High Country Angler | Winter 2014 by High Country Angler

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Fly Fishing

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Conservation

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ideal secluded retreat, this 505-acre ranch offers exceptional recreation within a 1-hour drive of Denver. With over ½ mile of the North Fork of the South Platte River, this Orvisendorsed fishing lodge and ranch operation enjoys guided trophy trout fishing for anglers of all skill levels with accommodations for up to 40 guests. $8.499M, Was $9.25M

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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

Additional high quality inventory can be viewed on our site. Several new legacy fishing properties will appear soon!

EDITORIAL •

BY FRANK MARTIN

Expert Advice

publish a fly fishing magazine, so I know pretty much everything there is to know about fly fishing. That’s why so many friends ask me to take them fishing. They assume I’ll be able to get them into some serious trophy fish, or teach them how to throw a fifty-yard cast under a lowhanging branch, right into a hard-to-reach riffle on the far bank. Into the wind, I might add. After all, I do publish a fly fishing magazine, so I must know pretty much everything there is to know about fly fishing. Right? The truth is, the only thing I’m really good at is admitting my limitations. I love fly fishing, but I’m far from an expert. Experts are those guys who spend 200 days a year on the water, stalking wary trout, helping clients hook that fish of a lifetime. That’s why I leave the advice columns to

HCA Staff P U B LISHER S

J ac k Tallo n & Frank M ar tin guys like Landon Mayer and Brian LaRue— guys who have earned the right to be called “experts.” Guys who have logged so many hours on the water that their toes have started to web. These are the kind of guys I look to for advice before I head to the water, because they know what they’re talking about. And the best place to find those guys (or gals) is your friendly neighborhood fly shop. Most fishing guides know their local tailwaters like the back of their hand. They can usually point you to the right spot, and help you pick out the right flies. But if you really want a successful trip, book their services for the day. For my money, I’d rather spend a day “catching” than “fishing.” If you don’t know what you’re doing, ask someone who does. That’s what I always say. Actually, I don’t think I’ve ever said that, but good advice nonetheless.

REIMAGINE

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 : ( 714) 944- 5676 K andily n M ar t i n, S ales R ep. k andi ly n@ hc am agaz ine.com Cell: ( 719) 432- 8317

DESIG N

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

P HOTO G RAP HY

Frank Martin, Landon Mayer, Brian LaRue, Bill Edrington, Joel Evans, David Nickum, Jonathan Hill, Phil Tereyla, Jan Nemec, Arlo Townsend, Brian Slussher, Rick Masumoto, Mark Bagett, Katie Fiedler-Anderson

C O NTR IB U TING WRITE RS

Frank Martin, Landon Mayer, Bill Edrington, Joel Evans, John Nickum, Brian La Rue, David Nickum, Rick Masumoto, Katie Fiedler-Anderson, Bob Meulengracht, Dave Piske, Stephanie Scott, Jake Lemon

THE

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WINTER 2014 VOLUME 11 • ISSUE 1

FEATURES 12 FROSTY FIGHTS BY LANDON MAYER 19

TRUCKEE & PYRAMID BY BRIAN LA RUE

TAILWATER TALES BY KATIE FIEDLER-ANDERSON

DEPARTMENTS 8 EDITORIAL

BY FRANK MARTIN

LET’S GO FISHING BY BILL EDRINGTON

FIT TO BE TIED BY JOEL EVANS

16 25

COLORADO TU SECTION 26

PRESIDENT’S LINE

OUR COLORADO RIVER

BY RICK MATSUMOTO BY STEPHANIE SCOTT

A RIVER IN NEED BY DAVE PISKE

FOR THE GOOD OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BY BOB MEULENGRACHT

CONNECTING KIDS WITH NATURE BY JAKE LEMON

1 OF 750

THE LAST CAST

BY JOHN NICKUM

COVER PHOTO: Jonathan Hill

TOC PHOTO:

Landon Mayer catching more looks than trout with his Santa gear on the Taylor River, CO. Photo by: Phil Tereyla

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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

by Landon Mayer

High Country Angler â&#x20AC;¢ Winter 2014

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s the shortest day of the year grows near, anglers will see both the rewards and challenges of fishing the cold season. With the snow and ice building, cold temperatures will keep fish active, but moving in slow motion compared to the warmer days of summer. Knowing this, anglers need to slow down the reaction time and power that is applied during the memorable “Frosty Fights” of winter. Although the water may only be 39 degrees, large trout still have plenty in the tank for battles against any angler. The following are proven tips that will keep you and your gear performing at its best when Mother Nature has a different idea.

Ice Removal To be honest, nothing is more annoying than your guides freezing up every time you cast, or scarier than having your reel freeze up right at the moment of the fight when you need it to release tension. While I cannot promise you these tips will defeat below zero temps, they will surely allow more freedom in your cast, and performance out of your reel. To start, freezing guides are the number one issue the cold temperatures can deliver. Yes, you can dip the rod and guides in the river and sweep it side to side for a quick relief, but that will only last a few casts before icicles form. I started using Scientific Angler textured lines a few years ago and noticed that in addition to the floating performance of the line, it can also cause less connection and friction. This is due to the surface of the fly line possessing the shape of a golf ball, causing breaks in the friction as it moves through the guides and creating air pockets on the water’s surface— making the line ride higher than normal. The texture will also grind through forming ice, allowing more cold-season casts. Next is relief using Chapstick. This method may seem a little outdated, but it has been cost-effective and convenient on so many fishing adventures. It essentially creates a layer of wax on your guides that will help prevent ice build up, while not collecting as much dirt on your fly line as other liquid-based products can. When applying the wax, do this at home or in the vehicle before you enter the frozen zone. The Chapstick is still supple when warm, and once it interacts with the cold air it hardens—creating the protective layer on your guides.

Vi Visistit the n the N ew w w Weebsit G e id bsi ee tod e Guuid Toda ay Ph eddTtrript y o t o P hoto grapipss Vid g h e raph y Videoo and and M mory oree!!

Sub Zero Sets For those of us who cannot fight the urge to tempt trout in freezing weather, the application of power from the start with the hook set (lift) is key. Trout move in a slow manner when lethargic in cold water. This remains true even after you apply pressure at the beginning of the fight; you will still get big aggressive headshakes from large trout, but they will remain suspended near the bottom or the middle column of the river below the surface. If you lift too hard, the fine tippet will reach the breaking www.HCAmagazine.com

Landon’s books & DVDs are available for order on his website!

w w w. l a n d o n m a y e r. c o m WWW.LANDONMAYER.COM Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

point from the suspended weight of the fish. It is as if you stuck the trout in a microwave and, until it heats up, it will not break the water’s surface. Once the fish has reached the surface and warmed up, the tension test will begin. This can literally take a few seconds. I always teach clients to lift until you feel tension then stop. Hold this convex bend and wait for the fish to warm up and gradually headshake to the water’s surface. With your elbow placed low and at your side, the forearm becomes a shock absorber for every slow, powerful movement made by the trout. This will prevent you from reaching the breaking point. Most trout are lost by the angler arm creeping up, or back, while the trout is still moving in the middle of the river column. The rod cannot flex any more, and the weight of the trout’s body will snap your rig.

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Stay on Top of the Action One huge advantage anglers have during the winter season is fighting trout that are slower in their movements. The action seen, and felt, during the fight will consist of more headshaking movements over lung bolting runs. This will allow anglers to move with the action and keep the rod tip directly above the trout—causing maximum pressure and more expending headshakes from the trout. I always say to place yourself one or two steps ahead of or below the trout; you move with the fight. This will prevent the trout from

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

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moving downstream and give you a chance to read the battlegrounds down river to determine where you need to move your body and rod tip before the fish is there. This is very helpful when dealing with structure such as boulders that big fish rely on for cover during the fight. Lastly, remember to apply the pressure from the butt section of the rod, supplying the most pressure during the fight, not the tip of the rod. Staying on top of the action during the cold season ensures that the fish will not run—preventing your guides, fly line, and reel from freezing and seizing the fight. What a blessing it truly is as an angler to feel the freedom of exploring the many productive tail waters the west has to offer. Fighting large trout in a snow-filled landscape gives a whole new meaning to the term “powder days.” The next time you fight the cold conditions, take these tips with you for the battle beyond ice that lies waiting below the surface.

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About the Author.

Landon Mayer is a veteran Colorado guide and author of several books, including Colorado’s Best Fly Fishing, from Stackpole Books. He has co-produced 2 fly fishing DVDs with John Barr, both available from Mad Trout Media. Visit Landon’s website at www.landonmayer.com.

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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

LET’S GO FISHING •

BY BILL EDRINGTON

Increase Your Skill Levels During Winter

s a professional educator in my past life, I am always a bit perplexed at how many fly fishers simply depend on luck and are not really interested in enhancing their skill sets. Golfers, skiers, hunters, and poker players all want to get better at what they do, yet many (not all) fly fishers want to depend on their gear and having the correct fly to give them a satisfying day on the river. Even with the best Titleist balls and custom Ping clubs, an untrained golfer cannot shoot par at Pebble Beach. I talk to folks all the time about drift and technique, but a focus on equipment always comes back into play. Now, I would be the first to admit that I had rather be lucky than good, but in my life, lucky days are few and far between, and if you spend very many days a year on the river,

you’d better have some skills to sprinkle in there or you’re going to spend a lot of time muttering to yourself. I would recommend that you start the new year by going to the Fly Fishing Show in Denver on January 3, 4, and 5th at the Trade Mart. You can get all the information on the show at their web site www.flyfishingshow.com , but let me tell you personally a little about how to wisely use your time at this show. A few years ago, AFFTA, the American Fly Fishing Trade Association, aligned itself with the larger ISE show in Denver, but now they have come into the fold with the FFS, which will make for one great show in the Denver area, and not two, with split allegiances. Thousands of people come to these shows for the bargains and closeouts on fly fishing gear, or to book a special trip to Alaska or some other wonderful destination. Those are fun things to do, but the great advantage to this show is the plethora of great fly fishing celebrities and fly tiers who are there to share their experience with you through seminars and special low cost classes. Not only can you pick the brains of some of the best guides and destination specialists in the theater offerings, but you can attend seminars led by big name authors and anglers who will show you how to work their magic. Where else can you have a cup of coffee with A. K. Best and then take a

LARRY’S ICEBERG BAETIS EMERGER HOOK: TMC 200R #18 TO #22 THREAD: 8/0 OLIVE TAIL: OLIVE Z LON ABDOMEN: GREY-OLIVE TURKEY BIOT THORAX: OLIVE ICE DUB WING: CDC DARK DUN • Tie in CDC by the tip instead of the stem. • Dub thorax and fold CDC over loop instead of wing style. • Tie in butt and build head in front and clip like an elk hair caddis.

STEAK FAJITA POSOLE This is a great winter dish kicked up a bit with grilled flank steak instead of pork shoulder. Marinate 20 oz. of flank steak with a chili dry rub of 3 tablespoons of red chili powder, 1 tablespoon of cumin, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, and some salt and pepper. Cut the steak in small pieces and drop into a plastic bag with the dry rub, and shake it until each piece is coated. Keep a couple of the pieces of flank steak in 4 oz. pieces and place in the rub as well. These pieces will be cooked rare on the grill to garnish each bowl of posole when you serve it. Allow the steak to sit in the fridge for 24 hours. Then slow cook the small pieces in a crock pot along with 6 cups of beef broth, 3 more tablespoons of red chili powder, and ½ pound of dried pinto beans. After cooking for 8 hours, add two cans of white hominy and serve with sliced radishes, chopped green onion and thin slices of grilled flank steak.

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

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nymphing class with Ed Engle? Most of these great learning experiences are covered by your entrance ticket; only a few charge a pittance for several hours with someone whose books are on your shelf at home. I encourage folks to spend the night and go to as many theaters, seminars, and special classes as their time allows. Pick out the destinations you are interested in visiting during the season and the seminars that deal with skills that you need to kick up your game. I have been doing these seminars for the FFS since its first year in Denver, and I want people to know that there are no stupid questions. If seminar time does not allow for your question, the discussion can be continued over a beer or in the hallway outside the classroom. All of the presenters feel the same way. This show is a wonderful opportunity for you to educate yourself with the best in the business. It will transfer over to the river for the season. Do not miss it. Also, several TU chapters will be auctioning off wonderful things as an annual fundraiser. I happen to know that the TU chapter in Pueblo will be selling raffle tickets for a Larry Jordan cane rod with an Orvis reel in the most beautiful walnut case I have ever seen. Help all these chapters out by buying a few raffle tickets. Now that I have unabashedly promoted the Fly Fishing Show (my intentions were good), let me give you an insight into a new book which will help you with winter fishing in particular.

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Cut up a small pork shoulder or pork steaks and rub the pieces with the following dry rub: Dry rub made of 1/3 part red chili powder, 1/3 part brown sugar, and 1/3 part mixture of black pepper, salt, garlic powder (not garlic salt) and onion powder. After a 24 hour marinade in the refrigerator, slow cook the pork in adovada chili for 8 hours. Adovada chili is made of whole dried chilies ( about one dozen), 2 tablespoons of crushed garlic, 1/2 chopped yellow onion, one chopped fresh jalapeño, 2 tablespoons of chopped cilantro, and a dash of salt and pepper. Hydrate the chilies by bringing a quart of water to a boil in a large pot and steaming the chili pods until they are soft. Chop off the stem and heavy seed pod end, and place in a food processor with the other ingredients. Puree the mixture and add water from the chili pot until the mixture is the texture of cream soup. You can cook as much of this great stuff as you like and make the burrito in the picture by adding beans and cheese. If you like, make a breakfast burrito with scrambled eggs and cheese, or eat the adovada for breakfast—covered with fried eggs and salsa with fried potatoes. The burritos are easy to wrap and take to the river. I much prefer this to a turkey sandwich. www.HCAmagazine.com

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Hayden Mellsop Fly ďŹ shing guide. Real Estate guide.

SILVER STREAK EMERGER HOOK: TMC 2487 SIZES 18 TO 22 THREAD: 8/0 SILVER TAIL AND LEGS: LT. BLUE DUN HEN HACKLE THORAX: SILVER ICE DUB ABDOMEN: SILVER ICE DUB RIB: BLUE X SMALL WIRE This is an incredible bright light day emerger when BWOs are not quite making it to the surface. Fish it deep or shallow.

Everyone knows that during the winter, you pretty much need to fish tail water fisheries. Stable water temperatures and pretty winter days can result in great fishing opportunities. The rest of the year, tail waters produce consistent hatches and good fishing opportunities. Terry and Wendy Gunn have written a great new book, 50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish. There are many rivers in the Southern Rockies covered in this book, and the chapters are all written by local experts on that particular river, such as Will Sands on the Frying Pan, Pat Dorsey on the South Platte at Deckers, Taylor Edrington on the Arkansas River at Pueblo, and other local writers too numerous to mention. My guess is that this book will become one of the best resources ever produced. Pick up a copy and have the chapter authors sign it at the Fly Fishing Show. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s snowing outside as I finish this article, so it is fitting to remind folks that winter fly fishing in the Rockies requires a little planning around stormsâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;even in the best of conditions. As March slips in on us, things change somewhat. Rainbows start to spawn, and early spring Blue Wings start to hatch. There are days when we can make the switch from the deep nymphing rigs of January and February and come to the top with adult midges and emerging BWOs. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m going to share with you a couple of fly patterns that are staples in my box for this time of year, and a couple of recipes that will get you through the winter as well. As you well know, I exist on food with chilies in it, and perhaps someday I will run out of ideas, but not yet.

About

The

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Bill Edrington is a retired sociology/criminology professor who has owned Royal Gorge Anglers for over 20 years. He has authored several books and magazine articles. You may follow his fly fishing and cooking adventures on his new blog â&#x20AC;&#x153;Tight Lines and Tasty Spoonsâ&#x20AC;? at www.tightlinesand t ast yspoons. blogspot.com. 18

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High Country Angler â&#x20AC;˘ Winter 2014

Frank Drummond 303-810-4538 frank@brushcreekcane.com

Winter Classes Starting in November 2013 www.HCAmagazine.com

by Brian La Rue

Photo courtesy of Arlo Townsend

hen most folks think of Reno, they think of slots, buffets, and Tahoe, but the real deal is the pair of trophy waters that will challenge any poker hand. The Truckee River and Pyramid Lake yield some of the biggest trout in the nation year after year, but only a handful of locals and visitors actually wet a line, making the Truckee in particular, largely untapped, uncrowded, and lacking the proper respect it deserves. Respect? How about regular catches of 25- to 27-inch Browns all year long! I recently moved to the Reno-Tahoe market and personally have enjoyed Browns and Rainbows to 23 inches, while some of my new friends at Reno Orvis have shared photos of Browns to 27 inches— monthly. Now that deserves some investigating! As far as the Truckee is concerned, there is one major decision to make when planning your trip. Do you want to try the river in California or Nevada? Better yet, just fish both. The river shares many of the same characteristics on both sides of the border, but when you talk to local guides like California’s Brian Slusser of Four Seasons Fly Fishing (flyfishingtruckee-tahoe.com), or Nevada-based Jan Nemec of Mimic Fly Fishing Guide Service (mimicflyfishing.com), you’ll quickly learn some differences that need addressing. Starting upriver from Reno is the California stretch where, Slusser says, you really have to pay attention to changes in water flows and temperature. The water from Tahoe to Stateline does not readily give up great numbers, but instead challenges anglers to hone their skills. Sure, you can catch 20 to 30 fish a day if you have the right bug and find the fish early, but what really appeals to a lot of anglers is that you have the chance to catch a fish of a lifetime any time when fishing the Truckee. “Winter and spring before runoff is a great time to fish the river,” says Slusser. “Heavy winter snow can make access tough, but if you find yourself with a clear, high pressure day, the sun will warm the water just enough to get Midges, Blue Winged Olives, and then Skallas moving toward spring.” On the Nevada side, Nemec, author of The Fly Fisher’s Guide to www.HCAmagazine.com

Nevada, says winter fishing brings a lot of dry fly activity to the river around and beyond Reno. “Winter fishing provides anglers with a shot at trophy Browns, Cutthroat, and Rainbows on dries, as our best dry fly fishing of the season can be found in the winter months,” said Nemec. “It’s not uncommon to hear about 20-plus-inch fish caught on dries on the warmest winter afternoons--especially east of town.” As the season pushes into spring, fishing picks up with the warming weather. Fishing can be unbelievable before runoff. Keep in mind, though, that there is a gravity dam on Tahoe. It is not your typical dam, so the Truckee maintains a very “freestone feel” with flows and features more similar to a freestone than a tailwater. With lots of small feeder creeks and an actual tailwater (Little Truckee) feeding it as well, the Truckee remains fishable year round. “After the Skalla bite, anglers focus on the Truckee with assorted Stoneflies, basic Nymphs, and Midges to get results,” said Nemec. “As runoff slows in April to June, depending on the snow pack, Yellow Stoneflies, Caddis, Green Stones, and several creamy orange/PMD/sulphur type Mayflies begin to show throughout summer.” On the California side, Slusser says summer outings often see green drakes starting the dry fly season in late June, with Caddis being the bug of July and August. Streamers can have their spot on the river too, suggests Slusser. “Overall, my go-to patterns day in and day out on the Truckee are a variety of Stones or Caddis, but many swear by a Pheasant Tail, but I like a Bird’s Nest too,” said Slusser. “If you’re after a brute, all I can say is that I’ve caught them on everything from size 22 Blue Winged Olives to a size 4 streamer. They are in the river and there are a lot of them. Really pay attention and look for them. Most of the big ones that get hooked get away, but not after creating a little mayhem.” Adding to the chaos on the Truckee is the Crayfish and Sculpin presence that really powers the Nevada side bite. A larger streamer in tan, olive, yellow, and white work well, but if you are really adventurous, try the Night Bite with black streamers. “Okay, some of my favorite patterns to use in the summer and fall include Beadhead Hare’s Ears, Pheasant Tails, Pearl Caddis Pupa, Black Zebra Midges, Micro Mayflies, Yellow Elk Hair Caddis, Parachute Blue Winged Olives, Olive Stimulators, Orange Crayfish, and Conehead Black Woolly Buggers. All patterns should run size 12 to 16 with simulators and streamers in sizes 6 or 8. As flows drop, scale down tippet and fly size. A good general leader on the Truckee is probably in the 3X to 5X range.” Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

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High Country Angler • Winter 2014

As for average fish on the Nevada size, anglers can expect to catch Rainbows and Cuttbows averaging 13 to 15 inches, but they do regularly reach 22 to 23 inches. Browns average 15 to 17 inches and often exceed 24 inches. “Browns this last season averaged 18 inches plus west of Reno,” said Nemec. “We expect the browns out east this fall and winter to average 16 inches plus.” Now for some personal advice-- I have had best success with a large Stonefly pattern in the size 8 range, paired with a Sheep Creek Special, Prince, or Hare’s Ear. Adding a San Juanstyle pattern ahead of the bottom nymph has been very productive for me as well. I utilize a 5X leader with a total reach of about 10 feet, making sure I’m in contact with the bottom in the deepest boulder fields and short plunges. Streamers are a good choice as well. Try an Umpqua Hare Sculpin or a Natural Sculpin. Be patient and avoid a quick hookset on bigger streamers. I’ve relearned this lesson the hard way, missing a handful of 23- to 24-inch Browns in my short time in Reno. Access is easy along the Truckee. In California, Slusser suggests the Boca, Hirshdale and Floriston areas. On the Nevada side, Nemec suggests fishing west of town through the 4th Street access points for consistent fishing in the warmer months, while winter anglers will do best in the newly offered McCarran Ranch and Lockwood access points out east. If the Truckee wasn’t enough to get you breaking out the calendar for 2014, well don’t forget that Pyramid Lake is just about 35 to 45 minutes away from the Reno area. We’ve all seen the guys fishing on ladders….yes, this is the place. Where else can you virtually be guaranteed to hook and land a 24-inch Cutthroat every time out? It’s a unique fishery, and one look at the fly bins at Reno Orvis and you’ll see you’re in for an interesting day. These huge Cutthroat run 20 to 26 inches, but after that classification, these fish are measured in pounds! Just yesterday, an angler caught a pair of 10 pounders, a 15 pounder, and a 20-plus pounder. “To have success on Pyramid, you’re going to have to fish the drop offs--whether in a tube, pontoon or from a ladder,” said Gary Bonanno at Reno Orvis. “I like to bring a 6- to 8-weight rig with 0X to 1X tippet, full sink line like Hydros 3D Depth Charge, and a beetle/ streamer combo. On the other rig I tie a pair of large Purple Midges (12 to 16), Black Snow Cone Midges, or something like a Mahalo or Tungsten Goldie, and fish them under an indicator. The fish will hit both setups.” Early season fishing at Pyramid sees the fish in deeper water, but as the weather cools, they begin to show along the shallower dropoffs more consistently. Ask any regular and they will tell you that a little wind helps the action, but it can also get dangerous for anyone not standing on solid ground. “Guys use ladders for four reasons at Pyramid,” adds Bonanno. “The water is cold in December through March, the wave action can kick up some sizable slappers, you can cast a www.HCAmagazine.com

Photo courtesy of Jan Nemec

lot further, and you can see fish as they come up from the depths. If you are more of a tube or boat angler, as soon as the wind comes up, you’d better head for shore because Pyramid can be a dangerous place--even for boaters.” When it comes to picking a spot for the day, it all depends on your vehicle. Sand shorelines claim numerous cars, so go with a 4X4 or stick to the well-beaten paths. Bonanno suggests trying Pelican off the rocks, Sand Hole, Wino Beach, and both the north and south ends. “Fishing starts in October and runs through the end of May, but for the best action, head out to Pyramid from December to April,” suggests

Photo courtesy of Jan Nemec

www.HCAmagazine.com

Bonanno. “Where else can you go where you are almost guaranteed a fish measuring 24 inches every time out?” We’ve only scratched the surface on Pyramid. Come visit me in Reno and we’ll set you up with the latest flies for quick action on the prehistoric Lahontons. Throw in a handful of tailwaters and other reservoirs within 60 miles of the store, and you might say there are a lot of options in my new neighborhood. Don’t be a stranger.

About The Author.

High Country Angler contributor Brian La Rue enjoys giving fly fishers ideas of where to go for an adventure. His work can also be seen at his Examiner.com Denver Fly Fishing page. You can contact Brian by writing to brian@HCAmagazine.com.

Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

by Katie Fiedler-Anderson

his past spring, after Vail Mountain closed, my husband Cooper, our guide friend Nate, and I went on a three-day fishing trip to the Taylor River. We wanted to catch some big fish before the summer guide season began. The day we left Vail it snowed so much that they reopened the mountain. We had already booked the cabin, packed all of our gear, and been dreaming of monster fish all week. So despite the blizzard, we drove out to go fishing! We arrived at the tailwater section and it was howling wind and snowing. The great thing about the weather was that there was not one single car in the parking lot. I had never experienced any tailwater without crowds of anglers, so I was stoked! Channeling Randy from “A Christmas Story,” I put on long underwear, fleece pants, ski socks, waders, a fleece jacket, two down top layers, a windbreaker, fingerless mittens, a neck warmer, and a ski hat. I did some push-ups in the parking lot to get my blood pumping, and off I went into a winter wonderland of fishing. It was awesome to spot the first reflections of red in the shallows. Right off the bat we spotted four or five beautiful Rainbows holding in a deep riffle. I landed a few decent-sized fish, nothing record breaking, but at least I knew the fish liked my rig. I fished all three days with a nymph rig consisting of a 4x leader to a size 12-depth charger (mostly for weight), 5x to a pegged egg, trailing a size10 hook, and 5x again down to a White Mysis Shrimp. I was dragging moss off the bottom, and it seemed to be the perfect length: I would estimate about 2 ½ - 3 feet from the top fly to the bottom fly. The second day was our full day out. We packed thermoses of hot tea and hot chocolate. I put on some hand and foot warmers and set out on a mission to catch trout. A better part of the day expired until I was able to define my mission. I saw the mother lode of a fish, a pig, a monster, a beast. It was a Rainbow Trout so big and beautiful it would have won America’s Next Top Model. Nate walked up behind me as I was trying to will my frozen fingers to undo my rig and start fishing. I made one cast at the beautiful beast when I saw her slide to the left in a fury. I wasn’t watching my strike indicator; I just knew; this fish was HANGRY! (Hungry + Angry=Hangry) The adrenaline warmed me up instantly as this fish started screaming through the slack in my line. It sailed through the air like a tarpon and 22

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

Nate started cheering and howling. I froze in awe as I watched the trout jump again. I felt my rod jerk and my mind raced as I looked down and saw the flap of my fingerless mittens wrapped with fly line. I tried to pull a quick move to get unstuck, but it was too late. My leader snapped. What was worse, I knew it would take me at least 10 minutes to rig back up with my frozen fingers. Nate took off upstream to look for the fish. I decided to follow. We spotted her again, and Nate put two casts on her and BAM! FISH ON! The fish shot into the snowy air and I cheered. It didn’t last long; Nate’s rig broke and we raced to re-rig and try to land this fish. We saw her wake slide out of the pool we just fished in, and after re-rigging, we never caught sight of her again. I spent the better part of the third day walking up and down the frozen banks looking for the rainbow warrior. I knew that if I could just see that giant beady eye and that large red flank, I would have found nirvana. I couldn’t find this fish, and my standards were so high that I didn’t want to waste my time trying to catch any of the smaller 20- to22-inch fish. The high temperature for the third day was a whopping 12 degrees Fahren-

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Winter 2014 â&#x20AC;¢ High Country Angler

heit. I felt cold and defeated when I decided to take a break and warm up in the Subaru. After a couple of snacks, some hot tea, and a drive up the road in search of a Bald Eagle we’d spotted earlier in the day, I came back ready to find nirvana. Cooper approached the car and set a broken rig on the hood. “Shut-up!” I exclaimed. I knew immediately that this rig was mine from the monster the day before, because I was the only one fishing with the dirty Orange Egg I found in the parking lot. Cooper’s story was very similar to Nate’s and mine. He saw the beast, put three casts out, and saw a “Hangry” trout slide over for the take. Nate saw the beast jump out of the water and ran over to help land it. Cooper rescued both my rig and Nate’s rig out of the trout’s mouth. The man of my dreams caught the trout of my dreams. Now, we have a picture of nirvana to drool over, and a story to tell. I find half the fun of fishing is sharing your big fish stories with friends. Cooper, Nate and I took it to the next level by all sharing a piece of this monster fish!

About

The

Author.

Katie Fiedler-Anderson is a fly fishing guide and photographer from the Vail Valley area. For comments, you can reach her on her Facebook page at Anderson’s Fish Camp. Or write to her via our editorial dept. at Frank@HCAmagazine.com.

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

www.HCAmagazine.com

FIT TO BE TIED

•

BY JOEL EVANS

Fly Tying Hook History

s fly tiers, most of our attention is directed to patterns and materials, and a new tool every now and then. Not taken for granted but less glamorous is the hook. Ah, the hook. Unlike modern inventions, the history of the fishing hook is forever lost. We have a few clues, but no definitive written history of when the hook was first used to catch a fish. Speculative guesses put forth the idea that the first hooks were not the curved hook we know, but a straight line instrument likely made of wood or bone, maybe with a barb. For a long time, the earliest known hook was about 7000 B.C., and the next at about 3,000 B.C. But just a few years ago—figurative minutes in hook history time—in 2011 a hook was discovered in that is supposedly 10,000 to 20,000 years old. Along the way, metal hooks came in along with curves and barbs. The first metal hooks of any significant quantity were probably needles that were redesigned first as straight hooks, then as curved hooks. Our modern hook, made of metal, produced in quantity, and intended not only for subsistence fishing, but also sport fishing, is credited to the

English around the 1500’s. Over the next three hundred years, advances included the invention of steel, improvements in shape and design, the addition of the hook eye, and mass production processes. Today’s hooks are mostly unchanged from the 1800’s. For you and me, the most significant changes since then have been higher quality materials, lighter but stronger hooks, chemical sharpening, and lowered prices. One thing that has not improved much, but seemingly could be, is hook sizing. It is non-standard. Yes, there are multiple factors such heavy and light hooks, eye shapes, short and long shanks, and bends. But for a common hook, say a #12 dry fly hook, the manufacturers produce similar, but not equal or standard dimensions. So where does that leave us? All the well-known brands produce a quality hook. Certainly there are proponents of one brand over another, but similar to vises and rods and reels, there is a whole lot of high quality to choose from. Hooks are important, but I keep my system relatively simple, sticking with one brand with a few pattern-specific exceptions. For me, it’s back to the vise, manufacturing favorite patterns in quantity for myself or a friend or a donation to the local fundraiser. In between the quantity, comes playing with materials and innovations, and occasionally sticking myself with that funny curved thing with a barb.

About The Author.

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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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

PRESIDENT’S LINE • RICK MATSUMOTO

Passions & Priorities

t the Denver showing of Confluence Films’ new feature “Waypoints” last night, I was presented with a $2500 check in support of Defend the Colorado. Kudos to the organizer, Trouts Fly Fishing, and the sponsors—Simms and Costa—for an incredibly successful event. The film was pretty good too! But the highlight of the evening for me was seeing how money was raised. In addition to the obvious (tickets to the show), they were selling “Save the Upper Colorado” shirts for $30 with $20 going to Defend the Colorado. The shirts were donated by Fishpond. From the bar, $1 of every Upslope beer sold went to Defend the

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

Colorado. Raffle tickets were sold for a variety of donated fishing gear. The raffle was capped with a full day guided float trip from Trouts. The best idea was the VIP section, underwritten by Simms and Costa. For $100, VIPs were treated to a pre-party at Trouts Fly Fishing, driven by limo bus to the show, escorted to their own section in the theater, and driven by limo to the after-party. There were 25 tickets and they sold out in just a few days. I’m eager to get Will Rice, Director of Marketing at Trouts, to speak at Rendezvous 2014. But even before then, it’s clear that we should rethink many Colorado TU events. Every event is an opportunity to utilize multiple fundraising techniques that leverage the generosity of our members and the marketing power of our business partners. We’ll look to incorporate this creativity at our next major event, the Colorado TU Gala next March. For now, let’s take advantage of the momentum created by the Waypoints premiere. Go to defendthecolorado.org and sign the petition asking Denver Water to protect the Fraser River. Thank you for your support!

About The Author.

Rick Matsumoto is the president of Colorado Trout Unlimited. You can contact him via the CTU website at www.cotrout.org.

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Protecting “Our Colorado River”

Speciali Jefferson C Fishin Real E

By Stephanie Scott

he Colorado River. It is a treasured name for anglers, whether they are remembering days spent fishing the Gold Medal Waters of the Kemp-Breeze State Wildlife Area or float trips on the State Bridge reach. As we’ve seen in recent years, it is also a resource at risk as more and more demands are placed on its waters from source to sea: indeed, earlier this year American Rivers named the Colorado America’s “Most Endangered River.” But while its water may be a limited supply, we are increasingly learning that its supply of supporters and partners is growing. And it isn’t just anglers. The Colorado River watershed is, quite literally, the lifeblood of western Colorado. And our interest in its health is shared by communities, farmer and ranchers, tourism and recreation-based businesses, local governments – a wide cross-section of Coloradoans who all depend upon a healthy Colorado River for their livelihoods and their quality of life. That’s why Trout Unlimited recently launched the “Our Colorado River” effort in western Colorado. Through the Our Colorado River campaign, TU is partnering with diverse stakeholders to highlight our shared values for the Colorado River – and to ask decision makers to keep those values in mind in processes like the Statewide Water Plan that Governor Hickenlooper has initiated. Richard Van Gytenbeek, the Colorado River Basin Outreach Coordinator for Trout Un28

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

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limited is hitting the road with the conservation message through a series of presentations to West Slope communities and groups to help West Slope water users realize their common stake in preserving the river’s health and vitality. We have also unveiled a new website, www. OurCoRiver.com, which highlights the need for collaboration and features a set of “Core Values” which provides five principles and actions which we believe should be reflected in the new state water plan.

1. Cooperation, Not Conflict: Work together to ensure the Colorado River is able to meet our diverse needs, from agriculture to recreation and tourism. Cooperation is the key to sustaining our present and growing our future. 2. Protect Our Quality of Life: Maintain our open spaces through a vigorous agricultural sector and ensure that our rivers and streams are flowing and healthy. 3. Modernize Irrigation: Upgrade our aging irrigation infrastructure systems to make them more productive, economical, and habitat-friendly. 4. Innovative Management: Explore new ways to meet our water supply needs through innovative conservation and management practices. 5. Keep Our Rivers at Home: Leave water in its home basins and oppose new, large scale, river-damaging transbasin diversions of water from the Colorado River to the Front Range.

We think most Colorado residents will embrace these commonsense ideas as ways to support the health of the Colorado River and our state’s West Slope communities. The alternative—continued fighting and every water user for himself—is a prescription for disaster. You can read more about these growing partnerships and request a presentation at your next group meeting at the OurCoRiver.com website – and add your voice to those who value our state’s namesake river!

To Learn More.

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

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A River In Need Finds Friends Indeed

By Dave Piske

Photo courtesy of Bob Green

he Big Thompson River or “Big T” is one of the trout streams favored by fly fishermen in Colorado’s Front Range communities between Boulder and Fort Collins. Easy access and the presence of a healthy wild trout population are keys to Big T’s popularity. The status of that trout population and its habitat were drastically altered by three days of record-breaking rainfall and a historic flood beginning September 13, 2013. From Olympus Dam in Estes Park downstream to just west of Loveland, the Big T flows through a steep, narrow canyon. It offers little in the way of flood plains for dissipating the huge power of the floodwater the Big T was carrying. Homes and business structures along the river were swept away, totally destroying some communities. Highway 34, paralleling the river, collapsed and became unusable in numerous segments. The river changed itself in many ways: re-channeling in places, destroying trout holding and spawning habitat, scouring the former streambed, and depositing the resultant rubble below the canyon mouth where the water’s energy was eventually lessened. After Colorado Parks and Wildlife biologists were able to make a preliminary post-flood examination of the trout population, Ken Kehmeier, the Senior Northeast Region Biologist, described the impact of the flood as a total re-set of the Big T’s ecological system. When the flood receded, it was clear that a vast recovery and restoration effort would be needed, involving a wide spectrum of stakeholders and resources. In the Big T corridor, informal groups and people interested in recovery of the trout fishery began to organize and coordinate their initiatives. What emerged was the Big Thompson River Restoration Coalition (BTRRC), a collaboration working together on recovery of the Big T in a manner that will maximize the economic, social, and environmental benefits of the river. 30

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

The goals of BTRRC include: 1. Near-term recovery of key infrastructure needed for municipal, agricultural, landowner, and recreational users, in ways that complement and enhance long-term river restoration goals. 2. Restoration and enhancement of riverbed structure and water flows to optimize habitat for fish and aquatic life. 3. Establishment of plant communities along riverbanks to enhance water quality, encourage species diversity, and improve aesthetic values. 4. Incorporation of infrastructure designs that reduce the risk to life and property during future flood events. As of November 13, 2013 John Giordanengo, convener of the BTRRC organizing committee, reports that the coalition is made up of over 125 stakeholders and partners, representing land owners, nonprofit organizations, land management agencies, local companies, consulting firms, and a host of other dedicated people. Among the several non-profits involved, the Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter of Trout Unlimited (RMF TU) is one of the founding members. The BTRRC is now working on a post-flood watershed assessment to help guide efforts going forward. RMF TU also stepped forward to help a longstanding supporter, the Sylvan Dale Ranch, which has regularly hosted TU events including activities for the chapter’s annual Fly Fishing and River Conservation Day Camps for youth. The ranch’s property straddles the Big T River immediately downstream of the canyon mouth. During the flood, Sylvan Dale suffered enormous property destruction and financial losses. To help Sylvan Dale in its time of need, RMF TU’s leadership created a Sylvan Dale Ranch Benefit Fly Fishing event on October 26. www.HCAmagazine.com

Helping “Restore the Range” On November 8, the Greenbacks – a Colorado TU group of younger members who are working to build community around conservation of native trout – hosted three locations for the premiere of Confluence Films’ “Waypoints.” Attendees gathered in Colorado Springs, Steamboat Springs, and Boulder to watch the film, and to contribute to a new restoration program. While flooding along the Front Range caused tremendous damage, TU has also recognized that we can help with rebuilding in ways that benefit fish habitat. Whether it is adding fish passage to an irrigation structure, or helping improve road crossings to better maintain stream habitat, we can make sure that as Colorado rebuilds from floods, that we do it smarter and better. While final figures are still pending, the Greenbacks in one night raised over $8000 for TU’s “Restore the Range” initiative to help support fish-friendly rebuilding efforts. Front Range Anglers in Boulder helped host the Boulder event and also donated a portion of proceeds from their recent guide trips. All of this support will help TU to make a difference in restoring Front Range streams.

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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

Participants stepped up immediately to help Sylvan Dale by paying rod fees to participate. To protect the amazing fishery at Sylvan Dale’s Mother Lake, only 10 rods were permitted. Greg Sheets, Head Guide at Sylvan Dale and former RMF TU chapter president, oriented the group to the lake and provided tips on fishing. And everyone caught fish! The trophy Rainbow and Brown Trout taken, all gently released, ranged from 18 to 25 inches. And you should have seen the ones that got away! In addition, Sylvan Dale also needed help in clearing debris which the receding flood had deposited alongside the river. Coordinating with Sylvan Dale co-owner David Jessup, RMF TU organized a volunteer Flood Debris Cleanup day. By applying BTRRC recommendations on how to deal with flood debris, the cleanup was organized to produce separate collections of recyclable man-made objects, non-recyclable man-made objects, small woody debris suitable for future application as riverbank mulch, and retention in-place of large woody materials suitable for future in-stream structures. What resulted was the most memorable turnout of RMF TU and allied volunteers in recent years. RMF TU recruited volunteers through its electronic communications and at its October meeting. Sylvan Dale also reached out to its roster of fly fishing clients. Brian Chavet at nearby Elkhorn Fly Rod and Reel contacted his customers, and Front Range Anglers in Boulder reached out on their blog. The result was a total of 32 volunteers full of tremendous enthusiasm on cleanup day, October 19. Initial expectations were that about 12 volunteers might show up, in which case the pre-planned work would have taken until 4 PM. However, the larger group of volunteers finished all the pre-planned work by the scheduled start of the lunch period. After lunch, those who remained re-located to another part of the ranch where an improvised debris cleanup continued until about 2:30 PM. In appreciation of the volunteers’ vigorous efforts, Brian Chavet invited all volunteers to enjoy refreshments at the Elkhorn Fly Rod and Reel shop, providing a relaxing conclusion to a day of helping a deserving friend.

About The Author.

Dave Piske is Conservation Chair for the Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter of TU and organizer of the Flood Debris Cleanup.

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

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For the Good of Fish and Wildlife By Bob Meulengracht

Photo courtesy of Mark Bagett

f you follow the news lately, you’ve seen that our general demeanor toward what happens in Congress has taken on a rather negative tone. Words like “gridlock,” “partisan politics,” “government shutdown,” “sequester,” “debt limit,” “default” - these seem to be in the headlines almost every day. Wouldn’t it be nice every once in a while to start your day reading a headline that includes words like “bipartisan,” “Congress works together,” “legislators reach across the aisle,” “new law promotes local economy and conservation?” One bill that deserves the latter type of headline is the Public Lands Renewable Energy Development Act (PLREDA). If signed into law, PLREDA would direct money to states and counties to help them manage the economic and social impact that solar and wind energy development would have on their communities. Sportsmen also like this law because funds generated from renewable energy production on public lands would be set aside to mitigate impacts of development to hunting, angling, wildlife, fisheries, and recreation. We are not talking about an energy producer leasing an area to put up a few solar panels, but rather are addressing large (thousands of acres) utility-scale industrial sites erected on our public lands for the foreseeable future. While such sites produce renewable energy, they certainly aren’t free of impacts to fish and wildlife. Senator Tester’s (D-MT) and Representative Gosar’s (R-AZ) companion bills S. 279 and H.R. 596 have the support of a diverse group of legislators and constituents. Both bills enjoy bi-partisan support with more than 40 Democratic and Republican members of Congress signing on as co-sponsors. 34

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

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Here in Colorado, both of our senators and six of our seven congressional representatives (Representatives Coffman, DeGette, Gardner, Perlmutter, Polis, and Tipton) are listed as cosponsors. Additionally, all 16 western Governors, the National Association of Counties, six statewide Association of Counties and hundreds of sportsmen and conservation groups have officially pledged their support for the legislation. We at Trout Unlimited are optimistic that this bill will make it through the legislative process and be signed into law. What does this legislation offer that makes these diverse groups supportive? Under the “all of the above” energy policy, large swaths of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands have been proposed for solar or wind development. Currently those lands would be rented to the highest bidder for very long periods of time and no funds, other than annual rental fees, would be generated for public benefit. PLREDA would replace this right-of-way “rental” system that was developed for things like power lines, irrigation ditches, and cell towers with a competitive royalty-based leasing system that would produce funds to benefit the public for the use of our public lands. The results would be that funds (i.e., royalties) would be available to affected states, counties, federal agencies and conservation groups to offset economic, social and biological impacts in the surrounding community. Having energy producers pay royalties for the development of energy resources from our public lands is not a new concept. This type of lease system has been used for years with traditional oil and gas development. However, unlike oil and gas royalties, PLREDA would specify the division of the funds generated. The states and county where the development occurs would benefit by each receiving 25 percent of the royalties. Conservation and recreation would benefit through funding of up to 35 percent of royalties going to the Renewable Energy Resource Conservation Fund. Remaining royalties would be used by the federal agencies for administrative purposes associated with the leases. With the current decline in funds available for conservation – look no further than Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which is having to make $10 million in program cuts – sportsmen will greatly benefit from royalties to offset and minimize impacts to fish, wildlife, water resources and recreational opportunities. Having spent more than 20 years in the conservation arena, I know how hard it is to fund projects and I can tell you that there are always more projects than there is funding. These conservation fund dollars would help projects on the ground and make a significant difference mitigating the impacts from these industrial energy developments. The benefits will be local: the law requires royalties generated for the conservation fund to be spent in the proximity of where solar or wind energy development occurs. As a sportsman I support the Public Lands www.HCAmagazine.com

Renewable Energy Development Act and I hope that you will join me in this support. For more information on the bill, visit our website at www.coloradotu.org. And the next time you have a chance to visit with your congressional Representative or Senator, please thank them or ask them to support PLREDA. My hope is that someday soon we will be seeing in the news that a law was passed in the best interest of the states, counties, general public, hunters, anglers, fish, and wildlife.

About

The

Author.

Bob Meulengracht is a lifelong angler and hunter who currently works as Colorado Energy Field Coordinator with the Sportsman’s Conservation Project at Trout Unlimited.

Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

Connecting Kids with Nature By Jake Lemon

n evening spent fishing for Bluegill with my dad at a neighbor’s pond. Daytime walks through the woods with mom. Kayaking our local creek spotting Kingfishers and Herons. These are all cherished memories of my childhood. I’m sure if most readers thought back to their first experiences in the outdoors, they would attribute it to a mentor of some kind: parents, grandparents, a family friend. We were lucky we had adults in our lives who shared their passion for the beauty of nature with us. Many are not so lucky. A new and growing problem affecting today’s youth is nature deficit disorder. Simply put, kids today spend an inordinate amount of time engaged with electronic media, much of this at the expense of time outdoors. In fact, research shows that today’s youth spend an average of seven hours a day engrossed in various forms of electronic media. Research has shown that children who are alienated from nature suffer attention and mood disorders, lower grades, and obesity at a much higher rate. Furthermore, studies have found that participating in outdoor and nature-related activities strengthens family relationships and gives participants a feeling of accomplishment, an escape from life’s pressures, and an increased connection with themselves. In addition, people with no connection to nature place little value on its protection. In short, nature deficit disorder is bad for kids, bad for society, and bad for the natural places we hold dear. Spearheaded by Colorado Trout Unlimited, the Colorado Outdoor Mentors Initiative seeks to assemble a cohesive coalition of conservation organizations, state agencies, youth development organizations, and other key outdoor recreation stakeholders in Colorado to provide outdoor education to non-traditional audiences. By partnering with youth mentoring organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Denver Kids Inc. and others, we can give more children the chance to learn how to fish, hunt, shoot, camp and experience Colorado’s great outdoors. This program follows a successful model set forth by Pass it On Outdoor Mentors in Kansas. Pass it On Outdoor Mentors began as a program of Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2002, and focused on recruiting members to spend time outdoors with a child. In 2006, the program spun off into a separate 501(c)(3) with the goal of providing support to other youthmentoring organizations as well. Reaching kids at a young age is essential in instilling a love of the outdoors, which is so essential in becoming a healthy and well-balanced person. Continuing participation for children who are exposed to outdoor opportunities often depends upon having a trusted adult who can share

Adam Beede

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

in those activities. By partnering with mentoring organizations, the Outdoor Mentors program helps jointly expose youth and their adult mentors to hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation – planting the seeds for mentors and youth alike to continue to experience the outdoors together. Also, it is my experience that many youth who participate in standard outdoor education programs represent a self-selected population from families who already hunt, fish, and engage in outdoor activities. By partnering with youth development organizations, we can reach a population that has never caught a fish, shot a bow or been in a canoe. September marked the official kick-off of the Colorado Outdoor Mentors Program. On Saturday September 28, several organizations came together for an outdoor skills festival at Barr Lake State Park. With help from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Pheasants Forever, Environmental Learning for Kids, the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, the Wildlife Experience, the American Canoe Association, CTU, Denver Big Brothers Big Sisters, and Denver Kids Inc., over 200 people had the chance to take part. Youth and their mentors got to try their hand at a wealth of outdoor activities and learn about native wildlife – from fly casting to archery, from geo-caching to canoeing, from spotting raptors through a scope to spin fishing in the lake. What can you do to help? Mentor a child in the outdoors. Many communities have groups like Big Brothers Big Sisters that connect a mentor with a child facing adversity. Create opportunities for non-traditional audiences to engage in outdoor activities in your community. Donate to the Colorado Outdoor Mentors initiative, and help TU and our partners create the next generation of conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts. You owe it to Colorado’s rivers, streams and backcountry to help connect young people with the outdoors. Every child deserves the sense of wonder and connectedness that recreating in nature provides.

If you are interested in getting involved with this initiative, or better yet, mentoring a youth in the outdoors, please contact Jake Lemon, CTU Youth Education Coordinator, at jake.lemon@coloradotu.org or 720-354-2646.

www.HCAmagazine.com

1 of 750: The Rarest of Wild Trout

n a remote small stream in Colorado exists one of the rarest Cutthroat Trout in the world: the Greenback Cutthroat Trout, with only an estimated 750 remaining fish in the wild. The Greenback Cutthroat Trout has seen its fair share of problems over the last hundred years. Like all of Colorado’s native trout, the Greenback was pushed to the brink of extinction through overfishing, stocking of non-native trout, development, and pollution. The fish were actually thought to have gone extinct in the 1930’s. Fast-forward 30 years: scientists discovered what they thought were relic populations of Greenbacks. They began using these populations as the brood stock for populating fish around the Front Range, and by 1978, recovery had progressed enough for the Greenback to be downlisted from “endangered” to “threatened” status. Now, through recent breakthroughs in genetics science, new techniques allow researchers to decode genetic lineages and to test samples that were gathered over a century ago. By cross-testing historic samples with contemporary samples, it was discovered that there were six distinct lineages of Cutthroat Trout in Colorado. Two of these are believed to be extinct, while four others remain in watersheds across Colorado: one is found in the Rio Grande River watershed, one occupies the Gunnison and Colorado River watersheds, and one lives in the Yampa and White River watersheds. Testing on the fourth subspecies revealed the most shocking news: only one wild population remained of the Greenback Cutthroat Trout, with an estimated 750 fish. This lone population exists in Bear Creek just outside of Colorado Springs. The Greenbacks, a Colorado TU group focused on creating community around conservation of native trout, need your help to initiate a movement to both protect and proliferate the fish. The Greenbacks have launched a unique campaign to generate funding for future phases of work in Bear Creek. Starting November 8th and running through January of 2014, they are running an Indiegogo Project (a crowdfunding platform) with an ambitious goal of raising $10,000 dollars to fund conservation projects and community outreach and education. You can learn more and help Bear Creek’s unique cutthroats at www.1of750.com.

To Learn More.

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

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THE LAST CAST

•

JOHN NICKUM

Renewable Energy – No Free Lunch

“Renewable/Sustainable/Alternative Energy” is often presented as the answer for the soaring demands of our world’s ever-increasing human population, a global economy, and growing mobility of humans. However, aren’t there some environmental problems with these new methods, especially with hydropower and wind turbines?

Yes, I agree completely. As with many environmental “solutions,” there are often problems with all forms of energy development. “Renewable” certainly does not equal “no negative effects.” There is no “free lunch;” no source of additional energy supplies that has no effect on the environment. We must analyze each situation, compare the effects, and make decisions about the trade-offs—the benefits versus the costs. Throughout the entire history of human beings, new sources of energy have been welcomed, with little consideration for their environmental or social-cultural effects. The embrace of new sources of energy that apparently made life easier for humans began in pre-historic times, prior to organized civilizations. Although they probably were not recognized, each new source of energy was marked by increasing environmental effects. Fire may have been the first “new” source of energy. When humans learned to use and control fire, they were able to move into areas that previously were uninhabitable and to use foods that required cooking. Fire was soon used to change habitats to conditions favorable for preferred species of plants and animals… and human population and its ecological effects increased. For centuries, the demands for energy were relatively stable and human populations grew slowly. Lifestyles changed little from one century to the next. Wood, and to a small extent, wind, were the main sources of energy, beyond the work done by animals and slaves. Windmills provided valuable work and products, but had few substantial environmental effects beyond construction of the mills. However, other human activities affected the environment. As more trees were felled for heating and cooking purposes, lands 38

High Country Angler • Winter 2014

were exposed to weather events and erosion increased. Development of sailing vessels carried humans and their domestic animals to previously empty lands, which soon experienced the effects of human demands. These vessels opened up additional ocean resources, such as whale oil… a fuel that, in principle, is renewable, but it is not sustainable. But, the serious problems were yet to come. Human populations, and their effects on the environment, increased dramatically when people learned to access and use fossil fuels, especially coal and petroleum. The “magical genie” of concentrated, portable energy in carbon-based fossil fuels made forms and amounts of work that had seemed impossible become doable everywhere on earth. Expanded, rapid transportation took humans and their products literally everywhere. The tradeoff for these advancements was serious assaults on natural environments… assaults that included actual destruction of the ecosystem’s ability to function. Mining, drilling, oil spills, water pollution, and air pollution led to the destruction of millions of acres of natural environments. Nevertheless, demands for carbonbased fossil fuels exploded, spurred on by the apparently unlimited quantities available. New technologies based on these fossil energies led to more “amenities of life.” Life was good and getting better in our energy-rich world… but, the negative ecological effects multiplied and began to affect millions of people across the planet, and the fact that fossil fuel supplies aren’t limitless began to be more broadly recognized. Now, the search is on for energy sources that are renewable and compatible with the quality of life needed to sustain functional ecosystems. Legislation (Senate Bill 1627) was submitted to Congress recently that would establish a national renewable energy portfolio standard that includes solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal energy, hydrogen, and bio-fuels in its definition of clean energy. Each kind of renewable/sustainable clean energy has its proponents; and each one has effects on the environment. The “holy grail” of limitless energy resources that can be used without ecologi-

cal damages remains elusive. We have discussed the ecological effects of dams in previous “Old Professor” columns. Suffice to say hydropower may be renewable, but the environmental effects of dams are very large. Development of solar power and wind power disrupt terrestrial ecosystems during construction and operation, though they can have minimal effects on water resources if sited properly. Wind farms are controversial in the environmental community because of negative effects on birds. Bio-fuels, including algae, can replace petroleum fuels, but production with present-day systems requires large amounts of energy, water, and space. The same is true for large scale hydrogen production systems. Geothermal energy is clean, but whether or not it is sustainable is not known with acceptable accuracy and it is only available in a few areas. With all these forms of energy, construction of transmission lines to connect locations of energy production with locations of energy demand add another layer of impacts from ground disturbance and habitat fragmentation. So if there is no free lunch … what do I recommend? CONSERVATION! Certainly we can and should develop as many of the renewable/sustainable energy systems as can be properly sited and mitigated. But, let’s also use less energy. Well designed, carefully written regulations and incentives for buildings and transportation systems could reduce energy consumption by at least 30 per cent over the next 25 years without negative effects on our economy. That is a true no-regrets strategy.

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. www.HCAmagazine.com

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Winter 2014 • High Country Angler

When You Hear the Call of the River..

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High Country Angler • Winter 2014