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Cutthroat Newsletter - 08/08/08

First of all, we we would like to thank all of you singles out there for participating in www.guidespawn.com. Guides all over the West have met their soul mates, and we got a group discount for a wedding ceremony to be held at the Silverthorne Pavilion next week. Bring your dancin' shoes because DooWop Denny will be performing at the reception!

On to less ridiculous matters....

Although the dog days of summer have set in, water temps have remained cool and fishing has remained solid. It's hoppper season and we're having a funky good time watching fish come up for our big dry flies. It's great to have water!

Throwing Fastballs

I woke up the other day and grabbed my first little whiff of fall. Whoa whoa whoa... don't get me wrong- it's still early August, and it was just a whiff, but nonetheless exciting. Along with the lack of rafters, ravishing foliage, blanket Blue Winged Olive hatches, and pulverizing Hopper takes, fall means it's Bugger time!

Earlier in my career, I felt that streamer fishing was nothing more than a crutch for people who couldn't get a drift. Although those feelings still linger in the back of my head at times, I'm proud to say that I've finally seen the light.

Streamer fishing is fun before you ever leave the shop. The technique itself has creative names such as "pitching junk" or "throwing fastballs" that conjure up images of giant brown trout. In addition to that, have a look at the tags on the streamer bins next time you're in the shop. You won't find run of the mill fly names like Parachute Adams, Elkhair Caddis, or Pheasant Tail. Streamer names tend to be much more candid, colorful, and entertaining. We love nothing more than to hear the giggles as people peruse the streamer bins and try to decide whether Butt Monkeys, Stacked Blondes, Mike Tysons, Zoo Cougars, or Sculpzillas will be the streamer de jour.

I've also learned that streamer fishing is of an extrememly visual game. At the right time, trout can be enticed to go from daintily sipping midges to violently charging and slashing your streamer right in front of your eyes. It's kind of like seeing a mosh pit break out in the middle of a ballet- good quality entertainment.

I could go on all day about this stuff, but hopefully you're sold by now, so here are a few pointers to maximize your success this fall...

• Maximize your CPMs (Casts Per Minute). Move quickly and let no water go untouched. Rapidfire casting will ensure this, especially when fishing from a moving boat.
• Be Nice To Your Friends. Speaking of boats, remember your friend (or guide) with the drift boat? Send him a Fruitcake. You'll need a favor from him soon. Covering lots of water is key.
• Remember the Rules. Actually, there are none! Slap 'em down, twitch em', strip' em, rip 'em, tease 'em.... Get creative with your retrieve until you find one that they can't resist. One of the most deadly streamer techniques known to man is to cast at a slighty downstream angle and continuously mend upstream, causing the fly to twitch and fall backwards.
• Bang the Banks. It's usually most effective to put your streamer within inches of the bank, strip it a few feet off, and recast unless you have a follow.
• Keep it Moving. When a fish begins to chase your fly, try not to slow your retrieve. The fish is fast enough to catch it, but will often turn away when the retrieve slows down.
• Enjoy the Show. Nobody ever hooks every fish that chases their streamer. Enjoy the Kamikaze dives, leaps, and chases.

Fall Guide School 2008

Don't make the same mistake this guy did!!!! We will be offering two fall Guide School classes this year for aspiring guides and boaters. Classes will be held the last week of September and the first week of October. Click here for the full scoop.

Where's Trapper???

He's out fishing with Waldo, of course! Here's a write-up from his latest

It is no secret to our friends who frequent the shop that I spend an inordinate amount of time traveling the globe in search of new and exciting flyfishing opportunities. We all love to explore and share our experiences with others.

Here is a quick bite from one of my latest adventures. "What has a voracious appetite, moves rather lazily except when provoked and can bite your head off?" NO, it is not your mother-in-law. It is called a Mako shark. My great friend John Barr and I recently flew to San Diego to join our friend Capt. Conway Bowman for some frenzied Mako action on the fly. After last years epic Mako fishing we wanted to give these top predators another go 'round!

This year was quite different. We set a chum slick that you could see from the space shuttle and waited...and waited....and waited some more. I could actually hear my own beard growing.

Finally on the third day, our rods were put to good use. Makos can easily be duped into eating a fly once they are "teased" up into the slick. They have tremendous power and some of the best aerial acrobatics ever witnessed.

Trapper John Rudd

We also encourage you to give us any feedback you have regarding our newsletter and/or our new website. We want to do the best we can to provide the information you need, so feel free to send your feedback to chris@fishcolorado.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

Tight Lines,
Chris Hall
Manager/Guide
Cutthroat Anglers

© Cutthroat Anglers • Silverthorne, Colorado • (970) 262-2878 • Toll Free: (888) 876-8818
anglers@fishcolorado.com