Cicadas on the Green

Having just returned from the Green in Utah I would have to say the emergence of the cicadas has begun. We were there for 4 days and noticed significantly more cicadas the last day than the first, not yet close to full swing. The flows were at 4200 cfs and this kept some fish close to the banks, yet most seemed to be on the bottom or suspended deep. We found the terrestrial fishing to be steady but on the slower side so we gave flashy streamers a try. The river had come up on the 25th and the higher volume displaces smaller fish rendering them easy prey. Fishing large flashy streamers close to the surface was some of the best visual streamer fishing I had ever had. Twice we saw 20 inch browns come completely out of the water to slam our fly. Watching fish trail and track your streamer is a lot of fun andkeeps you in the game.

There were midges and olives hatching pretty thick; later in the for the olives, and earlier for the midges. With warmer weather one can only expect the cicada emergence to pick up. The flows may come down in as soon as 1 to 2 weeks and that will help to bring fish to the top. As for now, a guy can catch as many fish in a day as he cares to nymphing. Using san juans and bright mayfly nymphs we caght fish fast and hard: even two big browns at one time. If you are headed to the green in the next few weeks make sure to give terrestrials a try; but if the don't provide the success you are looking for, be prepared to try other methods and patters for more success.

Button Rock

In a word,  GO!  There are a lot of rainbows from the reservoir that have pushed up to the inlet and the stream above.  The water was stained a tea color and on the rise but the fishing was excellent so if you are lucky enough to have one of the 600 permits you should go while it is still good.  We hooked fish all day long on streamers, stoneflies, and egg patterns.  Some bigger rainbows even ate foam hoppers.  This was a numbers day for sure with over 100 fish landed between 2 anglers.  Numbers like these make a long hike both ways worth it.  A beautiful sunny day allowed us to wet wade and forget about our waders, and the hatches we saw have me thinking dry flies in lower water.  Get it while you can.

Be sure to check flows on rivers before you go as the warm sunny weather the past days has really started to crank things up.  Rivers like the Poudre have quadrupled their flows in just 2 days.  Even some tail waters may be too high or more difficult to fish.  I will update the flow links to reflect more streams on the front range as well as some tail waters that are good bets.  The South Platte river system is a good bet with all the impoundments and Cheeseman is running about 350 which is a good flow pushing lots of food to hungry fish.  Hitting Spinney or Elevenmile Res. could be a good bet as fishing at both has been hot. 

Run Run Run

With the temps reaching the mid 70's in the high country these past two days the flows on many rivers have doubled.  Local streams like Clear Creek, South Boulder Creek, Boulder Creek, and Left Hand Creek may be too off color to fish at times.  Some cooler nights and overcast days would really help to slow the melt down and keep things from getting to far off in color.  Fish larger patterns in high, stained water; wooly buggers, stonefly patterns, leeches, and san juans, all in larger sizes and contrasting colors fish well during run off.  Another option is to head to warmer waters.

Local areas such as Paella or Coot Lake have started to fish well for Bass and Panfish.  Some bass on beds are extremely spooky while others may be somewhat tolerant of your presence.  Chenille streamers in olive , brown, and gold with rabbit strip for a tail have done good this spring.  A bright sunfish pattern worked near bass beds could prove to be deadly.  Stripping small nymphs and streamers provides constant action for sunfish and perch.  Popper action was still slow but will improve with time.

We are starting to hear reports of Cicadas on the Green River in Utah.  A report is hopefully coming soon.  Tomorrow, hopefully, Button Rock.

Colorado Division of Wildlife: "Hatchery Trucks are Rolling!!"

From the Colorado DOV: 

HATCHERY TRUCKS ARE ROLLING

Among the earliest signs of spring in Colorado is a Division of Wildlife fish-stocking truck pulling up to a nearby lake or stream.

Catchable-sized trout from the state hatchery system provide season-opening opportunities for many anglers, especially near urban areas, and the DOW began stocking low-elevation waters along the Front Range, the eastern plains and the Western Slope around Grand Junction in March. Stocking of lowland lakes will continue through the spring and early summer, when their water temperatures become too warm for trout.

State DOW issues the following Zebra Mussel Alert

ZEBRA MUSSEL ALERT

Boating fishermen can expect an inspection of their equipment at numerous popular reservoirs this summer.

 The Colorado State Parks Board recently approved a statewide mandatory boat inspection program to protect the state's waters from aquatic invasive species (AIS) including zebra mussels, which were discovered in Pueblo Reservoir.

Inspections also are required at a number of waters such as Standley Lake and Aurora Reservoir that are administered by other entities.  

Zebra mussels are a non-native invasive mollusk that is harmful to the environment and parks officials are taking steps necessary to try to contain their spread.

All boats including motors, trailers and related equipment will be subject to inspection for any non-native plant material and aquatic wildlife identified as AIS prior to launch or departure from state-park waters. Boats may be denied access or placed under quarantine if inspection is refused or if AIS are found on or within a boat or boating equipment.

Inspections will begin at Pueblo and expand this spring to four other state parks that have been identified as high risk for transport of AIS: Navajo, Cherry Creek, Chatfield and John Martin.

Inspections are necessary because AIS are transported over land to other bodies of water by hitchhiking on recreational vehicles including boats, jet skis and boat trailers. Unchecked, these organisms will quickly spread and out-compete native species.

Aquatic nuisance species have no effective predators and have detrimental impacts on the environment, recreation, water quality and water transport.  Several other aquatic nuisance species have reached Colorado, including New Zealand mud snails and water weeds.

All boaters are encouraged to follow these practices to help prevent the spread of AIS:

Before leaving any body of water, boaters should:

• Drain the water from the boat, livewell and lower units of the engine.
• Clean the hull of the boat
• Dry the boat, fishing gear and equipment
• Inspect all exposed surfaces
• Remove all plant an animal material

Spinney Res.

We just fished Spinney for the first time this year and man are the fish healthy and strong.  Fish were averaging 17 inches and 2 to 3 pounds.  There was almost nobody there and the weather held good with only a slight breeze and a little precip.  Fish seemed to be in a bit deeper water in the morning but by 10 a.m. they were cruising the shallows like hungry packs of wolves. Scuds, annelids, midges, and small olive and brown streamers all took fish until 1 p.m. when the bite started to die off.  Plenty of crawfish skeletons on the bank so I put on a baby crawdad pattern and caught the biggest fish of the day at 23 inches.  The water is about 8 foot down from capacity and may take a while to fill as there is still a lot of white stuff up on the hills.  Flows on the upper South and Middle forks of the  Platte looked low and clear but definitely fishable.

With warmer temperatures expected for the front range for the next few days,  look for your favorite bass spot to really heat up.  Fish are already up on nests and warmer waters should help the bite and make them more aggressive.  With 6 ponds Paella Crossing is a good spot for Bass, Sunfish, Perch, and similar species.

Big Thompson is Hot!

If you are heading to the Big T you should take some sow bugs with you. The higher flows are pushing a lot of bugs down the river including midges, mayflies, stones, caddis, and sow bugs. The sow bugs are similar to scuds and the fish are quick to move for them. When flows are high or increasing the sow bug is the fly of choice. Many people use this as their go to bug on the T. Soft hackle sow bugs or ray charles in #18 or #20 are what I like. These higher flows should help clean some of the moss out of the river but they may keep the dry fly action at bay for a while. Try a hopper close to the banks if you need to fish a dry.

Big Thompson

She is up to almost 250 cfs. This should help clear some moss, but the
dry fly fishing will slow down. Try a sow bug trailed by an rs2. Cream
midges are good in the am.

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Welcome to RiverX web Diary of fishing the Rockies!

Welcome!

   Having just been to almont and Gunnison I would have to say that runoff has started on the western side of the divide..    The Gunnison is blown below almont..  The Taylor is high.   The Arkansas is VERY high and the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers are as high as you would want them.    If you plan to go fishing in the near future,  concentrate your efforts on tailwaters.  Even if they are high you can count on them being far clearer then most of the freestone waters in the region.   The Pan, the Blue, and the South Platte are some of the best bets right now.  All three have higher flows but clear water and fish on the feed.   Recommended patters for the South Platte are as follows: 

1.  San Juan Worms

2. Scuds 

3. Stoneflies

4. BWO

5. Midges

6. Some Caddis sightings

Fly recommendations for the Blue River are as follows (split into upper and lower):

(upper)

1. mysis shrimp

2. glow bugs

3. midges

4. BWO's

5. Scuds

(lower)

1. Scuds

2. BWO's

3. Midges

4. Streamers

5. Eggs / Glow Bugs

  I fished the Taylor this week and found light pressure middle of the week.  We fished avalanche hole most of the day and hooked fish sporadically and in streaks with most fish between 16" and 20".    The flows are high at 400 CFS and pushing a ton of shrimp so recommendations continue to be patters that mimic this trend.  Midges are hatching throughout the day and Olives also produced during midday hatch. 

Local Report: 

  The recommendations for the greater Boulder area are as follows: 

1. Boulder Creek continues to fish well.   Water below four mile canyon may be dirty so concentrate your efforts above this area.  Flows on the creek are expected to rise over the next few weeks so capitalize on the opportunity to get out there now.   Fish are eager to eat and the fishing is hot.  This is not a difficult water to fish and has excellent access for more than 15 miles.  Anglers of all skill lever are fooling fish with both nymphs and dry flies. Simple attractor flies are all you need to have action on Boulder Creek.  Recommended patters are as follows: 

Dries

   a.  Parachute Adams

   b.  CDC BWO's

   c.  Stimulator

   d.  Midges

   e.  humpy's

Nymphs

   a.  Prince Nymph

   b.  Pheasant Tail

   c.  San Juan Worm

   d.  Hare's ear 

   e.  Stonefly

Do not rule out throwing a wooly bugger on boulder creek just to see what happens.   Please feel free to email me at randymhicks@gmail.com with your fishing reports and I will be sure to add them to our weekly feed.   This blog is intended to be a source of intel FOR the serious fishermen in the rocky mountain region with info BY the same fishing community.   Your experiences will help other anglers identify the what and why of a successful outing and in turn their experience may one day help you to catch that monster fish or have that bluebird day!