Newsletter 02/10/08 - Cutthroat Anglers

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Cutthroat Newsletter - 02/10/08

Just a quick update on the snowpack article in the last issue... The snow is continuing to fall in epic proprtions this winter. As I write, the Upper Colorado River Headwaters are at 121% of average, the Roaring Fork is at 164%, and the Upper Arkansas is 164%! It should be a great water year!

We're gearing up for Spring, and the new goodies for 2008 should start trickling in in just a few short weeks.

In staff news, Andrew will be returning from Chile this week, and I'm sure he will have some great pictures as well as some lies to go along with them.

Clint has just departed for Chile and will be guiding there until April 1. Clint would like to let you all know that Alaska bookings will continue and that he does have email access.

Shane is still wrestling giant Billfish in Costa Rica, and Mitch Melichar will sonn be getting married in Florida. Trapper has also just returned from an exploratory kayak trip in Mexico.

All the while, I've been in the shop, breaking icicles off of of my nose when I walk in the door.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Gin and Tonics.

Last Thursday, a 40 foot sinkhole formed in the center Interstate 25 just north of the Interstate 70 interchange in Denver. The sinkhole was estimated to16 feet deep, and happened just in time for rush hour.

Nobody was injured, and Lisa Rattenni decided to make the best of it by taking this huge rainbow. Like we always say, when life gives you lemons, make gin and tonics!

Gear Up and Get Organized for 2008

Spring Fishing is right around the corner! Now is the time to begin checking over your gear, organizing, and restocking. This way when you hear those magical three words (Blue Wing Olive), you're ready to rock n' roll. Here are a few things we like to do each year to make sure our gear is in tip-top condition when things heat up.

Check your fly lines. The easiest way to do this is to peel your entire fly line off of your reel. Inspect it for cracks, cuts, rough spots, and dirt. The color of the fly line should also be fairly consistent, so if the backing end is sea foam green and the leader end is puke, your line is probably ready for retirement.
Replace old tippet. 100% flourocarbon tippet is kind of like Spam. It takes a really long time to go bad. On the other hand, Nylon, non-flourocarbon tippet lasts about as long as guacamole in Amarillo, so pitch your old nylon and restock so you don't end up losing that gi-normous brown that's going to mow your Salmonfly dry this Spring.
Organize your fly boxes. If you haven't already done so, you've probably got a half dozen flies stuck in your boot laces, a couple dozen in the visor of your truck, and a few more in the bottom of your hamper. Organize and replenish your boxes, and make sure to pitch the ones with those rusty, crusty old hooks!
Patch up those leaky waders. Leaky waders may smell like the primate house at the zoo in the summer, but other than that, no harm done. In the spring, however, leaky waders will leave you shivering over a greasy burger at the Parshall Inn when you should be fishing. If they're beyond repair, we'll be making deals on waders for the next few weeks.
Inventory your tackle. This stuff has a way of disappearing like socks in the dryer. Over the winter, you may have used your nippers on your toenails, your stomach pump to baste your Thanksgiving turkey, or your hemostats for......well.....whatever you're into. Make sure you've got your tools and other essentials such as indicators, floatant, dry shake, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.
Clean out your vest. Ever wonder what happend to that egg salad sanwich you forgot to eat last August? I'll bet it's in there. Take out the trash, and make sure you know where everything is.

The Fish with No Name

We need your help. We now have a beautiful 19 inch Rainbow Trout who is thriving in our 500 gallon aquarium. She's Trapper's favorite new pet, second only to his beloved poodle, and I think she's here to stay. Our conundrum is that her presence and animated personality warrants a great name, and we just can't find the right one. We're seeking your help on the matter, and are offering a free Cutthroat Anglers logo cap to the creative genius who comes up with the perfect name.

Please email me at chris@fishcolorado.com with your ideas. Here is a little backround information to help you out:

She's a girl
She is a Summit County transplant.
She loves human interaction, but is annoyed when boy fish are aggressive in their courtship.
Her favorite food is floating pellets, and she can eat over 100 per day.
Her hobbies include popping bubbles and tail splashing water all over our hardwood floors.

Casa Blanca Update

If you have been sitting at your tying vise all winter and daydreaming of catching fish, well, let's give you something to ponder. I just returned from an assignment in the Yucatan of Mexico and I can honestly tell you it was one of the more spectacular and rewarding trips I have ever been on. I was "on assignment" for the folks who operate the Casa Blanca and Playa Blanca fly fishing lodges between Ascension Bay and Espiritu Santo Bay.

Casa Blanca is only reachable by boat or their private plane from Cancun. The area has some extremely remote flats, bays and lagoons that are rarely explored and fished. If you need a break from the winter weather or just want to test your skills on some of the most rewarding gamefish on the flats, this is the place. The flats have untold numbers of bonefish and permit and the lagoons can hold giant tarpon and snook. This is the perfect scenario for the beginner and expert alike. The opportunities for multiple species and the coveted "Grand Slam" are very real here.

The bonefishing was superb, but the real story of the week was the Permit fishing. We found so many Permit that it was hard to keep track of the numbers. In two half mornings going for Permit, I personally hooked three while wading (landing two of them) with one weighing in over 20 pounds and the next morning landed three more out of the skiff. Everyone in our group landed a Permit. What a spectacular week!! Another highlight of the trip was a 13 pound Cubera Snapper landed by my friend Steve on the flats. It was feeding on baby birds falling from the mangrove rookery above and this rare catch managed to bust his 12 weight tarpon rod! We also managed to hook a tarpon over 100 pounds in the mangrove lagoon out back of the lodge.

The stories could go on forever, but I will tell you that we should create some more stories by going back again. I will be hosting some upcoming trips to the area, so returning to this special destination is a must. If you are seriously interested in shots at these remarkable fish, give me a call and we will formulate a group and head back down. The accommodations, cuisine, staff, guides and fishing are second to none. I am looking for some angling buddies to join us in late May or early June. Let's go fishing!!

Trapper John Rudd
jrudd2004@comcast.net (in Florida)
trapper@fishcolorado.com (in Colorado)

Tight Lines,
Chris Hall and Trapper Rudd
Cutthroat Anglers

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