Post By: BambiKiller21 Posted: 5/14/2012 8:55:25 AM Points: 10
Went to the upper canyon on Friday with the girlfriend (before the snow and rain hit), had a great time but only landed one small (~12") Brown. However, we saw close to 20 Rainbows 20+" swimming in the river with absolutely perfect water clarity. Hope to get out more throughout the summer and tune my skills, I have a feeling I would have done better if I was a more seasoned fly fisherman but I am 21 years old and just breaking back into the sport, so any tips or advice would be much appreciated.
You see them, typically they see you making them difficult to come by, even for the best of anglers so don't beat yourself up over not catching them. Especially if they weren't actively feeding, as in moving side to side, up/down, see the whites of their mouths, and if they roll slightly to one side, all evidence of feeding activity
If they were just holding, not likely anyone would have caught them.
good thing about the cheese is that there are a lot of places you can get a good vantage point and see the fish w/o them seeing you. then, plan your stalk and get into the best position to drift 'em w/o spookin' 'em. it can definitely be a tough canyon to fish though.
Reply by: alty Posted: 5/14/2012 9:54:37 PM Points: 0
welcome to cheeseman my brother. this is a tough fishery that requires very small flies. if you really get into cheeseman it maybe a good idea to go out with a guide one day. I went with a guide once it was awesome. The biggest fly was a size 20. Alty
Thanks for the help, I was using flies sizes 18-20, but the fish didn't seem to be actively feeding so that makes me feel a little better about it. I was also in a pretty narrow stretch so the water was relatively deep and fast moving so next time I'll try some smaller flies and be a little sneakier. Couldn't believe how clear the water was though.
What flies did u try? Also do not forget to carry some big flies if those little flies don't work. Did you try streamers? Also some times its not the fly that gets the fish to take, maybe you just didn't present it good enough.
It's hard to cut the cheese! Those fish are geniuses they could probably tie a Parachute adams, i never really had luck in that canyon but there are some pigs in there I've seen 25" browns.
I tried several different flies, first a blue winged olive with a pheasant tail behind, then I tried a red midge with a black beauty behind. Any tips on how to make a better presentation?
well first thing I do at the canyon is look for feeding fish. If they not actively feeding then next hole. Second is the depth that they are feeding at some fish will swim up to the fly and take it, others will wait for it to come to them. Third is I let the fly pass till the fly is away pass it, some times the fish will turn around and take it.
Now the flies you pick are ok, but I think you need a bit more in your fly selection.
Thanks a bunch for all of the help! I will shoot you an email next time I go up the canyon (I am from Woodland Park, but I got to school at CSU in Fort Collins so I live up here and fish back home when I get a chance). I had quite a few more flies, but I'll keep adding to my collection it started to rain/snow before I had a chance to try too many. Thanks again for the help!
Reply by: BITE ME Posted: 5/22/2012 7:40:48 AM Points: 5393
If I had to give you one word of advise it would be master the dead drift The south Platte can be a tough river to master but when you do you should be able to go to any river and do well. Don't give up !
Alright great, thanks again for the advice, I'll keep trying to get that down. I actually work at a place that owns a piece of the bank on the poudre, do you have any suggestions for flies on the poudre right now in the middle of town? Thanks for the help!
