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High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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EDITORIAL •
HCA Staff
BY FRANK MARTIN
A Brave New Magazine
P U B LISHER S
y friends think I don’t like change, but that’s not entirely true. What I don’t like is change for the sake of change. When things need to be done differently, I’m quick to embrace the new paradigm. I just have to be convinced that it’s a better approach. Beginning this issue, we’re making a change in the way we distribute HCA magazine, because it’s time to think differently. In the Spring of 2014, we launched our first issue of HCA Ezine, which is a free, interactive, online version of the print magazine. Since then, interest in the Ezine has grown dramatically. The online magazine is an expanded version of the print magazine, with all the same content, but even more features and columns. And more room for engagement. See an ad that gets your attention? Just click on it to go right to the company’s website. Want to share an article with a friend?
L ando n M ayer
M
Email it to them with the click of a button. Online magazines are the wave of the future, so beginning this issue, we’re no longer distributing free print magazines in fly shops and lodges, and instead focusing on building readership through the online HCA Ezine. We’ll still be printing the magazine, and delivering to mailboxes. Members of Colorado Trout Unlimited will still receive each issue for free. If you’re not a member, you can join by clicking on their ad in this issue. And those who live outside of Colorado, or who just want the magazine, can still subscribe online for $9.95 a year. The print version isn’t going away. We just like giving our readers options, and the online version is a great alternative. It’s a brave new world, and we want to embrace it. So check out our HCA Ezine today, and sign up for our newsletter to be notified of each new issue!
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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, Ad S ales k andi ly n@ hc am agaz ine.com Cell: ( 719) 432- 8317
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Copyright 2014, 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 719-265-4082, or email 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 T E L E P H O N E 7 19-265-4082 FA X 719-593-0040 Published in cooperation with Colorado Trout Unlimited 620 Sixteenth Street, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80202 www.coloradotu.org
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WINTER 2016 VOLUME 13 • ISSUE 1
FEATURES 10 WINTER WATER WISDOM BY LANDON MAYER 16
WYOMING’S LESSER-KNOWN GREEN RIVER BY BRIAN LA RUE
HCA EZINE CONTENTS
DEPARTMENTS 12 LET’S GO FISHING
BY BILL EDRINGTON
COLORADO TU SECTION 32 A PLAN FOR COLORADO’S WATER FUTURE
BY DAVID NICKUM
THE WORLD OF COMPETITIVE FLY FISHING BY LIZ WIEGERS
34 36
38
40
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THE REAL WORLD BY HAYDEN MELLSOP
23
RED HEAD PRINCE BY JOEL EVANS
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MIDGES AND THEIR IMITATIONS BY PAT DORSEY
29
THE VERSATILE TENKARA BY JACK BOMBARDIER
THE ANIMAS RIVER BY BUCK SKILLEN
HOME ON THE RANGE BY COLTON GULLY THE LAST CAST
BY JOHN NICKUM
DON’T MISS A SINGLE ISSUE! Have High Country Angler delivered right to your mailbox.
Subscribe online: www.HCAmagazine.com ON THE COVER: Steve Henderson, photo by Landon Mayer
Find High Country Angler Magazine on
TOC PHOTO:
Photo by Brian Schurmann, of his friend Shawn
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Winter Water Wisdom by Landon Mayer
N
ow that the powder days have arrived, anglers can enjoy solitude with fewer crowds, stress-free trout, and breathtaking views. The sight fishing opportunities are endless: low, glass-clear water, and targets that cannot rely on the cover that high water, vegetation, and undercuts banks provide after the Spring season is over. This can be a fly fisher’s opportunity to try and fool some of the best fish their state has to offer. Stealth is the best way to approach every step along the rivers edge; cast into a honey hole, and present in low and slow moving currents. Remember that while it is easy to see the trout, you are also easily detected. The following tips are some ways to defeat the curse that clear water can deliver, and increase your chances that the fish will take your fly—even if it has an increased opportunity to investigate your rig.
hand, a lot of the storm systems at this time are slow-moving, with cloud-filled skies. This is a match made in heaven for feeding conditions to tail water trout. When the air is socked in, and water temperatures rise to 35-45 degrees or more, in many situa-
Storm Tracker The cold season produces storms that are known to turn anglers away from the water. Yes, there are times when you simply cannot make the drive, or prevent the ice sculptures from forming on your rod and fly line! On the other 10
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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tions, you’ll find Midge and Baetis hatches to be off-the-charts! Target the stormy weather in the middle of the day, or the second day of a threeday system. This will prevent heavy winds, and allow better visibility below the river’s surface. For example in my home state of Colorado, the slowest-moving storms that park on top of the state are called Albuquerque Lows, known to deliver giant snowflakes and warm skies. Investigate your local weather and see how weather can slow down on your home waters.
Nora Bushong Larimer
Determining Diameter All it takes is one unnatural item on your rig for selective trout to go on alert and not eat because they detected something is wrong. While we can focus on the indicator and split shot as the culprit, I have notice targets over the years becoming wary of the way the fly drifts, and seeing the thick taper on the end of a leader that connects to the fly line. Often the best approach is to try building a leader out of tippet. This can be the answer to better performance out of each drift in the narrow waterways of winter. I prefer the three-tier leader formula, starting with a three-foot piece of 3-4 x Fluorocarbon tippet connected with a triple surgeon’s knot to a three-foot piece of 4-5x Fluorocarbon. To complete the leader, I will end with a three-to-five-foot piece of 5-6-7x Fluorocarbon; the size can be determined by how wary the fish are, and if needed, a five-foot piece of tippet can extend the leader from nine, to eleven feet. When you decide on the right diameter for your cold adventure, the rewards of undetectable, drag-free drifts can coax some of the best reaction from trout.
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Matching Midges A big advantage to the chilly months is not having to dissect a complex hatch to find what food supply the fish prefer. A majority of the trout’s diet will consist of Midges with a side order of Baetis if they are available. The first component to the Midge mystery is size and silhouette. You want to match the natural midge—or downsize by one—followed by the proper silhouette, which for Midges means thinwww.HCAmagazine.com
Landon’s books and DVDs are available for order on his website
W W W. L A N D O N M AY E R . C O M Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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ner is better. Most of the larvae, pupae, and adults are skinny. The second part of the equation is the color scheme: finding the right color for the job based on the trout’s reaction to your flies. I normally start with a confidence color like red, or a red-ribbed midge (Tube Midge #18-20-22) as my main fly. Then with my second dropper fly, start with a dark color (Dorsey’s Flash Back Black Beauty #18-22, Dye’s Two-Tone Larva#18-22) and use this as a changing station throughout the day. This makes it easy to retie and find what color the fish will prefer. The third and final step is deciding what stage of life the Midges or Baetis are in while the fish target them. To simplify this, it will usually be the larva, or nymph near the bottom of the river. Try an emerging pupa, or nymph (like Craven’s Ju Ju Baetis #18-20-22, Henderson’s M and M #18-24, brown Johnny Flash #18-20) just below the water’s surface or near the middle water column. Finalize with adults (Griffith’s Gnat #18-24, Purple Haze #18-20) on the surface during the insulated warm, cloudy days winter can deliver. The true advantage to window-shopping for trout in clear water is the wisdom you can gain from each adventure: learning where the trout prefer to feed, what makes the food supply more available, and in what temperatures the fish prefer to feed. These cold months can challenge the best of anglers while delivering a great learning experience for all. Be sure to cover a lot of ground in search of actively feeding trout, as some fish will simply be lethargic and not willing to expend the energy to eat. I wish you all safe and warm travels this winter on and off the water. Tight Lines!
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About the Author.
Landon Mayer is a veteran Colorado guide and author of several books, including 101 Trout Tips: A Guide’s Secrets, Tactics, and TechniquesStackpole/Headwaters 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. 12
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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LET’S GO FISHING •
BY BILL EDRINGTON
The Arkansas Tailwater or the San Juan? history by the end of February. Let’s agree that March holds a lot of options, but what about January and February for the most part? That sort of narrows it down unless you’re young and don’t mind taking snowshoes to the river.
I can’t tell you how much it means to me to have the Arkansas River tail water so close by. Even for everyone on the Front Range, it is close. The other great thing about this fishery is that it excels during winter—not summer.
The Sportsman Outdoors & Fly Shop
S
o, about the only thing I have on my mind this time of year is “Where can I go fishing, catch fish and not freeze my butt off?” I guess if that’s all I have on my mind, that tells you a lot about being an old man..... more than you need to know. I used to go to my beloved Frying Pan during the winter, and even a jaunt to the Taylor on a nice day above zero, but they’re just too cold for me until Spring really arrives. I can certainly be talked into going to the Pan on a nice weekend in March, but January and February are a no-go for me. I’ll definitely fish the upper Arkansas for the Stonefly molt in February and the early parts of the Blue Wing Hatch in March, because Big Horn Sheep Canyon can be spectacular during those months, and some years, winter just goes away in February. Oh, it may snow, but the really cold temps are generally
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Because of large releases of water downstream to Eastern Colorado and on into Kansas, summer flows are generally unfishable for the most part. Winter water storage on Pueblo Reservoir usually begins around November 15, and flows are reduced below the dam. Perfection is 100 to 200 cfs, but some winters it is lower than that. Winter flows can last through April, but when the river goes to over 600 cfs, it can become much more difficult to navigate and fish. Taylor Edrington (my son and owner of Royal Gorge Anglers), says in his chapter in the 50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish that the first two miles below the dam is the best water, and I can’t argue with that. That stretch offers great habitat, some of which was provided by the Legacy Project—an ongoing habitat and riverside improvement project. Regardless, fish numbers are very high in this section and many big hogs come to hand on any given day. Pueblo is generally warmer during the day than most other river locations in Colorado. A warmer, cloudy February day can result in great Midge and/or BWO hatches, so twentyinch-plus fish are available to you on dry flies. Normally, I’d have to say that Tactical Nymph
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BILL’S TOMATO BASIL BISQUE This is such an easy fresh soup and can be made, heated and taken to the river in a food thermos or served as an appetizer for dinner. Great in a mug for lunch on a cold day with a grilled cheese and bacon sandwich. Use fresh basil if you can—it makes all the difference. • • • • • • •
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1- 28 oz. can crushed tomatoes 1- 11.5 oz. can V 8 juice, spicy or not 1-14.5 oz. can chicken broth 1 cup heavy cream ¼ cup butter A dozen fresh basil leaves or 2 tablespoons of dried basil Salt/Pepper
In a soup pot, combine the tomatoes, juice and chicken broth. Bring it to a boil and simmer for 1 hour. Remove from the stove top and add the basil. Puree the soup if you can, if not, leave it rustic. Add the cream and butter and finish on a low heat. Make sure all the ingredients are well blended and serve with a couple of dashes of Louisiana Hot Sauce and parmesan cheese. If you’re taking it to the river, blend in the hot sauce and cheese before putting it into the thermos.
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DENNIS COLLIER’S BREAD ‘N’ BUTTER BUGGER HOOK: TMC 5263 4 TO 8 HEAD: TUNGSTEN GOLD CONE THREAD: YELLOW 3/0 TAIL: CREAM MARABOU WITH STRANDS OF PEARL MICRO FLASH BODY: LT. YELLOW ICE DUB RIB: CREAM SADDLE WITH GOLD WIRE COLLAR: DREAM HEN HACKLE
rigs work the best here—or Czech nymphing as some like to say. I like to use an 11-ft. 3wt. with my own leader concoctions around 18 ft. long. The great thing about tactical nymphing is that you can think out of the box on leader configurations, and you’re not stuck in the same western nymphing system with two or three flies, a split shot, and an indicator. I use a Crane Fly
larva heavily-weighted as my anchor fly, and then a variety of midge larvae, midge pupae, and BWO emergers like the venerable RS2 in gray—down to a size 26 if you can stand it. I sometimes use a terminal rigging with a split shot, but with a sighter section on an overall 15- to 18- feet of leader. Always used fluorocarbon tippet sections in 6X and even 7X as the season matures. One of the best things about fishing this water during the winter is that you can fish from 10 AM to 3 PM, and then take in some great Mexican Food downtown before going home. My two favorites are Rita’s on Grand just off 4th and Jorge’s Sombrero on Evans. Both are great, but Rita’s has no alcohol; she just has some of the hottest, best-tasting red chili gravy on the planet. Jorge’s counters with great green chili and Cadillac margaritas. Do both…a fishing trip should not just be fishing, it should be an experience you remember: river, flies, fish, food and fun. Nearly every time I go back to the San Juan, I tell myself I’m not going back, but I do. Yes, it’s crowded, and some of the fishers have little ethics, but I can say that about any crowded tail water. (See the South Platte below Spinney during the Brown Trout spawning run. Brains seem to be at a premium and you can get some pretty crappy treatment below Pueblo Reservoir as well). I’m not in a mood any longer to be whiney about those things; I just get it through my thick skull that it’s going to be that way, and enjoy fishing, understanding that any day on the river is great and I’m too old to start
getting picky. Its guys like me writing about all these places that makes them what they are, so I have to deal with that in my own way. It usually takes copious amounts of scotch. The Four Corners area around Farmington can have some spectacular weather. This is high desert and the winter sun even on a 30 degree day can take you down to shirt sleeves. I love walk wading in the upper flats and braids above Texas Hole in the winter. Flows are low and sight fishing to fish sipping midge clusters and midge pupae in the film is a great deal of fun. Fish on the Juan like midge clusters better than on the Arkansas, because the midge hatches are simply bigger. You can even get bigger fish to chase a streamer on a snowy day. My favorite streamer here is the Bread ‘n’ Butter Bugger or an old school chamois leech. Don’t go to the Juan during the winter without #20 Griffith’s Gnats, egg patterns, red San Juan worms, Desert Storm midge larva, and a variety of colors of thread midges in 22s and 24s. I recommend all the Mexican food at Fishheads on the San Juan, but if you’re cooking, try these simple recipes. As a matter of fact, you should fish both the San Juan and the Arkansas tail water this winter….several times. My Southwestern version of Red Beans and Rice will fill you with protein and keep you warm. Try the Tomato Bisque out of a thermos for lunch on the river or with a bacon grilled cheese for dinner. A couple of my favorite winter patterns are Pat Dorsey’s Medallion Midge, which is easy to tie and devastatingly good,
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Red beans and rice is not solely a Cajun dish. I’ve been eating it all my life, but not with Camilla Red Beans (small kidney beans). My family has always used Pinto Beans from Colorado. I’m not a fan of Kidney Bean flavor, so my version is indigenous. And, of course, it’s pepper hot. Cook up to 2 lbs. of pinto beans in a slow cooker with smoked ham hocks, chopped onion, chopped jalapeno and garlic. Stir frequently after 8 hrs. of cooking to thicken up the soup. For seasoning, use the following after 4 hours of cooking: • Salt and Pepper • Cayenne Pepper to taste (….don’t forget this stuff is hot) • 1 tablespoon Mexican Oregano • 2 tablespoons Cumino • 2 tablespoons hot red chili powder Grill 1 to 1 ½ lbs. of chorizo and slice. Blend it into the beans after they are seasoned to your taste, and serve with steamed white rice. Garnish with red pepper flakes and enjoy it with a cold Mexican beer and corn tortillas.
and Dennis Collier’s Bread ‘n’ Butter Bugger, a simple Bugger Pattern that attracts fish. Both of these bugs are Umpqua patterns and can be purchased in most good fly shops. Have a great winter and stay warm. Remember to fill those boxes during the winter, so you don’t have to spend the spring tying flies instead of fishing. You won’t, I won’t, but it sounds good to say it anyway.
About
The
Author.
Bill Edrington is a former Sociology/ Criminology professor who owned Royal Gorge Anglers for 20 years before selling to his son, Taylor. He still works there when he’s not on the river. He has authored several books and magazine articles, and has been a contributing columnist for HCA since our first issue, more than 12 years ago. You can follow his fly fishing and cooking adventures on his Facebook page at: Bill Edrington/Tight Lines and Tasty Spoons. www.HCAmagazine.com
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Photo courtesy of Ryan Hudson
Wyoming’s Lesser-Known Green River by Brian La Rue
W
hen I say Green River, you probably think Utah, which section—A, B, or C? Not this time my friend. I’m talking about the lesser-known Green River, lying north of the Wyoming/ Utah border. From freestone sections to a tremendous tailwater, this is a special fishery, but it is not without its challenges. As with any proven fishery, the reward outweighs the effort! “Fishing on the freestone section of the Green in Wyoming gets rolling as soon as ice breaks up in late April or early May,” said Ryan Hudson of the Wyoming Fishing Company, www.Wyomingfishingcompany. com. “Good fishing can be found, but mud and rising water levels can be a common occurrence, making trip timing tough. “If water conditions cooperate in Spring, chances are you will battle the wind…locally referred to as the “W,” added Hudson. “As the low country snow melts, runoff begins sometime in late May/early June, lasting a few weeks. Once the flows begin to drop, the bugs begin moving and it becomes prime time for dry fly fishing. Pre-runoff can offer great streamer fishing, but day-to-day weather patterns can play havoc with the bite.” Rig up with a strong bank shot-type of fly line, and throw brightcolored JJ Specials, Double Bunnies and other big chunky bites like Gongas and Sex Dungeons. Hudson says you can catch fish year-round on streamers, but most folks plan to hit the Green when runoff subsides and the surface bite heats up. “The dry fly fishing is our bread and butter from May through October,” added Hudson. “As the aquatic bugs migrate to dry land, the fish pick up on it and capitalize. Flies vary by hatch. You’ll want to carry Para Adams in sizes 10-16, Golden Stones 6-10, Yellow Sally 14-18, and PMDs 14-18 will all connect with fish during the peak dry fly months. As the season heats up, hoppers and terrestrials produce, and both hair/ feather and foam hoppers work well. Some days fish want pink foam, the next day they want a natural Joe’s or parachute hoppers. You know… A feller don’t know ’til a feller goes!” As you move down the system, the Green comes to Fontenelle. The 18
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
tailwater fishes well almost year around, but low fish counts in the winter and spring make for a narrow opportunity to capitalize on feeding fish. At these times, Hudson says fish counts drop to as low as 200 per mile. “Standard tailwater techniques and patterns work here,” suggests Hudson. “Streamers, nymphs, and dries all get eaten by resident trout. As the river flows through Seedskadee NWR, fish counts are reduced and the moss grows through Summer. This area can ice up during winter months, but it is the troubling spring and fall fishing here that sees anglers targeting spawning fish and unfortunately, putting a hurt on the fishery.” Summer action on the tailwater offers a plethora of dry fly opportunities along with the hatches you’ll see in other western tailwaters. The fall brings the kokanee salmon and brown trout spawn. Fall baetis hatches and streamer fishing can consume an angler below the dam. “One of the challenges on the Wyoming Green is the amount of traffic it sees in the early summer,” added Hudson. “The Green clears up faster than the Snake, so come 6-8:30 AM in late June, and look for dozens of guide boats coming to the area. The Fontenelle Dam tailwater witnesses the same type of flood of anglers on occasion.” Okay, so you might find a crowd here and there on this lesser-known Green River. How about the fish? Colorado River cutthroat is the only native fish in the river. Over the years, everything has found home in the river and whitefish are abundant, according to Hudson. “Snake River cutthroat, Bonneville cutthroat, rainbow, brown, brook, tiger, lake trout and smallmouth bass all live in the river,” says Hudson. “My idea of the average Green River trout is a 17-inch brown. Wade fishing doesn’t exist on the majority of the freestone sections, as most flows through private ranch land. “Downstream of Fontenelle Dam you will find various populations of stocked rainbow and cutthroat trout,” adds Hudson. “Many fish have all of their full fins and vibrant colors, indicating they’re wild. Some days are filled with little fish from 6 to 15 inches, while other days produce www.HCAmagazine.com
Photo courtesy of Fish the Fly Guide Service
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nothing under 16 to 18 inches. The Green is a strange fishery that can reward you handsomely…or send you home with your tail tucked between your legs. However, if you have the right flow and have some insider knowledge, you could catch a brown like the 28 incher my client caught this season.” On a side note, Hudson reminded me that ranchers do not favor trespassing and don’t hesitate to prosecute in Wyoming, meaning - no wading, and no anchoring or beaching boats over private property. Even if you’re on the water, in a boat…you are still trespassing if you drop anchor on private land. Stories of ranches discharging firearms over anchored up boats is nothing new, advises Hudson. Local guides know the public/private waters and typically have trespassing rights from the riverside landowners. Okay. Fish to 28 inches, check. Prime time dry fly fishing, check, and streamer fishing with a chance to fish a freestone and a tailwater, Wyoming’s Green, sounds good; but why spend your vacation time fishing here? “The Green offers a unique place to explore and experience. In the spring you can catch huge fish on streamers. During the summer, I start and end my client’s every day with double dry fly rigs. In the fall, the action gets even better as the summer crowds move along. You can also enjoy the local culture. Pinedale is a town immersed in breathtaking Wyoming beauty and is a gateway to Wyoming’s Gannet Peak. The Green River drainWinter 2016 • High Country Angler
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age is surrounded by three unique mountain ranges that intimately connect the residents to the surrounding geography and provides world class recreating.” I mentioned challenges: Hudson says the river suffers from lack of management, the obvious troubles of spawning-brown hunters, invasive species, and there is always a water concern. “Wyoming Game and Fish does not permit the many fishing access points for commercial operations on the Green within their jurisdiction, allowing for “rogue” guides to operate on this river system at maximum capacity,” says Hudson. “Ten boats a day may not seem like a lot, but for around here…it is. Five years ago, five to ten boats on a stretch of river was unheard of…now it’s almost common to witness this caliber of pressure. “The invasive burbot, also known as ‘ling,’ have migrated up from Flaming Gorge, where they were illegally introduced,” continued Hudson. They have made it clear up to the freestone sections by Pinedale. They’re an aggressive predator, known to prey on trout. Wyoming regulations require the killing of any burbot caught in the Green River drainage. If you catch one, fillet it up and throw it on the grill. They are second to walleye regarding table fare. “We see “redd raping” every year,” said Hudson. “Over the last decade, I have seen many anglers targeting spawning fish throughout the drainage. This happens nationwide and
should be addressed. I think many people simply don’t understand this delicate procedure. Fishing to spawning trout in a wild trout fishery is not the most productive method to promote future generations of wild trout. Anglers shouldn’t target spawning fish or even wade during the spawn season or anytime around the redd after the spawn. “Lastly, it comes down to water planning,” added Hudson. “The Green continues to be considered for water diversions to far away lands, including eastern Wyoming, and sorry to say the front range of Colorado, for many decades. This has been a dynamic situation and worth keeping an eye on.” So there you have it. Book a trip in 2016 with my friends like Ryan of Wyoming Fishing Company, JB at Fish the Fly or Rhett Bain at Reel Deal Anglers. All these companies have guides that know the Green, so what are you waiting for? Okay, maybe some ice to melt. Stay warm my friends!
About
The
Guided Fishing Packages
Pinedale, Green River, Fontenelle
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 in person if you travel to Jackson Hole. Swing by Orvis in Jackson, or simply contact La Rue at Brian@HCAmagazine.com.
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You can become a better tier by thinking about the what, why, and how of your tying. Jim Cramer shares his sixty-plus years of tying experience to help you take your tying to a new level. Available from your favorite retailer, or give us a call.
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High Country Angler • Winter 2016
• Green River • Snake River • Yellowstone National Park • Wade fishing on remote backcountry creeks • All trips include flies/leaders, lunches, and transportation • Multi-day Packages available • Groups welcome!
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ing & $5 Park at Shuttles ield Coors F
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Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
21
A GUIDE’S LIFE
•
BY HAYDEN MELLSOP
The Real World
T
he map was sketched on a dog-eared piece of paper, no cocktail napkin being immediately available. “Its about twenty miles off the
highway,” explained Randy. “The road’ll get a little rough, but you should be OK. It’s been pretty dry up there lately, so it should be passable.” I lifted my gaze from the map to the sky above, leaden for the last 24 hours, blacker yet in the direction the map would take us, the rain falling steadily as it had since yesterday evening. I’d been to this section of the creek once before, several years ago. I recalled a road little wider than a track in places, lots of four wheel drive, gunning the engine through boggy crossings, finding my way based as much on instinct as certainty. “Well, if you don’t see lights on in the cabin by about 8:30 tonight, you’ll know where to start looking for us,” Rich replied to Randy, only half in jest. Gear loaded, we climbed into Cliff ’s truck and headed off down the highway, turning north onto the dirt road at the appointed place.
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High Country Angler • Winter 2016
Manicured gravel soon gave way to roads that had evidently never seen a grader or D9 in their time. The clouds lowered to the mountain tops, mist hung in the trees, and occasionally we’d catch a glimpse of a critter ghosting through the undergrowth. We passed a hunting camp, a small city of tents, trailers, and Texas plates, and plunged deeper into the woods. Through the first gate, past the No Trespassing sign, the road became more of a track, dropping steep and slick through the trees, barely wide enough for the truck. Then down into the meadow, its bottom reaches resembling more bog than pasture land, the truck’s wheels tossing soupy black mud high into the air around us as it struggled to be free of the axle-deep ruts. A turn almost missed, a nearsideways slide into the morass, once more through the bog, and we began the final climb out of the meadow toward the drier ground of the canyon rim, below which ran the stream we’d come to fish. Under the shelter of a cliff-top spruce overlooking the canyon, we wadered up then followed a game trail down through the trees, trusting that over the millennia the fourleggeds would have discovered the easiest way to the meadow below. The pathway was already swathed in the golds and yellows of fallen aspen leaves, elk sign, and deadfall thick on the ground, while halfway down, a clear, cold spring gushed from a mountainside grotto thick with moss and ferns. After half an hour we emerged from the forest onto a knoll overlooking the meadow that was our destina-
tion. The rain had eased somewhat, the raindrops gently dimpling the surface of the stream as it meandered through the lush, knee-high grass. For perhaps a quarter mile, the canyon walls parted briefly, widening to allow the course of the stream to bend to and fro along its course before the canyon closed in again and reasserted its primacy. For an hour the rain eased. While we anglers appreciated the respite, to the fish it made little difference. They continued to feed with that singlemindedness that comes with the knowledge that the clock is ticking on the season. For our part, we struggled to keep dry flies dry, at times missed more fish than we caught, and at the end of the day dragged our weary bones back to the top of the canyon, each leaving a small part of himself with the meadow, while carrying a corresponding piece of it within. Back at the cabin just at dusk, we kicked off muddy boots and showered up. Sitting back with a margarita or two and the Red Socks losing to the Yankees on the tube, I marveled at the ease with which we can step from one world to another and back again, and wondered, which of them do we count as the real one?
About The Author.
A native of New Zealand, Hayden has fished and guided both Down Under and in Colorado for over twenty years. He currently resides in the mountain town of Salida, CO, where he still guides, works in recreational real estate, volunteers in local land and water protection, and is in the throes of writing his first book.
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FIT TO BE TIED
•
BY JOEL EVANS
Even Hobbies Have Hobbies
E
ven hobbies can have hobbies. I was first introduced to fly fishing by my Dad 50 years ago on a small creek in Colorado. Fishing was just something to do. But soon fishing itself became a hobby, and in the ensuing decades expanded into fly tying, writing, photography, teaching, shows, programs, pro staff, working at a fishing company, gear testing, and on. The hobby within the hobby? Some years ago I began collecting fly tying books, old and new. Like fishing, at first just fishing. Followed by fly tying, at first just to have flies. Then fly tying books, at first just an occasional book purchased for learning. Then at fishing shows, I would buy a personally autographed book from the author I met, just to have the autograph. Then local friends having a garage sale or closing an estate would bring me fly tying tools, materials, and books. Sorting through the books, I would keep the fly tying ones. And I actually read them. I realized I had become a collector. Books also show up as auction items at fundraisers. Some years ago at a TU gathering, I bought a complete collection of the first five years of Fly Tyer magazine; the first edition was 1978. More recently at a Project Healing Waters fundraiser, I bought 3 separate stacks of fishing books—not all fly tying—just to get the one tying book in the stack. One of those was Modern Fly-Tying Materials by Dick Talleur. I’ve not met Dick, but his name is well-known to me as a writer of numerous articles in the hobby magazines. Among the many books in my collection, this one stands out. Of course “modern” is a relative term. Published in 1995, synthetic
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materials were available, but not as prevalent as today. So the book is mixture of natural and synthetic materials. But what is different than most tying books, old and new, is that this is 200 pages about materials themselves, not how to tie. I found it entertaining and educational. Here is an example: Marabou. We all use it, recipes mention it, and most tyers know it comes from a turkey. Maybe you knew, but after 30 years of tying I didn’t know that the name and first feathers came from an African bird called a Marabou Stork. I looked online, seeing pictures and learning it is a very large bird, up to five feet tall and twenty pounds. Will that make me a better tyer? No. But next time I am doing a tying demonstration with marabou, conversation can be more interesting as I tell about the real bird. Some other examples: Chenille is a French word for “caterpillar.” Dubbing, the term we use today, both for the material itself and the tying technique, came from the English word “dubbin” for the material itself. In the description of using monofilament as a thread, Talleur suggests using it for egg flies – hmmm, I’ll have to try that. Super glues of various brands, such as Zap-A-Gap, which tend to thicken and become unusable after being open awhile, can have an extended life by storing in the refrigerator. Fly tying. Always something to learn.
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.
Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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Midges and Their Imitations by Pat Dorsey
A
s you begin your quest to match Colorado’s hatches, I strongly recommend starting with a fly box that is jammed with midge imitations. Whether you’re fishing one of Colorado’s legendary tailwaters, untamed freestones, large stillwaters, or pristine alpine lakes, fishing midges is one of the most effective strategies for consistently fooling trout. One of your hatch-matching objectives should be selecting patterns that imitate the various stages of a midge’s development. For instance, you should tie or purchase a variety of larvae, pupae, adults, clusters, cripples, and stillborns. Each pattern will have a time and place, but make no mistake about it: a serious midge junkie who’s loaded with hundreds of midge imitations will stack the odds in his favor when it comes to fooling selective, hard-fished Colorado trout.
COLORADO
GUIDE FLIES
Patterns, Rigs, & Advice from the State’s Best Anglers & Guides
PAT DORSEY The following article was excerpted from Pat Dorsey’s new book, “Colorado Guide Flies,” 2015 by Stackpole Books. Reprinted with permission of the author and publisher.
24
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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Matt Miles fishes with a Matt’s Midge to a pod of rising fish that are eating adult midges in Cheesman Canyon. Matt’s Midge has become a local favorite among South Platte regulars. MIDGE-FISHING STRATEGIES Larvae Fishing larvae imitations requires no special tactics or techniques. Like most anglers, I tend to fish larvae patterns when there are no obvious hatches. Many anglers feel that larvae are not as important as the pupae or adults because they are hidden in aquatic vegetation or buried in the mud and muck. This “out of sight, out of mind” philosophy can be a huge oversight. Ed Engle, a Colorado guide, author, and a true authority when it comes to fishing tailwaters, believes midge larvae can be effective under the right conditions. In his book Fly Fishing the Tailwaters, Engle says, “I consider any disturbance in water flows as a good reason to put on a larva imitation. A change in discharge rates from the reservoir will sometimes knock midge larvae into the drift, and since populations of midge larvae can be astronomical in some tailwaters, this can mean a real feeding orgy will occur.” I have experienced similar situations in Cheesman Canyon when the Denver Water Board has increased the streamflow to meet downstream irrigation demand. My occasional stomach samples (procured with a stomach pump) lead me to believe that fish do eat a considerable amount of midge larvae, especially during a small flow increase of 50 to 100 cfs.
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John Barr also believes midge larvae are an important food source for trout. In Barr Flies, he states, “Midge larvae drift at all hours of the day, and because they are so prolific, there can be massive numbers drifting in the currents at one time, providing an important, consistent food source for trout.” I fish my larvae patterns as the lead fly (closest to the weight) in my tandem nymphing rigs to ensure they drift closer to the substrate. I have found a red larva to be an excellent attractor in tandem nymphing rigs, especially in the spring and fall when the trout are preparing to spawn. Prespawn trout become easily agitated by bright colors like red, pink, and orange, which often trigger aggressive strikes. During the height of the spawning season, I have found red larvae to be more effective as attractors than egg patterns. Hordes of anglers fish with egg patterns during the spawn and the patterns lose some of their effectiveness because the trout see too many of them. Off the larvae, I typically drop a Baetis nymph or midge pupa depending on the most prevalent hatches at the time. John Barr takes a similar approach: “I fish my larva as the bottom fly in a two- or three-nymph setup in both rivers and lakes. In flowing waters, I like to dead-drift the larva with an occasional twitch. The natural larvae will squirm and move around a little bit as they are drifting.”
Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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M I D G E S A N D T H E I R I M I TAT I O N S
Other anglers like Bob Dye prefer fishing their larvae imitations dropped off an egg pattern. “I’m a big fan of egg-midge combos,” Dye says. “I fish egg patterns year-round because there are always a few trout spawning in our streams. Egg patterns are excellent attractors and draw attention to your smaller midge imitations.” Dye admits that while most of the time he fools trout on his midge patterns, there are times, especially during heavier spawning activity in the spring and fall, when egg patterns can be very effective. This fly combination has proven itself to be a reliable strategy most of the year. Pupae As soon as a midge hatch becomes evident, I recommend clipping off your midge larva and replacing it with two or three pupae. Signs of a midge hatch would include fish suspended in the water column (as opposed to fish hugging the bottom) and adult midges taking flight into the air. A noticeable increase in feeding behavior, such as flashes, fish lifting in the water column, or trout sweeping back and forth to intercept pupae, would be a good indication a midge hatch is in progress. Switching flies is a response to the trout changing from opportunistic to selective feeding as it keys on pupae. Anglers should concentrate their efforts in the transitional zones—midchannel shelves and point gravel bars—during a midge hatch. These areas can be identified by a distinct color
11
change in the substrate, which indicates a depth change that offers both food and protection for suspended trout that are feeding on pupae. Aaron Carithers, owner of Anasazi Angler in Durango, Colorado, is a true expert when it comes to fishing with midge pupae. Carithers routinely guides customers on the fabled San Juan River below Navajo Dam. The San Juan tailwater is a popular destination for Colorado fishermen because of its exceptional year-round midge fishing. “I fish midge pupae a variety of ways,” Carithers says. “Sometimes I fish heavy and deep, 6 or 7 feet from the indicator with a number 4 split shot, keeping my pupae midway in the water column. As the hatch intensifies, I fish my pupae 3 to 4 feet from the indicator with number 6s and 7s, or 2 to 3 feet from the indicator with number 8s and 9s. Fish feed on midges nearly everywhere in the system. A successful angler will need to adjust for speed of the current and depth of the feeding fish.” Another effective strategy that many anglers use when fishing midge pupae is a dry-and-dropper rig. This enables you to drift midge pupae just below the surface film without spooking suspended trout with a strike indicator splashing on the water. Heavily pressured trout become suspicious of conventional nymphing rigs floating over their heads. Carithers taught me an interesting method for fishing pupa in the surface film: “If the fish are feeding in the surface
Most anglers dredge their midge larvae imitations on the dead drift, using a two- or three-fly tandem nymphing rig near the substrate where the largest concentrations of naturals are found. I have had my best success with pale olive and red larvae imitations in size 18-20. MARK ADAMS 26
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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Fishing with midge pupae requires more finesse and skill than fishing with larvae because you’ll need to keep your flies in the correct feeding zone to consistently fool trout. Adjusting your weight and strike indicator depth can make or break your success. Typically midge-feeders will be suspended in the mid to upper part of the water column. tension I fish a pupa about 12 inches below a large dry. In order to get the midge just below the surface, I clip the 12 inches of tippet in the middle, tie a surgeon’s knot, add a number 9 split above the knot, and tie the pupa on the end of the remaining 5 to 6 inches of tippet, creating a dry-dropper rig for midging fish.” I am a big fan of dry-and-dropper rigs for suspending a midge pupa in the upper part of the water column. I routinely fish heavily hackled Griffith’s Gnats or Dubas’ Midges in size 16-18 to suspend my pupa. The setup is straightforward—simply drop a pupa like a Dorsey’s Tungsten Flashback Black Beauty or Craven’s Poison Tung from the bend of your dry fly with 12 to 18 inches of 6X tippet. Look for any visible flashes or movement below your dry fly or for the dry fly abruptly sinking—these are indications that a trout has eaten your pupa. The greased-leader technique is another method that works well when trying to fool trout that are keying on pupae just below the surface. Apply silicone floatant to the entire leader with the exception of the final 6 to 12 inches closest to the fly. The untreated section of the leader will allow the pupa to sit just below the surface, precisely where you would expect to find a lot of emerging pupae. Watch your greased portion of the leader closely; look for any movement or twitches, as this indicates that a trout has grabbed your suspended pupa.
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Adults The best midge hatches occur during subdued light. I’ve experienced the most reliable hatches at dawn or dusk before the overhead light becomes harsh. Once the sunlight hits the water, midge hatches lose their intensity and rising fish become few and far between. Sporadic midge hatches occur all day, but not in enough numbers to find trout that will to rise to the adults. It’s a risky proposition for a trout to rise to the surface and eat the occasional single midge. If inclement weather or overcast conditions are present, midday midge hatches can range from good to excellent. Evening midge hatches are typically the best fishing of the day once the light softens and the trout become comfortable feeding on the surface. During the initial stages of the hatch, trout will often feed on both pupae and adults. A dry-and-dropper rig is effective when trout are randomly feeding on both stages of the midge’s life cycle. When trout are showing signs of opportunistic feeding (feeding on both pupae and adults) I apply the same dryand-dropper tactics that were discussed in the pupae section. My observations and experiences lead me to believe that once a trout commits to the adults, the pupae become less important, and they quit feeding on them. When this occurs, I cut off my dropper and focus on trying to fool the surface feeders that are keying on the adults. I typically fish with two dry flies to increase my odds.
Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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Midge fishing requires a lot of patience and finesse. Fish feeding on adult midges tend to suspend themselves just below the surface, requiring accurate casting on behalf of the dry-fly angler. The feeding window is narrow; a cast that is a foot to the right or left of the rising fish is not sufficient enough to fool it. Toss in cruising trout and things become extremely challenging. My recommendation is to get as close to the rising fish as possible without spooking them. Keep your false casting to a minimum and target specific fish rather than randomly casting. Remain stealthy and keep a low profile to avoid spooking fish. Most anglers fish their adult midge imitations on the dead drift. Some anglers like Matt Miles twitch their fly occasionally if there are a lot of skittering midges on the water’s surface. “On occasion if there are a lot of midges dancing around on the surface I will give the fly a slight twitch. I think it helps with getting the trout’s attention,” Miles advises. Midge adults can be difficult to see under the best conditions, let alone when there is severe surface glare. If you’re having difficulty seeing your fly, apply Frog’s Fanny (a dry-fly desiccant) to the topside of your adult midge because it will turn it white and make it easy to see. This strategy has worked well for me over the years, and even smaller flies like a size 26 Parachute Adams become visible after dousing them with Frog’s Fanny.
If you still cannot locate your fly, try to at least have a reasonably good idea of where the end of your leader is. If there are any surface disturbances in that general area, assume a trout has eaten your fly, and set the hook. Another option would be to fish with a high-visibility pattern (flies with bright orange or pink wings) like Matt’s Midge or a Griffith’s Gnat. I carry both variations of these patterns and prefer the hi-viz version when I am fishing in high glare or having difficulty seeing my fly in foam or bubble lines.
About The Author.
Pat Dorsey has been a fly-fishing guide for twenty-three years and is Southwest Field Editor for Fly Fisherman. Author of Fly Fishing Tailwaters and Tying and Fishing Tailwater Flies, Pat lives in Parker, Colorado.
Hi-viz midge imitations are easier to see on the water, especially in high glare situations or when you’re struggling to see your fly in foam or bubble lines. Many fly tiers use cerise or bright orange McFlylon for their parachute patterns (or wings) because it makes them easier to see. 28
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
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The Versatile Tenkara
by Jack Bombardier
F
or the last few years, I’ve been using a “new” method of fishing called tenkara. The reason for the quotation marks around the word ‘new’ is that the tenkara method has been around for hundreds of years, but only recently has the idea been imported to the US. Tenkara is basically what your parents or grandparents might have called “cane pole fishing.” It involves using a very long rod and no reel, with the line, leader and fly attached to the tip of the rod. A tenkara rod uses the same basic idea, but with modern technology, making the rod telescopic for easy transport and light enough to use all day without developing shoulder fatigue. I first heard of tenkara a few years ago during the Fly Fishing Show in Denver. The person who brought the idea to the United States, Daniel Galhardo, was demonstrating it in one of the casting pools, and then I went to see his presentation in one of the conference rooms afterwards. It was an intriguing idea, but I wasn’t quite ready to buy in just yet. Then one of my fishing customers did a float with me using one, but being on a big river we didn’t use it much. The next day, we four-wheeled up to Derby Creek where he used his tenkara most of the day, and let me try it a little. Using it first hand finally got me off the fence to actually purchase one, though for the first year that I had the tenkara rod it was more of a novelty than anything else. I’d take it with me when I went fishing, but usually used my conventional gear instead. www.HCAmagazine.com
But then one day, I was using the tenkara up on Gore Pass while fishing Rock Creek, and had the first of what I now call my Tenkara Epiphanies. These are moments when I’d suddenly realize that although the tenkara approach had limitations, it also gave me abilities that normal fly gear didn’t. On that day, I was on my hands and knees in the tall grass sneaking up to a pool, flicking a dry fly into a foamy seam, trying to induce some small brown trout to eat it. Since you’re are limited as to how far you can cast a fly with tenkara, on some small streams you have to get closer to the water’s edge to get your fly in there without spooking the fish. As I was making short casts and mending my line, I looked up and realized that I was casting left-handed without even realizing it! I don’t do anything left-handed, so seeing that rod held high in my left hand came as something of a shock. It occurred to me that using a tenkara rod is so easy and intuitive to do, whether casting or mending, that it might be a great way to shorten my beginner’s learning curve. That was what I think of as my First Tenkara Epiphany. It’s so easy, you can do it with either hand. I began to use the tenkara a little more after that, especially on smaller waters. When fishing little streams, I always took the little seven-foot rod my best friend made me, as well as the tenkara which would be closed up and attached to the underside of my fanny pack. One day up on Derby Creek, there were some cutbows sipping bugs out of a small foamy eddy just beWinter 2016 • High Country Angler
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yond some fast current, but I couldn’t keep my flies in the foam long enough before the moving water would drag them out, even with reach casts and lots of mending. Frustrated, I put the threeweight aside and brought out the tenkara. With its extra reach, I was able to drop my fly into the foam, and keep it in there spinning around until a trout was able to see and eat it. I caught and landed three fish out of that hole! I realized then that the tenkara’s length made it much easier to mend with than a shorter rod. I’ve since switched to a ten-foot three weight as my conventional rig for smaller waters, and the seven footer now hangs in my backyard to fish with from my dock in the evening. The fact that a longer rod equals better line control was Epiphany Number Two. The third epiphany came the following winter. My friend Ryan and I went to the Frying Pan River one cold February day, with the air temperature at twelve degrees. We were fishing the Toilet Bowl Hole, where the water comes out of the bottom of Ruedi Reservoir. There were some huge fish cruising there, and it’s justifiably famous, but for most of the year there are plenty of other fishermen around to share it with who also want a crack at catching a big fish. But a twelve-degree day has a wonderful way of thinning out crowds. It was one of those days where it’s actually warmer to stand in the forty-degree water than it is to stand on the bank. Ryan and I were working it, and every five casts or so we’d have to stop and clear the ice out of our rod guides. I’d also stop frequently to rotate the gloves I was wearing, keeping a warm pair on my hands while sticking the cold, wet ones under my coat. At one point, I was poking the ice out of my guides with my thumbnail when, bing! I broke off the top guide to my rod. This made me mad, since I hadn’t brought another rod with me. I was about to snap the tip off just above the next guide so I could keep on fishing, but didn’t want to do that since there was still two good inches left, and I could glue on another top guide when I got home. As I gripped the rod tip, about to snap it off but hesitating, it suddenly occurred to me that I had my tenkara rod in my Landcruiser, so my conventional rod was spared from further shortening. I waded back to my truck and got the tenkara out, and very quickly realized that it was a much better way to fish the Pan than my conventional rig was anyway! It was long enough to cover the water, but my hands weren’t getting wet and cold from running icy line through them, and I could mend in the twirling micro-currents better. Best of all, there were no guides to ice up! The light bulb over my head lit up brightly again, and this was Epiphany Number Three. The next spring, Ryan and I again found ourselves on a cold tailwater, the Yampa River below Stagecoach Reservoir. It was April and the road to it had just opened, so not too many other anglers were there. By now I was solidly in the tenkara camp, at least for my own personal fishing, but wasn’t using it much on my commercial float trips. I caught a couple of small fish on the tenkara, but as usual Ryan caught more, as he always does. But then his line got tangled, and I asked him if he wanted to try the tenkara, while I re-rigged him. He’d always been a tenkara skeptic, and still is to some degree, but he agreed to try it. After just a couple of casts, he was soon onto a fine fish, one bigger 30
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
than I thought the tenkara rod might be able to handle. But as I watch him play what turned out to be a twenty-inch rainbow, I noticed how much that rod bent and flexed under the trout’s considerable pull. I realized that once you’ve got a fish on, your line and leader don’t stretch very much, but the rod does. Your rod in effect changes from being a fly delivery tool into a big shock absorber. And a twelve-foot rod is a much better shock absorber than a nine foot one! That was Epiphany Number Four. Ryan landed his fish, and although he’s not a tenkara convert yet, he’s gained a bit more respect for what they can do. Starting last year, I began carrying a tenkara rod or two in the hatch of my boat in case one of my guests might want to try it. Some days we’d be into rising trout in one of the Colorado River’s many back eddies, and for those fish up close the tenkara can be deadly. Most of these back eddies have multiple spinning foam lines that the trout follow around, sipping bugs out of. Long casts are not only unnecessary here, but can be detrimental. People will see a splashy rise twenty feet away and cast towards it, putting down the fish five from the boat with their line. Also, having a lot of line on the water can be difficult to mend, whereas keeping your casts shorter with a tenkara not only forces you to focus on your short game, but gives you much better control over your fly once its in the water. This was more of a gradual appreciation than an epiphany. The other thing about tenkara rods that I’ve only realized over time was what a direct connection you have to the fish, versus a conventional rig. With a normal rod, the fish is connected to the tippet, leader and line, which is then connected to the rod via the reel. But with a tenkara, your hand holds the rod, and the rod is one with the line and leader and therefore the fish. When a fish moves or shakes or begins to weaken, the life force of the fish is transmitted to you in a much more direct and personal way than it is with conventional equipment. This summer, due to the prolonged runoff, we spent more time in those back eddies, because the fish were stacked up in them during the high water. I also seemed to have more beginners this year than in the past. As a result, I’ve been using the tenkara rods to put minimally-skilled people onto fish more often. One day in what I call Echo Hole, a nine-year-old girl hooked a fish with the nymph on a hopper/dropper rig, but lost it when she dropped the rod tip and let the line go slack. Her ten-year-old brother caught and landed one out of the same hole and she began pouting, but on her next cast a nice rainbow destroyed her hopper and she landed that one. Her demeanor changed dramatically, and I hope that she’s now as hooked on fishing as that rainbow was to her hopper. The next day in the same hole, an eighty-five year old woman who had only spin fished before caught a nice fish using what she called her “cane pole.” On another day, two brothers who had never fished before did well on dry flies only ten minutes into the trip, fishing squirrelly water that that even experts have difficulty mending flies on. Two weeks ago, I had three raw beginners learning how to cast in a stocked pond. After practice casting with conventional rods, I took the tenkara out of my rucksack and rigged a hopper/ dropper on it. On her second cast, one woman hooked a small bass on the hopper, and before she could land the fish a second bass took the nymph, and she landed both! www.HCAmagazine.com
The latest (but hopefully not final epiphany) I’ve had with tenkara came a week ago. An experienced fisherman was coming to fish with me, but the day before our trip he had a bad fall and hurt his right arm. The night before he called to tell me about it, and said that they were still coming but he was going to just fish left-handed using his own tenkara rod. I was glad that he was open to trying to compensate for his bad wing, but doubted whether he would be successful fishing the long straight sections of the river, given the distance limitations that a tenkara setup imposes. But then another light bulb went on over my head. The total length of a line and leader rig with a tenkara is typically set by making it no longer than you can land a fish by yourself. If you’ve got a twelve-foot rod, the total length of your line and leader should be no more than fourteen or fifteen feet, or you can’t hold your arm up high enough to net your fish. However, if someone else like me is landing the fish, as we do from a boat, then that line and leader setup can be much longer. So the night before my client came, I rigged up a new tenkara rig that had about eighteen feet of line and leader. The next day, he was willing try out the new long-line rig, and he ended up using it all day long, left-handed, with his right arm almost literally tied behind his back. He caught and landed as many fish as his ablebodied partner did using conventional equipment, (though his friend caught a twenty inch brown just above our takeout, which did tip the scales a bit)! Then, a few days later I floated a couple consisting of a very experienced angler and his girlfriend. She used the long-lined setup and caught more and bigger fish than he did, while he used conventional gear.
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The final thing that happened this summer to firmly place the tenkara rod among my fishing tools to use first, and not just as an amusement, was an hour spent on the Bear River above Yampa. The Colorado had blown out due to a thunderstorm, and so I cancelled a scheduled float trip and went fishing myself instead. In an hour and a half, I caught my first Colorado grand slam—landing a brown, brook, cutthroat, and rainbow trout— all with the tenkara rod—while my ten-footer lay on the riverbank, unused and unneeded. There are other advantages to using tenkara rods that are already more widely acknowledged, like how compact they are to take along if you’re hiking or horse-packing into the high country. They’re also much easier to use if you’ve come back from Iraq with just one arm, or lost the use of one to a stroke. The bottom line is, tenkara is not a fad, and it’s not going away. If you’re not using one now, you probably will be someday. Tenkara will never replace conventional gear, but it’s a really nice compliment to it. I’m still more likely to use my old Fenwick or Loomis in most fishing situations, but the more I use the tenkara the more I enjoy doing so. Try using one once, and you may never go back to the same old way of doing things!
About The Author.
Jack Bombardier is ther owner of Confluence Casting in Gypsum, Colorado. He spends his time float fishing and guiding on the Colorado River. You can contact Jack via his website at www.confluencecasting.com.
Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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FROM THE COLORADO TU EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
A Plan for Colorado’s Water Future
O
n November 19, I had the chance to join Governor Hickenlooper, Colorado Water Conservation Board Director James Eklund, and an audience of water utility officials, conservationists, irrigators, and other stakeholders as the CWCB presented to the Governor Colorado’s first-ever statewide water plan. It was an auspicious occasion, the result of years of hard work from CWCB staff, members of basin roundtables established across the state, and water advocates representing interests from farming and ranching to whitewater rafting. TU members and staff were active throughout the process, submitting detailed comments and serving directly on six of the state’s nine basin roundtables. While nobody will agree with every piece of a more than 500-page document, there is plenty of good news for those who care about Colorado’s rivers and trout. The state has embraced a meaningful water conservation goal – to save 400,000 acre-feet of water annually. To get an idea of that scale, consider that Lake Granby when completely full holds 540,000 acre-feet. It’s encouraging, too, that the plan supports modernization on the farm and ranch that improves water delivery to crops and pastures, while enhancing healthy flows for our rivers and streams. In recent years, TU has been a leader in partnering with agriculture on these innovative efficiency projects that benefit stream flows and fisheries. The Colorado Water Plan should keep that momentum going. Notably, the plan also calls for development of local community-driven Stream Management Plans to better understand and meet the environmental and recreational flow needs of our rivers and streams. The CWCB 32
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has already pledged $1 million toward stream management planning this year, and pledges to make that investment annually. The plan also sets a 400,000 acre foot “storage” goal – which can incorporate new or enlarged reservoirs, underground storage in aquifers, gravel pits, and more. Going forward, CTU will work to ensure that this goal is addressed through projects that also protect the health of our waterways, and not through harmful new dams that lack appropriate environmental protections. A third rail of Colorado water has been trans-basin diversion – projects that divert water from the Colorado River and its tributary basins to the growing cities of the eastern slope. The plan includes a “cooperative framework” identifying the major challenges that must be addressed for any such project to be considered. But perhaps the most promising news is that if the other Water Plan goals are achieved, such a project will not even be needed in meeting Colorado’s needs through 2050. Indeed, Governor Hickenlooper himself said, “We’ve addressed storage, conservation, you go down the list of all the approaches here, our goal from the very beginning was trying to make sure that where the water is, the water
stays.” That’s good news for those of us concerned about the health of west slope rivers, and preserving the state’s amazing fishing and recreation opportunities for future generations. Of course, a plan is only a beginning and the real challenge lies ahead: converting aspirations to action for water conservation, innovative agriculture-environmental partnerships, river protection and management, and responsible project development. But the Water Plan is an good start down that road. Benjamin Franklin wrote that “If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail.” Through the Colorado Water Plan, our state is making its plans for a future in which the needs of our growing population are met without sacrificing the health of our rivers and our agricultural and outdoor recreation heritage. Now it is up to all of us to make that vision a reality.
About
The
Author.
David Nickum is Executive Director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. You can reach him via the CTU website at www.cotrout.org.
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Protect Ou r Rivers, Colorado! When you hit the road for you r next fishing trip, show you r su pport for Colorado’s rivers by displaying this ultra-cool license plate on you r vehicle.
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Donate just $25 to Colorado TU, and you are eligible for a “Protect Our Rivers” license plate (plus standard state specialty license plate fee and registration). Proceeds support on-the-ground river conservation and education programs through Colorado TU – your dollars go directly back to helping the rivers you love. Get your plate by visiting www.protectourrivers.net.
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Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
33
The World of Competitive Fly Fishing Comes to Colorado By Liz Wiegers
A
ugust: a month of nice weather, endof-summer barbecues, kids begrudgingly going back to school – and the month in which the World Youth Fly Fishing Championships took place in Colorado. This year, the week of August 10-16, competitors age 18 and under from all over the world gathered in Vail to compete in hopes of winning individual and team medals and earning the title of world champion. The week was marked by intense and skilled angling, plenty of youthful exuberance, and by the great camaraderie experienced among volunteers and competitors who all share a passion for fly fishing. It was a great week for Team USA, as the home team won the team championship while Team members Hunter Hoffler and Mason Sims won the individual gold and silver medals. While competition certainly is one great way to get younger fly fishers excited and involved with angling, the world of competitive fly fishing is not without controversy. There is a stereotype around it, said Jason Lieverst, chief of international supervision/technical commission for FIPS Mouche, the international federation that helped arrange the championships. “People think we’re running through the water like hippos...killing everything. They
don’t understand what we do, so they make judgments without even coming to competitions and seeing what exactly it’s all about.” Skeptics may also wonder why Colorado Trout Unlimited, a nonprofit conservation organization, would be involved in such matters. TU members served as volunteers throughout the championships, and on August 15th, the organization helped organize the event’s Family Fly Fishing Day and Conservation Symposium at Camp Hale. A “Conservation Symposium” connected with a fishing competition? It spawns the question: how is fly fishing competition connected to conservation? After all, competition does not appear to have roots in conservation. The Vice President of the board of FIPS Mouche, Mario Podmanik, explained that competition teaches education, the sharing of knowledge, and conservation. Without conservation, there would be no competition, because without healthy rivers and fish, there would be no fly fishing. FIPS Mouche has worked to build the championships around those facts. From start to finish the competitors are keeping the best interests of the fish in mind. They are not allowed to fish with barbs, the fish are caught and released in a timely manner, and are han-
September 2016: The World Comes to Colorado! Following the 2015 Youth Championships, Colorado will host the adult World Fly Fishing Championships September 11-17, 2016, based out of Vail. From opening ceremonies on the 11th to the conservation symposium, closing ceremony, and awards presentation on the 17th, the week will be a chance to celebrate the global fly fishing community with the world’s top anglers. Volunteers who can work all or part of the week will be needed for both venue support and as “controllers,” those responsible for measuring, recording, and reporting competitor results on each beat. Volunteers are needed both in Vail and at the competition venues on the Eagle, Colorado, Blue Rivers, and on Sylvan Lake and Dillon Reservoir (where controllers must also row a drift boat on the lake for their competitors). Volunteering is a great way to observe and learn from some of the most skilled fly fishers you’ll ever meet, as well as to share experiences with other dedicated anglers from around the world. To learn more about volunteering, visit the Championships volunteer website at: www.wffc2016.com/volunteer
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High Country Angler • Winter 2016
www.HCAmagazine.com
dled with care. Certainly this is a matter of ethics but it also is reflected in the competition rules, which penalize anglers for any fish they may inadvertently kill through careless handling. To ensure that conservation education is also part of the program, FIPS Mouche also requires the championships to include a conservation symposium, like that held at Camp Hale. This further encourages, promotes, and instills the value of conserving our fishery resources and environment. At Camp Hale, Colorado TU was excited to bring together youth from teams across the globe alongside local Colorado families to share in a day of fun, fishing and learning. It was a memorable day, from beginners getting casting instruction on an open lawn, to worldclass competitors who had fished intensely all week getting a few hours to simply be kids fishing a pond – from a young local boy fly fishing for the first time who landed a fish hooked by an Irish team member, to a crowd listening to speakers from TU, the local watershed council, the National Forest Foundation, and Colorado Parks and Wildlife about restoration efforts on the Eagle River and at Camp Hale itself. Even catch and release angling stresses fish – all else being equal, they’d rather be left alone. But the competitors work hard to protect the fish – practicing “clean” angling to avoid spreading invasive species, quickly landing fish and releasing them safely to the water, and serving as ambassadors for the sport of fly fishing and for conservation. Still have doubts about competitive angling and its relevance to you? There’s a good chance that the equipment and fishing techniques you use have some roots in competition. European nymphing techniques were pioneered in the world of competitive fly fishing, while many presentday rod designs come from competitive rods. The sport of fly fishing will continue to evolve, and competition will be a part of that. Conserving the resource on which it all depends – that is the constant.
To Learn More.
To learn more about this story and Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit, www.coloradotu.org. www.HCAmagazine.com
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35
Spill Aftermath: The Animas River Lives! By Buck Skillen
G
ood news, fishermen and women and river lovers: the sky did not fall and our beloved Animas River in Durango and downstream is doing just fine. How can I say that, you might ask, since barely two months ago the Animas was orange, courtesy of a significant mine blowout, with media coverage telling a story of doom and gloom? First, the “orange” only lasted a day or so. Second, no fish died to speak of – Colorado Parks and Wildlife reports no wild fish kill and “sentinel” fish placed in the river as the spill passed through Durango all survived. Third, repeated bug sampling in the Town of Durango has shown no appreciable change. Finally, from an angler’s point of view, the Animas in Durango is fishing very well both currently and ever since we could get back on the river a week or so after the spill. There is much to learn from the water testing done by the Mountain Studies Institute before, during, and after the spill. Just before the plume hit Durango, the pH in the Animas at Rotary Park was about 7.2. As the plume passed Rotary Park the pH dropped to around 6, perhaps the high 5’s, and within a matter of several hours was back up to 7.2. Metals fall out of solution as the pH increases and approaches neutral, i.e. 7.0. It is reasonable to conclude that metals in solution were significantly lower in Durango than was the case as the plume started its way south from Silverton, thirty hours earlier. This has been borne out in subsequent water quality samplings by a variety of entities, including the EPA, La Plata County, and others. Within a week or so of the plume going through, the water was declared to have returned to a qual36
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
ity state essentially the same as before the spill. What about the sediment that is now laden with all those metals that dropped out of solution? Won’t that sediment be mobilized and transported with heavy flows as a result of big rains and/or next year’s runoff? Yes, it probably will, just as the sediment in this river has always been mobilized by big flows. A turbid
flow associated with runoff from snowmelt or rain events is the nature of the area and has been happening for millennia. Only time will tell if this sediment will be significantly more harmful to aquatic life than the sediment loads from previous years. This is not to diminish the import of this spill; the event was very unpleasant to look at and a significant blow to area tourism. Further, over the last ten years or so the reach of the Animas from the town of Silverton downstream through the canyon (30 or so miles upstream of Durango) has been significantly impacted by acid mine drainage with steady
releases of pollution equivalent to a Gold King spill more than once each week. TU continues to work with local stakeholders to make mine drainage remediation a priority. The push for Good Samaritan Legislation is one example of these efforts (visit www.sanjuancleanwater.org to learn more). Back down in Durango, the Town Reach of the Animas River and downstream is back to its usual good, but challenging, fishery state. We are seeing good hatches of BWOs, Midges and Trico’s, and, quite honestly, a lot of us are finding an underutilized fishery pleasant to behold as it has been fishing very well. We also have an abundance of cold, clean, trout water within an hour and a half drive of Durango—more water than a dedicated angler could fish thoroughly in a decade or more—and the world-class San Juan tail water is only an hour away. Furthermore, we have no less than six craft breweries, and more restaurants per capita than San Francisco, several of which would rival the best you could find anywhere in the world. So, folks, put Durango back on your list of the very best places to visit. We look forward to seeing you on our area rivers and streams in the near future!
To Learn More.
To learn more about this story and Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit, www.coloradotu.org.
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Winter 2016 • High Country Angler
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Home On The Range By Colton Gully
A Bash 4 Boulder Creek
O
ur roots as Coloradans go back to the pioneers. Their fortitude, determination, and success depended on their ability to endure and overcome hardship. When they settled the Front Range and into the mountains in search of riches, they were sure of the task at hand, collected as individuals seeking the same end. Like the pioneers, modern-day Coloradans now are embarking on an uphill journey to save our state fish, the Greenback Cutthroat Trout, from extinction. A group of likeminded organizations have been working to reintroduce these fish into their native range in the South Platte River drainage. Since 2012, when Dr. Jessica Metcalf of CU-Boulder released her genetic study verifying that the last remaining population of greenbacks in the world lived in Bear Creek on the outskirts of Colorado Springs, these organizations have made great headway towards greenback recovery. Metcalf ’s study took a stream little known outside of Colorado Springs and put it on the national map for anglers and conservationists. Bear Creek is home to an estimated 750 remaining wild native greenback in Colorado. The stream is not in the greenback’s native range, nor is it a particularly healthy ecosystem. Sediment loading from surrounding decomposed granite, multiple trails, and the proximity of the stream to a road, High Drive, has caused a multitude of problems— from depleted insect and plant life to a scarcity of holding water. Last summer the US Forest Service received and reviewed an environmental assessment on the Bear Creek ecosystem. The recovery plan outlined in the report will significantly improve the aquatic and riparian health of Bear Creek. Sediment runoff from High Drive will be minimized by repairing culverts, creating floodplains, installing sediment traps, increasing the capacity of roadside ditches, and decreasing the road width where possible. Upland areas affected by erosion will be replanted with native plants to decrease sediment loading and to help with flood control. Improvements in the riparian habitat will help to ensure that the work being done in the stream will be lasting. To create more holding water, new and existing logs and rocks will be strategically placed to make additional plunge pool habitat. Eroding banks will be replanted with native plants to decrease sedimentation and provide an ecosystem for insects. The existing fish barrier that does not allow the passage of non-native fish into the stream will also be improved and fishing will continue to be banned. Although the assessment outlined the restoration plan, it is not a 38
High Country Angler • Winter 2016
funding document or timeline. Colorado Trout Unlimited and the local Cheyenne Mountain Chapter have both made restoring Bear Creek a priority. Through crowd funding, securing grants, and political advocacy at both the state and local levels, they are working towards securing funds and a timetable for the restoration of Bear Creek. Some initial funds have been allocated by El Paso County. Colorado Springs transferred its property in Jones Park on Bear Creek to El Paso County in early 2014 with the understanding that the county would allocate funds for the restoration of Jones Park. Working to spearhead restoration is the Bear Creek Roundtable, a local group with representatives from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the US Forest Service, the Cheyenne Mountain Chapter, Medicine Wheel Trail Advocates, and others who have a vested interest in Bear Creek and the trails system. The Roundtable will play an integral role in the specifics of the restoration program, like start dates, motorized vehicle use, advantage of improvements, plants to be used, and ensuring satisfactory completion. While protecting Bear Creek is critical, the greenbacks’ future extends much further. Trout will be reintroduced into a varied range of ecosystems up and down the Front Range. The Leadville National Fish Hatchery and the Mt. Shavano Fish Hatchery have been breeding greenbacks for reintroduction since 2010. Their efforts already have resulted in the stocking of Zimmerman Lake to the northwest of Ft. Collins. Zimmerman is home to the first hatchery-reared greenbacks placed in the wild, and they have shown significantly better growth rates than in the hatcheries. Facing the challenge of survival in the wild, the Zimmerman greenbacks will be whittled down to only the fittest. These fit fish will provide a robust wild brood stock that can be spawned to produce progeny that can be raised in the hatcheries for future reintroduction efforts throughout the South Platte drainage. With the lake’s minimal spawning habitat, any natural reproduction at Zimmerman itself will likely be limited. Improving the science which guides hatchery rearing efforts will also play an important role with the restoration projects. With a population of only 750 wild greenbacks from Bear Creek as the original source, a genetic bottleneck threatens the well-being of the entire population. Through DNA analyses, hatchery biologists are teaming with Metcalf ’s genetics team at CU Boulder on a new approach to selective breeding of trout in captivity. Ed Stege, head biologist at the Leadville National www.HCAmagazine.com
Fish Hatchery, will use genetic results to create a matrix—a spreadsheet of relatedness fish biologists can use to breed the most distinct fish--ensuring the resulting offspring are as genetically diverse as possible. Stege will use this method as a guiding principle in an ongoing effort to breed a tiny population of greenbacks away from its genetic bottleneck as they are reintroduced to habitats across their native range. The South Platte Drainage is huge--from the headwaters along the Continental Divide, it winds south, then north until it meets up with the North Platte in Nebraska—becoming the Platte. Notable tributaries along the Front Range include the Cache Le Poudre, Clear Creek, and the Big Thompson. These major tributaries already support well-established fisheries, and trying to reintroduce greenbacks into these larger water bodies would be difficult if not impossible. Rather, greenbacks will be stocked in smaller creeks that flow into larger tributaries of the Platte. Two tributaries of Clear Creek are currently being prepared for greenbacks - Dry Gulch and Herman Gulch, which will have greenbacks restocked into them in the near future. Fish barriers on Dry and Herman Gulch can help protect reintroduced natives from interbreeding and competition with non-native trout. Existing fish in Herman Gulch were fished out by volunteers with the West Denver Chapter of CTU and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and restocked further downstream in Clear Creek. Chemical treatment of the water to remove the remaining non-native fish then opens the habitat for successful reintroduction. Similar efforts are taking place to prepare George and Cornelius Creeks in the Poudre basin for the reintroduction of greenbacks. Fish barriers are being erected and testing is being done to ensure whirling disease is not present. Greenbacks have a huge native range and potentially could be reintroduced all over the Front Range in many high mountain streams, but some of these waters may not be able to be support greenbacks because of the disease. Whirling disease has plagued streams across the Front Range since its introduction in the 1980s. Its effects on young rainbow trout can cause death, wiping out entire populations. Like rainbows, cutthroat are also susceptible to whirling disease – and this plays a large role when deciding where greenbacks are to be reintroduced. For example, George and Cornelius Creeks are both whirling disease positive in the lower reaches of the creeks, but whirling disease negative in the upper reaches where greenbacks can be reintroduced. The remaining greenbacks in Bear Creek are vulnerable as well; their susceptibility to whirling disease makes biologists cringe. The disease is already found in lower Bear Creek as well as nearby drainages like Cheyenne Creek. Whirling disease can be transferred by people, fish, and vehicles of all kinds, making it extremely hard to contain. If whirling disease were to spread up stream into Bear Creek, the last wild population of greenbacks would be lost. To prevent this, the Forest Service proposed to ban all human and pet contact with Bear Creek. The ban could result in physical barriers, fences being erected, and would mandate that all necessary precautions would be taken to rid machinery, people, and gear of whirling disease before any in-stream work is done. As our state becomes more populated it becomes harder and harder to prevent the spread of invasive diseases. It is our duty as anglers and outdoorsmen to do all we can to ensure that we don’t become part of the problem. Make sure before going out on the water to read about the health of the streams where you’ll be. Also, be Winter
sure your waders and boots have been cleaned. This can be done by submerging gear in a large tub with six ounces of quaternary-based ammonia products per gallon of water, being sure to scrub away any debris; or by soaking all gear in 140 degree Fahrenheit water for ten minutes; or by drying all gear for a minimum of ten days. Whirling disease is difficult to eradicate from a stream once it has been infected, so doing all we can to avoid its introduction is the first best option for protecting our state’s wild fish and wild places. Greenbacks embody the spirit of our state. Their ability to endure holds true to the pioneer way, and gives us hope that someday they will once again thrive across their home range. It will not happen overnight and it will not happen with the stroke of any one pen. It will take a collective group of passionate people surrounded by thousands of supporters from all walks of life rallying for the greenbacks to ensure their recovery. We are privileged to live in one of the most unique states in the country, and it is our duty to safeguard the individual species that inhabit it. By reestablishing native cutthroats in Colorado, we are simply doing our duty in preserving our state’s unique heritage.
About The Author.
Colton Gully has been working as an intern for Colorado Trout Unlimited since June of 2015. One of his efforts has been creating an online information resource on greenbacks housed at the CTU website, where all chapters can post the work they are doing with greenback restoration. You can visit the site at Coloradotu.org under the What We Do / Greenback Recovery Efforts tab. Colton would like to thank his mentors Bob Garrett and Allyn Kratz for their unwavering support and incredible wisdom, and Stephanie Scott for her guidance into the world of nonprofits.
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THE LAST CAST
•
JOHN NICKUM
Improving Catch & Release
Q
I want to be a better catch & release angler. I have even promised to make a New Year’s resolution to improve my techniques. Are there any new scientific findings about fish physiology and hooking mortality that I need to know about if I am going to minimize adverse effects on the fish?
A
One of my favorite sayings is: “science is an ongoing process.” So, yes, there’s always something new; as new studies are completed our understanding of fish biology grows and the probability that our management policies are appropriate grows as a result of our new knowledge. We become more certain that we have accurate information on the effects of catch & release angling on individual fish, as well as the effects on fish populations. For example, recent studies that analyzed changes in the blood chemistry of fish caused by activities, such as being hooked and landed, have provided additional understanding. Such studies provide objective, accurate, and quantitative information that is greatly superior to subjective visual data. Although several new studies have added incrementally to our knowledge base, I am not aware of any major new findings that will cause fisheries biologists and managers to make substantial changes in their recommendations about catch-and-release. However, improving our research knowledge base does not mean that the information is automatically available to anglers. As I read outdoor news items, and especially as I view photos of anglers with their prize catches, I am bothered by the behavior of some anglers. Perhaps a brief review of basic concepts and practices will help. Minimize the fighting and handling time. Some anglers take additional satisfaction from landing a fish after a long struggle, apparently not realizing that a long fight adds greatly to the cumulative stress on the fish. Many anglers also seem
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High Country Angler • Winter 2016
to be unaware of the unnecessary stress they impose on their catch by holding the fish up at arm’s length and keeping them out of water for long periods of time to get a better photograph of their prize catch. While photographs are a legitimate part of a successful angling experience, I suspect that many anglers do not understand the harm that can be done by these extended out-of-water experiences. Consider additional stress factors. Although hooking and netting are obvious parts of successful fishing, the physiological stress they cause the fish is not so obvious. Nor is physiological stress a “one size fits all” reaction by fish. The response of individual fish to stress factors has to be interpreted in relation to the specific situation. Responses vary from fish to fish and with specific environmental conditions, especially with respect to water temperature… the warmer the water the greater the harmful physiological reactions in the fish. Warmer water also increases the probability of disease subsequent to excessive handling. If the fish is already stressed by other factors such as spawning or disease, the additional stress of being hooked and landed will be considerably greater – which means a greater risk of hooking mortality. It’s not over when the fish swims away. Most casual observers, including anglers, think that catch-and- release has been successful when the fish swims away, perhaps to be hooked another day. Unfortunately, there is a phenomenon known as delayed mortality. Most scientists who study fish have observed delayed mortality in animals that have been used in their experimental studies. Substantial numbers of fish that appeared to have returned to normal suddenly die; two days, three days, even a week after they have been stressed. The more traumatic the stress experience, caused by such things as prolonged struggles, “suffocation,” and excessive handling, the more likely that delayed mortality will occur.
Suffocation? Yes, fish can suffocate when kept out of water. Fish gill filaments are very fragile and must be fully expanded so as to take in oxygen dissolved in the water. When fish are removed from water, the gill filaments collapse, clump together and cannot exchange carbon dioxide for oxygen, nor expel ammonia, the primary nitrogenous waste product from fish metabolism. Experimental studies have shown that fish can survive relatively long periods out of water…if their gills can be kept wet and fully expanded. Loss of mucus. Excessive handling of fish, such as holding them up in a horizontal position for photos, causes a loss of the mucus/slime that covers the external surface of their body. Even if the angler wets his/her hands, or wears wet gloves, the mucus is lost and the fish becomes vulnerable to disease agents in the water. I have seen outlines of hands appear on fish several days after being held in the grasp of over-zealous workers and anglers. Successful catch-and-release methods must respect fish physiology, fish behavior, and environmental conditions. To summarize some basic rules that will help you be a better catch and release angler: Land the fish as quickly as possible, minimize time out of the water, and avoid handling as much as possible. Also, avoid fishing during spawning seasons and when water temperatures are marginal for the fish.
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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High Country Angler • Winter 2016