Trout included are:

1. Brown Trout
2. Rainbow Trout
3. Cutthroat
4. Cutbow
5. Cameloop Rainbow
6. Donaldson Trout
7. Donaldson Rainbow
8. Eastern Brook Trout
9. German Brown Trout
10. Greenback Cutthroat (Colorado State Fish)
11. Tasmanian Rainbow
12. Tasmanian Cutbow
13. Tiger Brown Trout
14. Snakeriver Trout
15. Steelhead Trout
16. Wild Brook Trout
17. Montana Brook Trout
18. Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout

The fish are contained in small ponds and lakes. Fly fishing is only allowed from the shore and is all catch and release. No wading or boats. Some of these trout are large enough to snap 3X leaders so don’t fool yourself into thinking they are lightweights.

Other activities at the ranch include hunting and snowmobiling in the winter. The scenery is spectacular and just watching is ok too. The BAR ZX ranch can be reached from Delta or from Glenwood Colorado. Driving Directions

Accomodations – The Ranch has a 12 guest lodge with basic amenities. view pictures of the Bar ZX Ranch Lodge

As with most good things, there is a cost to stay at the Ranch. Hunting Fees  Fishing Fees A Colorado Fishing License is required. Rates are on the fishing fees page. Fishing season is roughly 6/1 through 9/30. 

Dean and Family are the type of down home folks you would expect to find on a ranch. If you want to really get away and relax the BAR ZX is one place for quiet plus good fishing.  (See slideshow in the right sidebar. Shows tiger trout, large rainbow, ponds are handicapped accessable. And Don a High Plains Drifters member with an 18 inch brook trout. Don is the one in the cowboy hat.)

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Air temp was in high 70s and sky clear much of the day. No hatch activity in the morning. Light caddis hatchs in the afternoon around 2 pm. I started at bar pool in O’Fallon park. There was work going on and the pool yielded no strikes on my czech nymph rig. I had a Vladi woven brown nymph on bottom and a 16 beadhead, goldribbed, flashback hares ear on dropper. The hares ear is one of my favorite flies about anywhere in Colorado. It can represent a caddis, a mayfly or a stonefly depending on color and how it is tied.

Fish it rolling along the bottom and let the current bring it to the surface, then swing gently in to the bank for a stone fly. Same process but hold the fly on the surface and twitch the rod tip gently for motion before pick up. This will often cause an impluse strike. Same drift and to let current bring to surface. Hold momentarily then a lob cast upstream. The abrupt pickup can imitate a caddis taking off and cause a strike.

In any case O’Fallon only yielded 4 dinks during the morning. So I moved upstream to fish the Episcopal Church property on east edge of Evergreen. With the water up, there are some interesting holes and runs on this stretch. I had changed out my Vladi nymph for a green caddis with a black head. The hole by the bridge which leads to the tunnel gave up a dozen fish in the 4 to 10 inch class. Then I wrapped my flies around two branches with an errant cast.

During my fishing here, I had started adding a slight rod tremble during the drift and rise. For me this is starting to come naturally. The result was a bit more action to the flies and more fish. After losing my flies, I rerigged with a pink body and a gray throax czech nymph on bottom and another 16 GBGRFB hares ear on top. So far the hares ear was producing about 3 to 1 for the czech nymph.

Downstream, I fished some fast runs catching a few small bows and browns before losing my bottom nymph in the rocks. Another $2.50 down the stream. I rerigged with a #14 ugly commercial gold ribbed purple flashback hares ear with white goose biot tails and weight above and below the dropper. The purple flashback is a really weird fly. But it started producing fish the rest of the day. I have never had it work well anyplace but Bear Creek.

Then I moved back to the pool by the bridge where I lost my flies. After a few casts, I looked across at the bush to spot the place I had lost my flies. Sure enough with my new Smith Optics sunglasses, I spotted the gold bead on the 16 GB hares ear among the leaves. So I put my gear in the car and went to retrieve my flies.

Moving around a couple of bends into Evergreen, I fished some holes that have always produced for me. Wading out to water over my knees, I started dropping casts into a near seam. The weighted nymph rig sank quickly to the bottom. Some six casts later, I was fast to a good fish. One of the head shaking kind. After a nice fight, a fat 15 inch brown emerged on the surface. I was able to hold him for 3 quick pictures before removing the hook. I revived him using my upstream leg as a water break which was pretty cool.

Over the course of the next hour and a half, I hooked and released 5 more fish between 10 and 13 inches. All fat and healthy.  Then I drove down to Little Park in Idledale to finish my day. Caught a few more small fish before heading home. Tired, sweaty and happy. A great day on stream with some 20+ fish and some ideas for a new fly to try out.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Fishing and water conditions are looking great for the entire season!

Five Rivers Lodge is located in southwest Montana’s Beaverhead and Big Hole watersheds. Precipitation in our local mountains is fantastic with the snowpack sitting above 120%. This means we’ll have floatable, super-charged rivers all season. In the past, lower water conditions and warmer temperatures sometimes have diminished insect hatches. This year we expect the ample water supply will yield tremendous hatches which should produce exceptional fishing.

Spring fishing this year has been off the charts and we feel it’s going to do nothing but get better. The Mothers’ Day Caddis hatch was crazy as the cooler temps have the Big Hole River at the perfect level and clarity. And next. . .the 747s of the bug world, Salmon Flies. We’re already catching fish on large Stone Flies, so the bottom must have a ton of them for the trout to munch on. Then, it’s on to July, August, September, and into October with some of the best Hopper fishing in the world, along with May Flies, Caddis, Spruce Moths, and Tricos.

The Beaverhead River, as always, is going to be excellent. With the reservoir filling with snowmelt, the flow rates will be consistent and the Yellow Sally, Pale Morning Duns, Caddis, Crane Flies, Blue Wing Olives, and Terrestials will flourish. This in turn, will produce some of the best fishing in North America. According to Montana state fish biologists, recent shocking shows the most trout in the 3 to 4 year old range since they have been keeping records. This means an abundance of 18" fish.

With the great water conditions, the Ruby, Jefferson, and Madison Rivers also should build on last year’s great fishing and fish better than they have in many years.

Photo ops of fish could be at an all time high. We hope you can take advantage of this outstanding season and our booking special to come spend some time with us at Five Rivers Lodge.

Please download the PDF file for the
Five Rivers Lodge booking specials.

We are offering a one of a kind opportunity
to pick up some cool gear for FREE

If the Five Rivers Lodge asks where you saw this special, tell them on fly-fishing-colorado blog.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
www.fly-fishing-colorado.com
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 Jun 20th Kids Day – HPD members and local experts help kids learn about fly fishing. Events include fish identification, bug / entomology/ fly tying demonstrations / casting basics / practice casting with fly rods / fishing for trout, bluegill, bass or other pan fish / and the best part Lunch.  The event is held at the Kassler Environmental Education Center with fishing at nearby Lake Lehow. The 2008 Kids Day was a great success. Let’s make Kids Day 2009 even better. Down load the poster for Kids Day 2009  (PDF format- requires the Adobe PDF reader) and start circulating it to your friends with kids that don’t yet fly fish.
 

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Marshall, Editor
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Tuesday 5/19/09 set a record high here in Denver. Lots of sunshine all day. But a great day for fishing Bear Creek.

I was all tricked out with my new Smith Optics prescription sunglasses, new double zinger and a new hook threader plus a tippet post with floatant holder. After taking a half hour to get the tippet post apart, set up and reassembled I was ready to hit the stream. With all this great new gear, I just had to catch fish.

Flow was about 77 CFS with the water more murky than on 5/14/09. Hard to see the bottom. I rigged up a czech nymph outfit with a #12 Gray body – Pink Thorax tung bead weighted scud on bottom and a #14 Greg’s Emerger on the dropper. I tied the dropper with 5X coming off the 3X main leader using a blood knot with one 5X leg about 10 inches longer than the 3X leg.

This rig worked well in the first hole I fished with the czech nymph bouncing on the bottom.  The nymph hooked a nice fish on the 3rd or 4th drift. But I lost it by horsing too much. Some 8 or 10 drifts went by before the Greg’s Emerger produced a small 6 inch brown. Then the nymph caught a nice fat 10 inch brownie. Several more browns came to the czech nymph or the Greg’s emerger, then action died. Moving to the next pool up stream, I hooked a scrappy 11 inch brown on the emerger. That was it for that pool except for a couple of missed strikes.

Fishing pretty much died around 12:30 as it so often does in Colorado. Lunch and a brief nap. Then back to it at old Dam hole. One of the big trees had split from one of the last snowstorms and fallen into the Creek. This changed the whole structure of the pool by directing more water against the opposite bank with sand / dirt being deposited behind the tree. I worked the pool from tail toward the fast riffles at the head. This is a big pool about 200 feet long. Caught several dink browns on the emerger and on a #20 gray RS2 I had tied to the bend of the nymph. (3 Nymph rig now)

Probably caught about 8 fish in this hole, some 8 more out of a couple of deep runs upstream including a double hook up. Six inch brown on the czech nymph and an 8 inch brown on the emerger dropper. Moving on downstream to Corwina Park East, I hooked 4 to 7 inch browns for over an hour before fishing died off. Total for the day was 27 fish. Pretty good day.

Does Czech Nymphing work (or short line weighted nymphing) ? You bet it does.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Thursday on Bear Creek was as good as Wednesday on the South Platte was bad. The Creek was running 66 CFS with semi-clear water. Bottom was visible to about 1 to 2 feet. Beyond 2 feet it was hard to see much even with the sun overhead.

I used tungsten bead weighted czech nymphs as point flies and for weight. These were big flies in the size 10 range. My first fish struck hard at the czech nymph but I missed it. The second fish was a scrappy 11 inch brown on a #14 beadhead goldribbed flashback haresear as a tail fly.

Then things kind of stopped. No strikes nothing. So I stopped a moment and thought about the situation. If the browns are back, they probably had been up in Evergreen following the rainbow spawn. Ah! An egg pattern. I tied on a Walt Mueller Jr. Soft Milking egg in pink. These are soft vinyl eggs with a bit of 3 layer antron for the milt. They look very real in the water.

My first drift had only gone about 3 feet when WHAM! A hard strike with a fish boring for the bottom of the pool into the 3 to 4 feet of water. Halfway down the water column, I saw the flash as the fish rolled off the hook. Nice fish with a flash about 12 to 13 inches long.

Next cast, I made a longer drift and hooked up with an 11 inch brown.  Two casts later, a nice 12 inch brown and then the action died down again. So I moved upstream to the pool above this one. First drift down the seam along the fast run at the head of the pool, I hooked a scrappy 10 inch brown that tailwalked his way to the back of the pool. When I reached with my forceps to release the hook, I grabbed the tippet instead. One fly and fish departed back into the pool. No other eggs with me. Rest back in car. But the fun part was a good analysis of the situation resulting in 3 nice fish.

Back to the car to eat lunch and get some more eggs. While eating lunch, I helped a beginner fly fisherman to learn the river cast and picked out a hares ear for him to use. He went to another pool and immediately hooked 2 browns and 1 rainbow using what I had taught him. This was satisfying for me.

Back to my first pool. I tied on another czech nymph with a grey body and a pink thorax which was the opposite of the one I was using in the morning. A Barr tan graphic caddis was my tail fly. First cast a nice 10 inch brown took the caddis on the swing. Then it was cast, cast, cast, cast with no results. No matter where I dropped the cast or changed my casting position, nothing seemed to work. While running a close drift down by the rock line, a large brown smacked the surface after a caddis. A small hatch was happening. Four more casts and I had the big brown on the end of the line. Halfway back to me, he decided to leave but I saw him and he will be there next time.

Far downstream to another large pool. Shaking out line, I let it drift downstream in preparation for a river cast to the far side. Just as the line moved, an  8 inch rainbow hit the Barr caddis. Then no more for that pool. Finally, I hung the czech nymph on the rocks in the fast run which would be waist deep on me at 66 CFS. Breaking off the rig, I counted $7.50 worth of lost nymphs plus the ones I had tied. Just part of fly fishing.

My last 30 minutes were spent practicing casting in this pool. Good for a 25 foot roll casts and 20+ foot overhead casts under the trees.  All in all an excellent day on stream.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Wednesday dawned reasonably clear with some wind blowing off Cherry Creek Reservoir. The South Platte at Deckers was running 194 up from the 44 of the last couple of weeks. I was to meet my fishing buddy Larry at Jarre Mart in Sedialia by 9am. Larry had a spot already picked out that he wanted to try.

Arriving at the Jarre Mart 10 minutes early, I enjoyed some sunshine and fresh air waiting for Larry. Right at 9 am, he arrived. We waited 10 more minutes for the third member of our party. Then away we went caravaning for the river. I was in the lead since I knew Night Hawk Hill rd would be dusty.

 Arriving at "Larry’s spot", we were just a mile or so east of Deckers right where the deep runs and holes are next to the road. Larry was into his waders and boots and headed for the river almost before I could get my stuff laid out to put on. After gearing up, I worked the runs and holes from the road side using a modified short line deep nymph technique. This one uses a short piece of 7 or 6 X tippet off the bend of the tail fly to hold the weight.  I was using a heavy weighted czech nymph on top for a weight plus another weight above that.

My leader setup was about 4 feet of old leader down to 3X, 3 feet of 5X fluorocarbon, my point fly then 18 inches of 6x fluorocarbon tippet with my tail fly. Plus the weight hanger off of that.

This setup got the rig down to the bottom pretty fast. But no fish seemed to like my flies or I was not using it correctly. Lob cast upstream with only 2 feet of line out of the top, sink the rig, high stick a drift leading the rig on a tight line. I could feel the bounces of the bottom weight on the bottom. Every once in a while the leader would twitch or hesitate at the water line. Swish a downstream strike set. Mostly moss and a rock once in a while but no fish.

 I spent the morning working the runs and holes upstream to the last fast run with no fish. On the last run, working the seam alongside the run, I picked up a nice 12 inch bow. My only fish of the day.

After lunch, I drove up around two bends towards Deckers and parked above another fast deep run that has held fish in the past. This run has 2 foot diameter rocks along the bottom of the run for cover. These rocks make swirling currents on top to complicate the drift pattern. As soon as I got into my casting position at the head of the run, the wind came up with 40 mph blows heading east down the canyon. So bad that I had to turn my back to the wind, wait for the wind borne water spray to stop before trying to get a cast off. River cast lob, wind blows 3 feet of line back down stream, rest puddles up below the rod. About 4 of these and back to the car.

Drove up the old YMCA road west to the last parking spot to see if the wind was less in that part of the canyon. Only just barely so went back east to find Larry. He was fishing the runs and holes from the south side of the river. Larry picked up one fish along that stretch fighting the wind, changing flies 3 times before calling it quits.

Water was still pretty much gin clear at a foot. At 3 to 4 feet, it was not murky because you could see the rocks and moss but fish were tough. I think they were sitting in or on the moss mostly.

Just before we left there was a small caddis hatch that prompted one small bow to hit the surface near where I was standing.

Lots of wind burn, sunburn and more experience.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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For the last month I had developed a bad case of fly fishing blahs. So bad I did not even care to read my fishing magazines.

Yesterday, I found the cure to the blahs. TheBlue Quill Angler’s annual Fly Fishing Extravaganza. The excellent professional staff of the Blue Quill were there to answer questions, help fit waders, wading boots and other gear. They also answered questions about casting, fly tying or other fly fishing questions. The event gathers representatives from the big name gear manufacturers who assist with casting instruction, demonstrate new gear and present fly fishing seminars.

In attendance were Van Rollo representing Sage Fly Fishing, Rio Fly Lines and Smith Optics. Mike Clough from Orvis and Scott Harkins for Winston Rods. Authors John Gierach and A. K. Best were there. Barry Reynolds and John Barr were scheduled but I did not see them. I was probably outside testing fly rods.

Presentations were made during the day by Landon Mayer, Bob Dye, Van Rollo, Pat Dorsey and others. Pat Dorsey’s last presentation on Fishing Tailwaters was an excellent way to finish the main event. Blue Quill Guides Jonathan Keisling and Bob Zasuly manned the Sage Casting Analyzer which got a work out during the day. The Sage Casting Analyzer is a top Sage Rod coupled to a computer to produce a read out of your casting style. It analyzes 8 factors against an expert cast. (The only one I did really well on was a rod creep of 0.) Lots of work to do before the FFF certified casting exam.

Mike Clough of Orvis rigged up a Helios 9′ 5wt 4pc for me to cast. I had mentioned the two times I had tried the Helos before, it had not done much for me. Pat Dorsey picked a reel that he knew would balance out the rod correctly. So down the hill to cast. Some good ones and some bad ones. Then Mike was standing at my side. "Keep your elbow down farther and shorten your casting arc.", he said. Mike took my elbow to demonstrate. "Don’t power so hard on the forward stoke." (One of the really bad faults on my Sage analysis). "Try and make the backcast slightly higher than the forward cast." This will let gravity help increase line speed without so much effort. (Now this one was not as easy as it sounds.)

But I worked at putting it all together especially keeping the elbow down and making the backcast and forward cast speed closer to the same. Result my 40 foot one handed casts started rolling over with a nice tight U shaped loop. (If you are ever at a fly fishing show, watch Van Rollo or Mike cast, they are good.) This time around, I decided I liked the Helios when it is properly balanced.

Also tried a Winston Boron BII-MX 4 wt, 5 wt and 6 wt in a 9 foot length. I did not like the 6 wt because it felt too stiff and heavy to me. But I don’t fish large rivers nor throw streamers much either. However, the 4 wt was great. Someone called it a little noodlie but I loved it. Great casts out to 40 and over feet. Good line feel and reserve power. The 5 wt was awesome. Excellent line feel, a bit stiffer than the 4 wt which is to be expected. Lots of power and line feel. This rod was equipped with a Scientific Angler’s Sharkskin line and could shoot line like crazy in the hands of a better caster than I am.

A highlight of the day, among many, was Blue Quill Guide Gary Okizaki, Gary educated me on Winston Rods of which he owns a bunch and I learned some slick czech nymph fly tying tricks while talking to him. Gary has a great sense of humor and we laughed a lot while sharing stories. Gary has a really nice laid back style about him, life and fly fishing.

A satisfying lunch was prepared by Blue Quill guide Jay Core and enjoyed by all. The finale to the day was the raffle drawing. Several Fishpond products, a Ross International Fly Rod, a half dozen fly lines and the last drawing was a Ross Vexisus reel loaded with a Sharkskin line and backing. A very nice prize indeed.

A special thanks to Jim Cannon, Steve Parrot, Pat Dorsey and the pro staff at Blue Quill Angler for a wonderful day Saturday. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and fun during the day yesterday definitely helped to cure my fly fishing blahs. I am ready for runoff to be down some and the fishing to begin.

Take a moment to read through the guide profiles here http://www.bluequillangler.com/Guide-Services/Guide-Profiles. This is excellent reading. If you want to book a guided trip this year, the Blue Quill Angler has some awesome guides.  

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Reports are snow falls in the range of 30 to 40 inches above 8,000 feet. This additional snow fall has been heavy in the South Platte River Basin and in the South West Basins per the 4/18/09 Colorado Sno-Tel report.

Here are the changes in snow pack since 1/04/09.

The biggest changes are shown in Red. The San Miguel Basin dropped 42% in 4 months at 4/14/09 but has recovered nicely. Other Basins have held steady as of 4/18/09 execept the South Platte Basin which has experience a 17% increase due to the Colorado Blizzard of 2009. Metro Denver gets much of its water from the South Platte basin so this is a welcome increase.

All this extra snow will extend the ski season making the skiers and resorts happy campers too. The extra water will make for good fishing too.

Download the Colorado Snow Pack Basin Report as of 4/18/09 in PDF. Right click and save target as to save a copy.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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Snow in Colorado and surrounding states is the news yesterday and today. Lots of Snow doesn’t cover it. I-70 was closed last night from Morrison to Vail, Colorado. (A distance of 80 miles) This a historical closing. Emergency shelters set up in Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Silverthorne and other towns. This is a plain old fashioned Colorado Blizzard which has not let up yet.

As of Friday 4/17/09

1. 22.5 at Livermore in Larimer County
2. 22 at Red Feather Lakes
3. 21 at Shadow Mountain in Confir
4. 12 inches new snow at Winter Park – Great Sking
5. 6 to 12 inches in the Metro Denver area

This storm is wide spread covering Colorado, Wyoming and other states.

Snow fell heavily Friday night leading to the I-70 closing. For a period of time Friday all major roads including 1-25 leading into Wyoming were closed. I-25 is currently re-opened. Snow totals in much of the high country are expected to be 3 feet or more.

Plenty of snow to bring our snow pack up to average for South Platte Basin and SW Colorado. Other basins that were far above average will maintain that position. This snow will also reduce the fire danger for awhile which is a good thing. Avalanche danger in the high country. Plenty of water for the fishes too.

By Tuesday we are expected to be back into the 60’s so all that snow will be running downstream. Be careful if you are onstream in the next several weeks.

Tight Lines and Good Fishing,
Marshall, Editor
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