Its Spring time in the Valley for sure. Warm weather is translating to hot fishing but also some higher flows. We have been having great days up a little higher and the water is certainly more clear. Avon has been my favorite stretch as of late and some go to flies have been BWO emergers in the #18 range dropped behind your favorite attractor pattern. I like the Psycho Prince or a Guides Choice in #16 or #14. It’s been sunny and windy so plan accordingly and don’t count on a lot of dry fly action just yet. Fish are still holding in some deeper water but be mindful of Redds as some of our resident rainbow are staring to do their business. The afternoon hours have been the most productive but the weather is beautiful and the fish are hungry so get out there! .Need a guide? We got em >>>
The Colorado River The word is out so weekend warriors take heed. Shoot for early starts on the Upper C right now as it can look almost like August with the incredible weather we are experiencing. Regardless of the people, the fishing remains very productive with bigger bugs on the menu for the fishies. Big pheasant tail nymphs, Pat’s Rubber Legs, Copper Johns and Hare’s Ears should be included in any tandem nymph rig. Streamers can be hit or miss so switch the flies often, vary your depth and vary your retrieve. The water is still pretty cold when all is said and done. Focus on the evening if you’re trying to trick a fish with a dry fly. They are rising but mostly later in the day and in small numbers. Focus on the swirling back eddies with tiny dries trailing tinier emergers. .Get on a boat with a Minturn Anglers guide >>>
The Blue River
I’v never been a big fan of the Blue up in town with all the pressure and all the spectators but I stepped out of my comfort zone last week and was pleasantly surprised, maybe enough to change my opinion. The crowds were non existent and the mall was even pretty deserted so we enjoyed some solitude and some really active fish. The trout are still eating the standards so stock up on small mysis and red and black midges. Find the deep holding water and you will find the fish. Get deep and hold on because these fish aren’t small! Towards the end of the day I broke my indicator rig off and swung some steamers hoping for a beast but couldn’t get any fish to commit despite a few solid follows. It’s always worth a try!
Fishing in the Vail Valley is Heating Up! GET UP HERE AND FISH!!!
Click to be a PRO
Pre-Runoff up here is a special time and with folks still focused on getting those last few runs on the slopes the river is EMPTY!!
Our guides are dialed in a getting antsy around the shop. Book a trip and get fishing before the spring crowds get wise to how good the fishing is up here!!! The weather is beautiful and the fish are hungry so what’s your excuse?
Call the Minturn Shop For Spring Specials and Avaiaiblity Today!!!
BECOME A PROFESSIONAL GUIDE FOR COLORADO’S FAVORITE FLY SHOP
Guide School is fast approaching!!!!
Save your seat in class today and come join the Minturn Angler’s family and Colorado’s BEST GUIDE STAFF!!!
Let’s get started working your DREAM JOB!!!
Every year here at Minturn Anglers we get to see the next generation of guides as they begin down the long path. We like to think that our guide school graduates are some of the most well prepared and properly trained guides in the business and we accept nothing less than perfection!
Now that being said, there is no better job in the world than sharing your passion for the sport with others! If you have been looking for a way to get started guiding then give us a call at the shop and lets talk about getting you on our team! There is no better job than guiding and there is no better fly shop to work for than MINTURN ANGLERS!!!
Big Bug season is upon us on the South Platte! I have been seeing huge cranefly larva and larger stones in every sein and have been having a blast with a big ol’ Pats Rubber leg and some Mop flies!. Don’t be afraid to tie on the thick tippet and big bugs because we have been killing em on big stuff and this season doesn’t last long in Deckers! If you need to stock up on the meat come on into the shop and ill show you some holes that have been productive recently! This is my favorite time of year on our Home water so don’t miss out!!!
The Dream Stream
The fish numbers are still pretty low if you are hunting for lake run fish but the weather is beautiful and the wind is relatively calm so as long as you don’t mind a little bit of a walk fishing is getting good. Most of your big staging fish are going to hang on the lower river closer to 11 Mile Res in the deep runs along the bends in the river. Standard fare for fliers. Leading with a leech pattern in Olive or Natural and then fishing a small BWO emerger in #20 or so off the back should do well. Lake fish tend to come on leeches and worms or bigger attracter patterns so don’t feel locked into the small stuff. Keep moving and see if you can’t sight some of the monsters. All that being said be mindful of spawning fish on redds!!!
11 Mile Canyon
With warm weather down south and the spring coming fast this year 11 mile is fishing lights out and we are already seeing some fish paired up to spawn. That being said respect the fish on the reds but still get after it and try and catch some of those fish that haven’t set eyes on the spawn yet. There are plenty of fish hanging out eating eggs and by the middle of the day there are plenty of fish looking up! We are seeing strong BWO hatch earlier in the day and some tricos in the afternoon so don’t be afraid to chuck some dries. Thorax BWO’s in a #18 or #20 will do in the morning and the tricos are a bit smaller.
Come Hang With Us at The Fly Fishing Rendevous
Save the date because the Fly Fishing Rendevous 2017 is kicking off May 20th and 21st at The Jefferson County Fairgrounds!!!
Minturn Anglers Guides Duane Redford and Levi Lambert will be giving presentations as well as a bunch of other awesome workshops and sick new Gear from your favorite companies. So come on down and learn a thing or two from some of the best sticks in Colorado!
Eggs, Beads, Redds.
LET EM GO SO THEY CAN GROW
This time of the year we always like to give a friendly reminder about spawning fish and the proper way to fish Egg or Bead patterns. If you don’t know then come ask! We would love to give you the run down on how to properly fish during the spawn!
And to all the Pros out there on the river if you see someone fishing to spawning fish or walking on Redds then maybe they don’t know any better! It’s our job to educate so we can protect our resource!