Big dries and big Browns on the Gunnison

Oh the sweet smell of love in the air

June in the Gunnison Gorge

Looking Towards Margarita Vill

This is looking up stream from the T-Dyke campsite

The first few Salmon flies of the season

Warm water falls on the Smith Fork

This rock was covered with Stonefly Clusters

To the un trained ear it might of sounded like ga ga ge ge but I new exactly what he was saying.  "Dad, what is the legal age to drive a boat in Colorado"?

figuring out how to give it some gas

Maybe they are preparing for high water rowing

Well, it's getting to be that time of the fishing season to find alternatives to the river for that tight line fix.  Antero Res.  just might be the dealer for you.  Stomach samplings have shown everything from leeches and suckers to chironamids, damsels and scuds.  This place has a lot of fish and everything all of those trout need to grow big quick.

Ignore the respectable Brown Trout displayed just like the finest silk tie would be presented by a salesman to a potential buyer and pay attention to the beautiful late spring conditions.  Dare I say it was calm.

The Arkansas end of May and who would have thought it would still be low and clear.

The Ark is still fishing extremely well.  Flows have been low and the fish are chowing down on caddis and bwo's.  Most days are seeing a early bwo hatch and a late caddis hatch with great nymphing all day and an early and late period of dry fly fishing.

Antero Reservoir

I am starting a show for fish called The Biggest Loser.  Based on the human reality tv series The Biggest Loser will take obese fish like these and throw them in a gym for six months so that we, as viewers, can laugh and cry as tubby finds his way to new healthier beginning.  Antero Reservoir will supply the talent.

Here in the Arkansas Valley the creeks and Beaver ponds are open and provide an opportunity to challenge any skill level.  There might be something spiritual about casting to willing fish in the small, pristine waters of a high mountain creek.

Night Fishing For Brown Trout

Fishing big black streamers late in the evening has been moving some nice brown trout.  I say moving because if you have seen me fish a streamer on the river or creeks here than it tends to be a visual reaction for the hook set and with the lack of light to see that can be damn hard at times.  I guess a good faithful strip retrieve works too. 

Happy days on the Arkansas. Sometimes you just have to smile.

The Arkansas is fishing so well right now there is quite a bit to say about it.  If I didn't have an ever growing, nightly fly tying list than I just might be the person to tell you.  For now check out the Arkanglers web page for some info.

Cinco De Mayo Dry Fly Holy Shitness

The fish down stream of Salida have seen enough Caddis and other bugs to make for some killer dry fly fishing.  The Arkansas is at that point we have been waiting for.  There is just something beautiful about inhaling bugs on the way down the river.

Here's to you, women flyfishers

I have to say that the vast majority of women who will or do fly fish are an absolute pleasure to have out on the water.  I will resist the temptation to brutally point out why and just appreciate the chance to have somebody aboard who can listen.

Thanks Kirsten, it is good to see that the fish populations are still high.

Have you ever set the hook on what felt like a rock and then before you know it the rock is taking line off your real.  Well this felt like a rock, began swimming downstream and damn it, no denying it was a rock.

Cold weather has slowed the caddis hatch but not the fishing.  Dealing with brutal winds can be part of the every day, spring experience here in the Arkansas Valley ( one downside to the beautiful mountain views).  One has to take on the challenges of nature with an appreciation of the opportunity to do so.   Even if that means rippn' lip in the wind.  Don't get the idea that the water temps are to cold to justify feeding through the majority of the day.  The fish in the Arkansas are getting fat on nymphs and each other.  With the cranefly's hatching along with the caddis and bwo's a few fish are already willing to smash a dry.  Soon we will see the right temps and conditions to get the majority of fish on the banks and looking up for a big twitched dry fly.

My son is doomed to absorb more fly fishing information by the age of 2 than most would take on over a lifetime.  My first step in the baby fly fishing program is get the rod out of my boys mouth and in to good casting position.  After that, the sky is the limit.  Here we are walking to my local fishing hole.

Streamer fishing can be the most exciting type of fly fishing on the Arkansas.  It's a good way to target those big Browns that hold so tight to cover.  I can't describe the rush that comes over me when a fish comes out of its hiding spot to chase down a big un weighted streamer.  This fish was taken on a hard to reach stretch of the Arkansas.  He cruised out of a large boulder at the bottom of a rapid and took the fly on the first shot into the rock.  Of course I missed him the first time but some of these fish just couldn't let that fly go and on the second cast he nailed it again.  What ever season this is, the fishing is just fine with me.

Got to play around on a buddies new cat boat.

Good show ole' chap

The fishing is officially en fuego on the Arkansas below Salida.  I saw three fish in a row take a bare hook with a bead on it yesterday if that tells you anything. The Caddis along with the BWO's and prime water temps are keeping the fish active through the majority of the day.  email me for information about doing a trip at wjyinger@gmail.com

It is a sad day for my Carp compadrays at what I have grown to call my lake.  Winter can be tough on a heavy set carp stuck in what could be mistaken for a puddle.  But there are plenty more to offer hours of blissful frustrations this season.

Today was cold, to say the least.  Not much for bug hatches today on the upper river.  Still managed to work over a few with streamers and nymphs.  I have to say, the biggest fish was caught on a sz. 8 royal PMX.  I still have a halfy from that one.

Here's my second favorite view in the Valley.

And this has to be my favorite view.

The bigger one took the PMX.

This fish needs to get a little sun.  Don't you think?

Kiss him on the mouth, say thank you and put that damn fish in the water.

Now tell me there's no nice fish on the Arkansas.  Nice job Mike.

The whole spectrum of streamers are working very well right now.  Caddis larvae and pupae are starting to become extremely active downstream of Salida.  Still a lot of BWO nymphs, Cranefly larvae and Stone fly nymphs along the edges of the Arkansas.  Consistent dry fly fishing is so close I can feel it in my big toe.