Cutthroat Anglers

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Guide Wisdom

Pinching down the barbs on hooks is a good habit to develop. They will come out of your Guide and the fish a whole lot easier.

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Cutthroat Anglers Owner Trapper Rudd with fish

Cutthroat Newsletter - 9/27/07

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Just returned from Alaska learning how to fish and survive in "The Great North" with Clint. What a hoot! He really has a great thing going up there. I figured we would catch a few fish, but had no comprehension of the strength, average size, or number of fish in the Kvichak. There are a couple of pictures at the bottom of the next article. More importantly, we had plenty of laughs, plenty of scotch, and plenty of great scenery. Clint said I did a good job as a client, but I think that was just guide talk.

Back in Colorado, we're enjoying the fall weather. We received a dusting of snow on the peaks today that looks great with the fall colors below. Temps have been in the 60's and 70's on the water, the fall Blue Winged Olives are in full swing, and we have been killing them with dries, dry/droppers, nymphs, and streamers on float trips. Paradise!

At the shop, we have a few saltwater trips in the works right now. Check out the article below for a great 2 for 1 deal on Costa De Cocos, Mexico. Our fall guide school will also be starting next week, so we'll be tearing it up with the next generation of all-star fly fishing guides.

Grip And Grin

So you've finally caught the fish of a lifetime. It's a Kodak moment that you want to preserve and cherish for the rest of your life. You wet your hands, and your buddy has the camera ready for the squeeze and cheese. You quickly snap a photo and release the fish unharmed.

You return home feeling like a hero and download your fish porn to send to all of your buddies. All too often, however, disappointment sets in at this moment as you realize that you've got nothing but a picture of your two paws with a fish's head sticking out at the end.

The usual culprit in this case is what I like to refer to as the "guitar hold." Look at the picture of Stevie Ray Vaughan rockin' it out on the left, and then Angler-X below.

Pretty close, huh? Here are a few tips on capturing the moment the way you remembered it.

Keep your hands behind the fish!
Keep your hands behind the fish!
If you can do it with control, a one-handed grip often looks nice.
Hold the fish toward the camera to make it the focal point (and to make it look bigger!)
Zoom out to catch the scenery. You can always crop later.
Always shoot with the sun at your back.
If you're with a guide, let him or her stand next to you and hold the fish.
Take your sunglasses off unless it's so bright you have to squint.
Keep your hands behind the fish!
Be creative. Try different angles or release photos.

I do feel the need to make a disclaimer on this one. Cameras do kill a lot of fish. If you're going to take photos of trout, please remember to wet your hands first, have the camera ready before the fish is to the net, hold the fish over the water or a net, work quickly, and avoid taking shots in warmer water conditions. Furthermore, try not to photograph every trout you catch. Save your shots for the particularly memorable ones!

Ask the Guide Staff

Starting next newsletter, we will be publishing a Q&A block. We don't like to keep secrets at Cutthroat Anglers. Here's your chance to get the inside scoop from our professional guide staff. In fact, we are more than willing to share whatever we know with our loyal customers. There are no dumb questions here, and we need your participation, so don't be shy! You're now just an email away from becoming a better angler.

Send me an email at (chris@fishcolorado.com); with any fly fishing related question to post and our staff will answer to the best of our ability in the next newsletter.

Super Deal! Costa De Cocos, Mexico

Hello Everybody!! I thought I would check in with you all and give you some very exciting news!!

Cutthroat Anglers and Sporting Life Adventure Travel have been offered an unbelievable deal for a late Fall BONE FISHING trip. Due to Hurricane Dean pounding the coast of the Yucatan, our personal friends at Costa De Cocos have offered us a special rate of 2 for 1 bone fishing at their lodge for only $2995 per couple. This is a full week of lodging, guiding, bone fishing, (Permit and Tarpon too) and transportation to and from Cancun.

As many of you already know, I was shooting a DVD down there in May and we had a day of spectacular bone fishing and a typically frustrating day of unreal Permit fishing (not catching). We landed dozens of bones throughout our quick stay and a few tarpon rounded out the trip. We took literally over a 100 shots at Permit. All of this was in only three days of fishing and filming.

Costa De Cocos is a comfortable ride South of Cancun for about 4 to 5 hours. The lodge is in the village of Xcalak (pronounced EESH-CAL-AK). It is a wonderful quiet fishing village located just above the Belize border right on the shores of the glimmering Caribbean on Chetumal Bay. The lodge has beautiful native Cabanas with a wonderful cool ocean breeze. The food is fantastic. You have to try the lobster-mango pizza!!

I will be hosting a week here from Nov. 10th to Nov. 17th. That is Saturday to Saturday. Cancun is a quick 3 1/2 hour shot from Denver direct on Frontier Airlines or other carriers.

For more information, you may email me at: (trapper@fishcolorado.com); or call me personally on my cell phone at: 970-389-4942. You may also contact Paul Hansen of Sporting Life at 763-443-2126. Also, be sure to check out our Costa De Cocos photo gallery here.

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

SPACE IS LIMITED!

Tight Lines,
Chris Hall and Trapper Rudd
Cutthroat Anglers