Fishing Reports | Dream Stream Trips | Pike Float Trips | Fly Tying Night is Back

THE DREAM STREAM IS STILL SHOWING SOME LOVE AS WE GET DEEPER INTO THE FALL

The water is down on the Platte between Spinney and 11 Mile but there are still some big trout and Kokanee hanging around. The pressure is beginning to get a little lighter but weekdays are still your best bet if you can swing it. Spots are filling up so give us a call soon to lock down your spot before it’s too late!!! Minturn guide Gavin Greeley has been sticking fish left and right. Let our certified fish whisperer show you the ropes.

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Vail Valley Fishing Reports

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Eagle River

Nights are getting chilly up here in the Valley but the fishing is heating up by the day. Bug selection is gonna have to be smaller than bugs you were tricking them on throughout the Summer months. Little BWOs and Baetis nymphs are the ticket. Try some #18s and #20s in a Barrs Emerger BWOs and grey Foam-Back Emergers for the under an October Caddis on the surface. As the fish move down in the column throw on some lead (Or a lead substitute if you love nature like we do) and some sort of Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Guides Choice in a #16 or so on top and trail a Forky Baetis or the ol’ JUJU Baetis in the #18-#22 range. Fishing is good from the Headwaters to Gyptucky but I’v been beating up the Avon area and having some real good days.
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Colorado River

Although this Fall up in the Vail Valley has had more warmer days than cold as soon as you get a line wet you’re reminded what season it is pretty quick by the aggressive brown trout mad-doggin around the river. The upper Colorado has been putting smiles on clients faces day after day with the small Mayflies and even smaller midges being the top menu items. The fish seem to be holding in the deeper runs until the early afternoon and the dry flies and streamers can both be kept in the box until then. If you can make it work i’d really recommend just fishing the afternoon hours as it is. The crowds have been

.
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Blue River

As with most of the water around the state the Blue is low and clear but again, as with most water around the state the fishing is holding strong. Fishing through Silverthorn is gonna be small midges with a little bit of a BWO hatch popping off if the clouds roll in or the temperatures drops. If you aren’t getting them to eat try going down in bug size and worst case down a size in tippet as well if they are still being picky after the fly swap. The pressure has been pretty minimal as far as The Blue goes so don’t kill yourself waking up super early. The fishing hasn’t been heating up until later in the morning anyways so sleep in if you want and shoot up to the river around 9:30 or 10:00,

Mile High Flats Trips Getting a Change of
Scenery For The Fall

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The carp aren’t going anywhere. Switch your sights to toothy predators!!!

Minturn guide Gavin Greeley has been putting miles on his new flats boat this year and the word is out that this may be the best way to target carp around Denver but the flats boat is far from a one trick pony. Now that the water is cooling and the carps are getting more docile Gavin has been putting in work down at Spinney and 11 Mile throwing big streamers to hungry pike and big rainbows. Whether you’re a novice to the pike game and you just need someone to help you break the surface or your an old stick who just wants a guide to tie your knots and spot fish for you this trip needs to be on your radar this fall.

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What do you mean RIVER ETIQUETTE????

46892-FALL FISHING IS HEATING UP GET ONE LAST TRIP IN BEFORE THE WINTER

Most of us have been high holed more than once…

Everyone has their own way of handling it but what’s the

BEST APPROACH???

I had river ettiquette carved in my mind by my old man before he ever taught me to tie a clinch knot or throw a roll cast so it’s just always been apart of the way I approach the water. It has always been commonsense to me that other anglers want space as much as I do and if they got to the run before me then good on them, I have to find some open water elsewhere. In the last couple years our sport has welcomed a lot of new and passionate anglers to the water and I’ve noticed courtesy waning and have seen more fisherman yelling at each other in anger or even resorting to fist fights (fish fights) on the bank or in the parking lot about who stole whose water.

This is something that I just can’t wrap my head around. First and foremost we need to remember that we are just fishing here. Most anglers are fishing on their day off to release the stress of the week and if you let someone else ruin your day then the only real loser is you for having wasted a day that should have been relaxing and joyful and making it frustrating.

I hate nothing more than working a fish for 10 minutes just to have someone come through the bushes and blow it up but as of late i’v been trying a new approach when someone gets too close for comfort. I try to make a comment that will bring them down to me and then I tell them nicely and as calm as I can that he blew up my fish. I’d say that with no exaggeration that 8 or 9 out of 10 anglers I approach apologize right away and don’t have any malicious intent. They genuinely don’t know they are doing anything wrong or upsetting you. I take this opportunity to give my piece on etiquette on the river and swap some bugs or hot tips and then we go our separate ways.

I have really come to see that most of these high-holers and low-holers didn’t have someone beating the unwritten rules of river etiquette into their head when they started. With all the moving parts and variables that make up fly fishing it can be an easy aspect to overlook when you are focused on getting the cast down and fly selection and depth and so on. As more and more self taught anglers take to the river we should do our best to educate them rather than yell and go fisticuffs with each other. We all love this sport and the rivers we call home so why not make friends out there on the water?

Front Range Fishing Reports

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The Dream Stream

Fall is chugging on and the Dream is still giving out some love in the form of bucknasty browns and some remaining Kokanee. Leeches have still been my most productive fly for targeting the lakers. I have so many Slumpbusters and Pine Squirrel and other tried and true leeches in my box that its hard for me to pick a favorite. Bright days seem to show brown, black, and darker olive variations as the preferred flavor and the cloudy days i tend to see whites and yellows or other brighter colors being the better approach. I’m dead drifting the leeches in a triple nymph rig and I like them as the top fly. 14-16 inches behind that iv got my worm pattern or trusty trout bead (whatever your favorite color is) with a size 14 or 16 bead head nymph trailing behind that another 14 inches or so. There are really no secrets to cracking the code other than finding the water these beasts want to hold in. The flows have dropped pretty significantly and we really want to stress being mindful of the redds and the spawning fish. Do all you can to keep this river and its fish healthy.

Deckers

Water down on the Platte near Deckers has dropped like a stone in the last few days but don’t let the low clear water intimidate you. The water is gin clear and the fish are not too forgiving of shadows or heavy steps along the bank. Chanel your inner ninja and step with care as you scan the river. You’ll find quite a few smaller fishing sitting along the banks and the bigger boys in the seams along the deeper runs. Big bug season is waning and we have been putting most of our fish in the net by way of a #18-#22 Chocolate Thunder or Grey Foam Wing Rs2 in the same size range. Leading with a #16 Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail or Psycho Prince with a bead head seemed to be enough weight until we stepped into the deeper runs then we had to pinch on some small splits. We found some fish coming up to mayfly emergers later in the afternoon and a Barrs Emerger under a dry tricked a few before the sun came off the water.

11 Mile Canyon

11 mile seems to get neglected this time of year which is a shame and a blessing depending on how you look at it. With everyone and their mother chasing fish on the top side of 11 mile reservoir pressure seems to fall off the canyon. Unlike every other section of the South Platte 11 mile canyon is getting a good bit of water still. Flows are holding around 70 cfs and the fish are hungry and not the least bit shy. My personal go to approach in the canyon is always dries or a dry dropper. It moves fish all year long and we aren’t blessed with too many good dry fly rivers so i suggest leaving the bobbers in the car. CDC BWO Emergers and Barrs BWO Emergers in a #18-#22 behind your favorite BWO dry will bring fish to the net all day and between you and me the best way to spend the afternoon is hucking streamers up near the dam. You might find something you don’t expect on the end of your line.

FALL FISHING IS HEATING UP GET ONE LAST TRIP IN BEFORE THE WINTER

BAD BAD LEROY BROWN

Get on the water with a PRO today!!!

Winter is quickly approaching and if you’re the kind of angler who stays in doors and restocks the box in the winter months rather than picking ice out of your guides every drift then you only have a few more weeks of fishing before the season ends for you. Let us help you wrap the year up with a bang by having one of our guides treat you to a day of easy fishing. Whether you are itching to get one more day on the Eagle or The South Platte we have a pro to show you some killer water and share some secrets with you. Give the shop a call and lets talk fishing. Close out the year the right way with one of Minturn Anglers stellar guides!!!

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FLY TYING NIGHT IS BACK AT BOTH SHOPS IN NOVEMBER!!!

Minturn Anglers weekly fly tying night is a Winter
tradition guides and customers alike have grown to LOVE

Tying season is upon us and we are starting up our tying nights the first week of November. Minturn will be holding theirs Wednesday nights from 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m at the Minturn shop.
Parker tying night will be held every Tuesday from 6:00 p.m.-8:00p.m. in the shop. Bring your vise and basic materials with you to the shop and tie some bugs and share some stories. The best way to hone your tying skills is by tying with other guys and gals! I learn something new every week and I love the diversity I see in the group. We have some stellar high school kids and a fair mix of all age groups moving up from there with a few Minturn guides here and there. Come hang out. Have a beer and fill those boxes with us!

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