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Cutthroat Anglers Colorado Fly Fishing Shop and Guide Service

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Cutthroat Newsletter - 9/18/06

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Its definitely Fall in Summit County. It snowed off and on all day Saturday, and once the clouds lifted we were greeted by both Buffalo and Red shrouded in snow. Today looks like it could be a blue bird day, so the light snow dusting could be melted by tomorrow; however, it serves as a stark reminder that winter will be here soon. In our opinion, we should all heed Mother Nature's warning and head to the river as much as possible before Old Man Winter takes hold.

Clint holds up a slab Rainbow
Guide/Shop Manager Mitch with his new puppy Windsor

Are the Kokanee in the river yet? This question seems to run like a broken record this time of year. The simple answer is no. We've seen a handful of early runners into the river; however, we suspect the true run will not start for at least a week. I will send out an emergency email to anyone signed up for the "fishing reports newsletter" once the salmon run starts. Until then, it is safe to assume that while you might hook one or two Koke's the run is but a pup.

What's the cold weather doing to the fishing? Fishing is great! Float trips are still the most consistent option. We're still seeing good action on hoppers throughout the Pumphouse to Statebridge section of the Colorado. The best droppers right now are big TungTeasers and TungStones. Trail the big, ugly attractors with a Baetis Nymph (tied by Solitude - this is the name of a specific pattern, not just a general reference) or a Killer Mayfly.

The Blue (below Dillon) recently dropped to about 100CFS. We experienced steady flows over 200CFS for over two weeks - and the fishing was great! - but now we are back to typical late season flows. Over the weekend we saw a few strong midge and BWO hatches; however, these hatches may be more of a product of the dreary weather rather than a signal that the hatches are in full force. Its probably a safer bet to assume the Baetis hatch will not kick into full force for at least another week.

For all of you leaf enthusiasts, I'm going to go on a statewide leaf watching tour this week. The Aspen's a lit up in Summit County; however, I think we're probably a few days away from being at peak color. Its definitely worth a trip to the high country to see the Fall foliage; however, if you can't make it till the weekend the leaves should not disappoint.

Don't let a less than perfect weather forecast keep you away from the river. As I like to say - the fish are already cold and wet, so they don't mind when it snows.

Low Flows on Upper Colorado

Clint holds up a slab Rainbow
Bald Eagle Spotted on the Colorado River

If you traveled to the Upper Colorado over the past few weeks, you certainly should have noticed the lack of flows in the river. The lows created a serious uprising amongst land owners and river enthusiasts alike.

Colorado water rights are about as confusing as reading the IRS's view on tax laws; however, water rights are one of the most important aspects of a land owners value. Without going into unnecessary details, just understand that sufficient water in the Colorado is the life blood for aquatic life, land owners, and businesses dependent on the Upper Colorado River.

The recent low flows caused an uproar by anglers and land owners alike. Luckily, the state began releasing more water over the past week to supplement the flows.

The Upper Colorado is a tremendously popular section of river for fly rodders. This stretch is also home to a prolific population of Brown trout. The shockingly low flows could have a dramatic effect on Brown trout spawning if a remedy is not soon implemented.

Simms Fishing 2007

Clint holds up a slab Rainbow

We recently sat down with our Simms rep, Michael White, to go over next year's order. Simms basically revolutionized the wader industry over a decade again, and they will continue to be the trend setter in 2007.

The highlight of their 2007 line will be the introduction of the G4 wader. This wader will raise the bar in wader comfort and function. Featuring a zipper front, new neoprene foot, new seam technology, and new shoulder harness - the G4 will be the Rolls Royce of the wader industry.

Simms is moving the seams on all of their waders from the sides of the leg to the front and back. This strategic move will create even a stronger bond and more leak-proof wader. The stress on the joint is greatly decreased by moving the seam to the front and back. This new seam technology will be available in all Gortex Simms waders.

Simms is the only wader manufacturer that makes their waders - right here in the USA. As Mr White puts it, "Simms is the only wader manufacturer...everyone else is just a wader marketer." Because Simms builds their own waders, they have total control over added features and quality control.

Besides improvements to their waders, Simms will add new water proof bags, wader bags, technical clothing, and new wading boots. We plan to offer a few new items in time for the Christmas season, so stop in the shop to see what's new from Simms in 2007.

Tight Lines,
Shooter

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