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Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:30 pm
by DUBBN
What an awesome day to be on the river. My buddy Bob and I took our rafts hoping to float, but it wasn’t to be. The lower river was chocolate milk, and the flows are not high enough to get the fish congregated. The upper river was clear enough, but the flows were not high enough to navigate the river with our rafts. So, we waded the upper river. We fished 5 locations between 8:00 AM and 4:30 PM.

My arm hurts from catching fish. The down side about today was I could not get a large fish landed. I hooked quite a few in the 20 inch range, and a couple that would push 22, but I just could not get them landed. The largest fish brought to hand were quite a few 14 to 15 inch Bows and Browns. I would lose the larger trout anywhere from the hook set, to the last run they would make.

I fear the economy is having an effect on the tourism. Normally on a Saturday, with the temps hovering around 65 degrees F, the river would be not crowded, but not empty either. Today, for the most part it was empty.

The Peacock and Partridge size 12, and a size 14 Caddis Pupa were my big producers. My buddy, used the Peacock and Partridge with a Chartreuse rib and did very well with it. His other big producer was a size 18 Buckskin Nymph.

My Caddis Pupa is the same old technique of tie2fish’. I know I sound like a broken record, but dang that pattern works for me!
I don’t have any pics of it, but heres the recipe that worked today.
Hook- Dai-Riki 135 size 14
Thread – 8/0 Uni, Olive
Abdomen – Olive Midge Tubing with a Black Krystalflash core, wrapped over a base of Olive thread.
Thorax- Dark Brown Rabbit , or Black Rabbit fur
Collar – Dark Brown Hen Hackle
Heres a few pics of a few fish I caught, my buddy Bob, and one of the rivers I love here in Western Colorado.

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Oh yeah. I did go 45 minutes without a strike. It was the longest stretch all day by double with NO action. It just so happens I had a Purple Soft Hackle on!

Stupid Purple Flies! :x
They should be outlawed!

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:00 pm
by michaelgmcgraw
You lucky dog you, having such nice water & big feesh !

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:17 pm
by letumgo
Wayne - I am loving your new up-close photos of the fish. That last photo is especially well composed. Kudos!

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:22 pm
by DUBBN
Come fish with me Ray!

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:24 pm
by letumgo
I sure hope to someday. Are you going to make me use purple flies all day? ;)

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:49 pm
by DUBBN
letumgo wrote:I sure hope to someday. Are you going to make me use purple flies all day? ;)

Now thats funny! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:14 pm
by hankaye
DUBBIN, Howdy;

Dang son, you really do know where the dumb fish play
don't ya !!! :D

May have to make a short detour at the end of Sept. When
I head back to warm Southern M.M.


hank & Rascal (oorp), from the road...

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:07 pm
by JohnP
Another great report! To say that I am envious would be an understatement, but I am happy for you that you were able to get out. :)

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:02 am
by Ruard
Beautiful serie of pictures, thank you for sharing.

Greeting

Re: Wading the Roaring Fork

Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 7:12 am
by DUBBN
hankaye wrote:DUBBIN, Howdy;

Dang son, you really do know where the dumb fish play
don't ya !!! :D

May have to make a short detour at the end of Sept. When
I head back to warm Southern M.M.


hank & Rascal (oorp), from the road...
Hank, give me a little heads up and I will take you out. If it's during the week, I will take a half day off from work.
Take I-70 back to Utah, and be ready to stop over in Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Of the 5 locations I fished yesterday on the Roaring Fork, all but 1 can be accesed by an RV.