good experience at last year. But when I left, I realized that I was much more than an extra set of hands to help out, and rather someone who could make a serious connection with each camper there, making their experience significant and their passion for fly fishing grow. While that was a large responsibility, I felt privileged to have the chance to make those connections and put in my best effort.
YOUTH COUNSELOR AND EMERGING LEADER, LEVI WARD, CELEBRATES CAMPER RENEE'S FIRST TROUT!
Levi Ward, Colorado Springs, 2023 Camp Alumni
Thank you to everyone who attended Troutfest Colorado 2024! On Saturday, June 29th, over 4,200 people registered to participate in the event at Coors Field in Denver. People of all ages experienced 56 exhibitors, professional and instructional fly tying, youth activities, casting clinics and demos, stadium tours, ballpark food and beverages, live music, and films on the giant scoreboard.
Colorado Trout Unlimited is proud to present our new Troutfest Colorado video. Stay tuned for 2025 dates and activities by visiting https://troutfestcolorado.com.
Last Cast
Dear Friends,
An eventful summer has quickly passed. I hope that your summer met your expectations for all that you wished to accomplish on and off the water. For me, fall is the season that I enjoy most. It’s when we come off the lakes and get back to the rivers, that I’m eager to welcome the warmth of the sun and its golden light rather than seek places to cool down.
For me and the TU teen youth camp volunteer team, camp is the highlight of the start of our summer. Months of planning and preparation culminate in one incredible week of community, growth, laughter, and friendship. The article in this issue aims to give you a taste of the impact this camp has on both the campers and our young leaders. Every year, the young people who attend this camp fill me with hope for the future. It's a feeling that can be hard to find in today's world.
Fresh off the energy from camp, I dove right into Troutfest, where camp alumni and other trout enthusiasts volunteered to support this festival celebrating conservation, education, and community. It's been incredibly rewarding to see how the angling and conservation community has embraced and supported this event. Held at the iconic Coors Field in downtown Denver, Troutfest has grown each year, with a 40% increase in participation in 2024, attracting over 4,200 registered attendees. This year's event featured the Colorado Wildlife Council as the presenting sponsor, and boasted 56 exhibit areas from various educators, vendors, and nonprofits. As a family-friendly event, the Kids Corral buzzed with activity as families learned about trout food, crafted creative macroinvertebrates, cast to lawn trout, and tied their first flies. At the heart of this free event were over 80 dedicated volunteers who made it all possible, from scanning tickets to demonstrating fly tying and teaching fly casting, handling merchandise sales, sharing TU's work in Colorado, and even appearing as our beloved mascot, Fraser, who had an absolute blast interacting with the Colorado Rockies mascot, Dinger. These people have my enduring appreciation. Troutfest is a lot of fun for everyone, and I hope you'll join us in 2025.
On the conservation front, clean water has something to celebrate with the US Senate’s unanimous passage of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock
Mines Act of 2024. After more than 2 decades of debate, the bipartisan bill with 40 co-sponsors cleared the Senate chamber. Colorado has an estimated 23,000 abandoned mines on public and private land presenting an enormous threat to water quality in our headwaters. After years of effort, mine remediation may be within our sight. As One TU, we join Corey Fisher, Public Lands Policy Director at Trout Unlimited, in “urging the House of Representatives to swiftly pass Good Samaritan legislation and clear the way for Good Samaritans to improve the health of our rivers and streams.”
This summer, we launched three collaborative projects under Colorado's Priority Waters initiative. First, in partnership with the US Forest Service, we are in the process of issuing Requests for Proposals (RFPs) for compliance and design work on three fish passage sites within the White River National Forest Aquatic Organism Passage program. This program aims to replace outdated culverts and low-water crossing infrastructure to improve aquatic organism passage.
Second, we're supporting the Blue River Habitat Restoration Project, which seeks to address ecosystem decline in a 3-mile stretch downstream of Dillon Dam. This project was prioritized by stakeholders based on the recently completed Integrated Water Management Plan. Colorado Trout Unlimited staff will provide project management services to the Blue River Watershed Group, acting as both partner and fiscal agent.
Finally, our most ambitious undertaking is the Middle Colorado Agricultural Collaborative. Funded by a $1.6 million grant from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado River District, this multi-phase project will design and construct infrastructure to improve fish passage and upgrade diversions in Elk Creek and Canyon Creek.
In short, Colorado TU staff and volunteers are hard at work advocating for clean water and healthy fisheries. Your support is invaluable; we couldn't do this without you. Enjoy your fall, be safe and celebrate our fisheries with every trout you let slip back into the river.
Warmly,
Barbara Luneau
About The Author
Barbara Luneau is Colorado Trout Unlimited’s President, a retired geologist, avid angler, and long-time TU volunteer at both local chapter and statewide levels. She has a deep commitment to youth programming, including serving as the volunteer director of the annual CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing youth camp.
