Email Us | (888) 876-8818

Cutthroat Anglers Colorado Fly Fishing Shop and Guide Service

Newsletter

Cutthroat Newsletter - 09/18/09

Greetings!

We're mid-way through the most consisent fishing month of the year and the action has been hot on a daily basis! Hatches have picked up, water temps are ideal, and the brown trout are coloring up and feeding hard in anticipation of the spawn!

We're also hearing reports of a few Kokanee Salmon entering the Blue. If you haven't tried it yet, these fish are a hoot on a 5 weight rod!

Colorado Brown Trout

Mythbusters: The Empty Bin Theory

MythBusters

I honestly don't own a white lab coat and I'm definitely not man enough to sport (or grow) a mustache like the guy on TV, however the sport of fly fishing is surrounded by myths and this is a great opportunity to break one down.

The other day we began the daunting task of ordering next year's flies. As we were painstakingly mulling over the plan for our 1800+ fly bins, the "empty bin theory" was often in the forefront of my mind.

The empty bin theory is an age old fly shop myth that the bins with the fewest flies held the hottest patterns. Succumbing to this myth can be dangerous, causing unnecessary emotional strife time and time again.

Before you beat yourself up thinking that if you were in just a couple of days earlier you might have been able to buy one of those magical Pistol Pete Flies, let's go over a few points about making such assumptions at the fly bins (because we all know what happens when we assume).

  • A smart retailer will order more of his or her best selling products and fewer of the less popular items. We order upwards of 300 dozen per year of our most popular patterns- these bins are full for a reason!
  • An empty bin is often a sign that a particular pattern is out of season. There's no reason to refill a bin in September for a June hatch.
  • An empty bin may also signify a backorder from the manufacturer. This is likely due to production problems and has no bearing on the popularity of a pattern.

Next time you're out fly shopping, don't overlook the well-stocked bins- you might just strike gold, and as always, be sure to ask the staff for their picks as well.

Fly bin at Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, Colorado

Buck A Bug!

Speaking of fly bins, every year some hatches materialize better than others, leaving us with some leftover summer bugs each fall. Rather than letting them collect dust until next summer or risk an encounter with a rogue vacuum cleaner, we're offering select summer flies at just a dollar a piece!

This is a great way to replenish your boxes and still have money in your wallet for a 6 pack to enjoy while you're organizing them.

If you're from out of town, and want to take advantage, feel free to call us toll free at (888) 876-8818 and we'll hand pick you a selection by river or hatch!*

*minimum 3 dozen on phone orders, shipping charges may apply.

Kokanee Salmon in the Blue River

The Hunt For Captain Red

Kokanee Salmon are a landlocked cousin of the Sockeye Salmon (the red one the you see in 42% of all Alaska river photos.) These critters reside in several Colorado Lakes and each year move into a river in an attempt to spawn. This phenomenon can be witnessed every fall in the Blue River above Green Mountain Reservoir.

The hunt for this elusive Salmonid is just that- a hunt. The key to catching them is to pull in to every available access point and stalk each deep run until you see a mass of red fish stacked like cord wood. Be sure to keep moving until you find them.

If you've gotten this far, the hunt has ended and it's time for the rodeo to begin! Kokanee Salmon will strike almost any flashy nymph pattern drifted in front of them. Once hooked, you'd better hold on as these fish jump and run like nobody's business. I once had one jump straight at me as I was fighting it, tail whip me in the nose, and then break me off immediately after (just to be clear..... this did NOT happen in a bar and it was a FISH that did this to me). Anyway, how's that for a smack in the face?!?!

If you get a chance, get out there and give it a try. It may take some time to find fish, but when you do you'll be sure to have a blast. Prime time is Late September through Early October.

Fly Tying Special Order Program

We know that we're no Charlie's Fly Box when it comes to fly tying supplies. Most mountain shops, ourselves included, are barely adequate at best when it comes to materials. The fact of the matter is that we just don't have the population base to support carrying every part of every dead animal known to man.

Cheetah

We do understand, however, that some of you are dedicated local tyers who get frustrated trying to come up with the materials that you need.

Rather than spending your time driving to Denver in search of Asiatic Cheetah Underfur, Longear Desert Hedgehog Points, or Spotted Owl Hackle, let us do the work for you.

When things chill out in November, we'll be ordering fly tying materials on a weekly basis throughout the winter. If there's something you need, simply bring in your list, and we'll special order it from you. Stop by the next week and pick it up. It's that simple, so please feel free to take us up on this!

Sincerely,
Chris Hall
Cutthroat Anglers