By Kirk Deeter

After years of speculation and concern, fish biologists (and anglers) who have endeavored for decades to restore the native greenback cutthroat trout--Colorado's state fish, native to the South Platte River drainage--have learned the truth about the status of this iconic species. I'll start with the bad news.

All of those "greenback" cutthroats some of us have been catching in remote wilderness streams and lakes east of the Continental Divide aren't greenbacks after all. Based on the best available genetic science at the time, we thought they were, but they're not. They're actually either Colorado River strain cutthroats, which are native to the West Slope, or a more nebulous strain scientists are calling "lineage GB." I'll spare you the genetic details, but we now know for certain that they are not native to the rivers east of the Continental Divide.

[ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

Here's another slice of sheer genius ingenuity, courtesy of my friend John Gribb from Wisconsin. John is one of the most innovative fly tiers I know; he uses things like fabric from the seat belts of junkyard cars and Christmas ribbons to make some of the most effective patterns I've ever fished.

Last week he hit me with another idea that made me slap my forehead. As most of you know, tiny midge and mayfly patterns can be just the ticket, especially in the fall and winter months. But if you're like me, putting the bug on a strand of tippet in the first place is often as difficult as hooking and fighting fish on small flies. Seeing the eye opening is only half the battle. It's difficult for me to twist and manipulate those flies in my cold fingers, especially after a morning cup of coffee or two. I can't count how many midges I've dropped as a result of digital malfunctions.
[ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

Okay, time to revisit some "see this, do that" lessons. Here's a textbook fall trout scenario: The water is low and clear. It's a bright cool day. We have some caddis flying around. The fish are rising sporadically.

I actually caught three trout from the water shown in this photo — two 10-inch rainbows and a 14-inch brown. Can you guess where I caught them, and how I did it?

Okay, I'll tell you.

As you have probably noticed, I was looking upstream when I took this shot (admittedly after I had caught the fish). The sun was high overhead, so there really isn't a shadow factor that would benefit one approach over another. I was fishing a size #14 elk hair caddis single dry fly. [ Read Full Post ]

By Tim Romano

Been out carp fishing lately on the fly? Has it been tough to entice Mr. Rubber Lips to eat what you're offering. Sick of getting skunked? A new company named Zipcarp, not unlike zipcar is offering short term carp rentals.

"According to company officials, Zipcarp’s inaugural fleet consists of 8,000 carps in six major American cities and several university towns, providing customers with the option to rent a carp by the hour or day."

[ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

One of the topics we missed in our conversation about "What Keeps People from Learning to Fly Fish" is stream etiquette. No doubt, a bad encounter on the river (or lake) with other anglers can ruin the whole experience. Sometimes, those things happen purely as a result of ignorance, yet I still am amazed by some of the tricks pulled by anglers who clearly have been doing this for a long time. The onus is on those seasoned anglers to make the experience positive for everyone, and not just for themselves.

Etiquette starts with the guides. I know it's hard to make every day successful for paying clients, especially on more crowded public waters. But the minute you put yourself and your clients in a spot that clearly has a negative impact on others around you, you've crossed the line. [ Read Full Post ]

By Kirk Deeter

Most fly anglers devote a lot of time and energy into honing their casts, as they should. The cast is what allows you to play the game in the first place. Without a good fly delivery, your chances of hooking a fish are minimal.

But the effort and focus shouldn't end as soon as that fly hits the water. In fact, I think that's when the real attention to detail should begin. How you drift your fly (presentation) is as important as how you cast your fly, and mending the line (moving the fly line upstream or downstream of your flies, depending on the currents, in order to eliminate drag) is the key to making that happen. [ Read Full Post ]