Streamer Fun

It's all fun and games till you end up with a nasty ass hook in your lip in your face.

Careful what you chase.

Let's Get On!

Some of our favorite local rivers are getting the big flush and clean out right

now, so nice to see the 2 years of silt and sand in certain area's being washed out of the state.

Oh the stones and pmd's and fall beatis will love this clean up.

Arkansas at Wellsville

 Rio Grande at Del Norte

Wired Stone

Wired Stones

Hook: TMC 5263, Sz. 8-12

Thread: Black 8/0

Bead: Gold Tungsten

Tail: Brown Goose Biot

Body: Green/ Red Medium Wire

Thorax: Peacock Herl

Hackle: Furnace Hen 

Loco Legs: Black/ Brown

Blanco Circus Peanut

Blanco Circus Peanut

Hook: TMC 5263, Sz: 2-4

Thread: White UTC 140

Eyes:Red Painted Lead Eyes

Tail: White Marabou

Tail Flash: Pearl Flashabou

Body 1: Medium Silver Ice Chenille

Body 2: White Schlappen

Legs: Loco Legs- White/ Black

Hook Joining Material: Senyo Intruder Wire

Dance Card getting Full

Our  post run-off fishing dance card is rapidly filling up for 2014, as we recently acquired several trips. With the nice snowpack and predicted above average fishing in some area's we are looking as fishing some new waters in and around the Colorado area. We will be looking to venture back up to Montana, probably twice to visit and float the upper Blackfoot River in mid-late July, then with a recent purchase we will visit the stunning beautiful Madison Valley Ranch for some small creek and river fishing.

We also will have the good fortune to spend a couple of days fishing with a true flyfishing Icon, Jack Dennis,  fishing some rivers in Wyoming, Mary and I will be looking forward to this. Our normal weekend journeys will keep us humble by fishing the gold medal stretches of the Arkansas River, from our humble little abode. We will have a little excursion to the Upper Colorado with Confluence Casting to see some new water, date and time to be announced.

Then, this fall back to Washington and the Klickatat, to wrangle some additional steelhead and chinook salmon. We should have no problem hitting our traditional 80 days of fishing this year, we are so very lucky.

Can we fit in Red Fishing?

Better not push the luck…… Not this early anyway…….

low bridge

Sometimes on a river you have never floated you encounter an "obstacle" , most of the time they just surprise you and you go on, sometimes you are alerted ahead of time and can prepare. Such was the case, with the low bridge. However, when they mean low bridge, they mean't it. Thank goodness we listened and took off the leaning bar , as the rowers seat still need a little coaxing to fit under the bridge.

This was just another great section of river in the West to fish, that will be forever remembered.

Wednesday Cinema- Colorado Trout by Joey Macomber

Colorado Trout from Joey Macomber on Vimeo.

Some very sic trout eats on the video short "Colorado Trout" by Joey Macomber. 

Enjoy this today with your morning Baileys and coffee.

Crazy Comet by Hans Weilenmann

From the fantastic series of fly tying how to's by Hans Weilenmann, is the Crazy Comet, modeled after the wildly successful comet series. This very easy, but effective fly takes very few materials you all probably have. Tie on for size.

Crazy Comet

Hook: TMC 202SP, Sz. #4

Thread: Black Benecchi 12/0

Eyes: Bead Chain

Body: Diamond Braid, Hot Pink

Tail: Bucktail, Dyed Purple

Flash: Krystal Flash, Fl: Shrimp Pink

Hackle: Whiting Coq de Leon hen, Dyed Dark Purple

Happy Memorial Weekend

As we look forward to the long holiday weekend, it’s important to remember the meaning of Memorial Day – a time to reflect on those who served in the military on our behalf and sacrificed their lives for the good of others.

Happy Memorial Weekend from Floatfisher, with the rivers blown out, Floatfisher will be hanging up the hat, relaxing, shooting a few photo's and sipping a few mules. Hope your all celebrate safe and find a few fish on the end of your lines.

Get Your Summer On

This long weekend marks the kickoff to summer fishing season for us. Are U, ready to get your summer ON? Yes we have a little run off to deal with, but it is only a mind game, there are plenty of places to go and wet a line and catch fish. Where will you go!

Get out there and poke a lip!

Montana Bliss

Sometimes only the view, a glass of wine, and a fine cigar sum up a days fishing.

Montana Bliss

just cause

bored needed to tie something last night. got my fix.

ready for the long weekend.

Foto of the Day- "Hunting"

This photo taken by my good friend Dr. Gerry Bauer, when he visited the eagle preserve in

Alaska last fall. It is still one of my favorite shots. I know I have shared it previously, but as I was cleaning up files tonight, I could not help but share it again. The color and beauty of the photo is 

spectacular. Thanks for sharing it Gerry.

Chubby In the Face

I am ready to shed the waders already, in favor of the shorts and sun shirt. Nothing like throwing the

chubby on the foam lines to an explosive take or a subtle inhale from a nice brown. Our good friend 

Joe from EvoAngler, displays a willing participant from the Jefferson.

Bring on the high water and dry fly fishing, lets get it on!!!

Old School Woven Streamer by Al Makaii

Hook: Mustad 4-5 X Long Streamer Hook, Sz. 4

Thread: Black 3/0 Monocord

Body: Brown / Yellow Floss- Woven

Wing: Paired Yellow/ Furnace Brown Chinese Hen Hackle

Collar: Yellow Hen Hackle

Head: Black 3/0 Monocord

Ready, Set, Practice with Dec Hogan

In preparation for our 2nd steel heading trip this fall, Ms. Floatfisher and I decided we 

should get a jump on things and start practicing our two handed casting, so there were no excuses this

fall, why fish were not landed on the swing other than our own fishing fault.

So yesterday it began with Dec Hogan taking 5 raw beginners and teaching and coaching us the foundations of two handed casting on the South Platte River. There would be laughs, pouting and frustration , but at the end, som-bitch, what a hoot. Learning the principles of the anchor, reverse C, single spey, double spey, Reverse Snap T, and other terminology. 

Dec did a real nice job with Mary and I.

The eager student getting ready for the day.

Dec doing a little one on one mentoring with Mary, trying to work out the kinks.

 Dec telling Mary what a great guy Floatfisher is and they just need "more" time on the water and a new drift boat. He is a deserving guy.

 The weather cooperated terrific by giving us a little upstream and downstream wind to

have to practice our casting with. Ortherwise, perfect weather.

Some additional practice weekends, especially with high water coming up, oh, we 

also have to get some gear. Damn the luck. Lucy, got some shopping to do.

Oh So Pretty

They'll by com in' around the corner soon. Are you ready!

"An Ode to Baetis" by Ben Pierce

An Ode To Baetis from Ben Pierce on Vimeo.

A stunning video short by Ben Pierce, "An Ode to Baetis", nothing beats the poetic rise of a trout 

these tasty morsels. Just makes your heart go pitter patter.

Golden Stone Nymph

Fishing Trailer

Sometimes parked by the river in an old classic Airstream can be the best.

Get out and enjoy the great outdoors.

Thing's will be Changin' Soon

As we sit on May 10th, upslope storm settling in,  hopefully we will start to see a change in the weather with a very slight warm-up. Not all at once , because we have some very large snow pack in many area's of the rocky mountains. Rains and warm weather are not a healthy mix for slow easy runoff's .

One thing the on-set of run off does mean is another change in the fishing season, we migrate from midge and baetis fishing, now a nice Mother's Day caddis hatch will transition into the big bugs we like and hope to chase many locals around the west.

 I know it gets my blood pumping to put flies away that require 4-5 x tippet and get out 1-3x tippet. Fish are not leader shy in dirty, off-color water, but will pounce on the large morsels.

 Not all locals get the giant stones, but a great many get the thrill of fishing the golden stone both sub-surface and top surface as the turbid waters subside. Some of the most exciting fishing of the season, as the fish are pushed to the shore side and very opportunistic. (oh, do not forget about our other friend the streamer- Deadly this time also)

Just a few I like to skate around the surface of the water. 

Get Ready, Strap in, It will be here soon.

Mercer's Missing Link

B/W Missing Link

Happy Mothers Day

A little something that sum's it up for all the wonder mothers on a day of celebration

“Youth fades; love droops; the leaves of friendship fall; A mother’s secret hope outlives them all.” —Oliver Wendell Holmes

Anglers All - Happy 60th

Did not get a chance to attend the  60th Anniversary party put on by the guys at Anglers All.

As the evening before we spent tying flys with April Volkey, in a private viewing. A great time was had. At the unveiling, Greg launched there new line of logo's gear, hats, t-shirts, Abel accessories, and others to come. The following Saturday, they had many vendors showing off the newest gear to cast,

reeks to spin and just all the other gadgets you can't live with out
Many great deals were also taken on Patagonia, as the annual clothing "Trunk" show made it way throughout the back room. Folks who missed out will be HATERS.

Here Mary sports the new logo and hat. 

Thanks for a great show, although we could not pass up putting the boat on the ditch.

My Best Fishing Buddy

Come rain, snow or sunshine she is there with a smile. Say we are

going fishing for the 8th straight week, she says "where". Planning the new

years trips, she wants new water to float. She is my wife and My Best Fish Buddy,

and one damn good fisherwomen.

Net Release

Net Release by Brian Kuchynka

Show your Colors

My Boo

Photo of the Day- "My Boo"

Nymph

GP Nymph

Hook: TMC 2499, Sz:14-16

Bead: Gold Tungsten

Thread: 8/0 Black

Tail: Coq De Leon

Abdomen: Thin Purple UV Ice Dubbing

Rib: Hot Yellow Wire

Thorax: Black UV Ice Dubbing

Hackle: Black Indian Hen Hackle

Collar: Purple UV Ice Dubbing

Rockin' the Glass

Finally got the chance, or just plain got the new rod out of the tube and sock and broke it in. Water

levels were down and clarity was good, as we drove the canyon on Friday night. In addition, as sight

that we had not seen in 4-5 years, heavy, heavy caddis hatch coming off. Oh, I was pumped

to get the new stick out.

 The new outfit was complete with a little Abel reel, so I was a little nervous about fishing out of the

boat, as 7' does not give you very much. but in all the new information that I learn from Cameron

with Fiberglass Manifesto, how wrong I was. This little gem will cast a country mile.

 Taking a couple casts to get used to the difference between our normal rods and now the fiberglass, I thought I would only cast it in several key area's in know has great dry fly water, again, proved wrong.

Fished it all morning from put-in to take-out. Landed 30+ fish, largest being 18".

What a hoot.

 A big thanks to Cameron and Fiberglass Manifesto for talking me into something new, stepping 

outside the box. So cool, can't wait to have slightly longer one built to use more frequently out of the 

boat.

Swoop, Dip and Lift

pastel O rainbow

Photo of the Day by Brian Kuchynka

Last Bottle

The final bottle of Tall Tail Malbec was uncorked and enjoyed. The last of a great memory 

and time with friends. Time to batch another special blend for Floatfisher Cellars for the coming year.

More to come.