Ushering in the Wonder

As we break out of  January's grip , I always welcome the coming and going of the Super Bowl.  Yes, this is a great sporting event. But to me, its passing signifies the start of a new season and especially the fishing season.

The days are starting to get longer, and the sun seems to give off a different light.  There is a change in the air. It may be me just thinking of the spring to come, but I feel it and see weather patterns change. 

At the same time, the fishes' behaviors are starting to change with insect activity starting to ramp up (even if it is only midges).  Consistent midge hatches bring fish to the surface and the trout feed aggressively in the midday sun. 

Soon many rivers  will start to see the first signs of the Rainbow and Cutthroat spawn, with fish starting to stage in inlets and deep holes, looking for familiar spawning grounds for the dance to come.  This staging is something of a mystery and can happen overnight and in varying numbers of fish from year to year. 

These changes inspire me to branch out and look for new places to fish, free of ice, undisturbed, and with ‘wonder’ in my mind.  Wonder, or the unknown, is probably the most influential part of fishing for me.  Casting your fly in a new river or area you haven’t fished for a few months makes it all worth it, especially when a large Rainbow is on the take.  That’s the moment of wonder- when I say to myself, “I wonder if there is a fish sitting below that riffle that  just freed from the ice.” 

The next couple of months can be very rewarding as I step out of the shop to go fishing.  The Mountains are changing with spring in the air. The views are breathtaking. ‘Wonder’ is alive in each new destination. The fishing and everything you see while in the river's presence is flourishing.

This is a magical time of year. It's time to break free of winter and usher in a new season of change! Time to step out and enjoy the day, the views, the wildlife, the fishing and the ‘Wonder’!

A blog from Chris Thompson who fished with me a week ago!

http://www.steelpursuit.blogspot.com/2012/01/rises-on-blue-river.html

Snow, Fishing and Good Fortune

Snow looks like it is finally starting to fly here in Colorado. The early winter season months were well below average in snowfall, and plenty of us have been worried about another drought year, like 2002.

There has been reassuring talk of a change in the Jet Stream. That would be much appreciated -- not only for some powder days, but also to bring fresh cold water to our streams for the duration of summer.

After such a heavy snow pack year in 2010/11, the streams flowed swollen well into August. This is always healthy for the fish and their habitat. But, as a business owner, this has wrecked havoc on my predictions, buying, payroll -- you name it and it was affected. I can't imagine a drought year right after that. Let's hope the snow comes!

The fishing news this winter is much brighter. Over the holiday season I was quite busy guiding trips almost every morning and tuning skis and snowboards in the evening. The one-two punch was effective while the visitors were here, and the fishing was OFF THE HOOK!

The warmer weather and marginal skiing conditions made the idea of hitting a mountain stream in the middle of winter not so crazy. Some of these trips were booked well in advance, knowing the great winter fly-fishing Colorado has to offer. Many other clients stumbled on the idea after dealing with the crowded slopes and bare runs.  

The winter fishing is really always good. The question is just whether or not you (or I for that matter) are prepared to deal with some of the cold days. Fortunately, most of the trips have been quite comfortable and the awesome fishing made for even a better day. I can't say all the days were warm, but I will say we had great success warm or cold.

Earlier in December, I was lucky enough to be fishing a good run of Kokanee Salmon coming up out of Dillon Reservoir. On an interesting note, the Colorado Divison of Wildlife's local biologist has told me that there has been no stocking of Kokanee Salmon in Dillon Reservoir for twenty years. So, somehow these Salmon are able to spawn successfully in this stretch of the Blue River. He suggested maybe it was the warmer water temperatures in this section or the plain abundance of other kinds of life.

At the same time, all these Kokanee Salmon were in the river, plenty of Brown trout were spawning in fall and winter months. Some very large fish are seen in this stretch, but can prove to be quite hard to hook or get to the net. On a couple of days we were lucky enough to land a few nice ones, like the one at the top of the e-mail.

The Salmon have since died off and the large Browns are becoming difficult to catch. Lately, though, we have been seeing some great midge or "Snow Fly" hatches. It seems a lot of the medium size browns are needing to fatten up from their spawn. So I have been seeing literally hundreds of rising fish in the middle of the day.

I hope this excites you for fishing days to come! We need snow and it looks like the weather change is on its way. This is good for us all -- skiers, visitors and trout. I know I am ready for powder day!

If you are coming to visit in the next couple of months, the skiing will be better and the fishing can be great.   Both just may be not so fun when it is nine degrees out.

I highly recommend booking a trip with me to see what it's all about! Or if its powder skiing, come in for a tune! 

In the meantime, I will be out looking for the next "Hot Spot" and tuning up skis and snowboards with some super sharp edges and fast wax!

Happy New Year and Good Fortunes to All!

   

Check out our fishing reports!

   

Ezekiel Hersh 

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Blue-River-Anglers-announces-Tunes-on-the-Fly.html?soid=1102045959367&aid=tYxw0-kUZ0Y

Blue River Anglers announces its NEW Ski and Snowboard tuning shop~ Tunes on the Fly!


http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Blue-River-Anglers-announces-Tunes-on-the-Fly.html?soid=1102045959367&aid=tYxw0-kUZ0Y

Time to Diversify

We have all heard to adage to diversify in your investments for smart security and growth and in the past few years this has definitely been something to really think about and live by.

For the past few winters Blue River Anglers has added an online store, e-mail marketing to try and keep off-season business streaming, by offering specials and keeping our customers informed. This has been fairly effective but still has not allowed Blue River Anglers to have enough cash flow through the winter months without running a deficit.

So for the winter of 2011-2012 we are getting into the Ski and Snowboard tuning business. We have cleaned out the back room, put in a workbench, bought a Grindrite Snowboard/Ski grinder and all the necessary equipment.

With the necessary equipment comes twenty some years of experience from being a part owner of a shop in Washington State to managing a couple ski and snowboard shops before starting Blue River Anglers in 1997. This is nothing new to me, it was just time to diversify and utilize the space and many snowy months we have in the High Country.

I am very excited to offer my skills to all of you this winter, so please bring in your equipment and let me clean it up, make you go fast and stop on a dime!

With all this being said this is also a time of year to diversify your fishing.

Fall and early winter is a big transitional period, with the streams low and clear, Browns, Brook Trout and Salmon spawning, Blue Wing Olive hatches and cold fronts on the move. What works one day cannot even get a fish interested the next.

This is where having a diverse arsenal of fishing techniques comes into play. If you have all the bases covered your fishing will be more effective and fun.

To have a diverse arsenal make sure you can Nymph fish, Streamer fish, Dry Dropper, Triple Trouble Dropper fish (shallow water nymph fishing) and Dry Fly fish. If you have all these techniques in your arsenal and more importantly are willing to give a different technique a try, you more than likely will have a successful day on the water.

Happy Fishing and Now Skiing!

Please come in and check out the shop, I will comp your first Quick Tune! (Rates are below)

Are Off-Season special is book your trip for 2012 by 12-31-2011 and receive 15% off

.

Trips must be used by 10-31-1012!

   

Check out our fishing reports!

   

Ezekiel Hersh 

Ski and Snowboard Tuning

 Rates

Quick Tune - Side edge and buff wax - $10

Hot Wax - Hot wax, scrape and buff - $10

Quick Tune Plus - Side edge and hot wax - $20

Basic Tune - Base grind, machine edge and hot wax (no p-tex work) -  $30

Full Tune - Base grind and edge, p-tex base (possible estimate), hand file and hot wax -  $40

Six-Pack – Buy any 5 tune punch card receive the 6^th for free

BWO Season is here!

With the last week of cooler weather in the High Country the fishing has been getting "HOT" after a brief "Dog Days" period we experienced.

The float and wade fishing trips we have been putting out have had some great reports, especially the float fishing trips on the Colorado.

We have also been seeing some good Blue Wing Olive or Baetis Hatches on cloudy and rainy days. Get up here on those cold and nasty days for some "Hot Fishing"!

 The Kokanee Salmon are also staging at Green Mountain Reservoir and getting ready to enter the Blue River. Get here while they are fresh!

Lastly this is also the time of year to catch some "Monster" Brown trout on the S. Platte, Colorado, Blue River and more! 

Get up here and remember are fall special! 
10% OFF  trips booked in from 9-6-2011 to 11-21-2011

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Float-Fishing-and-Blue-Wing-Olive-Hatches.html?soid=1102045959367&aid=IPiKZMAAPQw

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Float-Fishing-and-Blue-Wing-Olive-Hatches.html?soid=1102045959367&aid=IPiKZMAAPQw