Fishing Bug

The fishing season has begun here in Colorado. Spring is in the air and maybe even a little bit of summer.

With Blue River Angler’s Guide School wrapping up last week. I got a good opportunity to be on the water floating the Colorado for five days straight. What a great way to spark my fishing and floating interest! We worked on skills, both student and instructor and just had a good old time fishing, floating and putting new skills to the test. Really couldn’t of had a better time. 

So now the fishing bug is here, but so is the run off in some of our streams. Notice I said ‘some’. We do have some streams running clear and fishing good. Look for dam releases below reservoirs. 

One locally that is fishing great is the Blue River. The water is high, but the fish are right on the banks. Look for a slow pocket, sneak down next to the bank and peer into the water. I bet you see a ‘Lunker’ right next to you. We have been catching some big ones lately.

Last week at the Guide School, the Colorado was running about 2600 cfs (cubic feet per second) and while there was a little stain to the water and the water was cold, we still caught fish every day. As the week warmed the fishing got better as did the Blue Wing Olive hatch.

The Colorado has since came up to around 3600 cfs, which usually means off color conditions. This can change any day while reservoirs releases are fluctuated for the run- off. One day could be muddy and the next can be clear.

The caddis have been moving up from Canyon City and should be in Salida any day now. The hatch brings some great fishing, but also a lot of fishermen. I recommend trying to stay in front of the hatch and maybe the fishermen.

In a few weeks, we should also see the Salmon flies moving up the Colorado River. There is nothing quite like seeing these huge insects crawling all over the bank and then seeing a trout suck one off the surface. Most years the water is a off color for this hatch but most days the trout still have enough visibility to eat these large insects above and below the surface.

By the time the Salmon fly hatch has come and gone, we will be in full swing of fishing season. Hatches will be numerous and the trout hungry.  Make sure you get in the weeks to come and get a little of the ‘rust’ off.

Give us call for conditions and make sure you get your guide trip scheduled for one of these hatches or the summer season.

Great Expectations

As you can see the fishing locally has been pretty good. We have had some good days on the Blue River lately. The Colorado continues to fish better and better and the Arkansas is in full Blue Wing Olive hatch season.

With the middle of April just around the corner it’s time to think about the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch on the Arkansas. With a warming trend hitting Colorado the next couple of weeks, look for the Caddis to start moving up from Pueblo and Canyon City. This is a great reason to dust off those waders and fly rods and hit the river looking for slurping trout. 

If you are looking to experience the Mother’s Day caddis hatch with a guide, we can help you. We really want to give you the opportunity to get on the water this early season for rising trout. So, for the months of April and May we will offer 15% off trips taken during these months.

Besides the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch on the Arkansas the next couple of months offer some great fishing and outdoor experiences. I plan on breaking the boat out of the snow bank soon and doing some floating. Maybe even hit the river for an overnighter or two.  If you haven’t experienced an overnight trip on the Colorado, it’s a must. Fishing till dark, gourmet streamside meals, daybreak coffee and early morning trout. It doesn’t get much better. If this is something you would like to experience, we can take care of you. This year our prices for overnight trips are very affordable and I would love to get you out for a great experience. 

With lots of snow in the mountains this winter, summer fishing is looking to be one of the best in many years. Expect good hatches and healthy trout. Remember we do get quite busy from the middle of June to the middle of September and reservations for your day on the water are highly encouraged.

We look forward to seeing you all in months to come. Whether it’s stopping in for a fish story or two, some flies and tippet or taking a guided trip. 

Thank you for your business in the past and please let us know how we can serve you better.

Sincerely,

Zeke Hersh

Blue River Anglers

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Good things to come in the months ahead!

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First Day of Spring

Officially the first day of spring has come and you can see it in the Colorado weather and fishing.  Many of the rivers have freed from the ice hold of winter and fishing has started to heat up.

Lately the Blue River has been fishing great below the Dam in Silverthorne with flows nearing 400 cfs.   This is quite uncharacteristic for the Blue River, especially this time of year.  This is creating lots of action on midges, nymphs and Mysis shrimp.  The higher flows have been pushing some fish downstream that you usually will not see.

Word is that the lower Blue River above Green Mountain is also fishing well.  Look farther north and the Colorado has also been producing some great fishing.  Everything from fishing below the Williams Fork to actually floating from Pumphouse down.  We have had good releases on the Blue River below Green Mountain Reservoir and this freeing the Colorado of ice earlier than usual. 

The Arkansas is also fishing great with some higher flows.  People have also been floating but this time of year speaks Blue Wing Olive hatches to me.  This is great time of year to fish in the Salida area with Blue Wing Olive hatches happing daily and the river is teaming with life.  Blue Wing Olives hatching, Caddis on the move and getting ready to hatch in the next month, Golden Stones emerging from winter and these are just to name a few.  If you want to see a river busting with life you must get to the Arkansas in the next few months.

I have also heard great things on the Eagle River and Lower Colorado River.  People have been saying they are fishing flies they usually don’t break out on these rivers for a month or more.  Blue Wing Olives, midge hatches, streamers and big stones.  The Caddis should also start becoming active in the weeks to come.

So as you can see, I am very excited about the fishing possibilities this spring and summer.  I think you should be too! 

We are starting to book up in some periods of the season and if you want to fish with us please get your dates on the calendar. 

Also remember we dropped our rates this year and there are a few more days to save 10% off these NEW 2014 rates.  Please take advantage of this promotion!

Give me a call 970-668-2583

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Spring is in the Air

Spring seems to be in the air here in Colorado.  The next couple of days we will see temperatures in the sixties in the Front Range and forties up in the mountains.  This kind of weather gives me the itch to get out and enjoy some fishing, trail riding or jut about anything outside to soak up the sun.

A thaw like this happens every year and while I know winter will rear its head once again.  It is sure nice to know the days are getting longer and spring is just around the corner.

So far this winter has been quite spectacular here in the high country.  We have seen many feet of snowfall since the first of the year and our snow pack is up over 100% of average.  This not only means many good things for Colorado and our trout streams, but the West in general.  

An abundance of water is something we have been lacking here in Colorado the past few years. This has put a tremendous strain on our trout streams, forests and economies to name a few.  With the promise of plenty of water in our streams, brings the promise of healthy ecosystems and local economies. This coming summer is looking to be one of the best in years and I am looking forward to all the beauty and joys it will bring.

With late season snowfall last spring and unusual amounts of rain last summer, our reservoirs have been quite full. This has made for great flows out of our tailwaters this winter and that has meant good fishing. 

The Blue locally has been fishing quite good, as well as the Colorado below Williams Fork Reservoir.  Soon many sections of rivers will be breaking free of ice and the late winter, early spring fishing will have plenty of opportunities.  This is always a great time to get on the water and look for unsuspecting trout that readily eat a fly.

Soon we will also be seeing some of the first Blue Wing Olive hatches on the Arkansas and Colorado Rivers.  Then shortly after that comes the Caddis hatch. With the abundance of water in the streams, look for this Mother’s Day caddis hatch to be one of the best in years.

This is an exciting time of year, with change right around the corner.  So many exciting and fun things are to come.  Are you going to join us this summer?   We sure would love to show you a great experience on the river and help you experience the splendor of the spring and summer to come.

To help get you on the water for a fly-fishing experience of a lifetime, we have dropped our prices roughly 10%.  We really want to earn your business and show you a great time. Check our rates out here-

As an added bonus we are offering another 10% off our new 2014 rates, if you book your summer trip by the end of March.  Use code NEW2014

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Spring fever..... New discounted 2014 guide rates!http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fly-Fishing-and-Skiing-News.html?soid=1102045959367&aid=ao5n4xrYy08

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Great deals for Valentine's Day. Save 25% off guided fishing trips from Blue River Anglers or 20% off tunes from Tunes on the Fly. Go to www.blueriveranglers.com and www.tunesonthefly.com or give me a call at 970-668-2583.

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