High Country Angler | Spring 2020

SPRING SPRING 20 20

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The Spring Schedule

BY LANDON MAYER

TRAPPERS LAKE

BY BRIAN LA RUE

A WIN FOR INSTREAM FLOWS

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SPRING 2020 VOLUME 17 • ISSUE 2

MAGAZINE CONTENTS 08

THE SPRING SCHEDULE

16

MANAGEMENT MATTERS

22

26

30

32

36

42

44

48

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BY LANDON MAYER

BY GARRETT HANKS

TRAPPERS LAKE

BY BRIAN LARUE

THE FROSTBITE FISH-OFF

BY COLORADO TU STAFF

POOLS AND RAPIDS: A FISH STORY

BY HAYDEN MELLSOP

4 KEYS TO BECOMING A DEADLY FLATS FLY FISHER

BY PETER STITCHER

REAL PEOPLE, REAL SCIENCE, REAL PURPOSE

BY COLORADO TU STAFF

TWISTED DAMSEL

BY JOEL EVANS

A WIN FOR INSTREAM FLOWS!

BY COLORADO TU STAFF

THE LAST CAST

BY DR. JOHN NICKUM

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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HCA Staff P U B LISHER S

J ac k Tallo n & Frank M ar tin

C O NTENT C ONSU LTANT L ando n M ayer

EDITO R IAL

Frank M ar t i n, M anagi ng Editor f rank@ hc am agaz ine.co m Landon Mayer, Editorial Consultant Ruthie Mar tin, Editor

ADV ER TISING

B r i an L a R ue, S ales & M a r keting b r ian@ hc am agaz i ne.co m D i rec t : ( 303) 502- 4019 M ar k Shulm an, Ad S ales Cell: ( 303) 668- 2591 m ar k@ hc am agaz i ne.co m

DESIG N

David M ar tin, Creative Direc tor & Graphic D esigner aisthetadesign.com

P HOTO G RAP HY

Frank Martin, Landon Mayer, Brian LaRue, Angus Drummond

STAF F WRITER S

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.

To add your shop or business to our distribution list, contact Frank Martin at frank@hcamagazine.com.

D i str i buted by H i gh Countr y Publi cati ons, L LC 730 Popes Valley D r i ve Colorad o Spr i ngs, Colorad o 809 1 9 FA X 719-593-0040 Published in cooperation with Colorado Trout Unlimited 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 320 Denver, CO 80202 www.coloradotu.org

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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The Spring Schedule High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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by Landon Mayer

S

pring is often a welcome sight for anglers looking forward to the productive warming water ahead, sun filled skies, and most importantly, the opportunities at both resident and migratory trout. Typically, fish begin to migrate, looking for a suitable water to spawn, take advantage of new food supplies, and explore new locations to call home for the summer. With all this movement in mind, one of the best ways to be successful during the spring is by timing your hunts. The following are opportunities and ways to locate more and larger trout:

Opposites Attract Over the years I have learned that timing the movement of trout is not always based on the spawn; sometimes, I have found that it is the opposite season’s species that need to be targeted.

I was first exposed to this while guiding in Alaska, and found that the importance of when the salmon would move in would determine how we targeted the trout moving behind. With such a healthy supply of eggs and natural insects, the rainbow simply could not resist following the salmon as they move.

The same can happen in the spring. Unlike the fall months, in the spring when Rainbows and Cutts are spawning, it is not uncommon to have browns and brook trout following in pursuit. With the chance that there are eggs that will dry up, insects kicked up off the bottom, and natural hatches, there is incentive for the opposite species to be attracted to the spring opportunities for food. If targeting this timeframe, you want to make sure that you’re fishing at the peak of when the opposite fish move, but most importantly that you’re targeting deep water in areas were trout are not spawning. This will help you avoid the naturally reproducing trout while pursuing browns, or other species that are eager for a meal.

Some of my favorite zones are deep pockets, drop lines, or the tailouts of a run. It can also be productive to fish the edge of the river on the side of deep runs, or a fast lane that water rips through--delivering drifting food supplies like eggs. In rigging for these situations with the opposite species, eggs can be a good choice, as can scuds in gray and orange, and matching natu-

ral food like blue-winged olives and midges. That way you’re getting more bang for your buck with an egg trailing behind a natural. Don’t forget about the opportunity to throw streamers with these fish that are eagerly searching the easy meal.

Timing Tips Timing is crucial in fly fishing, and this is especially true when hunting trout at the top of the food chain. Yes, that can sound cliche, but after spending my whole adult life on this emotional fly fishing roller coaster, and countless hours flying, driving, hiking, rowing, climbing, and crawling, I can personally tell you that if your timing is off, you are wasting your time. The reason behind this is that large trout have a well-defined schedule, and whether it is migration to spawn, moving for food, or adapting to pressure, they live by this code.

Think of timing migration in windows that can be tracked and refined over the years, to the point that you know what the window will be, within two or three weeks. Light and water temperature come together with the right timing of the perfect window.

“To move from one region or habitat to another, especially regularly according to the seasons.” This is the definition of “migrate,” and it is a sentence that should be etched into every large trout hunter’s mind.

You build confidence and gain success my learning the migrational patterns of large trout that you pursue. Catching large trout is not easy, and that is part of what makes it fun. The reward of the catch, adventures spent on the water with friends, and learning from new days and conditions is what makes you a better angler.

One of my favorite times during any day is not even while on the water fishing… it is in the evening, or hours resting off the water, when I am filtering through all the knowledge gained during that day.

This forces you to think about different ways to fish and ultimately leads you to success through trial and error. The first stage in matching the migration is to figure out if the trout you are pursuing are resident or migratory.

Resident Behavior Trout do migrate within the river or still water where they live; however, they normally do not cross the boundary or line from still water to moving water.

Anglers have access to these trophies throughout the year at any given time, because they stay in the same neighborhood. I have found resident fish to be more selective than migratory trout, because nothing they see is new. They tend to stick to the same food, holding water, and time of day or year. This means they have literally seen it all. When timing the hunt for these fish, it’s helpful to remember that they feel most protected from “predators” above them in low light or dark water. Stormy weather, sunrise, sunset, and runoff are just a few good examples.

It is important to figure out whether the trout you are pursuing are migratory or resident. Resident trout

are familiar with the water, and their body color and markings are designed to prevent any predator from above being able to see them. In some waterways, the fish can almost appear black on the back, because they are matching the dark river or still water bottom.

From a side angle view, this can stick out like a sore thumb, but to an eagle above, it is hard to see the fish.

The other way resident fish keep from being seen is that they tend to hold still more than a migratory trout, which helps to prevent them from being snatched by predators. In addition, they are used to waiting for the food to come to them. This can make finding these trout harder, because they are mainly not on the move.

When deciding when to fish for large resident trout, I rely on the fish’s food supply to get them out of hiding. This is when a heavy hatch, hopper blown off the bank, drowned mouse, or dead drifting baitfish can produce a fish of a lifetime.

Lastly, I believe resident trout are used to having the lights on, with everything brighter compared to a deep body of water that a migratory trout will be living in. This means that you don't have to always rely on low light to target fish. As long as the fish is attracted to a big meal or never-ending snack, they can be found.

ing at the river like a highway that the fish travel on, stopping in deep runs or around structure, and moving to the water in-between—making the whole river available for them to stop and hold. Unlike resident trout, they do not know that the 12 inches of riffled water along the river’s edge is leaving them exposed.

I think the trout simply stop because they cannot see past the distorted surface, and it feels safe. We have all been there when we sit in a movie theater watching the screen in a dark room, and after a few hours, step Trout are a different animal (so to speak)! Coming outside and are blinded by the bright summer rays. from deep, dark places like oceans, large lakes, and That is what I believe migratory trout feel like, and deep reservoirs, they are new to the river or the edge that is the reason dark water delivers. of the still water, and they do not leave the lights on!

To start, I break the river down into three zones: In fact, a majority of the trout that I or my clients have Staging runs that are found in locations like bailouts landed are not in bright conditions. They are caught on the river, and inlets to a still water that can hold using the dark water delivery mindset—whether it is fish in the moving or still water. dark stormy skies, dirty water, sunrise and sunset, or, Feeding zones like riffles above the deep tailout, of course, the night bite. structure above the inlet, eddies, and undercut where Fish on the move hold in the most bizarre locations! the fish can hold to consume the next meal before This used to throw me for a loop until I started look- they run.

Migratory Behaviors

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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Finally, migrating water between deep runs or edges, where the fish can swim next to a bank, or around islands where they feel safe when they swim. While you can see the targets moving, sometimes with a back out of the water, I have learned that a fish on the move in many situations is not a feeding target. I prefer to set my sights on the fish which are holding, or staged, next to cover, where they feel safe.

The next time you are waiting out a late winter storm with a bout of cabin fever, consider these tips for your upcoming hunts. With spring weather right around the corner, you are sure to up your trophy trout hunting game as soon as fishing season kicks into high gear.

About The Author Landon Mayer is a veteran Colorado guide and author of several books. His newest books, The Hunt for Giant Trout, and Sight Fishing for Trout (Second Edition) can be purchased on his website, at www.landonmayerflyfishing.com. His newest video, Master the Short Game, by Headwater Media, can be purchased at www.mastertheshortgame.com.

You can follow Landon on Instagram at @landonmayerflyfishing.

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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Management Matters

BY GARRETT HANKS

W

olf Creek pass in the San Juan mountains of Colorado serves as the tipping point between the westward San Juan basin, home to the recently rediscovered San Juan cutthroat trout, and the Rio Grande cutthroat’s namesake river to the east.

Unlike trout, bear, mule deer and other wildlife are unhindered by the ridgeline; their tracks freely cross the divide. Look north and you’ll notice the burn scar from the West Fork fire of 2013. Setting off south along the Continental Divide Trail, you quickly pass Wolf Creek Ski Area. From here, headwaters eventually flow to Colorado municipalities like Alamosa and Pagosa Springs. Past the towns lie smaller communities, tribal nations and the downstream state of New Mexico.

You wouldn’t know the state line by looking, but the geographies, wildlife migrations, communities and waterways connect the landscape. The complexities 16

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

of social, economic and ecologic factors represented on Wolf Creek are critical considerations in the decisions made by the managers of these public lands.

The Colorado-New Mexico boundary demarcates the jurisdictional divide of Forest Service regions, including the Rio Grande and Carson National Forests. Lands within these national forests, including those surrounding Wolf Creek, are managed by the Forest Service on behalf of the public. Input as to how these lands are managed fall not only to the agency tasked with their oversight, but to all the people who care about these places. Any good land manager knows the weight that comes with the task of stewardship, and at TU, as prideful public landowners, we welcome the responsibility to participate in the management of our collective public lands.

Although public land management decisions are an everyday affair, from time to time, extensive opportunities to engage are presented. Forest plan www.HCAezine.com

revisions come up once every 15 to 20 years, offering a pathway for conservation on a rare scale. The opportunity to provide feedback and direction to forest planners and managers is unique; even more remarkable is the case of the Rio Grande, Carson, and Santa Fe national forests’ concurrent planning efforts that total approximately 7.5 million acres and span the majority of the upper Rio Grande basin. Through the Sportsman’s Conservation Project, the public lands branch of TU, we jumped on the unique opportunity to plan at this impressive watershed scale.

Although these plan revisions are still ongoing, TU has already made significant impacts.

prioritize restoration needs during the Forest planning process. These designations set the foundation for future restoration efforts and provide focused funding for implementation. An illustrative example is the long-term work of TU’s Abandoned Mine Lands program on Kerber Creek.

Here, TU piggybacked on years of agency cleanup at the Rawley 12 mine, by completing over 80 acres of mine tailings reclamation in the lower watershed. These efforts were further emphasized by three phases of cleanup at the Minnie Lynch mine, helping improve environmental quality in headwater streams. The culmination of these projects revived Kerber from nearly fishless to a fine brook trout creek, and has showcased Work on the ground the importance of a Priority Watershed designation.

Through Priority Watershed designaIn addition, creative efforts for protecting Rio tions, TU works with the Forest Service to identify and Grande cutthroat trout, like habitat improvements

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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and wet meadow landscape water storage projects on Comanche Creek on the Carson National Forest, would not be possible without the this management tool.

Aided by TU’s contributions, the Rio Grande National Forest has already designated Priority Watersheds for the upper Rio Chama, Archuleta Creek, and Middle Carnero Creek in their Final Plan. Across the divide, TU has worked with the San Juan National Forest to establish the Rio Blanco as a “priority watershed” — home to the San Juan/Chama project, which supplies downstream communities like Albuquerque with up to two thirds of its drinking water by piping flows from the Navajo and Blanco basins of the San Juan system to the Rio Grande.

TU hasn’t stopped there when considering this opportunity to inform land management on a large scale. Because of the credentials won through muddy boots, long-forged relationships and successful part18

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

nerships, we are able to look forward via forest plan revisions to ask for wildlife focused Management Ares across forest boundaries, advance additions to the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness, and outline monitoring protocol to ensure accountability.

We have also been staunch advocates for forestwide Rio Grande cutthroat trout protections. Using a suite of tools complimentary to Priority Watersheds, such as Riparian Management Zones and Conservation Watershed Networks for Native Fish, TU sees success in using precedent-setting adaptive management strategies.

Continual efforts

Of course, these revised forest plans are confronting different issues than the plans they replace – outdoor recreation is now a billion-dollar economy, drones monitor elk herds, and wildfires have become larger and more intense. Because climate change will www.HCAezine.com

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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impact coldwater fisheries, we must rely on TU’s science-based approach to decision making. By planning for resilient and adaptive landscapes, public land planning compliments TU’s mission to protect our coldwater fisheries and their watersheds for future generations.

It is with this long view in mind that TU takes a watershed perspective into all our management recommendations. We embrace the complexity of varying resource concerns, natural landforms, communities, politics, policy, and land ownership. Ultimately, our collective influence and unique expertise – from public lands engagement to on-the-ground restoration – are what enables TU to make lasting impacts to the landscapes we love, live in and fish.

is a public land choose-your-own-adventure in the headwaters of these well-known western rivers.

Fishing small streams for native fish is much like blue-lining in the East. Pick up a map, choose a spot and head out. There are almost always fish to find, and cutthroat are a bonus. Think small — small water and small rods. A single small fly box with standard patterns will suffice.

For bigger fish, bigger hikes are necessary. Some of the alpine lakes can hold surprisingly large cutthroats, though those secrets are harder to come by. You’ll want to bring a heavier rod to cast in the wind, and for extended journeys, the weight of a backup rod can save your entire trip.

Fishing for native trout in this area

For more on Rio Grande cutthroat trout recreational fishing opportunities, fishing tips and species information, you can download a brochure presented by TU and many of its partners by clicking here.

Experiencing the vast and diverse waterways of the Rio Grande and San Juan basins can be as simple as choosing a roadside creek, or as adventurous as any backpacking trip you can dream up. It

SPRING EVENTS (GREELEY AND LITTLETON) HAVE BEEN POSTPONED

Want to volunteer?

Be part of CTU's STREAM Girls program and help empower today’s girls to be tomorrow’s leaders. During the program, Girl Scouts observe a stream, collect flow data, sample macro-invertebrates, tie flies, and learn fly casting.

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Saturday, September 12, 2020 Colorado Springs, CO

Saturday, October 3, 2020 Longmont, CO

Last day to register is March 23, 2020 coloradotu.org/stream-girls

Colorado Trout Unlimited is extremely grateful for Occidental’s support of STREAM Girls in Colorado.

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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Carrying on the Legacy As we celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2019, we at Colorado Trout Unlimited had the opportunity to consider the impact of so many dedicated CTU members and supporters. Their legacy is in part what has made the past 50 years so remarkable for our rivers and trout!

CTU supporters are a committed bunch – steadfast in their commitment to preserving and restoring Colorado’s watersheds, to bringing back native cutthroats to their homewaters, to teaching our youth to fish and instilling in them a conservation ethic, and so much more. This legacy is why we know in 2019, “we’re just getting started”.

As we look forward to the next 50 years of river and fisheries conservation, we know that in addition to committed members, our success is dependent on committed donors – generous supporters who are willing to make a lasting contribution to Colorado Trout Unlimited.

A legacy gift is one that provides for future programmatic and organizational security and can help to balance a donor’s financial and philanthropic goals. By making CTU a beneficiary of their estate, a donor is making one of the most sincere and lasting commitments to our conservation mission. With that comes the knowledge that you are securing a better future for Colorado’s rivers and wild places!

If you are interested in learning more about making a legacy gift through the Stream Guardian Society, please contact Colorado TU at (303) 440-2937 or skindle@tu.org.

Spring Fling: Trappers Lake

I

t’s always nice to hit the water with your son or daughter. Time is valuable, especially time spent sharing your love of the outdoors in a beautiful location, catching and releasing some amazing fish.

One such place where you can do it all without the interruption of motorboats and life as we know it in 22

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

the city, is Trappers Lake in the Flat Tops Wilderness.

Located some 52 miles from the town of Meeker, Trappers Lake sits at nearly 9,600 feet, and is surrounded by amazing peaks that offer breathtaking backdrops for your favorite fish in the net shots. The views here rival any Grand Teton, Swiss Alps, or our Front Range vista we enjoy daily. The drive into Trappers can be lengthy, as much of it is on a dirt/improved road, and of course it parallels the White River—so there’s a lot of riverwatching too. www.HCAezine.com

by Brian La Rue My son, Barrett, and I headed up to the Colorado’s second largest natural lake in hopes of some quick cutthroat fishing last June, as the campgrounds were just opening. We found a spot in one of the 10-slot campgrounds, with only one other vehicle planning to spend the night. We were in the cluster of campgrounds in the northwest side of the lake, and planned to walk down for some shore wading to see what damage we could do.

After about 5 minutes coming down the small hills, we were greeted with our first view of the lake.

The trail down to the lake’s edge was easy—just some log hopping with lots of downed trees from past fires.

After about 20 minutes, the lake’s cold water was nipwww.HCAezine.com

ping at our heels. I rigged up with a basic RS2 and added an Umpqua Soft Hackle PT TB. Barrett had an RS2 and a blood midge ready for action.

We waded out between fallen logs and quickly found that casting would not be a challenge, as we could easily wade out 40 yards in most spots along the West shoreline. Much of the lake has special regulations and closures to protect the cutthroat, so see the many signs to help explain what is allowed. We did pass a few guys throwing spinners, and let’s just say, they were in a closed inlet area.

It was one of those bites. Barrett isn’t very good on his feet in waders ,and though a lake doesn’t have any current, I still help him get situated in his spot before I wade out myself. In the time it took me to help him get situated and then to turn around and walk to my outfit and get ready to move to my location, Barrett was already hooting and hollering— fish on!

I dropped my rig and made my way back to him, only to have the fish play a fast one on him and throw the barbless hook. This scenario played out for the next 10 minutes. Three missed fish, and I’d still barely gotten to try my luck. And of course, as luck would have it, a stiff little wind came off the mountains and slowed the bite—chilling us a bit.

Well, the clouds moved along, the sun came back out, and the fish began biting again. This time, we waded to the original starting point and managed to catch a dozen fish between us. They still loved the RS2, but the pulsating, Soft Hackle PT TB on the move with tiny strips, began to get the bulk of the bites.

We didn’t catch anything big, but these cutties are beautiful, averaging 12- to 13 -inches. The top fish went 15 inches and was nearly purple in color. It was nice to wade out into thigh-deep water, and just keep going out. A few times the fish moved in behind us, so a cast back towards shore was fruitful as well.

The shoreline features such a slow transition to the depths, that you can easily get out a good distance— and even sight fish—to the cutties on a calmer, sunny day. It would also be an ideal spot for a pontoon, float tube or kayak.

I’d love to go back in mid-July or August and toss some streamers for some bigger cutthroat when the weather has time to warm up a little. Smaller streamers on sink tips would be a lot of fun, here, or, capitalizing on a summer evening dry fly hatch—I can’t wait to go back this year.

I would highly recommend camping here or even Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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taking a hike to one of the other Flat Tops Wilderness waters that don’t see many anglers during the course of the year. Be prepared for anything here, as you are just short of 10,000 feet.

With elevation also comes some Colorado natives to think about. The area is home to marmot. I’ve heard at least two anglers tell me they hiked a couple days in the wilderness only to come back to the car at the trailhead to find their truck wouldn’t start. Yup, the marmots like to eat wiring.

In our one night in camp, laying in the shelled bed of my truck, I was awakened at 2:30 AM with the sound of something messing with the underside of my truck bed. It was more than a squirrel, but nothing like a bear, so I jumped out of the back of the bed with some bear spray ready to hit the little bugger, and he was long gone—never to bother us again.

The next morning, we pulled to the outlet/dam parking area to take the trail over the ridge to fish that well-known spot, and as we sat in the car finishing a quick breakfast, three marmots ran under my truck.

The truck was still running, but these guys are so aggressive, I decided not to take a chance, as my truck was going to be the only car in the lot. We decided to

head back east, towards home, and found a few spots to fish along the way vs. rolling the dice with those furry guys.

Maybe the folks at the lodge or some of the locals can suggest the best practice to avoid getting your car disabled. Maybe spray some of that bitter juice on the underside of your car, or spray the ground with bear spray when you park. Who knows? If somebody has ever dealt with this or has a way to deter the little buggers—lets us know on our Facebook or Instagram pages. Good luck and let us know how you do!

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.

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Frostbite Fish-off THE

by Colorado TU Staff

T

he Frostbite Fish-Off is back on the Arkansas River and making a big impact for the local fishery. After a short hiatus in 2016 and 2017, the Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter of Trout Unlimited has brought the annual tournament back to the Arkansas River tailwater in Pueblo, CO. On Saturday, February 8, 2020, forty anglers and thirty-plus volun-

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

teers used the small break in the weather (although it was 22 degrees at “lines-in”) to have a challenging and fun day on the water.

In this 3rd year of a new format, 20 teams from Colorado and New Mexico competed on four different beats between the Pueblo Dam and Pueblo Boulevard.

Each beat, randomly drawn on Friday night, was fished for 90 minutes, with the two largest fish scored per team. Fishing ended up being so competitive on tournament day that it took over 103" of scored fish to place in the top five. The quantity and quality of fish appear to have improved for the 3rd year in a row.

The Saturday night banquet included both a raffle and silent auction, with all funds targeted for tailwater improvements or educational efforts in the community,

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pond, Simms, RepYourWater and many local businesses and individuals provided raffle and silent auction items.

The tournament also benefitted from a strong collaboration with the Pueblo Tailwater Renegades chapter of the International Federation of Flyfishers, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW). This strong coalition of business owners and local organizations has made the Fish-Off a major success, which will continue to benefit the fishery for years to come.

Alex Zipp, owner of The Drift fly shop and board member, explained the vision and mission of the Southern Colorado Greenback Chapter: to maintain, restore including the Trout in the Classroom proj- where needed, and ultimately improve this ect which works with local teachers to raise important fishery for all anglers. trout from eggs to fry, and help kids learn In 2014, Colorado Parks and Wildlife esabout the importance of water quality and timated 22,000 angler days on the tailwater, aquatic ecosystems.

Subaru of Pueblo was the title sponsor and The Drift and Royal Gorge Anglers fly shops pitched in to sponsor place winners. Umpqua, RIO and New Phase Inc. provided swag for the volunteers and competitors, while Scott Rods, Ross and Lamson Reels, Sportsman’s Warehouse, Mountain Sports Products, Fish-

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

27

place without filling in. Both projects will also help protect the river and fishing during periods of very high flow (4000-6000 cfs) that seem to be occurring on a more regular basis during summer release.

At the end of the day, the Frostbite Fish-Off brought over 70 anglers and community members together

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and anyone who comes down in the winter knows it is one of the most popular fisheries on the Front Range. It is not unreasonable to believe the number of angler days has jumped 10-20% over the past 6 years. On a typical day you will find anglers from Colorado Springs, Woodland Park, Parker, Denver, Boulder, and other locations up and down the Front Range.

Working with CPW, State Parks, the city of Pueblo, and private land owners, the Chapter is focused on two specific areas: First, reestablish the fishing structures on the lower tailwater that were pulled out when the levee was being replaced during the past few years. Second, reduce erosion and sediment loading in specific spots on the upper tailwater, allowing normal highwater flows to scour out the structures already in

28

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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on the Arkansas River for a great weekend of fishing and fun. Even more, it helped raise awareness and funding for conservation projects that engage youth and enhance the quality of fishing for years to come.

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

29

A GUIDE’S LIFE

•

BY HAYDEN MELLSOP

Pools and Rapids: A Fish Story

T

he wind blew steadily downriver, biting at any flesh not appropriately cocooned—in my case, six layers of thermals—fleece and Gore Tex, topped off with a sturdy lifejacket. Arcing low in a clear sky, the sun offered scant warmth. My fingertips felt rough and clumsy as I rebuilt Pete’s leader and tied on a fresh rig—an attractor with a small soft-hackle nymph behind.

I silently hoped he’d manage to keep these on for longer than the ten minutes he’d been averaging so far. Pete’s buddy sat in the front

of the boat, hands tucked deep between his chest and lifejacket, staring off into the distance. I turned and handed the rod to Pete, then pointed across the river.

“See that patch of foam over there, in the back eddy between those rocks?”

Pete nodded.

“There’s a fish working the underside of the foam. Every now and then you’ll see its tail or fin break through the surface.”

The foam patch—the color and consistency of a head of freshpoured Guinness—was about three feet in diameter, nestled in the lee of a small bluff jutting into

the river. Dark flecks marred its surface—blue-winged olive mayflies, blown to the fringes of the river by the wind, and trapped in the foam like ants in treacle. The fish worked the foam leisurely, confident in the knowledge its prey was not going anywhere, itself safe from predation concerns of its own. As if on cue, a dorsal fin split the foam as it rose to take one of the blue wings. Pete nodded again.

“I’ll row us over there and hold the boat out from the eddy while you chuck it in there. We’ll only get a few seconds drift before the current pulls the line out, but that

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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may be enough.�

I shoved the boat off the sand bar, jumped in and took up the oars, working against wind and water, ferrying us toward the bluff.

Pete’s first two casts were blown several feet downstream before he adjusted and landed the flies on the edge of the foam. The current pulled at the line, slowly drawing the attractor downstream. Right when it was about to be dragged under, the attractor took a sharp dive down and back towards the center of the foam. Pete lifted, and immediately his rod tip bent to the weight of the fish, which made straight for the depths of the pool, pulling line from the reel.

I dug the oars deeper against the elements, grateful for the hook up. It had been an hour since we’d last seen sign of a fish. The wind was making a mockery of cast and mend in equal measure, while the occasional good drift they had managed went unrewarded.

Suddenly, the line cut the water downstream as the fish charged for the other end of the pool, and then leaped, visible to us for the first time. The brown, all of sixteen inches, was now riding the pillow at the tail of the pool where the water transitioned from flowing upstream into the eddy to downstream into the next rapid. I hoped that it would be as reluctant to leave the sanctuary of the pool as I was. “Holy heck! That’s the biggest fish I’ve ever seen.� Pete’s buddy sat up straight in his seat, daydream over. Pete played out line, allowing the fish back upstream behind us.

I groaned and hauled harder on the oars, shoulders protesting. “Don’t let it back up there. I can’t go back, you’re gonna have to turn

it.� We hovered for a few seconds longer in the transition water, before the wind, picking up again, pushed us downstream into the next rapid. “I’m trying. I don’t want to horse it and lose this one.� Pete put the breaks on his reel and the fish turned and followed us downstream. Just then, there was a curse, and there sat Pete—staring at his line now slack in the water, flies gone. “Dang it, I really wanted that one.�

His buddy looked back upriver wistfully. “We can’t row back up there, can we?� “Nope.� I eased the boat to shore once more, warming my fingertips to tie yet another rig. “Not unless you want to be the one to row us.�

Hayden Mellsop Fly ďŹ shing guide. Real Estate guide.

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 semiretired fly fishing guide, he juggles helping his wife raise two teenage daughters, along with a career in real estate.

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31

The 4 Keys to Becoming a Deadly Flats Fly Fisher

F

or those of you who have had the pleasure of fishing the salt flats, you know that it can be intoxicating! As I write these words from the deck of La Pescadora Fishing Lodge on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula, I am being called by the ocean swells breaking 50 yards away, and can’t wait for tomorrow morning and another day of fishing!

tion with guides switching rods and poling you into position in order to give you a shot.

After more than 30 years pursuing trout on the fly, the ocean with its seemingly infinite number of species and unique challenges has awakened something new within me! Like being introduced to Latin food for the first time after a lifetime of eating hotdogs As you travel the expanse of the bays, walk the warm and hamburgers, I didn’t know fly fishing could be sandy flats, or pole between the mangroves, you nev- like this, and now I can’t get enough. Whether your er know what type of fish you are going to encounter chance to wet a fly in the salt is close at hand, or is on next. It might be schools of Bonefish chasing shrimp your “fly fishing bucket list,” let these four principles over the sand, Tarpon and Snook waiting in ambush guide you to tight lines, action packed days, and fish among the roots of the mangroves, or Permit tailing in the boat: above the waves. Each sighting elicits a flurry of ac-

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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Be Ready to Shoot Your Shot Travel with me for a moment away from the salt flats and into the high elevation timber of the Rocky Mountains on a bow hunt for elk. Bow hunting, like fly fishing on the salt flats, is an endurance game and requires watchfulness, accuracy, and skill. In the timber, your quarry might appear at any quarter with solo animals ghosting through trees at 60 feet—giving you a small window for a shot, or a herd of animals standing broadside together out in a meadow. Another factor that affects both the bow hunter and fly fisher is the wind. Whether it is a gracious wind helping you cast from behind, or a constant 20 mile an hour cross wind that will fight to push back your casts or sail them off target, you need to be ready to shoot your shot, and the only way to do that is to practice! Learn to double haul and to push your flies into and across the wind to targets from 20 to 65 feet. Watch YouTube videos in order to learn from the experts as they lay out 60 feet of line with just 2 false casts. Focus on precision at different distances and with the wind at every quarter,

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so when you are presented with a shot at a fish, you’ll be ready to bag that quarry whatever the conditions.

Learn to Cast Large Rods Leave your euro nymphing rods at home and don’t bother packing a 6 weight, because 7 to 11 weight rods are the order of the day on the flats. For bonefish, plan on using a 7 or 8 weight rod; for snook and small tarpon, a 9 weight is best; and for large tarpon, permit, barracuda, and shark, you’ll want to have a 10 or 11 weight on hand. These stiff-backed rods are great for punching your flies through the wind and fighting big fish, but are also a workout, so practice regularly prior to your trip if you want to have a successful time on the water.

Find a Good Guide Be it gold, tequila, or whatever your currency, a good salt-water guide with a lifetime of experience on your target water is worth their weight! With the intrica-

Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

33

About The Author Peter Stitcher is an Aquatic Biologist and owner of Ascent Fly Fishing. Originator of the Biologist Crafted Fly Selection, Peter and his team build their clients’ fly selections specific to the bugs in the waters they fish, when they fish them. You can contact Peter or restock your fly box at: www.ascentflyfishing.com.

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

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cies of wind, tide, season, and temperature pushing fish over flats and lagoons that can cover more than 50 square miles, a good guide will know where to take you and how to set you up for the best shot at your target species. Unbeknownst to me, La Pescadora Fishing Lodge just happens to be run by one of the most awarded and renowned Permit guides in the world. With a lineage of anglers reaching back to the Mayans, his knowledge of the water and ability to spot fish that no mere mortal should be able to see gave us multiple shots and numerous species each day.

Be Patient While 90% of trout can typically be found in about 10% of a river, 99% of fish on the flats are going to be found in less than 1% of the water. With that said, you need to be patient. You typically aren’t going to have a 30 fish day on the flats, but the guides will find you fish, and those that you do have the pleasure of hooking into will leave your fingers burning and your dreams haunted!

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

35

Real People, Real Science, Real Purpose

by Colorado TU Staff

I

n the year of 1989, the state of Colorado was making water quality decisions with little to no data on the 770,000 miles of rivers in the state. There was a clear lack of data to be able to inform quality decisions. River Watch was created due to this significant gap, and for 30 years has engaged citizens, educators, youth, and conservation-oriented organizations such as Trout Unlimited.

River Watch is a statewide volunteer water quality-monitoring program operated in partnership between River Science and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The program’s mission is to work with voluntary stewards to monitor water quality and other indicators of watershed health, and to utilize this data to educate citizens and to inform decision makers about the condition of Colorado’s waters.

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) has a long history with River Watch, with multiple chapters engaging with the program throughout the years. Their data has played a huge part in the decisions our chapters make regarding their local watersheds – from evaluating waters for restoration projects to seeking stronger water quality standards for high-quality waterways.

Under a new partnership agreement signed this year, both CTU and River Watch look to engage the next generation of environmental stewards through hands-on, inquiry-based science learning.

Of the 140 groups that are involved with River Watch, 85% are from public, private, charter and homeschools. CTU has a collection of programs, called the Stream of Engagement, that connects youth ranging from kindergarten to college to an age-

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As trainees arrived, they shared their watershed.

River Watch volunteers test for alkalinity.

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Every River Watch volunteer gets their own supplies kit, provided by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to take home.

Volunteers from the Collegiate Peaks chapter of Trout Unlimited receive their River Watch supplies kit.

Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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appropriate program. In 2020, collaboration between CTU and River Watch will continue to grow so that, together, we can engage youth with as many river-based opportunities as possible.

From February 27th to March 1st, CTU’s Youth Programs Coordinator, Bianca McGrath-Martinez, was able to attend the first of two annual River Watch trainings in Estes Park, Colorado. At this training, there were new and old River Watch citizen scientists including high school students, graduate students, educa-

tors, two TU chapters, state government officials, and conservation-oriented nonprofit workers. Together, they all worked to understand and learn the process of collecting water quality data that can be used by Colorado’s Department of Public Health and Environment.

Over the course of the training, the River Watch volunteers had the opportunity to test a creek in Estes Park like it was their own river. They learned how to properly collect water samples. They tested for alkalinity, hardness, dissolved oxygen, pH,

Keith Krebs (left), Elijah Welch, Bianca McGrathMartinez, and Eric Heltzel (right) all representing Trout Unlimited at the River Watch training.

Volunteers measure the flow rate of Aspen Creek.

Volunteers conduct a survey of fish populations using the Electrofishing method.

Deb Hummel, of the Left Hand Watershed Center, observes the macroinvertebrates collected after a survey.

Volunteers are introduced to macroinvertebrates and their significance to a healthy river

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and collected samples for metals testing.

Although most of the volunteer focus was on these water chemistry tests, they also went through the macroinvertebrate survey, electroshocking, and flow measuring process to gain a better understanding of how the health of a stream is determined.

Not only does River Watch provide data to the state that would not otherwise exist, it brings together people that would otherwise be strangers to work together for a common purpose, which is to protect the precious resource that is our state’s rivers and waterways. There is and always has been a clear intersect between the mission of River Watch and CTU, and both organizations are excited to see this relationship grow to maximize the reach and impact to Colorado’s young people.

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020

The fish collected from the electrofishing survey of Aspen Creek

To Learn More.

To learn more about this story and Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit coloradotu.org.

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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FIT TO BE TIED

•

BY JOEL EVANS

Twisted Damsel

I

t’s a typical summer day at your favorite stillwater pond. Might be a small city park pond, or could be a protected bay or cove of a really big lake. Chances are that damsels and dragonflys will be flitting around. Maybe you are just hanging out on the bank, taking in nature. Maybe you are walking the bank, rod in hand, keenly looking ahead for rising fish. Or, maybe you are out on the water in a float tube or kayak, cruising the shoreline with a long rod, casting back to shore.

The target could be any number of species of fish—trout most commonly, but the list could include bass, sunfish, and others, depending on the type of pond and its altitude. You might be throwing a small insect pattern such as a mayfly, maybe twitching a wooly bugger, or tossing a scud into still water.

But for an explosion on top, a

damsel can bring a jolt of excitement.

There are a number of great damsel patterns out there, all designed to mimic the real bug, and at the same time float on top. For me, when it comes to flotation, if I can use foam, I will. It comes in multiple colors, various thicknesses, cuts easily, and can be shaped in numerous ways, including cutting tools to match the insect’s general body form.

Simplicity also matters, which is where this pattern gets the vote.

Simplicity and flotation—a great combination. I have tried to sink this fly both at home and in a real water, and it holds its flotation very well. Foam floats almost indefinitely, of course, and the wing material is pre-treated with a water repellent. With the wing spread out and lying to the side of the hook, the wings act as pontoons, keeping the body up. A few false casts

will usually dry the fly enough to restore flotation, or an occasional redressing of floatant will help.

Having only three components besides the thread itself, it ties quickly with a silhouette very close to the real fish food. Being foam, its one drawback is durability. After a few fish, the foam can get cut and require a retie.

For blind fishing, cast it with a hard plop and let it lay. Then after a short wait, give it a twitch with the rod tip. Add a short strip. Pick up and repeat a few feet away. Or, if you can see and anticipate cruising or rising fish, get out in front of them a few feet and just wait.

Although blue is the typical damsel color, try other muted foam colors such as brown or olive.

Tie small ones, or big ones, as there are often different sizes at different waters.

About The Author

PLAY VIDEO

42

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

Joel Evans is a fly fishing writer, photographer, and long-time member of Trout Unlimited from Montrose, CO. You can contact him via the HCA editor at frank@ hcamagazine.com.

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TWISTED FOAM DAMSEL HOOK: THREAD: FOAM: WING: LEGS: SHARPIE:

DRY 10 3X LONG 3/0 BLUE OR OLIVE 2M BLUE PARA POST WHITE FLEX FLOSS MINI BLACK PEN BLACK

TYING INSTRUCTIONS: Watch the video, then: Cut foam into a very thin strip. Cut off a 2” section. On one end, trim the butt to a point to have a minimal capture point. Capture foam at extreme hook bend with other end extending back over bend, using minimal thread wraps to avoid buildup. Twist extended foam in fingers just enough to have visible twists, but not so much as to be tight.

Double the twisted foam back to bend to form a twisted and extended tail.

Tie down foam at bend with minimal wraps. Move thread forward to 3/4 point. Wrap untwisted foam around shank, using a soft wrap so as not to compress the foam. Tie off and trim at thread. Cut a long length 2-3 inches of wing material, and mount on top of shank. One at a time, loop wing back to shank and tie down. Wing loop should be extended flat and away from shank. Trim wing material.

Figure 8 the wing with tight wraps behind the wing to force it forward at a 90-degree angle. The head room in front of the wing is longer than most flies, about 3 eye-widths. Use the head room to first add legs, then bulk up the head with thread. Legs should be to the side or down slightly. Whip finish. Lightly cement head and wing. Add spaced black band on the foam with marker. Add fly floatant to entire fly, especially the wings. Adding now will allow it to dry before use, enhancing flotation.

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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A Win for Instream Flows!

by Colorado TU Staff

I

n an important win for rivers and fish, the Colorado General Assembly has passed and sent to the Governor’s desk legislation to extend and expand the program for short-term loans of water for instream flow protection. HB 1157, “Loaned Water for Instream Flows to Improve Environment.”

Under current law, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) can enter into short-term loans to maintain instream flows during critical low-flow periods for up to three years in a ten-year period; once such an agreement is exercised, it cannot be renewed. HB 1157 expands the program to allow loans in up to five years of ten (though not more than three consecu-

44

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

tive), and for 10-year agreements to be renewed up to two additional times.

While the details of Colorado water law can be complex, the idea behind this legislation is simple: in critical droughts, our state needs flexible tools to allow voluntary flow-protection efforts that can help rivers and the fish that inhabit them to survive.

TU was involved in a great example of how this program works, on Tomichi Creek in the Gunnison Basin. In 2015, a local rancher decided he would participate in the CWCB’s temporary loan program to help ensure some water remained in Tomichi Creek during dry periods. In 2018, the first year the loan was activated, he used his allotted water during the first

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Colorado Trout Unlimited's 2020 Rendezvous Members, conservation leaders, CTU Board, and TU in Colorado staff will once again be coming to Glenwood Springs for a great weekend of fun, learning, and camaraderie on April 24-26. The weekend will include concurrent workshop sessions on Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday morning and cover topics including: Native trout restoration Youth education partnerships with schools Chapter leadership development Growing chapter fundraising through individual donors Conservation advocacy Best practices for effective online communications Climate change & what it means for trout conservation

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Evening: Community film night reception featuring Orvis 50/50 On The Water Film Tour

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Saturday

Sunday Morning

Morning: Workshop on Inclusion in the Outdoors and Conservation with guest Parker McMullen Bushman

Annual Grassroots Breakfast Q&A with TU/CTU Program Leads

Evening: Annual CTU Awards Banquet

One TU: the Integration of Trout Unlimited

This is a great opportunity to network, socialize and engage with other TUers and partners. So what are you waiting for? Join us at the 2020 Rendezvous!

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High Country Angler • Spring 2020 www.HCAezine.com

part of the growing season and was compensated for the water he didn’t use after July 1. The water left in the creek provided essential habitat for trout survival during a historical drought year.

Another example – and a poster child for why HB 1157 was needed – is the Yampa River. During recent drought years, the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District partnered with the CWCB and nonprofit allies like the Colorado Water Trust and Trout Unlimited to loan water that helped sustain the Yampa’s outstanding wild trout fishery through critical low-flow, hightemperature periods. In 2018, this agreement was exercised for the third time – meaning that, without 1157, the District could not provide such a loan to preserve the river when the next drought strikes.

Colorado TU applauds the General Assembly for advancing this common-sense legislation to benefit Colorado’s rivers and the fisheries and outdoor economy they sustain. Special thanks goes to the sponsors of HB 1157: Representatives Dylan Roberts and Perry Will, and Senator Kerry Donovan.

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THE LAST CAST

•

JOHN NICKUM

Bait Bucket versus Mother Nature

W Q

hen non-native species are introduced into a new area, does it always cause trouble by upsetting the “balance of nature?” Environmental activists and most resource managers are strongly opposed to “bait bucket” introductions in which anglers take it upon themselves to add new forage species and/or game species, usually top predators, to their favorite “fishing hole.”

G A

enerally speaking; “it’s not nice to mess with Mother Nature;” however, we must remember that “change” is the most certain aspect of nature.

The “balance of nature” is a human concept; an explanation and recognition of the fact that natural ecosystems stay largely unchanged over decades and even centuries. The species in each ecosystem and the relative numbers of species in the ecosystem remain in balance with other species as long as 200 – 300 years or even longer, unless disrupted by natural catastrophes or human activities. Energy and nutrients flow through balanced systems in functional and predicable patterns.

Humans have become a wild card in the game we call the “balance of nature” by changing environmental conditions, over-harvesting certain species, and adding additional species. Are the human-caused changes always harmful? Are they ever beneficial? It’s extremely difficult to predict the effects of every change; therefore, many biologists take the position of “the less you mess with Mother Nature, the better.” Some biologists have even 48

High Country Angler • Spring 2020

developed mathematical models that claim natural ecosystems are as efficient as possible; therefore, any change introduced by humans will be damaging. Although I tend to prefer ecosystems that are as close to natural as possible, I recognize that change is inevitable, and I question some of the assumptions used in these “natural perfection” models.

Humans have learned to manipulate ecosystems to produce particular species that they want, including the introduction of species not native to the system. Civilizations throughout history have relied on managing and manipulating ecosystems to produce the food and raw materials needed for their societies to survive and, they hope, thrive. I, and other resource scientists and managers always hope that such manipulations will not upset the natural balance or cause the extinction of vulnerable species, species that evolved naturally in the system.

Unfortunately, the history of human attempts to improve on Mother Nature is marked with thousands of examples where changes resulted in unintended and unforeseen effects. Even when the desired results are obtained, the effort needed to maintain the new, unbalanced system is frequently far more than expected. Our entire agriculture system is based on production from non-native species; however, agriculture production requires major inputs of energy, as well as human time and effort. Simply introducing non-native plants and animals without additional energy and management efforts almost always results in chaos. This seems to be especially true in aquatic ecosystems where active management is more difficult than in terrestrial systems.

Just adding something to system and walking away does not work.

Managing an ecosystem to produce a spewww.HCAezine.com

cific desired effect requires a complex set of efforts and activities, unique to each ecosystem.

Many factors are involved, and some important ones may be beyond the control of the manager.

Years ago, when I was a young professor teaching environmental and resource management courses, the Dean of the Engineering College requested me to give a 3-hour evening seminar on the basic ecological principles involved in managing natural ecosystems. At that time engineers were under growing pressure to consider the effects of man-made systems and products on natural environments; however, their traditional course work focused almost entirely on simpler systems that had been designed for management by humans. After a brief introduction to the large numbers of components in a natural ecosystem and the array of variable factors interacting with those components, the young engineers would invariably ask, “Why do you biologists even try to manage systems that are so complex?” Engineers typically focus on systems and the functions within the systems that can be described in detail and controlled with near absolute accuracy and precision.

So… when an angler empties a bait bucket in his/her favorite lake, or captures and transports

a favorite predator (walleye? northern pike? largemouth bass?) to a water that has always produced good smallmouth bass fishing, the odds are that the angler is screwing up a functional natural system. Western trout anglers are likely familiar with the case of Yellowstone Lake, where lake trout were introduced by those eager to pursue them in the Park’s largest lake; since then, the lake’s native Yellowstone cutthroat trout have not fared well and are now considered to be severely threatened by interactions with the lake trout.

In North America, natural ecosystems have evolved over thousands of years since the end of the last ice age. A complex balance that shows resilience to natural climate variations has developed in that stream, but the addition of an apex predator pushes the system beyond its limits. Resource managers attempt to evaluate and predict the effects of changes they are considering, especially introductions of species capable of reproducing, before making the changes.

"Bait bucket fishery managers" rarely consider the multitude of factors related to their actions, and the "laws of unintended consequences" are enforced by Mother Nature.

About The Author John Nickum, is a retired PhD. fishery biologist whose career has included positions as professor at research universities including Iowa State and Cornell University, director of the Fish and Wildlife Service’s fisheries research facility in Bozeman, MT, and science officer for the Fish and Wildlife Service’s Mountain-Prairie Region. He was inducted into the National Fish Culture Hall of Fame in 2008.

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Spring 2020 • High Country Angler

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No rod has ever silenced all the variables.

No engineer has ever found a way to transfer back cast energy directly into forward accuracy.

No angler has ever erased all the doubt from his or her mind.

FIRST TIME FOR EVERYTHING.

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